Thurs.’s Devo - Offerings

Read: Leviticus 6:1-7:27; Mark 3:7-30; Psalm 37:1-11; Proverbs 10:3-4 There were many different reasons for bringing an offering to the Lord. The first is the guilt offering. It was given when a person sinned against another, like an associate, by cheating in a business deal, stealing, committing fraud or lying under oath. The penalty was to restore what you stole with an additional 20%. On the day you made restoration you were to bring a quilt offering to the Lord and make it right with the Lord also. The offering would be a ram without defects. This was a burnt offering, so the priest were to leave the ram on the altar burning all night long. The next morning the priest would clean out the ashes of the offering and carry the ashes outside the camp. This was a picture of that sin being completely forgiven and taken care of not to be brought up again. When people gave a grain offering it was to be mixed with oil, flour and frankincense. A portion of it was burned on the altar and the rest was used by the priest to make the shewbread which was eaten in the Tabernacle. This grain offering was presented to the Lord the day Aaron and his sons were ordained as priest. It was offered for every priest throughout the generations. Jesus was the bread sent from heaven who was burned on the altar for our sins. He is also our daily bread that we eat every day. That is what this represented. The instructions for the sin offering required an animal which would be a burnt offering. This is the most holy offering because that was the purpose of the cross: to take away our sins. A portion of it had to be eaten by the priests. If any of its blood splattered on the priests clothing, his clothing had to be washed in a sacred place. Any instrument used in this ceremony had to be broken or scoured clean. Any person responsible or who took a part in Jesus crucifixion (which is all of us) must be broken and cleansed. This describes repentance. If the blood from this animal was used to sprinkle on the pieces in the Tabernacle for purification, this animal must be completely consumed on the altar because only the blood of Jesus can cleanse our sins and he was completely consumed on the altar of the cross. The guilt offering was also holy. The animal was killed and its blood splattered against all the sides of the altar. the fat was removed and burnt on the altar. The meat from this offering could be eaten by the priests. The peace offering was an offering of thanksgiving and praise. It is voluntary and represents our offerings of thanksgiving and praise we give from our lips. There was also the offering to fulfill a vow which was also voluntary. The blood and the fat were forbidden to eaten by the people in the community. The word “fat” in the Hebrew means the marrow. Life is in the marrow and in the blood and to eat an animals marrow and blood was to eat its life. It is to lower ourselves to a lower species and add its blood to ours. We are to remain holy and human. The priests were to get a portion of the peace offering for themselves. They were to eat the breast and the right thigh. To me that speaks of the heart and the strength. When we receive God’s peace, our heart is enlivened and our strength is renewed. In Mark, the demons knew who Jesus was but the scribes and Pharisees refused to recognize him. They blasphemed by saying that he came from hell and got his power from Satan. Jesus chose his twelve disciples. Jesus says that all sin and blasphemy can be forgiven except one who blasphemes the Holy Spirit. He will never be forgiven but have eternal consequences. That is a sobering thought. Lord, You are the righteous judge who judges the thoughts and intents of our hearts. May we cleanse our hearts daily through your Word.