Some Poems from the Book of Leviticus

 The Long Lobe of the Liver

“The Lord called to Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting.” Leviticus 1:1

In those infrequent times when God speaks to me,
it seems vague—a sense that I am to do
—or not to do—some thing. Most times
the inner nudge hovers just on the edge
of discernment. Briefly so.

With Moses it was different.
A loquacious, long-winded, and very specific
God gave Moses all the details he could ever want
and then some. Consider:

--do it at the entrance of the tent. No where else.
--the people do this; the priests do that. No confusion of roles.
--here’s the recipe. Follow it to the letter. Don’t dare leave out the salt.
--include the long lobe of the liver. You’ll know it when you see it.
--cut off the fat tail close to the backbone. Not a centimeter further.
--give the fat back to God. Don’t ask why.
--sprinkle the blood seven times before the curtain of the sanctuary.
Count on your fingers if you need to.
--Memorize the categories of sin and guilt. Chose the right offering.
Don’t mix them up.
--break the pot that boiled the meat.
--banish anyone who eats fat or blood. Don’t be wishy washy about it.
--wear clean linen underwear.

Sometimes I’d like a specific word from the Lord.
Just not so much.

Fire on the Altar
“The sons of Aaron are to put fire on the altar.” Leviticus 1:7

I remember when the Sintons, Irish Quaker evangelists,
visited our small church and preached the gospel.
It was fire on the altar. They invited all of us
—habitual church goers, old, and young like me—
to come forward, surrender all,
and kneel in the flames. I let the Holy Ghost
consume me. I carry the scars to this day.

Holy Theater
Leviticus 8

The consecration of the first high priest
demanded high drama with a captive
and captivated audience.
The setting needed impact—
the entrance to the tent of meeting,
the holy place where God came down,
where decisions were made, destinies determined.
The costuming needed to be elaborate—
tunic, sash, robe, ephod, fancy waiste band,
breastplate bearing the mysterious Urim and Thumin,
turban and sacred emblem. No matter
that Aaron would hardly walk under the weight.
It dazzled. The special sound effects—
the lowing, braying, screaming, grunting
of the supporting cast of beasts held beholders
breathless. Nothing left to the imagination.
Then came the sensuousness of blood
splashed on the altar, painted on the priest’s big toe,
poured into the base. Followed by the fire.
And the aroma of burnt fat, the homey smell
of baked bread. Pleasing. It engaged all the senses.
All in all, the seven-day extravaganza
was a performance no one would ever forget.

Strange Fire
“Aaron’s sons … offered unauthorized fire before the Lord.” Leviticus 10:1

God vindicated his holiness
by holy consummation.
God was right, of course.
Aaron’s sons had offered strange fire.
Yet God’s fire seemed strange
to this father.
God seemed strange,
his holiness harsh and sharp edged.

Forbidden to publicly grieve,
the human father
banked his sorrow,
sat at the gates,
shivered with more than cold,
and gazed into the wilderness.