Daily Scripture Reading Leviticus 7:11-27
Many Christians think the Old Testament sacrificial system was merely a system of required sacrifices that atoned for sin. Likewise, many people today object to Christianity on the basis that it is just a bunch of rules and regulations that take the fun out of life.
Leviticus 7 shows us that some of the sacrifices in the Old Testament were voluntary and designed to celebrate and give thanks. Likewise, Christianity is not just an oppressive list of prohibitions. We also have reason to be joyful and offer praise and tto our Creator.
The first several chapters of Leviticus list multiple types of sacrifices that were options in the tabernacle sacrificial system. Chapter 7 gives additional instruction regarding those offerings.
Lev. 7:11 ¶ ‘Now this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings which shall be brought near to Yahweh.
Lev. 7:12 If he brings it near for thanksgiving, then along with the sacrifice of thanksgiving he shall bring near unleavened cakes mixed with oil and unleavened wafers spread with oil and cakes of well stirred fine flour mixed with oil.
Take note of the word “thanksgiving”. The first six chapters of Leviticus list multiple types of sacrifices, including one known as a peace offering. We see in this passage that sometimes a peace offering functioned as a way of giving thanks to Yahweh.
Many Christians think the Old Testament sacrificial system was merely a system of required sacrifices that atoned for sin. While that was part of it, this passage shows that some sacrifices were optional and not related to sin.
Furthermore, the fact that the Israelites brought thanksgiving offerings shows that the Mosaic Law was not just an oppressive list of rules and regulations. The Israelites under the Mosaic Law also had reason to celebrate and give thanks.
Likewise, many people today object to Christianity on the basis that it is just a bunch of rules and regulations that remove the fun out of life. However, just as the Israelites had reason to celebrate and give thanks to God, so too Christians have reason to be joyful and offer praise and thanksgiving to our Creator.
In 1 Corinthians, Paul’s description of a church gathering included thanksgiving (see 1 Corinthians 14:16). In 2 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul thanked God multiple times for what He does for us (see 2 Corinthians 2:14, 8:16, and 9:15). In Ephesians and Philippians, Paul exhorts believers to give thanks (see Ephesians 5:20 and Philippians 4:6).
Lev. 7:13 With the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving, he shall bring near his offering with cakes of leavened bread.
Lev. 7:14 Of this he shall bring near, one of every offering as a contribution to Yahweh; it shall belong to the priest who splashes the blood of the peace offerings.
Lev. 7:15 ¶ ‘Now as for the flesh of the sacrifice of his thanksgiving peace offerings, it shall be eaten on the day of his offering; he shall not leave any of it over until morning.
Lev. 7:16 But if the sacrifice of his offering is a votive or a freewill offering, it shall be eaten on the day that he brings near his sacrifice, and on the next day what is left of it may be eaten;
The word “votive” informs us that sometimes a sacrifice was brought as part of a vow.
The word “freewill” makes clear that some sacrifices were voluntary. A freewill offering was an animal brought to Yahweh and the priests just because the person bringing it felt like bringing a sacrifice. It would have been a way for the Israelites to make a small contribution to the livelihood of the priests.
Lev. 7:17 but what is left over from the flesh of the sacrifice on the third day shall be burned with fire.
Lev. 7:18 So if any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings should ever be eaten on the third day, he who brings it near will not be accepted, and it will not be counted to his benefit. It shall be an offensive thing, and the person who eats of it will bear his own iniquity.
Don’t miss the words “not be accepted”, “not be counted”, and “offensive”. Even though the peace offerings were voluntary, there were still requirements as to how those offerings were offered.
We see something similar in 1 Corinthians 14:16. Even when Christians give thanks to God, we still have guidelines we need to follow. Some Christians think that as long as a person has good intentions, then it doesn’t matter if God’s rules are bent. That is not the case.
Lev. 7:19 ¶ ‘Also the flesh that touches anything unclean shall not be eaten; it shall be burned with fire. As for other flesh, anyone who is clean may eat such flesh.
Lev. 7:20 But the person who eats the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings which belong to Yahweh, in his uncleanness, that person shall be cut off from his people.
Take note of the words “cut off”. The punishment for eating a peace offering while unclean was to be cut off.
Lev. 7:21 When anyone touches anything unclean, whether human uncleanness or an unclean animal or any unclean detestable thing, and eats of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings which belong to Yahweh, that person shall be cut off from his people.’”
Lev. 7:22 ¶ Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
Lev. 7:23 “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘You shall not eat any fat from an ox, a sheep, or a goat.
Lev. 7:24 Also the fat of an animal which dies and the fat of an animal torn by beasts may be put to any other use, but you must certainly not eat it.
Lev. 7:25 For whoever eats the fat of the animal from which an offering by fire is brought near to Yahweh, even the person who eats shall be cut off from his people.
Lev. 7:26 And you shall not eat any blood, either of bird or animal, in any of your places of habitation.
Lev. 7:27 Any person who eats any blood, even that person shall be cut off from his people.’”
Contrary to popular belief, Old Testament Israelites used the sacrificial system to offer thanksgiving to God and make voluntary donations to the priesthood. Likewise, contrary to people who believe Christianity is just an oppressive list of rules, New Testament Christianity includes praise, celebration, and thanksgiving.
Here is a question to ponder. How often do you celebrate your life as a Christian and thank God for everything He has done for you?
Thanks for visiting Bible Mountain. If you have already joined my email list, thank you and please tell others about Bible Mountain. If you have not joined my email list yet, please do so now. In order to join, go to Bible Mountain dotcom, click on subscribe, and that will take you to a page where you can sign up. Your email address will not be sold nor given away. Once again, thanks for visiting Bible Mountain.
“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”