Leviticus

Leviticus 3.

Leviticus 3 gives us one of the most sought after

desired

precious realities in the world

can anyone guess what that is?

Here some hints..

we cant get it through politics

we cant buy it

no human can give it to us

The coveted reality that Lev 3 gives us

is Peace with God

This offering is called the

Fellowship offering

or the Peace offering

The Peace offering is about restoring

broken relationships

especially, our broken relationship with God

that was broken because of our sin

This fellowship offering signified communion

between God and the worshiper (9:18,21 ; 21:19; Nm 6:18)

What do you think about having a meal with God?

how do you think it would go?

Just y'all 2?

maybe just us as a congregation?

what do you think that would be like?

Thoughts?

would you feel ashamed

or would it be the best time of your life?

Jews loved celebrations

and one thing about our church that we do very well

as I have learned

is fellowship

I really enjoy our meals together as a congregation

well to the Jews it was the same way

They loved feasts together

we have the pass over

pentacost

all of those were feasts essentially

they loved communion with each other

and with God

Does fellowship with God sound good?

Yes?

Then we should love this peace offering or

fellowship offering

This one is called the peace offering

well because we got to eat some of it as well

we got to eat a meal with God per se

And we see that a lot even in the NT

correct?

One of the characteristics of the early church was shared meals

Acts 2:46 “46 Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts,”

A lot of things are similar with the burnt offering

as far as how it is sacrificed

but, the whole thing isn’t burned

because this is a meal with the Lord

this is displayed the fact that

you, we have peace with God

we share some with the priests

and some with our friends

we dont see that in this text

but we see it when these are further explained

in chapter 7

it says in a round about way

that after the specified portion

of the fellowship offering were burned on the alter

the rest of the animal was cooked as a meal for the worshiper

for the priest and for the other people

we can also gather that this is a meal from

verses 11 and 16 that refer to it as food

But this is the only offering that “we”

or they got to partake in

as in they ate some along with the priest

that is why in V3 it says part of offering

is to the Lord

now… why do we get to have a peace offering

or a fellowship meal with God?

Because so far

We have

in chapter 1 with the burnt offering

we have atoned for our sin

remember that was all about blood

and atonement

remember sin had to be removed before we

could be with God

and sin is removed by the blood of something

in order for us to be reconciled to Him

In chapter 2 we learned of the grain offering

this offering expressed dedication

and thanksgiving to the lord

it was an offering given to the lord for all he has provided

remember the bread of life

that God gives us everything we need for life

So if we are tracking along we

see the significance

in the order

once we have come to God and

received forgiveness for our sins

and the wrath of God is satisfied

then we express Thanksgiving and worship

followed by communion with God

fellowship

peace

See how awesome those 3 go together

its almost like its a picture our of salvation in

Jesus Christ

So lets look at a few things here

Its broken again into 3 sections

Bull - 1-4 (from the herd)

Sheep - 6-11 (from the flock)

Goats - 12-16 (from the flock as well)

goats are distinguished differently from sheep here because sheep have moe fat and are therefore

theoretically worth more

where as in the burnt offering the

sheet and goat are together because it

is all burnt up

none is shared

No option for dove

this means restoring broken relationships

is costly

We see again that the worshiper would

lay his hand on the head of the offering

just like in the burnt offering

signifying that personal connection

with the animal

a lot of this is the same as the burnt offering

one major difference is that

as we have already discussed

not all of it was burned up

only the fat was given to the Lord

because back them the fat was seen

as the best part

and I must admit I love a steak with a lot of marbling

but not only the fat was burned up

but also the kidneys

figuratively back then the kidneys

signified a persons feelings and inner thoughts

so that was given to God

and the liver,

thats interesting

well according to one of my sources

Exalting Jesus in Leviticus (We Submit to the Word of God)

The livers of animals… were used by the Canaanites in pagan worship in a form of divination called hepatoscopy. Canaanite priests examined the livers of animals to divine the future or to determine the will of the gods. Archaeologists have discovered clay models of livers at ancient Canaanite sites. Evidently Canaanite priests used the models to teach apprentices how to read animal livers to divine the future (Yelton, “Cuneiform Texts,” 17–22).

The one true God told His people not to save that part of the animal—not for divination or for anything else—but to burn the liver on the altar. They were not looking at a liver to determine the future; they were trusting in God for the future.

I found that pretty interesting

So, the overall theme here is..

That after we see our need for reconciliation with God

which is seen in these 5 things we have learned thus far

which are the foundation of the sacrificial system

they are

Exalting Jesus in Leviticus We See the Need for Reconciliation with God

1. God is holy—so holy that no sin is allowed in His presence.

2. God is just; He always punishes sin.

3. The penalty God has ordained for sin is death.

4. People are sinners, so in our sinful state we’re not allowed into God’s presence, and our sin will lead to death.

5. God is gracious, loving, and faithful to His covenant.

So once we learned all of this

we learn that we must bring our lives to God

We must submit to Him and his word

Then, we can enter into fellowship with Him

and within that fellowship we express Thanksgiving

we give Him our best

and thus we get to share our lives with the People of God

just like we do at our fellowships

and on evening like tonight

Because ultimately, God wants us to be at peace with him

and we can only be at peace with him after those things occured

according to the sacrificial system

but thanks be to God that he has given us another

way

a new way to be at peace with him

and that is through his son

Jesus Christ

Just like they found peace with God through this fellowship offering

we find peace with God through the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Colossians 1:20 “20 and through him to reconcile everything to himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”

Ephesians 2:14 “14 For he is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In his flesh,”

Ephesians 6:15 “15 and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace.”

Romans 5:1 “1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

John 14:27 (Jesus says) “27 “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful.”

Amen for the for the fact that we have peace with God

And through Jesus we have the peace of God

Close with Reading Hebrews 9:11-15

Hebrews 9:11–15 CSB

11 But Christ has appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come. In the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands (that is, not of this creation), 12 he entered the most holy place once for all time, not by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow, sprinkling those who are defiled, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works so that we can serve the living God? 15 Therefore, he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called might receive the promise of the eternal inheritance, because a death has taken place for redemption from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.