“The heave shoulder and the wave breast shall they bring with the offerings made by fire of the fat, to wave it for a wave offering before the Lord; and it shall be thine, and thy sons’ with thee, by a statute forever; as the Lord hath commanded.”
Context: Leviticus is a book in the Old Testament, and it provides instructions and regulations for the Israelites regarding their worship, sacrifices, and moral conduct. Leviticus 10 describes an incident involving Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, who offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, resulting in their deaths. Verse 15 is part of the instructions given to Aaron and his surviving sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, regarding the portion of the offerings they were allowed to eat.
Heave Shoulder and Wave Breast: In this verse, the “heave shoulder” and the “wave breast” refer to specific portions of the sacrifices made by the Israelites. When an offering was made by fire, certain parts of the animal, such as the shoulder and the breast, were to be set apart and given to the priests as their portion.
Wave Offering: The heave shoulder and the wave breast were to be “waved” before the Lord as a wave offering. This action involved lifting the portions up and down or back and forth, symbolically presenting them to the Lord. The wave offering was a way of consecrating and dedicating the portion to the Lord.
Permanent Statute: God commanded that the heave shoulder and the wave breast were to belong to Aaron, the high priest, and his sons. This was a perpetual statute, meaning it was to be observed throughout their generations. This allocation served as a provision for the priests and their families, as they did not receive any inheritance of land like the other tribes of Israel.
Lessons for Today:
- Honoring God: The wave offering and the priests’ portion remind us of the importance of honoring and dedicating the best of what we have to God. It symbolizes recognizing His authority and giving Him the firstfruits of our lives, talents, and resources.
- Provision for the Servants of God: The Lord established a system to provide for the priests who served in the tabernacle or temple. This highlights the principle of supporting those who are dedicated to full-time ministry, showing gratitude for their service and ensuring they have their needs met.
- Obedience to God’s Commands: The perpetual nature of this statute underscores the importance of obedience to God’s commands. Just as the Israelites were expected to faithfully observe the regulations for the priests’ portion, we should strive to follow God’s instructions for our lives, knowing that His commands are meant for our benefit.
- Jesus as Our High Priest: In the New Testament, Jesus is described as the ultimate High Priest who offered Himself as a sacrifice for our sins. While the Levitical priesthood and its regulations are no longer in effect, the principles behind the priests’ portion and wave offerings can remind us of Jesus’ sacrificial work and our response of dedicating ourselves to Him.
Remember, as we study the Old Testament, we should always consider the teachings of the New Testament and how they shed light on the fulfillment and significance of these ancient practices.
