Leviticus 10:1-11  Reflecting on the first 9 chapters.. where all the law of the offerings were laid out, where the priests were anointed, and where the tent of meeting.. the tabernacle was consecrated.. and God's glory came down..  I once again rejoice in the fulfillment of every requirement in the death of our perfect Savior, the Lamb of God who was slain. 

 I have found myself thinking about the significance of these offerings.. and how they are reflected in our own worship.  We give praise and glory and thanks to our Father for the offering that He presented.. His only begotten Son.. who died for our transgressions.. who suffered in our place.. the Perfect Lamb of God.  He is the One who has made atonement for us that we might be forgiven and accepted by our Father.. like the burnt offering.  He is the One who is our Provider so that we might give a tithe from what He has provided.. like the grain offering.  When we give an offering..  to the Lord ...whether it is our money, our time,  or our service- from our hearts.. out of devotion and not duty.... it is like the grain offering.. seasoned with salt.. the salt of the covenant.. affirming our agreement, our pledge..our allegiance with our God.  Christ is our guilt offering, our peace offering, our sin offering..  and.. He is our Perfect High Priest.  Hallelujah!  What a Savior!

In chapter 10.. all the requirements have been laid out and the responsibilities have been turned over to Aaron and his sons.. 

"Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron took their respective fireman's, and after putting fire in them, placed incense on it and offered strange fire before the Lord, which He had no commanded them.  And fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord." 

They did not take the Word of the Lord seriously and  the two men were immediately punished for their failure to treat the Lord "as holy".   The Lord would not allow His Name to be treated in such a way that would dishonor Him before the people.  Like Cain.. they chose to offer something that they thought was a better choice than what God required. 

The bodies of the two men were removed from the camp by their cousins. 

Aaron and his two remaining sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, were not allowed to leave the tent or mourn the loss of their family members.  The rest of the Israelites were permitted to mourn this loss. 

Then the Lord spoke directly to Aaron.. giving him this command,  "Do no drink wine or strong drink, neither you nor your sons with you, when you come into the tent of meeting, so that you may not die - it is a perpetual statute throughout your generations- and so as to make a distinction between the holy and the profane, and between the unclean and the clean..."

Was this what caused Nadab and Abihu to do what they did?  Had they been drunk? They failed to offer what was holy..  in fact the word "strange" could mean loathsome or profane.. foreign.  Far from what God commanded. 

Again we are reminded of the fact that our offerings before the Lord are to be pure.. holy.  We cannot offer anything of our own will or desire.. but only what God requires.. which He Himself provides through Jesus Christ the Lord.  We can  bring ourselves and offer our bodies.. our hearts.. our whole self before Him, with contrite hearts, with praise and thanksgiving.. for Jesus paid it all! He calls us to lay down our lives, take up our cross, and follow Him.. 

Our Father in heaven, let Your Name be hallowed and honored.. let Your will be done and Your kingdom come.  We ask for Your provision of daily bread and forgiveness of every trespass. We forgive those who have sinned against us. We ask for You to lead us in righteousness and not allow the temptations of this world to draw us from Your Presence. Deliver us from all evil we pray. In the name of our Perfect Savior, Jesus Christ we come. Amen. 

 Leviticus 8-9  Everything was ready.. the tabernacle finished and furnished; the high priest's and other priest's garments prepared.  Aaron and his sons were now set apart  to be consecrated for the work that the Lord commanded them to do. 

Moses followed closely all the commands that the Lord gave him..  Aaron and his sons were washed. They were clothed in the sacred garments. They offered the sin offering and the burnt offering for their atonement.  Moses anointed the tabernacle and the priests.  Aaron and his sons spent 7 days in the tabernacle to complete their ordination.. "just as the Lord commanded.. " 

On the eighth day Aaron started his new job.. The whole congregation was brought before the tabernacle and a sin offering and a burnt offering, along with a grain offering was presented before the Lord on behalf of all the people of Israel. "And Moses said, 'This is the thing which the Lord has commanded you to do, that the glory of the Lord may appear to you.' " ( 9:6)

Everything was done exactly to the Lord's commands.  When it was all complete, Aaron "lifted up his hands towards the people and blessed them..  Moses and Aaron went together into the tabernacle and when they came out they gave another blessing and " the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. "

"Then fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the portions of fat on the altar; and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces." (9:24)

We think about the law and the sacrifices that the people of Israel were commanded to do.. and frankly.. we are glad we do not have to do this anymore..  but, just think about the amazing privilege that they had.. to see..  with their physical eyes..  the "glory of the Lord" and the fire that just came and consumed the offerings.  Don't we long to see the glory of the Lord in such a way?   Sometimes we get just a glimpse.. while we worship together with our church family.. but nothing close to what these Israelites saw that day.  

And yet.. they stayed stubborn, complaining, and rebellious. It seems impossible that they could ever want anything.. or any other idol.. after experiencing such a profound meeting with the Almighty God! But, we know they did. 

And what about us?  Are we any different?  Paul wrote this in 2 Corinthians 3:18  "But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit." We are given and opportunity to see God's glory in God's people, aren't we ?

  As we learn from the book of Hebrews.. we have a greater High Priest.. we have a greater covenant.. and we have a greater sacrifice.  We can draw near.. not to a tent..but to a Savior.  We "enter the holy place" instead of standing at the door.  We have  a new and living way.. through the blood and flesh of Jesus Christ.  Our hearts are "sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." (Hebrews 10:19-22)  We have a living hope.  We have the Spirit of God within us..  so "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful." (v23)

Father in heaven, all glorious above.. keep us in the presence of Your glory.. continue to sanctify us through and through.. transforming us from "glory to glory".. to be the reflection of Jesus our Lord. Let Your will be done.. today.. in us we pray.. In His wonderful name. Amen. 

 Leviticus 6:8-7:38  This passage sums up the role of the priests in the offering of all the sacrifices.. the parts that are offered as a burnt offering,  the parts that are given to the priests as their food, and the place that those are to be eaten.   The Lord reminds them all that these offerings are "holy".  They must never be touched by anyone unclean.. and those who are clean and offer the sacrifice will be "consecrated". 

The law was given that the fire on the altar was to burn day and night (6:12-13)  There would be a continual offering rising up to the Lord as His people walked in obedience to His commands.  The burnt offerings, the grain offerings, the peace offering, the guilt offering.. and 7:37 includes one more.. the "ordination offering."  This would be the next thing as Aaron and his sons are consecrated to serve as priests.   Every offering was required for a purpose.. that sinful people could be made clean, and able to come to the God who loved them.. 

I am reminded once again that Jesus Christ accomplished the satisfaction of every Law.. every requirement that the sacrifice of lambs and bulls could not.  Because of His sacrifice on the cross.. we are accepted.. our atonement has been completed.. our lives are redeemed.. and we can come before Him with praise and thanksgiving... for we are the Lord's forever.  Jesus is the Perfect High Priest and the Perfect Lamb who was slain.  He is an amazing Savior and our glorious King. 

Amen. 

 Leviticus 5:1-6:7  This section describes what is called the "guilt offering" or "trespass offering".  Some of the sins listed here are intentional and some are done unknowingly.  Either way.. sin is sin.  There are no excuses.. but there is a way of restoration and reconciliation.. God has made a way for us to be forgiven!

There are many examples given here, but they are not exclusive..

v1.. a person who is called to testify.. whether he knows what happened or not.. but does not tell what he knows.. "will bear his guilt". 

v2-3 If a person touches something unclean.. even if he doesn't realize it.. is still unclean.  When he realizes it.. "he will be guilty". 

v4  A person who makes an oath.. " thoughtlessly... to do evil or to do good"..  will be guilty. 

"So it shall be when he becomes guilty in one of these, that he shall confess that in which he has sinned." 

Then.. a guilt offering is required. It could be a female lamb, two turtledoves or pigeons, or if he cannot afford even that.. a measure of flour. Whatever he can afford he would need to bring it to the priest and offer it as a sin offering and "he shall be forgiven". 

There were different instructions for  actions of unfaithfulness when a person sinned against the Lord's holy things or against another person. This required a ram without defect according to the value required by the priests.  This was required even if the person didn't want to do harm intentionally..he would still be guilty... he would still need atonement. 

In 6:1-7 there are examples of sins that required not only the guilt offering but restoration to the person offended.. either by robbery or extortion; deception; a lie about something that belonged to the other.  In any case, there needed to be repayment plus one-fifth more added to the restitution.. plus the guilt offering. 

In all of these cases we see that God is quite aware of our guilt even if we are not.. and He will make us aware of it so that we can seek atonement and forgiveness for our guilt. 

Perhaps this is why Jesus taught us to pray.. "forgive us our trespasses".. on a regular basis.. for we may have sinned against someone without realizing it.. or we may have sinned against God's holy commands and been unfaithful.. unintentionally.   Oh how we need the Savior to lead us into all righteousness! 

Father, You are our Mighty God who sees all things.. who looks upon our hearts.. who hears everything that we say.. and You know that we need the covering of the blood of Christ which cleanses us from all our sins.  Forgive us our sins.. our debts.. our trespasses we pray.. in the name of Jesus Christ..  Praise You Father.. for Your  mercies ... that You have provided are new every morning! Thank You.. all honor and glory and power are Yours forever and ever! Amen. 

 Leviticus 4 This passage describes the law for the "sin offering"..  Verse 2 says that this refers to those who "unintentionally" sin... sin that is done in ignorance or inadvertence... a mistake or error that breaks the law of God but without evil intent or rebellion.  

There are specific instructions for specific people:  1. For anointed priests. 2. For the whole congregation. 3. For a leader. 4. For a "common" person.

Verses 3-12 describe the steps needed for the atonement of a priest who sins and thus brings "guilt on the people".   He has to bring a bull without defect.  He would lay his hand on the bull at the doorway of the tabernacle. He would slay it and dip his finger in the blood, sprinkling "some of the blood seven times before the Lord in front of the veil of the sanctuary."  The rest of the blood is poured at the base of the altar, all the fat is offered as a burnt offering. The hide, the head, the legs and the entrails of the bull are taken "outside the camp" and burned there.   The writer of Hebrews refers to this sacrifice:

Hebrews 13:11-13 says this.. "For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin are burned outside the camp.  Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate. Hence, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. " 

Verses 13-20 describe the offering given when the congregation as a whole "commits error and the matter escapes the notice of the assembly and they commit any of the things which the Lord has commanded not to be done, and they become guilty: when the sin becomes known... "  This time a bull is once again offered but it is the responsibility of the elders.. who lay their hands on the head of the bull.  The blood is again sprinkled in front of the veil by the priest, then some is put on the horns of the altar, the rest poured out at the base, and the fat offered up as a burnt offering. The rest is the same.. the hide, head, and legs removed outside the camp and burned.  "So the priest shall make atonement for them and they shall be forgiven." 

Verses 22-26 describe the offering for a leader/ruler who unintentionally sins. This time a male goat is required for the offering. He must bring it to the altar, lay his hand on its head and slay it.  The priest would take some blood and put it on the horns of the altar and the rest is poured out at the base.  All the fat is offered up on the altar as a burnt offering.  "Thus the priest shall make atonement for him in regard to his sin, and he shall be forgiven." 

Verses 27-35 give the instructions for the unintentional sin of the "common people".  This offering had to be an unblemished, female goat or lamb. When the person realizes his sin he would bring the sacrifice, lay his hand on its head,  and slay it at the altar. Again, the priest would take some blood and put it on the horns of the altar, pour the rest at the base, and burn up all the fat.  "Thus the priest shall make atonement for him in regard to his sin which he committed and he shall be forgiven." 

How often do we sin.. "unintentionally" or in "ignorance",,?  Perhaps more than we would like to admit.  The important thing to know is that when we realize it.. confess it.. and repent of it.. we have a Savior who has already made atonement for us!  We shall be forgiven!  Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Father, how perfect are Your Ways and how wonderful is the salvation that we have in Christ Jesus who has made a way for us to be forgiven and cleansed . We have a glorious Savior and we give our thanks and praise and glory to His Name.  Jesus went outside the camp.. for us.  Thank You Lord!  Keep us Father, from all sin.. unintentional or intentional.  Keep us from temptation and lead us in Your ways of righteousness we pray..in Jesus' name . Amen. 

 Leviticus 3  This chapter gives the law for the "peace offering".  Chapter 7 gives us some more information about this sacrifice which can be either an offering of "thanksgiving" or a " votive or freewill offering".  Like all offerings to the Lord the animal offered must not have any defects, the blood is sprinkled around the altar and the fat is offered up by fire.  The offering could be a male or female sheep or goat or cow/ox.

At the end of chapter 3 they were given a strict command.. "It is perpetual statute throughout your generation in all your dwellings: you shall not eat any fat or any blood." 

In chapter 7 we find out that certain portions of the peace or fellowship offering would be given to the priests but the rest could be eaten by the family of the person offering the sacrifice.  If it was given as an offering of thanksgiving it would be accompanied by unleavened or leavened cakes. (verses11-15)  If it was a a "votive or a freewill offering".. an offering that was given as a vow.. or for some other reason,  the portion left after the blood and fat were offered, could be eaten that day or the next.  Anything left over had to be burned up. 

Again, they were told to not eat any of the fat or blood of any manner. 

There was one more important command about the offering of the peace offering.. it could only be offered at the tabernacle.. never in an open field.  This was a warning against idolatry since the pagans would offer their own sacrifices to the idols that they worshipped in that way..  The Israelites could too easily fall into playing "the harlot" by offering sacrifices to the "goat demons" (17:5-7) 

So, what can we learn from this?  Every offering and sacrifice was given for the purpose that God willed for His chosen people. It brought them into a deeper relationship or fellowship with Him.  We know that every one of these sacrifices were fulfilled in the cross of Jesus Christ.  He is the One who brings us into the True and Perfect fellowship with our God.  It is through Christ that we have True Peace.. True fellowship with our heavenly Father.  We do not bring an offering of blood because the blood of Jesus Christ has been offered.. once for all.. as we read in the book of Hebrews.  We are now able to bring a daily sacrifice or praise and thanksgiving.. through the One who died for us!

Father in heaven, we are so thankful for such a Savior! We praise the One who became the perfect Lamb of God.. who has brought us into the family of God.. making a way that the blood of a lamb or ox never could. How thankful we are for the mercy You have poured out upon us in Jesus Christ.  We willingly bring the only sacrifice that we can.. presenting our bodies as "a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God.. "  (Romans 12:!) We come with gratitude for the atonement for our sins through the cross of our Lord. We bring our tithes and offerings.. as a pledge and commitment of devotion to You alone. Keep us in Truth by Your word and Your Spirit we pray.. in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen. 

 Leviticus 2  A grain offering can be offered in many forms.. ( keep reading.. it is not as simple as it might seem) 

It can be fine flour with oil and frankincense poured on top of it.. where the priest takes a handful of the flour and oil and all of the frankincense and offers it up in the smoke of the altar.  The rest of the flour and oil belongs to Aaron and his sons "a thing most holy of the offerings to the Lord by fire." vs 1-2

The flour and oil can be made in an oven.. baked into unleavened cakes or wafers and offered that way. v4

The flour and oil and be mixed together and cooked on a griddle, broken into bits and offered. v5

Or, the flour and oil can be cooked in a pan.. v7

No matter which way the worshipper brings the grain offering... it is brought to the priest who offers a "memorial portion" to burn on the altar and the remainder provides food for the priests. 

The grain offering can never have leaven or honey... but it must always include an offering of salt.  "Every grain offering of yours, moreover, you shall season with salt so that the salt of the covenant of your God shall not be lacking from your grain offering;" 

A grain offering was used for the celebration of "first fruits" one of the yearly feasts that the Lord commanded.  Perhaps it was given at other times too..  

Verse 14 adds another way that the grain can be offered as a "early ripened" offering.. The person would bring "fresh heads of grain roasted in the fire, grits of new growth, for the grain offering of your early ripened things." These "grits... are covered with incense".. and offered up in smoke. 

These grain offerings were to be unleavened and unsweetened.. uncorrupted.  They were offered with salt.. a preservative.  The grain would be a result of each man's labor.. the work of his hands.. provided by God's gift of fruitfulness... for He provides the rain and the sun. the soil and the seed. It is bringing back to God what He has blessed you with.  In the case of the first fruits it would show thankfulness for the beginning for the harvest and trust for the rest of the harvest. 

Some of the grain offering is burned by fire and some would provide for the priests.. those who ministered before the Lord.  In the same way, we bring a tithe to the Lord.. uncorrupted gifts from our labor.  We cannot get money from unholy sources and think that it is holy enough for the Lord. He does not want it!  Likewise we are to bring our offering with "salt"..  Jesus tells us that we are the "salt of the earth".. and that unsalty salt is worthless. Salt has value and worth.. Mark 9:49-50 tells us that "everyone will be salted with fire".  Jesus says to " have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other."  It is referring to this requirement in Leviticus that every grain offering include salt.  In Lev. 2:13 it speaks of " the salt of the covenant"..  It is an offering that  symbolizes a pledge.. a treaty.. an agreement.. of devotion to God. 

When we write a check or give online as a tithe to our church.. a gift or offering to the Lord... we need to consciously and deliberately consider the meaning that this can and should  have..  If we give out of duty and not devotion we miss the point!  We come with the fruit of our labors.. with honest, undefiled gifts  and with devoted hearts.. confirming our covenant with our Lord.  This is worship to our God who has given His all to us. This is an offering acceptable to the Lord... for it is from our whole being.  As Romans 12:1 says.. " ... present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice , acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship." 

Father, we desire to honor Your holy Name, to do Your will, and to seek Your Kingdom and righteousness.  We ask for daily bread, for You are our Provider.. and we offer to You gifts from what You have provided.. cheerfully and with thanksgiving!  "Teach us Your ways O Lord.. that we might live according to Your truth. Grant us purity of heart that we might honor Your name.". ( Psalm 86:11) Forgive us for giving money just out of obligation or out of any self-serving motives..  and help us to give our whole selves to You along with our tithes and offerings.  We ask this in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.   Amen.