Leviticus 1-3: Holy Worship Part 1
This is the theme of Holy Worship, Part 1. How to approach God and live.
The outlines of Leviticus are:
1. Ch 1-3: Holy Worship Part 1
2. Ch 4-7: Holy Worship Part 2
3. Ch 8-10: Holy Priests
4. Ch 11-15: Holy Identity
5. Ch 16: Day of Atonement
6. Ch 17-20: Holy Living
7. Ch 21-22: Holy Stewards
8. Ch 23-25: Holy Rhythms
9. Ch 26-27: Holy Covenant
2. The Offerings (Part 1)
The first thing God asked them to do is to provide offerings. The offerings have their own meaning which we will see in the details.
The first offerings were first mentioned in Genesis 4:3-4, where Cain and Abel brought their offerings to the Lord. However, Cain's offerings were rejected by God, probably either because it is not the best quality, or because it does not carry any blood in it, which represents what Jesus will do. Abel, however provided the firstborn of his flock and of their fat, which is similar to the burnt offering God asked for in Leviticus.
Chapter 1-3 provides three portraits of our Holy God
1. The God who is All Deserving (The burnt offering)
2. The God who is All Providing (The grain offering)
3. The God who is All Welcoming (The fellowship offering)
1. Burnt offering (Ch 1) - God is All Deserving
The Purpose: The burnt offering was a voluntary sacrifice that expressed the worshipper’s devotion and commitment to God, as well as their need for atonement and forgiveness. Atonement (hebrew "kippur" - means to settle a debt or making restitution. Or to making things right or reconciling. It also implies purification - cleansing, removing impurity, and restoring a right relationship with God.
Lev 17:11 - "For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.’"
The Animal: The burnt offering could be an animal from the herd (bull or ox), the flock (sheep or goat), or a bird (dove or pigeon), depending on the offerer’s financial ability. The animal had to be a male without defect.
Leviticus 1:17 said that God finds all of the sacrifices - premium beef or worthless birds - an aroma to Him. The aroma is not from roasted animals, but from our broken hearts.
The Procedure: The offerer brought the animal to the entrance of the tent of meeting, laid their hand on its head, and slaughtered it. The priests sprinkled the blood on the altar, skinned the animal, and cut it into pieces. The offerer washed the internal organs and the legs with water. The priests arranged the pieces on the altar and burned them as a pleasing aroma to the Lord. The priest who present any man's offering shall have the skin of the animal. (Lev 7:8)
The Significance: The burnt offering symbolized the offerer’s total surrender and dedication to God, as well as their need for cleansing and reconciliation. The laying of the hand on the animal’s head indicated the transfer of guilt and the acceptance of the animal as a substitute. The burning of the whole animal represented the offerer’s complete offering of themselves to God. The pleasing aroma indicated God’s satisfaction and approval of the sacrifice.
Symbolic Meanings: Christ's righteousness was symbolised by the unblemished nature of the sacrificial animals. The flaying of the burnt offering symbolized the great sufferings of Christ. It alluded to the moment when Jesus was stripped of His clothes and subjected to physical abuse (such as having His back smitten and His cheeks plucked).
Application: The woman who poured the perfume on Jesus feet, gave the best of all she had. (Luke 7:36-50). Bulls were very precious in those days as they are depended for farming. Sheep or goat must be perfect, so they were raised with care and loved. Their children may think that it is their pet. They may not understand when the parents took it and killed it.
Sacrifice is costly - both in terms of money and feelings. Sacrifice helps us to give up what we love to value God above all. The sacrifice is worth it when the one we sacrificed for is worthy. Are we willing to give the best to God?
2. Grain Offering (Ch 2) - God is All Providing
Ingredients and preparation: The grain offering can be made of fine flour, oil, frankincense, salt, and leaven. It can be presented as baked, grilled, or fried cakes, or as loose flour.
Portions and burning: The priest shall take a handful of the grain offering and burn it on the altar as a memorial portion. The rest of the grain offering belongs to the priests as food.
Restrictions and regulations: The grain offering must not contain any honey or leaven, which are symbols of corruption and sin. The grain offering must be seasoned with salt, which represents the covenant of God. (2nd chronicle 13:5) The grain offering must be offered with every burnt offering. The grain offering of the firstfruits must be of fresh ears of grain roasted in fire and crushed.
Meaning and significance: The grain offering is a voluntary offering of thanksgiving and devotion to God. It represents the consecration of one’s work and possessions to God. It also acknowledges God as the source of life and provision.
Application: God is the Faithfull provider for everyone, and also to the leaders of the tabernacle. Are we supporting our church pastors and leaders, and missionaries and ministries?
3. Peace (fellowship) offering (Ch 3) - God is All Welcoming.
The Purpose: This offering was a voluntary expression of gratitude, fellowship, and praise to the Lord, as well as a means of atonement for unintentional sins.
The Procedure: The offerer had to bring an animal without blemish (either an ox, a lamb, or a goat) to the door of the tabernacle, lay his hand on its head, and kill it. The priest would then sprinkle the blood on the altar, and burn the fat, kidneys, and liver as a sweet aroma to the Lord. The animals can be male of female. Fat is the most desired part of the animal and was offered to the Lord. (Lev 17:6)
The Prohibition: The offerer and his family were allowed to eat the rest of the meat, but they had to abstain from eating any blood or fat, as these were holy to the Lord. Anyone who violated this rule would be cut off from among his people.
The Significance: This offering symbolized the reconciliation and communion between God and his people, as well as the peace and joy that resulted from it. It is a shared meal to celebrate the covenant with God. It also foreshadowed the ultimate peace offering of Jesus Christ, who shed his blood and gave his life to make atonement for our sins and bring us into fellowship with God.
The Application: GOD is a welcoming God. He delights of the people who come for fellowship with him and with each other as a community. In the parable of the great banquet (Luke 14:12-24), his invitation is to everyone on earth, without any respect to their wealth or health. Are we out there bringing more people in to the kingdom of God?
Appendix: Community Worship
Exodus 5:1, 7 (7x) - "let my people go, so they can worship me."
Numbers 2 - organising the tribes around the tabernacle.
Communal practices that pleases God:
1. Cradled by our Covenental Comittment
- shared meals celebrates relationship.
- a lot of effort to cook and host everyone
Exodus 24:3-7 - covenental meal. To love one another.
Horizontal aspect of covenental commitment means we have mutual friends responsibility for each other.
Vertical aspect of covenental commitment :
Leviticus 7:12,16 - 3x of fellowship. All 3 are to celebrate the relationship. Other pagan offerings are to get acceptance from the gods. Our God has initiated the relationship with us, not the other way around.
We are living a fractured life. Pain, hurt, and fractured family, marriage, relationship, churches and work.
Avoiding CG as we don't like a person - spirit of self-significance.
When we allow our pain to be consume us, we have no more capacity to love. Even through my pain I want to love again. Healing and restoration can come today as Jesus himself had experience these.
Look beyond our pain to worship God who is worthy.
Summary
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