and Yahweh called...

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This reading starts Leviticus, from Leviticus 1:1-5:26.

Here is the quick summary:


(Ch.1)

The burnt offering:

Specifics for offering a bullock.

Specifics for offering a sheep or a goat.

Specifics for offering a turtledove or a (young) pigeon.


(Ch.2)

The grain offering:

It may be baked in an oven, made in a pan, or be fried.

It is not to be offered with leaven or honey.

Salt must accompany the grain offering.

Special instructions for the grain offering of the first fruits.


(Ch.3)

The peace offering:

Specifics for offering a bullock; treatment of fat is detailed.

Specifics for offering a sheep; treatment of fat is detailed.

Specifics for offering a goat; treatment of fat is detailed.

The blood of the animals are not to be eaten.


(Ch.4)

The sin offering:

Specifics for the atonement of the high priest; a bullock is offered.

Specifics for the atonement of the whole congregation; a bullock is offered.

Specifics for the atonement of the leaders; a male goat is offered.

Specifics for the atonement of the common people; a female goat or a female sheep is offered.


(Ch.5)

The details of the sins for the sin offering.

The guilt/tresspass offering.

A ram is required for the offering.

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The 5 main offerings/sacrifices are discussed in this reading.

Discussing things in a slightly out of order fashion...


The last two sacrifices in Chapter 4 and 5 uniquely and distinctly picture Christ as the sin and guilt offering for anyone that puts their trust in his work.

The sin offering always comes before any of the other offerings in practice where a sacrifice or an offering is made.


However, the first three offerings are all pleasing to Yahweh; perhaps this is why they are mentioned before the offerings that take priority over them.

Clearly, Christ who is the ultimate fulfillment of these sacrifices is pleasing to Yahweh.

However, if we are able to gather the word pictures of these first three sacrifices, it gives us a clue on how we may also be pleasing to Yahweh.

1. The burnt offering is to be wholly dedicated to Yahweh without anything remaining.

2. The grain offering is to be doused in oil.

3. The peace offering stresses that the fat is to be given to Yahweh.


For those that are not familiar with these word pictures, here is a quick explanation of the above 3:

1. We are to wholly dedicate our lives to God without any reservation.

2. We are to be completely filled with the Holy Spirit, not just a splash.

3. The best parts of what we can give must be given to Yahweh.



Obviously, these are called "sacrifices" since they require a sacrifice on our parts.

Some sacrifices are really easy to make, while other sacrifices require us to deny ourselves.


As we see in other parts of the Scriptures, most of the hard sacrifices deal with our hearts, which is much more difficult because it is very subtle.

So what are we to do? We are to have a complete dependence on God in his wisdom and strength, as opposed to trying "fix" or manipute things on our own (which is difficult, again, because they are "sacrifices").


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