Leviticus 1 - 3

Lay Your Hand On The Animal's Head
Today begins a new book, the third book in our reading and the third book of the Bible.  Leviticus formalizes the religious ceremonies the Jews are to observe and provides detailed instructions on how to approach God, how to remain in fellowship with God, the priesthood, and other legal details of daily life.  Like much of the Old Testament in general, and the Pentateuch in particular, the symbolism between the law and Christian life is readily  apparent.

Chapter 1 starts of with descriptions of three of the five types of offerings the Jews will be required to bring to the Tabernacle.  Leviticus 1:1 states, "The Lord called to Moses from the Tabernacle..."  This is change from Exodus where Moses ascended the Holy Mountain to hear from God.  But the Lord promised in Exodus 25:8, that He "would live among them" in the Tabernacle, so this is a fulfillment of that promise.

The first offering is a Burnt offering - the purpose of which is to identify the sinner with the offering to provide a way to be in fellowship with God.  Identification was done by placing one's hand on the sacrifice as it was killed. This is a key point! The one offering the sacrifice had to be identified with his sacrifice.

Verse 1:4 states, "Lay your hand on the animal's head, and the Lord will accept its death in your place to purify you, making you right with him."  The sinner should be the one dying, but if this was strictly enforced, in a very short time there would be no one left! So the Lord, in His mercy, allowed a substitutionary death (performed first by God Himself in the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3:21) so that man could be cleansed of his sins. This first offering is an atoning offering, the first of three atoning offerings (there is a Sin offering and a Guilt offering discussed in tomorrow's portion).  It is important because it identifies man as sinful without naming a specific act, i.e. just by nature man is sinful and thus an offering must be made.

It is also important to note that the Lord provided a way for all Jews, regardless of their station in life or their wealth or indigence, to make a burnt offering.  If they could not afford or did not have a herd animal, i.e. a bull, they could use a flock animal, e.g. sheep or goat.  If the person was so poor they had neither herds nor flocks, they could offer a bird-a pigeon or dove.  So every person was without excuse and could offer something to the Lord.

The other two offerings in today's reading are non-atoning sacrifices - the sacrifice did not purify the believer rather it was a gift from the worshiper to God. These are the Grain offering and Peace offering.  Like the Burnt offering, these spoke of Christ's sacrifice on Calvary for our sins.  All the offerings had to be animals without defect (the Burnt offering and Peace offering) - a clear type of Christ - and the Grain offering had to be without leaven - also a type of the humility and purity of Christ - our perfect sacrifice.

May God bless you and bless the reading of His Word.