Leviticus 7:10-21
THE PEACE offering had a threefold character — it might be of the herd, or of the flock of sheep, or of the goats. And there are three different senses in which Christ is our peace:
He has made peace by the blood of His cross (Col. 1:20); He is our peace (Eph. 2:14); and through Him we have peace with God (Rom. 5:1). The first of these forms of the peace offering ended “It is an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto the Lord"; the second, “It is the food of the offering made by fire unto the Lord"; and the third combines the two thoughts by sang, “It is the food of the offering made by fire for a sweet savor.”
How sweetly true this is of the Lord Jesus, the great Antitype! He who has made peace for us Himself becomes our peace, and we are brought into communion with God by Him. He is a sweet savor to God, and at the same time He is the food for our souls.
No animal was to be slain in Israel without having its blood poured out and its fat burned on the altar. Thus every time the Israelite fed upon such, he ate it, so to speak, in communion with God, for part was burned as a sweet savor to Him, and the rest was for himself.
The communion typified here is the portion of every believer, for peace with God comes from really believing that Christ has made peace by the blood of His cross.
The peace offering had to be eaten on the same day the fat was burned on the altar. This tells us that worship must be in communion with God. All that is called worship that is not by the Holy Spirit, is not only of no use, but it is an abomination to God (v. 18).
Three parties shared in the peace offering—part went to God, part to the priest, and the rest went to the man who offered it. Aaron, the priest, is a type of Christ, and so we have God Himself, Christ our Redeemer, and the sinner.
How wonderful to think, dear young Christian, that God brings you and me into fellowship with Himself and His dear Son! Now that Jesus has died, God is happy to have any sinner come to Him, and one can do nothing to give God joy but to accept His grace through the Lord Jesus Christ.
When the Lord Jesus was born we read of the angels appearing and praising God, saying, “Peace on earth, good will toward men.” He came to bring peace on earth, but Herod tried to kill Him. There could be no peace as long as there was that wicked enmity in the heart of men toward Him, and toward each other. When He saw that hatred in man’s heart He told His disciples, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth.”
It is well to notice that when He was on His way up to Jerusalem to be crucified, the multitude sang, “Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest” (Luke 19:38). Peace on earth waits the coming day when He shall return in power and put all His enemies under His feet, for He will reign in righteousness over all the earth. Then, we read, the wolf and the lamb shall lie down together.
But that is still future. Now God leads poor sinners to rejoice in peace in heaven, where Christ is gone. You will not find peace on earth. “In the world ye shall have tribulation” (John 16:33), but we can enjoy down here the peace and joy of His presence—in heaven. Soon He will come to take us there to be with Him forever.
ML-09/26/1971