Leviticus and Sacrifices

Illustration A big part of the class was the processing and harvest of livestock. For one of my meat classes we watch the entire harvest from stun to split of a pig and all the steps in between. They tell us if your session is before noon be sure to eat breakfast. If it is in the afternoon to eat lunch.

the kill Room is not exceptionally large and it is not refrigerated. All of us students are crowed in the middle of this room about 12 to 15 of us. all the harvesting equipment is lined up around the perimeter of the room. the room is humid for a couple of reason first is what called the scalder an apparatus that fits the entire pig. the purpose is to remove the hair of the pig because we don’t skin pigs. their is also humidity released from the evisceration of the animal that most people would not expect.

The room smells like Iron from the blood, mingled with a handful of other unpleasant smells.

As we are all standing there observing the process, and listening to the professor; my friend standing next to me gets real stiff leans foreward and then falls straight back.

During the harvest process its warm and your sense get overwhelmed and it is quite common for peoples blood sugar to drop and then faint

Sacrifice is a typical word that most people do not like to hear. Because when that word is uttered most people think oh no I don’t like change, second they think what is this going to cost me or what an Archaic idea of killing innocent animals.

—By the end of today I want you to understand that their is depth and complexity to sacrifices and that the grace has a cost. Or as the pastor and spy for the allies in WW2 Diedrich Bonhoeffer “costly grace”

The first sacrifice in scripture is in Genesis at the fall. Adam and Eve cover themselves out of shame. They decided to use fig leaves. Those of you who are familiar with scripture say well that make sense figs are through out the Bible.

however the significance of using figs leave would have been familiar to the audience scripture was written to. But because of our removal from agriculture modern reads don’t get the significance of covering with fig leaves. Figs leak a noxious white sap that irritates your skin. If you have not put this together yet they have placed these rough leaves that leaks noxious sap over their genitiles. But that is what sin does.

In response God in his grace provides them with animal skins. This is not called a sacrifice but it is understood that to cover sin life has to be taken.

The next historical sacrifice we have to discuss is Cain and Abel. Abel offers a sacrifice from the flock and Cain from the field. Abel’s offering was regarded by the Lord but Cain’s was not. Many commentators will jump and say that the issue with Cains’s offering is because it was not an animal but a from the field.

this is incorrect for two reasons. First Leviticus chapter 2 we have the grain offering that is pleasing aroma to the Lord. Second as we continue to read nothing is mentioned about the content of the sacrifice but the position of Cains heart. Cain is warned to rule over Sin or it is going to rule over him and it does.

God caring more about the heart and actions of people more than the sacrifices is not novel to this section of scripture but is found all over the prophets for example opening to Isaiah1:11-17

Isaiah 1:11–13 NASB95

11 “What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?” Says the Lord. “I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams And the fat of fed cattle; And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs or goats. 12 “When you come to appear before Me, Who requires of you this trampling of My courts? 13 “Bring your worthless offerings no longer, Incense is an abomination to Me. New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies— I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly.

Isaiah 1:17 NASB95

17 Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow.

God’s desire for us to have the correct heart disposition and actions is in the Psalms, and even in the wisdom literature of Proverbs, Proverbs 21:3

Proverbs 21:3 NASB95

3 To do righteousness and justice Is desired by the Lord more than sacrifice.

let me give you one more example before I bring this back to Leviticus this time from the new testament in the Gospel. Matthew 5:23-24

Matthew 5:23–24 NASB95

23 “Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.

So even, Christ desires us to be in right relationship with our fellow man. This is a point you have heard me make before and you will hear me make it again. Righteousness is not just being in right relationship with God, it is also being in right relationship with you fellow Image Barrers.

you can not have healthy relationships with people without being in right relationship with God. you are also not in right relationship with God if you do not desire to be in right relationship with others. If you carry around disgust, distain, jealousy, or unforgiveness for a specific person or groups of people that means you have problems with the image of God which is a rejection of Him.

therefore what do we do; we start with seeking to be right with the LORD, and in the process he equips us to be right with our fellow man.

Ok how is this all relevant to the sacrifices in the opening to Leviticus? When we look at the Law and instructions for the sacrificial system of the Pentateuch and then compare it to its contemporaries we are going to notice a lot of similarities.

give examples

for example the arrangement of the tabernacle was similar to other Canaanite temples. their is event archeological evidence that Early Egyptians had a mobile temple. the concept of a whole burnt offering was extremely common with all of Israels neighbors.

the outfits the priest and high priest was similar to Canaanite priest. even the practices of cleanliness and cleansing was similar.

even the law code has parallels to their contemporaries. the closest parallel is the Code of Hammurabi. Hammurabi was the 6th king of the First Babylonian Dynasty, this is in modern day Iraq.

In the myth narrative the law was given directly to Hammurabi by the God. the next similarity is the Focus on justice, protection of the vulnerable, and Regulated slavery, property, marriage, inheritance, and personal injury.

even the practice of case Law was similar for example

Code of Hammurabi — Law 250–252 (paraphrased)

If an ox gores a man to death, then the owner is not liable if the ox was not known to be dangerous.

But if the ox was known to gore (its “habit of goring” is established) and the owner failed to restrain it, then the owner shall pay a fine or, in some versions, be put to death depending on who is killed.

Torah — Exodus 21:28–32 (NASB)

If an ox gores a man or woman to death, then the ox shall be stoned and its flesh not eaten, but the owner shall go unpunished.

If, however, the ox was previously in the habit of goring, and the owner had been warned but did not confine it, and then it kills someone, then the owner shall be put to death (Exodus 21:29), though a ransom may be set in place of execution (Exodus 21:30).

I know our gut reaction is probably that cant be. They were supposed to be different. I thought the whole purpose of the people of Israel was for them to be Holy which means set apart and therefore different from their neighbors.

The key difference between Israel and it neighbors is how the ethical and civil law is tied to the religious ritual practices.

all of Israel’s neighbors believe some version that humanity was created as the by product the Gods confronting Chaos. therefore humanity is to serve the Gods and their intrinsic value is low because they are by products.

in comparison to the Torah we are the image of God and ment to bring God’s kingdom to the world.

This is consistent with the Cain and Abel narrative. God cares about the moral and civil laws. Because any practice of unrighteousness toward your fellow image barrier is an act of unrighteousness with God.

I hope I have convinced you that the sacrifice were focused on your heart and spiritual condition. But what about the physical part of you. To demonstrate the physical aspect of sacrifice and its connection to the spiritual lets look at the similarities of the sacrifice the the congregation can bring.

There are 5 different sacrifices. 3 are done out of an act of worship and 2 are for atonement of sin.

First is the whole burnt then the grain or thanksgiving offering third is the peace offering, the last is the sin offering and the guilt offering

When we examine the similarities of all the animal sacrifices we began to see the full body experience of the sacrifices. So let’s set the stage you get up early with your family. You have selected a special animal that meets all the requirements. So you pack up your family your good carving knife, the grain offering. You head to the temple or tabernacle as you approach the first thing you