Focal passage: Leviticus 1:3-9; 2:1-3; 3:1-5
As a pastor, I am called to equip my people to do the work of the ministry. One of the things I have done over the last year and a half is to teach through systematic theology on Wednesday nights. Yet there hasn’t been a week gone by – good or bad – that I have not thought to myself, “I’m boring them to tears. They don’t really care about this. Maybe I should shift gears.”
This summer, however, two Sunday School teachers approached me at different times, and told me how theology notebooks helped them understand their lessons.
They were grateful for having learned the information, and I was pleased the tool I had set in place served its purpose.
In Leviticus, God establishes the sacrificial system as a tool for His chosen people to atone for their sins and to offer Him praise for all He has done. The burnt offering appeased God’s wrath while the grain and fellowship offerings were given to thank God for His blessings and to enjoy peace with Him.
Regarding the grain and fellowship offerings, Ligon Duncan observes that, “These sacrifices are not the mandated festival sacrifices that are described elsewhere in the books of Moses. These are sacrifices which the worshiper is given the privilege of bringing when he desires to. There may be an instance in life that prompts a worshiper to want to come and bring the sacrifice of the fellowship offering, or of the peace offering.”
Notice also that no offering of praise or of peace is given until the burnt offering, an offering to deal with sin, has been made.
For us, Christ is the burnt offering, the once and for all atoning sacrifice for the sins of His people that allows us the privilege of thanking Him for His blessings and enjoying His peace. Serve Him with gladness from a grateful heart and rest assured that He is eternally pleased with you.