Year 7, Day 94: Leviticus 5

Theological Commentary: Click Here

When I read Leviticus 5, I read a passage that has mercy at its core.  No, I’m not talking about God’s mercy in forgiving our sin in the first place – although that absolutely is mercy.  I’m talking about God recognizing human hierarchy and having mercy upon those who get no mercy from other human beings.

Jesus Himself recognizes this reality when He comes to the earth to minister.  I believe that this is why Jesus reaches so much on the outcast, the leper, the women, and the little children.  Jesus will teach anyone and He will invite anyone into his presence.  But when Jesus reaches out to people, it is quite often people who are on the poorer side of the spectrum.  In fact, Jesus even teaches His own disciples that we will “always have the poor with you.”  Jesus knows that human beings don’t have the capacity to share equally.  We will always have the haves and the have-nots.

Leviticus is very sensitive to this fact.  If there is a poor family who cannot bring a bull, ram, or goat, they can instead bring a pigeon.  If they can’t bring a pigeon, they can bring grain.  This is a profound chapter of mercy, especially in a part of the book that is supposed to be all about Law.

It is a great chapter to have immediately following chapter 4, where we saw that sin is more about relationship than anything else.  In Leviticus 5, we again see that God is more concerned about relationship than with the actual sacrifice, even.  God wants even the destitute to know that relationship with their God is not outside their grasp!  What an incredible sign of grace – if we learn to read it that way.

God doesn’t care about our station in life.  He doesn’t care about the size of our bank account or our amassed material treasure hoard.  He cares about our relationship with Him.  Whether we have much and are a part of the lucky few or we have a little ad are a part of the greater masses, there is a God who desires to be in relationship with us.

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