“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship…Rom. 12:1-2.”
# 41 2025 Dev. Lev.1:1 “The Lord Called to Moses!” Read all of chapter one, two and three first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.
Lev. 1-3 “The Lord called to Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting. He said, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When anyone among you brings an offering to the Lord, bring as your offering an animal from either the herd or the flock.”
Leviticus is a difficult book, as it is a boring book. The focus of these devotionals is to connect these practices to life today, in as far we are able, but also to connect to Christian practice today. Leviticus is about worship. Worshiping God through sacrifices goes all the way back to Adam, Cain and Abel, to Noah after the flood and to the Patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Before Moses came on the scene, sacrifice was common in ancient near East. It was used to seek God’s (god’s) favor, to atone for sin and to express faith. Certainly, an extension of very early practices of the human race.
Ch. 1:1-17 a. The Burnt Offering, atonement. This includes offerings from the herd, only a male animal, spotless and acceptable by the priest who consecrated the animal by laying on hands. b. The offering from the flock, again a male, spotless and consecrated. c. The offering of birds, different instruction here than the larger animals. How do we connect? The most prominent is that the burnt offerings foreshadow, the Sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. He is the atoning sacrifice that saves us, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life inChrist Jesus our Lord. Ro.6:23.” We recognize the seriousness of sin. We see God’s grace and mercy and His love for His people, Us!
Ch. 2:1-16 “The Grain Offering” Here only a memorial portion is burnt on the alter, a handful. The rest is for the priests. There are rules, nothing made with yeast and honey, only the finest flour, olive oil is added and incense on the memorial portion. Yet, some offerings, from the poor, did not require olive oil or incense.
Apparently, the grain offering went along with the burnt offering but not always, it could be offered separately. Jacob sent a large tribute to his brother Esau, seeking his favor. We turn to our opening NT passage, Ro.vs.2 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will”. God’s will is that we worship Him only, with our whole being and that includes, our jobs, our wealth and our time. The grain offering is a gift to God and to the priests. Go figure!
Ch.3:1-17 “The Fellowship Offering,” Peace Offering. This offering is much like the atonement offering but this offering was voluntary. Both male and female animals may be used. The person who brings the offering lays on hands and butchers the animal. The animal from the herd or from the flock is sacrificed but only the liver, kidneys, internal-organs and all the fat, including the tail of some sheep, were burned. The breast and the right thigh, became a wave offering, the breast is for the priests and the thigh is for the officiating priest. The rest of the meat was for the family who offered the sacrifice. (see Liv.7:31-33) All other rules applied, especially; “You must not eat any fat or any blood.”
How does this apply to us? “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lipsthat openly profess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Heb,13:15-16.” Fellowship with God and with others. This highlights our opening verse …“Do not conform to this world…” Thanks be to God!
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Heavenhigh 