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?