Lecture 4: Israel and the Temple

Dr. Paul Sloan introduces the topic of Israel's Temple, emphasizing its central role in the relationship between Israel and God. The lecture will focus on God's chosen residence among His people, established through the Tabernacle given after their rescue from Exodus. This dwelling necessitates laws to govern the purity of the sacred space and its inhabitants.

Leviticus provides the laws for sacrifices and a way of life for God's rescued people, including rituals to maintain the purity of both the people and God's sacred space. The book outlines various sacrifices (burnt, grain, peace, purification/sin offerings), the inauguration of priests and the Tabernacle, and an impurity system covering diet, childbirth, skin diseases, and discharges. The annual Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) is also introduced as a ritual to cleanse the sanctuary of accumulated impurity.

The core purpose of Leviticus is to enable God to dwell among His people. Because God is holy, His dwelling (the Tabernacle/Temple) becomes a holy space that must be kept pure. People are called to pursue holiness and purity to safely approach God. Sacrifices are essential for maintaining the purity of this space when it becomes defiled by the people's sins or impurities.

The Tabernacle's layout includes an outer courtyard with an altar for burnt offerings, accessible to non-priests for offering animals. Beyond this, the Tabernacle proper is partitioned into two sections: the holy space (containing an altar for incense, a table with bread) and the 'holy of holies,' which contains the Ark of the Covenant, representing the spot where God's divine glory resides. The Tabernacle is understood as a nexus where heaven and earth overlap due to God's presence.

Sin creates a relational and legal deficit between a person and God, and, importantly in Israel's system, it defiles the sacred space. Purification offerings, often called sin offerings, are brought to amend the wrong, repair the relationship, and purify the contaminated sacred space. The blood of the sacrifice is central to this purification mechanism, acting as a 'ritual detergent' that cleanses the altar and, by extension, the person.

When an unintentional sin is committed, an animal without defect is brought to the courtyard. The offerer places their hand on the animal to denote ownership, not necessarily sin transference. The animal is slaughtered, and its blood is applied to the altar to purify it. The fat and kidney are burned for God, while portions of the meat go to the priests for sustenance. The rest of the animal is burned outside the camp. This process restores the relationship with God and purifies both the altar and the individual.

Leviticus 16 describes the Day of Atonement, an annual ritual that serves as a 'reset button' for the entire community. It recognizes that not all sins and impurities are individually atoned for throughout the year. The priest purifies the Temple from the innermost sanctuary outward, using blood sprinkling. Finally, all the people's rebellions and impurities are confessionally placed on a 'scapegoat,' which is then banished into the wilderness—a visible act of expelling sin and impurity away from God's presence and the community.

The lecture concludes by reiterating the profound significance of the Temple as God's residence among His people, providing protection and blessings. While God's holy presence can be intimidating, He lovingly provides the purity and sacrificial rituals in Leviticus as a means to allow His people to approach Him safely, ensuring His dwelling can remain among them despite their human weakness and sin.