Sacrificial Offerings 1 - King Speaks of the Believer’s Authority:  A Priest, His Relationship and Ministry to the Lord

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AKing Speaks of the Believer’s Authority:   A Priest, His Relationship and Ministry to the Lord

 

The five sacrificial offerings reveal five aspects of the once for all perfect offering of the Lord Jesus Christ. Each offering requires the shedding of blood, with the exception of the meal offering. 

Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. 

Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. 

The teaching shows God's perfect will for the Christian: the total dedication of his life, possessions, talents, worship and time in the church. 

Consider the offerings of Cain and Abel. 

Genesis 4:1-8  And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord. And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of there fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. 

What was the cause of acceptance on one hand, and rejection on the other? 

Surely the boy's father had explained the importance of shed blood in sacrificial offerings. Yes, he did. But there is something very important to be seen here. 

Abel offered the first and the fat, (fattest, best, choice) of the flock! 

He did not worship God with leftovers. He gave the best he had. He gave to God first. 

Consider this attitude in the beginning of the Bible, as opposed to that manifested in the conclusion of the Old Testament. 

Malachi 1:8,13,14  And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the Lord of hosts. Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the Lord ; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand ? saith the Lord. But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the Lord of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen. 

The gift that is offered reflects the attitude of the worshipper toward the One being worshiped. 

Take your torn, lame sick offering to the Mayor of your city, the Premier of your State, the Prime Minister of your nation: will he accept it? 

And yet Christians try to gain acceptance of God in the presentation of their leftovers to Him! 

God's statement certainly strikes a blow at the root of the human attitude, It's not the gift, it's the thought that counts. 

God says, I am not interested in your thoughts! It's your gift that counts! 

Quite the opposite! 

We are not obligated to worship God. There is no compulsion. However, if we desire to worship God we are compelled to offer the first and the best that we have. 

John 4:23, 24 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him  MUST worship him in spirit and in truth. 

The teaching further portrays the dedication of each individual Christian in every aspect of his life, particularly in his home and place of employment. 

John 8:32, 36 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed. 

John 10:10  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 

Identification through the laying on of hands is also seen in the teaching. 

All offerings were slain on the north side of the altar. Jesus was slain on the north side of Jerusalem. Sin originated on the sides of the north in the heavens. 

Galatians 5:1  Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 

The Sacrificial Offerings show God as a God of order! 

Each was a sweet smelling savour to God. 

They focus on the sovereignty of God: the Feasts of the Lord emphasise human responsibility. 

The animals were domesticated: they were not wild! They belonged to the herd or the flock! The duty of the shepherd was to prepare them for sacrifice. They were not lawless. 

Psalm 68:6  God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land. 

Isaiah 65:8  Thus saith the Lord, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants' sakes, that I may not destroy them all. 

Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 

The emphasis is on the corporate, body aspect. 

Except for the Sin and Trespass Offerings which were compulsory, it remained the responsibility of each worshipper to bring his offering to God. 

2 Corinthians 9:7  Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 

Exodus 25:2  Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering. 

The worshipper gave as his spirit stirred him up!