Leviticus 3:1-4 - " 'If someone's offering is a
fellowship offering, and he offers an animal
from the herd, whether male or female, he is to present before the LORD an
animal without defect. He is to lay his hand on the
head of his offering and slaughter it at
the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. Then Aaron's sons the
priests shall sprinkle the blood against the altar on
all sides. From the fellowship offering he is to bring
a sacrifice made to the LORD by fire: all the fat that
covers the inner parts or is connected to them,
And the instructions continue from the Lord for another
possible offering to the Lord. This
chapter suggests that the Israelites might want to bring a fellowship offering
to the Lord. They still had to lay their hands on the head…but the directions
had them kill the sacrifice themselves. Then the priests scattered the blood as
before… right before they selected the right parts of the animal…including the
fat…and offered it on the altar.
Funny thing about the title of this offering…different versions
of the bible gave it different names. The Living bible and the King James… used
the term ‘peace offering” …the NIV I love most used ‘fellowship’…and still other
versions used ‘thank.’ This must have
been a relatively new idea for them…to praise and thank God for the blessing of
his saving grace….but it must have been important…for the Lord spent a whole
chapter of Leviticus explaining how to do this. So instead of getting caught up
in picking the most appropriate word for this ritual…I choose to combine all
these terms …and just see it as God telling them that sometimes…we just need to
thank him…praise him for the grace and mercy he provides…and offer it in fellowship
with others…so we can be slathered with that abundant peace he gives us…the
kind that surpasses all our human understanding.
The commentary in my Life application Bible….said that even
the one who sacrificed the animal… shared some of the meat. It was cooked on top of the burnt sacrifice
offered to God for their sins…it was ‘in addition’ to the required sacrifice
offered for their sins….and the priest ate some…and the one who sacrificed it
ate some. In this way…God…the
priest..and the one who brought it…all shared the meal. Cool way to see it…a thank offering…to ask
God to favor them and bring peace into their life…that they shared in
fellowship with God and the priest.
Father…I thank you this morning….and pray that you bring
peace into my life that causes a wave of fellowship with you that Satan can
never defeat. I give you all I have…to do with what you wish. Reveal to me your plans for me….help me to
see them clearly. Give me the courage
and faith to act on what you tell me to do…and give me a peace that surpasses
any I have ever known from human love. Amen.
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