My Lightened Load From Leviticus

July 15, 2026 | Pastor Noah Smartt

In my current quest to read through the Bible, I have recently come upon Leviticus, knowing from experience the challenge that it presents. Its passages of detailed rituals and sacrifice often take effort to trudge through, so I gave myself the option of reading through each chapter but breaking them up with a reading in Psalms. But by the time I dug into the bowels of Leviticus, I did not find myself feeling annoyed or burdened by my devotional time.

The Lord opened my eyes to the beauty of the Sabbath. At a time when I am in a new place with a new routine and new people, I found the ache of stress leaving my body through deep breaths. New ideas and the excitement of ministry had been flooding my mind, but the good and necessary slog of building relationships has yielded little in the way of spiritual depth and fruit.

“I guess I need to work longer hours! I guess I will be more direct with conversation!” These thoughts appeared to me as the solution, but God has reminded me, through His Word, that this is not so. Spiritual fruit (seeing growth in faith, obedience, and understanding) does not come from human hands, but from God alone (1 Cor. 3:6).

In Leviticus, God commanded the Israelites to do no work on the Sabbath, the feast days, the Sabbath year (every 7th year), or the Year of Jubilee (every 50th year). Why? So that Israel would depend on the Lord. It is His joy to provide for those who trust in Him. “I will give you your rains in their season and the land shall yield its increase,” (Lev. 26:4).

In your dry season (and mine), remember that it is the Lord who provides. Jehovah Jireh! He provided our salvation through Christ, and He will provide us with all that we need and desire according to His will!

Matthew 6:33, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Philippians 1:6, “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Christ Jesus.”

 

Pastor Noah Smartt recently began working at Stone Hill Church as the Assistant Pastor of Next Gen and Church Life. Click here to learn more about him and other staff at Stone Hill Church of Princeton.