“Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, He that offereth the sacrifice of his peace offerings unto the LORD shall bring his oblation unto the LORD of the sacrifice of his peace offerings.”
Context:Leviticus is a book in the Old Testament that contains detailed instructions given by God to the Israelites through Moses regarding various aspects of their worship, rituals, and daily life. Leviticus 7 specifically deals with the laws concerning the guilt offering and the peace offering.
Meaning and Significance:
- Peace Offerings:The peace offering was one of the voluntary offerings that the Israelites could bring to God as an expression of gratitude, fellowship, and devotion. Unlike the burnt offering or the sin offering, which were mandatory in certain situations, the peace offering was a freewill offering.
- The Offerer’s Oblation:In Leviticus 7:29, God instructs the Israelites to bring their oblation (a portion of the sacrifice) to Him when they offer the peace offerings. This emphasises the importance of giving to God from what they had received. It was an act of acknowledging God’s provision and returning a portion of it to Him.
- Communion with God:The peace offering was unique because it involved a shared meal. After offering a peace offering, the offerer, along with his family and the priests, would partake of a portion of the sacrificed animal. It was a symbol of fellowship and communion between God, the priests, and the people. This meal was seen as a way to enjoy God’s presence and express gratitude for His blessings.
- Offering in the New Testament:While the book of Leviticus primarily deals with the laws and rituals of the Old Covenant, it also points forward to the work of Jesus Christ in the New Testament. In the New Covenant, Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice for sin, fulfilling the requirements of the Law. He brought peace between God and humanity through His sacrificial death and resurrection. As believers in Christ, we can experience peace with God through faith in Him.
Application to our lives:Although the Levitical laws no longer bind us today, there are some principles we can draw from this verse. We can learn the importance of expressing gratitude to God and sharing our blessings with others. Just as the Israelites brought an oblation to God, we can give to Him in various forms-our time, talents, and resources. We can also recognise the value of fellowship and communion with God and our fellow believers, experiencing the joy of being in His presence and sharing in His blessings.
Overall, Leviticus 7:29 highlights the significance of the peace offering, the act of giving to God, and the communion and fellowship that come through worshiping and serving Him. It points us to the ultimate peace offering-Jesus Christ-and encourages us to live a life of gratitude and devotion, offering ourselves as living sacrifices to God (Romans 12:1).
