Week 27 Homework

This Sunday our topic will be bacon.  We will be looking at the Levitical food laws and attempting to answer three questions:

1.  What is the reason for the food laws?

2.  Why were goats and cows OK to eat but not shrimp and pork?

3.  Why is it cool to eat bacon now? Why the change?   

Your homework is to read Leviticus 11.  It is pretty long and not particularly interesting, so reading the first 23 verses will probably give you enough of the flavor of the passage if you can't make it through the whole chapter.

Week 27 Levitical Sacrifices

Introduction

• The key to understand Leviticus is to read it in context.  The division of the books is somewhat artificial.  They are part of a continuous narrative that we have imposed an order upon.

1. What just happened prior to the book of Leviticus?

• The Israelites had been freed from captivity in Egypt, they have received the law, and built a tabernacle.  Exodus closes with God Himself moving into the tabernacle.

“Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting and the glory of YHWH filled the tabernacle.  And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of YHWH filled the tabernacle.”

Exodus 40:34-35

• So what we have said is God is now dwelling with His people.  This is the Immanuel principle - God is with us.
• However, God is holy and cannot dwell among sin.  So partly the point of Leviticus is to communicate to Israel the gravity of their sin and the separation sin brings.  The other point of Leviticus is to provide a means by which despite the fact of the people can approach God.
• Leviticus 1-7 describes the sacrifices.  Leviticus 11-15 talks about purity which will 

  be the topic of next week’s small group.

• Leviticus starts by describing the sacrifice that provides atonement for sin.

Sacrifice

• On of the first clear instance of sacrifice is Genesis 9:20 when Noah sacrifices some of the clean animals he had taken aboard the ark.
• This is not just an empty gesture, it was an act of faith since there would be very few animals left at this point.
• Genesis 6:5 tells the rational for the flood:

   “YHWH saw the wickedness of man was great and that every intention of the thoughts 

   of his heart was only evil continually.  And YHWH was sorry that he made man and it 

   grieved Him to His heart.”

• Genesis 8:21 describes God’s thoughts after the flood:

   “And when YHWH smelled the pleasing aroma, YHWH said in His heart, “I will never

   curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from birth”

• It seems the flood has accomplished nothing, nevertheless God decides to allow man

   to continue without the threat of continual punishment - what changed?

• God has decided to no longer deal with sin through judgment but to accept the 

    sacrifice of a righteous man given in faith.  It is this principle that allows God to 

    continue with man.

Offerings

1. Ascension Offering (Olah)

• Offered twice a day on behalf of all of Israel.  Accompanied by the grain

  offering and a drink offering.

• The whole animal was burned - this is the type of offering Noah offered and it was also the offering that was substituted for Isaac.
• It was sin in general not a specific sin.
• The animal must be a male bull, ram, or goat, but could also be a bird.  It was very costly but there was a sliding scale so even the poor could participate.
• The offerer pressed on the animals head with his hands.  In other places in the O.T. we are told that this act symbolizes transference.  The offerer is transferring his life to the animal.  This is the principle of substitution. 
• The offerer was the one who killed, skinned, and butchered the animal.
• It was the blood of the animal that was the key.  The blood represented life.  The life of the animal must be given in order for the Israelites to have relationship with God.  
• Drove home the seriousness of the separation brought about by sin.
• Represents consecration or complete devotion to God.  Something consecrated is something that moves from the realm of the everyday to the realm of the sacred. The name olah means to ascend.  The idea is the sacrifice is completely burned and the smoke ascends to God as a pleasing aroma.

1. Tribute Offering (Minchah)

• Grain was offered and the wheat or barley was to be ground fine.  In the ancient near east grain was not a commodity - it was valuable and was used for beer.  It took a lot of work to grind it fine.  This was the type of flour eaten by a king, not a commoner.
• Sometimes the word minchah is used to describe tribute presented to a king such a when Ehud brings tribute to King Eglon.
• The grain was mixed with oil and presented either cooked or uncooked in an oven or on a griddle like flat bread.  Leaven was never used nor honey.  This is probably because leaven decomposes the flour and honey speeds the process. 
• The amount was equivalent to about 1 bag of flour and 1/2 gallon of olive oil.
• Salt was also added which is something used in covenant ceremonies.
• “All the holy contributions that the people of Israel present to YHWH I give to you and to your sons and daughters with you as a perpetual due.  It is a covenant of salt forever before YHWH for you and your seed with you.”

  Numbers 18:19

• Salt is used to preserve and cure food unlike leaven which breaks down food.  Also

  frankincense burned with offering.

-  Only a small amount burned the rest given to the priest.

• Usually offered along with the who burnt offering, but offerer did not identify with the     

   offering so not used for atonement.  The purpose was to express devotion to a king.

1. Peace Offering (Shalom)

• Made at anytime as either a sign of thanksgiving or as a freewill offering.  The name derives from the same root as the word shalom.
• Offerer would select a male or female from the flock and slaughter and lay hands on the animal identifying his self with the animal.  They would slaughter the animal and the priest would collect the blood and sprinkle it on the altar.
• The animal would then be skinned.  The kidneys, fat, and liver would be removed. These would be burnt and were considered God’s portion.  These parts are considered delicacies.
• The breast and right thigh were given to the priest and the remainder was eaten by the offerer.  
• There is some evidence to suggest that this may have been one of the the only times an ancient Israelite ate meat.
• Eating a meal together had more significance in the Ancient Near East than in our culture.

Accompanying Offerings

• According to Numbers 15 every sacrifice was accompanied by a grain offering and a wine offering.
• About half gallon was used but the amount varied somewhat according to the animal sacrificed.

Atonement

The olah is said to be made for atonement.  Atonement is another word we use a lot in church, but I think its meaning is fuzzy to us.  It has become church and abstract.  What I want to do is make it more concrete.

When an ox gores a man or woman to death, the ox shall be stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten, but the owner of the ox shall not be liable.  But if the ox has been accustomed to gore in the past, and its owner has been warned but has not kept it in, and it kills a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned and its owner shall be put to death.  If a ransom is imposed on him, then he shall give for the redemption of his life whatever is imposed on him.  If it gores a man’s son or daughter, he shall be dealt with according to the same rule.  If the ox gores a slave, male or female, the owner shall give to their master thirty shekels of silver and the ox shall be stoned.”

Exodus 21:28-32

Use examples from the small group.  

The interesting part of this passage is that the word for ransom is kofer which is the same root as is used as atonement in Levitcus.  A ransom is the price paid to avoid the death penalty.  It is the price paid for someone’s life. In the words of Exodus it means redemption of life.  This is the meaning of atonement.

“For the life of the flesh is in the blood and I, I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.”

Leviticus 17:11.

Leviticus says that it is God who provides a means of atonement.  God is the one who provides for the redemption of life.  He pays our ransom.  These sacrifices are repeated over and over as Hebrews points out.  Ultimately, they are inadequate. They point to something bigger and that is Christ.  Christ is also given to us by God to make atonement for life.  

Logic of the Sacrifices

• The sacrifices in Leviticus are presented in a logical order.  First the olah which represents atonement, then the minchah and next the shalom offering.
• As a result of atonement we can devote ourselves to God and have peace and fellowship with Him.
• Acts 2 describes the life of the early believers.  These were those who had accepted the atonement that Jesus had represented and offered for them. Pentecost had just happened.  

Q. What is the significance of Pentecost?

• Pentecost signified the return of God’s Holy Spirit

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.  And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.”

Acts 2:1&2

Q.  Where have we seen this before?

• In Exodus 40 when God’s Holy Spirit entered the tabernacle which is why there is a book of Leviticus.  

• Acts 2:42 describes the actions as a community of those who Christ had provided atonement.  

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

You see the atonement of Christ led to devotion and fellowship expressed in the breaking of bread and prayers.  Its the same logic as Leviticus.

     Q.  Where do you see communion in this scheme                                                                                      Q.   In Ancient Israel, God is offered the bread and the priest at a portion, the wine is completely given to God.  Why do we now eat just the bread and wine at communion?

Week 26 Homework

Read Leviticus 1

The first seven chapters of Leviticus detail 5 different types of sacrifices. When reading chapter 1, don't get too bogged down in the details, all I want you to do is picture what is going on and get a flavor for what was involved with the sacrifices.

Week 26 Prayer Requests

1.  Aaron's Knee as well Alicia and Bruce who is covering Aaron's calls

2.  Conner Howell - Kidney surgery next week

3.  Samantha - recovery

4.  Kristen's Director of Pharmacy whose husband passed away

5.  Chris's Aunt who is diagnosed with breast cancer, lost her husband, and whose son is in the ICU because of seizures from alcohol withdraw

6.  Cade (Lundberg's nephew) undergoing a new treatment 

7.  Dave Howell has a pinched nerve and is in some pain

Week 26 Review

Q.  What task is Adam and Eve given in the garden?

  1.  Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth

  2.  Subdue and rule over the earth

  3.  Guard and keep the garden

Q.  Adam and Eve are created in the image of God, what does it mean to be created in the image of God?

   -  The word for image is tsalem which is the same word used for idols.  An ideal is a 

   representation of God.  

   - In the Ancient Near East the king was the image of God.  The phrase refers to man’s

   position of authority as God’s representative.  

  -  Ancient near east kings would also set up images of themselves to represent their   

  sovereignty and presence.  

The picture that emerges is that humanity would be fruitful and multiply filling the earth with more humanity that bear the image of God.  Humanity would expand the garden as they subdued and ruled over the earth.  Subdue and rule is a symbol of kingship or authority.  We often view these words as negative, however, a king is to rule with wisdom.  Our negative view is because sin has so distorted this mission that is frequently done incorrectly.  Humanity retains this authority but presently is only a parody and distortion of humanity’s task.    

The result is that God’s glory would fill the earth.   

Q.  Adam and Eve are told to work 6 days and then rest because God created the universe in 6 days and then rested.  In what way does humanities work imitate God’s?

-  God subdued chaos ruled over it and created and filled the earth with life.  Adam and Eve’s task is the same.  

Q.  What is the significance of rest?

-  Rest is not ceasing from activity.  It is a picture of the great king taking his seat on the throne and ruling creation after he has defeated his enemies.  

-  By holding out the pattern of work followed by rest and charging humanity with imitating that pattern, the promise is held out that if humanity completes its appointed task it can also enter into rest.  

-  There is a goal to creation.  

Take home message - God wants to fill the earth with His glory and He wants humanity to be the means of accomplishing this task.  

Adam is given delegated authority much like a king and a vassal.  The arrangement in the garden can be thought of as a covenant.   Adam is given stipulations as well as sanctions.  The sanctions are symbolized by the two trees.  Successful completion of the task results in eternal life symbolized by the tree of life as well as sharing in God’s sabbath rest.  Disobedience is symbolized by the tree of the knowledge of good and evil which results in death and exile.  

-  One of the tasks given was to rule over creation and to keep and guard the garden.  Keep and guard are words used of priests who were charged with keeping unclean things out of the tabernacle.  The meaning of the tree of the knowledge of good evil is murky, but knowledge of good and evil indicates wise judgment elsewhere in the O.T. By listening to the serpent and not condemning the serpent and exercising their God appointed authority to judge they fail at their task.

Q.  What was the result of Adam and Eve’s disobedience?

-  Exile and death.    

-  The job of guarding the garden is given to the cherubim with the flaming sword to prevent access to the tree of life.  The only way to access the tree of life is to pass through God’s judgment.  

Q.   God does not end His plan for filling the earth with His glory and doing so through man.  What does God do to ensure His plan continues until completion?

-  God allows the human race to continue and promises a seed who will defeat the serpent.  We are left wondering the identity of this seed and how this plan will play ou.  The word seed continues to recur throughout Genesis indicating that one of its themes is the development of this seed.  

-  Adam responds to this in faith by naming his wife Eve or life.  

-  Genesis 5 makes clear that the image of God is something that is still retained by humanity.  

Q.   After the fall until Abraham we have the story of Cain & Abel, Lamech, the story of the sons of God taking the daughters of man, the story of Noah, and the story of Babel.  Why does the Bible include these stories, what is the point?

-   Humans are still made in the image of God and the task is repeated.  

-   These stories demonstrate the effects of sin and also how God deals with sin.  A pattern recurs similar to the one in the garden, man sins, God executes His judgment, but also demonstrates a measure of grace.  

-  We also see the line of the seed being narrowed throughout Genesis.  Cain and his line are contrasted with Seth and his line who call on the name of YHWH.  Calling the name is better translated calling themselves after the name.  They identify themselves as people of YHWH.  The seed will further be narrowed down as a descendent of Shem who will one day incorporate the sons of Japeth.  

Q.  What is the significance of Abraham to this story?

-  The theme of filling the earth, subduing the earth, and filling the earth with God’s glory is given to Abraham.  It is through Abraham and his seed that all the nations will be blessed and God’s plan for humanity will come to completion.  

Q.  There is something different about the task given to Abraham than the one given to his predecessors, what is it?

-  The task is now given in the form of a promise along with the promise that God would be with Abraham.

-  This promise is given to Abraham and his descendants and is repeated throughout Genesis.

Q.  Abraham’s descendants become enslaved into Egypt and He frees them.  What is the reason for God’s freeing the Hebrews?

-  God frees the Hebrews because God had promised Abraham that He would.  This is necessary if the promises given to Abraham are to be fulfilled.

Q.  What parallels do we see between Adam and Eve in the garden and Israel?

-  In freeing the Hebrews from Pharaoh, we see the themes of Genesis repeated.  God defeats chaos and the nation of Israel is born as His new creation.  Israel is given a holy land and a task.  Their task is the same as Adam’s, to subdue and conquer the land, to be obedient to the commands of God, to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth with God’s glory.  

-  God’s task for the world, begun in Adam, is to be fulfilled by Israel.  

-  We can say that Israel is a recapitulation of Adam and the garden.  They are both given a land where the presence of God dwells.  They are given a task to fulfill and commands to obey.  Both fail in their task and the result is exile from the presence of God.  

-  Israel’s story is Adam’s story.  This story will reach a dead end, but God is determined to fill the earth with His glory and to do so through humanity and through Israel as He promised Adam and Abraham that he would.  Eventually a son of Adam and a descendent of Israel representing the seed of the woman as well as the promised king of Israel will obey the law, complete the task, and defeat the serpent.  Kingship is going to be a theme we are going to develop as we look at Numbers and Deuteronomy.  The result will be that God will fill the earth with His presence.  

-  The three stories are built on top of each other and overlap. 

The exodus tells the story of the deliverance of Israel from enslavement to Egypt accomplished by the parting of the Red Sea where the Israelites find salvation and the Egyptians judgment.  Deliverance leads to the law and with the law comes God’s presence and the promise of the inheritance of God’s holy kingdom established for His people in Canaan.  Israel is a new creation of God.  Israel is called the son of God.  This son is given a task to fill the earth with God’s glory.  God tamed the forces of chaos and created His son Adam in His image.  Adam is given a task to fill the earth with God’s glory.  

Now let’s read Romans 6-8 to see how this understanding of God’s plan helps us understand Paul.

Romans 6:3-7 

Q.  Before we look for parallels, let’s try to figure out what Paul is saying.  What is Paul comparing baptism to?

-  Paul says that baptism is a parallel to the death and resurrection of Christ.  Christ passes through God’s judgment to emerge on the other side.  Notice also the image of slavery and freedom.  We see baptism functioning as the Red Sea freeing God’s people from enslavement to sin and death.  

-  Paul then goes on in the rest of Romans 6 explaining that though set free from sin and death, God’s people are slaves to righteousness which leads to sanctification and eternal life.  Just as the Israelites were freed from Egypt but now served God.

Chapter 7:1-6 What is Paul saying about our relationship with the law?

-  The actual point of enslavement was the law.  A woman whose husband dies is free to marry again.  We have died to the law and are now free.  However, we are free to serve the new way of the Spirit.  

Chapter 7:7-12 In this section Paul is defending the law while he acknowledges that he had been enslaved by the law.  What is the problem with the law then, why does it enslave if it is good?

-  It is not the law that is the problem but rather sin.  Sin uses the law to do its damage. 

Q.  How does the serpent attempt to thwart God’s plan for His creation?

-  The serpent corrupts Adam and Eve by the commandment that they not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  

Romans 8:9-11  In this section Paul talks about the spirit dwelling in His people.

Q.  Where have we seen the Spirit of God in our story?

-  The spirit inhabits the tabernacle, now it inhabits those in Christ.

Romans 8:16-17  

Q.  Receiving the spirit of God means that we are sons of God and what benefit do the sons of God receive?

-  The sons of God are heirs and the next section tells us that the inheritance is none other than all of creation.

Romans 8:19-21

Q.  What does the creation hope for?

-  The creation hopes for the revealing of the sons of God.  It too hopes to achieve freedom but under the rule of its rightful master - humanity.  

What Paul is trying to say here is that Christ has brought about a new Exodus.  One that is freedom not from Egypt but from sin itself, this freedom is accomplished through the death and resurrection of Christ pictured in baptism as a new Red Sea that vindicates His people and brings judgment.  This leads to freedom but freedom to serve God under a new law under the way of the Spirit.  This way of the spirit guides us to the inheritance just as the cloud  and the pillar of fire guided Israel through the wilderness.  God’s people are given the holy spirit just as the spirit of YHWH filled the tabernacle and now all of creation is given as our inheritance just as was the point of Adam and Eve.