Wed 8th Feb 2023 - Daily Reading:
Leviticus 3
Offerings by Becky Brooks
We are three chapters into Leviticus now, and so far we have read about many different types of offerings. In fact, the first seven chapters focus on the laws of sacrifice or offerings.
Each description does not contain enough information to act as an instruction guide to carrying out offerings. It doesn’t tell us everything, but it tells us everything we need to know to understand the ceremonies that took place when Aaron and his sons were ordained as priests which we will read about in chapters 8 and 9.
Chapters 1, 2 and 3 cover the burnt offerings, the grain offerings and the fellowship offerings, with different options for each, depending on what the person could afford. They are not listed in the order in which they were carried out, but grouped together in themes, probably so that they were easier to remember.
The burnt offerings were about total consecration to the Lord, and the Lord’s acceptance of the person making the offering. They also made atonement for sin. This was the most common offering as the priests made a burnt offering every morning and every evening. Burnt offerings represent the opportunity to be forgiven, to please the Lord and find acceptance with him.
The grain offerings were an offering of worship. Grain offerings always followed the daily burnt offering because worship (grain offering) is the right response to receiving forgiveness for sin and acceptance by the Lord (burnt offering).
The fellowship offerings were optional – the people could bring them whenever they wished to. Sometimes called peace offerings, they represented the fellowship between God and man that God had created through offering forgiveness and redemption. They were often brought as a way of giving thanks to the Lord.
Today we no longer bring animals or the fruits of our fields as offerings. Instead, we bring our whole selves in repentance, in worship and in thanksgiving for the fellowship that God has made available for us through the once and for all sacrifice of Jesus. Let us not forget to bring our offering.