Leviticus 3-4:2
We learn in all these instructions as to the offerings of the Lord, just how careful one must be in order to be a partaker, and while we are not under law now, surely the wondrous grace of God which has now been revealed would not make us any less careful. Unless we judge every defiling thing in our lives we will not enjoy communion with the Lord, any more than an Israelite could eat of the peace offering when he was defiled. Even to maintain a connection as a partaker with groups of professing Christians where evil is knowingly allowed would defile us. May the Lord give us a deeper concern about what is suited to those who have “fellowship with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.” 1 John 1:33That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:3).
The man who offered the peace offering could eat the flesh of it himself, as well as inviting other clean persons to share it with him. This too is instructive, for when we have enjoyed something of the sweetness of Christ ourselves it is increasingly precious when we share it with others. May we encourage you, dear young reader, to share what you are enjoying with others. It always does us good to meet those who have some precious thoughts about the love of Christ to pass on, and each one of us can do this in our measure.
The children of Israel were forbidden to keep the flesh of the peace offering until the next day. It had to be eaten on the same day, except in the case of a vow, and then, because, of this special energy of faith, they could keep it until the second day, hut no longer. Sometimes when there is a special spiritual energy, the enjoyment of a particular portion may remain with us, but very often it is just enjoyed in fullness at the time. No doubt we have all enjoyed this special portion on occasion, but even then to keep it over to the “third day” was forbidden and evil. The most precious truths an empty and even hateful when the, become cold formalities, or doctrines held apart from the energy of the Spirit working in us.
Next comes the sin offering. After giving us the burnt offering, the meat offering, and the peace offering, all presenting more particularly God’s side of things, we now come to that which has to do with the way our deep need as sinners has been met. What a blessed thing it is for the soul to see that the work of Christ has fully met our need, and that, not according to what our measure of sin is, but according to God’s. God in His infinite holiness must punish sin, but when the offender offered the sacrifice which God Himself required, he could be sure that God’s righteous claims were satisfied. Of course we need hardly remark here that the blood of all these animal sacrifices could never put away sin, but when we see that these types point on to Christ, all the details and instructions are full of interest for us. How perfectly His work in putting away sin has met all God’s righteous claims am! brought us nigh.
Some would tell us that a wrong act could not be called a sin unless you knew it was a sin, but we see at the very outset that a sacrifice was required for sins of ignorance. Let us ever re member that God measures sin according to His own standard, and not ours.
ML 08/20/1950