Peace Offerings Are Shared Together
March 30, 2022
Commentary
The peace offering was the third sacrifice of worship. It represented fellowship between God and each Israelite who had been redeemed and brought into a relationship with Him (Rom. 5:1). Hands were laid on the animal’s head, its blood was sprinkled, and part of the animal was burned on the altar. This points to the peace we have with God through Christ. The offering also pictures the peace of God—a calm and secure heart that trusts Him. It speaks of stability and confidence that God is in control and will work things out according to His purpose.
The worshiper could offer either a bull or a cow, but the animal had to be without blemish (v. 1). A priest from Aaron’s family sprinkled its blood against the sides of the altar (v. 2). The fat from the animal’s inner parts was offered, along with the liver and kidneys and their fat (vv. 3–4). The priests placed these portions on the altar and burned them together with the other sacrifice (v. 5). The offering was given to God as an act of worship, fellowship, and thanksgiving.
A worshiper could also offer a sheep or a goat, as long as it had no defect (vv. 6–11). A goat was presented at the entrance of the sacred tent, just as the bull or cow was (vv. 12–16). The Lord also gave a lasting command that His people were never to eat the fat or the blood of an animal (v. 17). These instructions reminded them that what belonged to God was holy and should be treated with reverence.
The peace offering points us to the fellowship and peace we have through Christ. Because Jesus has reconciled us to God, we can experience His peace even when circumstances are difficult. This peace is not simply the absence of trouble, but the confidence that God is with us.
Application
Am I enjoying true fellowship with God through Christ? When problems come, am I trusting God’s control or allowing fear to rule my mind and heart? Do I bring my gratitude to Him regularly? Is there anything disturbing my peace with God or others? How can I show His peace through my words, choices, and actions today?
Leviticus 3:1–17 (NET)
1 “‘Now if his offering is a peace-offering sacrifice, if he presents an offering from the herd, he must present before the Lord a flawless male or a female. 2 He must lay his hand on the head of his offering and slaughter it at the entrance of the Meeting Tent, and the sons of Aaron, the priests, must splash the blood against the altar’s sides. 3 Then the one presenting the offering must present a gift to the Lord from the peace-offering sacrifice: He must remove the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that surrounds the entrails, 4 the two kidneys with the fat on their sinews, and the protruding lobe on the liver (which he is to remove along with the kidneys). 5 Then the sons of Aaron must offer it up in smoke on the altar atop the burnt offering that is on the wood in the fire as a gift of a soothing aroma to the Lord.
6 “‘If his offering for a peace-offering sacrifice to the Lord is from the flock, he must present a flawless male or female. 7 If he presents a sheep as his offering, he must present it before the Lord. 8 He must lay his hand on the head of his offering and slaughter it before the Meeting Tent, and the sons of Aaron must splash its blood against the altar’s sides. 9 Then he must present a gift to the Lord from the peace-offering sacrifice: He must remove all the fatty tail up to the end of the spine, the fat covering the entrails, and all the fat on the entrails, 10 the two kidneys with the fat on their sinews, and the protruding lobe on the liver (which he is to remove along with the kidneys). 11 Then the priest must offer it up in smoke on the altar as a food gift to the Lord.
12 “‘If his offering is a goat he must present it before the Lord, 13 lay his hand on its head, and slaughter it before the Meeting Tent, and the sons of Aaron must splash its blood against the altar’s sides. 14 Then he must present from it his offering as a gift to the Lord: the fat which covers the entrails and all the fat on the entrails, 15 the two kidneys with the fat on their sinews, and the protruding lobe on the liver (which he is to remove along with the kidneys). 16 Then the priest must offer them up in smoke on the altar as a food gift for a soothing aroma—all the fat belongs to the Lord. 17 This is a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all the places where you live: You must never eat any fat or any blood.’”
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