Have you ever wondered what it must have felt like to be in the heart of Israel’s wilderness camp? Would you have been judged? Would gossip have spread by the type of offering you pulled or carried to the tabernacle? Maybe Yah provided both voluntary and mandatory offerings so people wouldn’t know what was being taken. But on the other hand, would a public display of an offering help keep the camp on target? How can we learn from Leviticus today?
The Hebrew verb for “offering” a sacrifice means literally to “bring (it) near.” Bringing a sacrifice near to the sanctuary brought the worshipper near to Yahweh. Though for some, sin could easily invoke guilt. Would this still cause a person to bring near and worship?
Upon a closer look, the sacrifices were not always meant for some big sin. Thanksgiving and praise were also a part of this system. Both of these areas affect a society or body of believers. Consider, the pollution caused by moral impurity, secrets held, disregard to neighbors, and lack of respect towards Yahweh, would this corrupt a community? Consider thanksgiving, fellowship, honor, and forgiveness. Would these strengthen a community?
Also notice. Most sacrifices were split into two or three portions—God’s portion, the portion for the Levites or priests, and, if there was a third, a portion kept by the person offering the sacrifice. This seems to imply that sin or praise is not just limited to personal feelings.
Voluntary Sacrifices
The first was the burnt offering, a voluntary act of worship to express devotion or commitment to Yahweh. It was also used as an atonement for unintentional sin.
The second voluntary offering was the grain offering. The purpose of the grain offering was to express thanksgiving in recognition of God’s provision and unmerited goodwill toward the person making the sacrifice.
The third voluntary offering was the peace offering. This was a sacrifice of thanksgiving and fellowship followed by a shared meal. The high priest was given the breast of the animal; the officiating priest was given the right foreleg. These pieces of the offering were called the “wave offering” and the “heave offering” because they were waved or lifted over the altar during the ceremony.
Mandatory Sacrifices
The first was the sin offering. The purpose of the sin offering was to atone for sin and cleanse from defilement. The type of animal chosen depended on the identity and financial situation of the giver.
The other mandatory sacrifice was the trespass offering. The trespass offering was given as atonement for unintentional sins that required reimbursement to an offended party, and also as a cleansing from defiling sins or physical maladies.
How then is the sacrificial system relevant to us today, for Yeshua has done away with the blood of goats and bulls. Weren’t these sacrifices “a shadow of the things that were to come? We read in Hebrews 10:
“For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the form of those things itself, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually every year, make those who approach perfect.”
“. . . Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; 12 but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time onward until His enemies are made a footstool for His feet.14 For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. 15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying,
16 “This is the covenant which I will make with them After those days, declares the Lord: I will put My laws upon their hearts,
And write them on their mind,” 17 “And their sins and their lawless deeds I will no longer remember.” 18 Now where there is forgiveness of these things, an offering for sin is no longer required.”
I believe the prophetic picture of the sacrificial system pointed forward to the perfect and final sacrifice of Yeshua the Messiah. Yeshua’s atoning death on the cross became the only needed sacrifice for sin, offered once for all. His death opened the “holy place” for us so that we can freely enter Yahweh’s presence and offer our “sacrifice of praise.” (Hebrews 10)
The question I have is, “what would happen if churches, fellowships, and families honored the ideals of Hebrews 10, and brought only The Lamb? Do we have any other offering? Here is what I mean:
- If we are to be a living sacrifice to Yahweh, wouldn’t we draw near to The One who has conquered sin for us? Would we move forward with an act of devotion? And, what would that devotion look like? For some reason, I believe devotion is related to doing.
- Yeshua was put on public display, naked and battered as he carried our sins. If He was willing to do this for us, I believe we should be eager to be accountable unto Him.
- What kind of picture would be created if individuals within the body of Yeshua (the church) gave not only praise offerings with their lips, but gave physical offerings of praise?
- How would the “camp” benefit if there was public offerings of Yeshua’s provision, His peaceful resolutions, and the ability to forgive when a trespass towards another was committed?
I believe it’s time to come clean with one another and start bringing “our sacrifice” near to the Heavenly tabernacle. The Book of Acts, gives a clear picture of how the early church came near to Yahweh.
“Those who received his (Peter’s) word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.” (Acts 2:41)
What happened after this?
* They devoted themselves to the apostle’s teachings
* They broke bread with one another and prayed
* Signs and wonders took place and they contributed sacrifice.
Be blessed this Sabbath,
Rollyn