Leviticus 6:10-7:7
After the sacrifice had been offered, then the priest was to put on his linen garment and breeches and carry the ashes out and put them in a clean place. In every detail we are reminded of what that work was to God, for the very ashes must be put in a clean place. Let us never allow anything that takes away from the infinite value of the work of Christ.
Rejoicing in His Perfect Life
The law of the meat offering comes next, telling us of how the priests had a portion of this offering to eat. The meat offering typifies Christ in His perfect humanity, and as believers we can feed upon this, rejoicing in His perfect life which was always by the power of the Spirit of God and was a fragrance to God His Father. These things, then, become our food, but we notice that they were to be eaten in the holy place and that they were most holy. As we thus feed upon Christ in His perfect, sinless humanity, we must never allow our natural minds to work but always “eat” of Him in the holy place. Let us never attempt to understand the divine mystery of His person but believe it and worship.
The Person of Christ
When the priest was anointed, a meat offering was to be offered, half in the morning and half in the evening. The truth of Christ’s perfect humanity is the very touchstone of Christianity and must ever be maintained. This meat offering, made at the time the priest was anointed, was to be wholly burned upon the altar. The solemnity of this great truth must be impressed, in figure, upon the minds of the priests at the beginning and the end of the day. There is always a danger of those who are leaders in the professing church, allowing their minds to try to solve the mystery of the person of Christ, and so this was to be a statute forever unto the Lord. No one should ever be received into the assembly of God who is not sound as to the deity of Christ. We are to believe and worship but never question this great fundamental truth.
A Holy Character
In what follows we shall see how the holy character of what is suited to God was strictly maintained in the sin and trespass offering. Only Christ, the holy, spotless Lamb of God, could put away sin, for we must always remember that it is the Person who did the work of redemption who gave it its value. He alone could put away our awful sins. The priest who offered the sin offering was to eat it (if for the sin of one of the people) in the holy place, showing that he entered into the awfulness of the sin and felt it according to the mind of God. This is important today, for those who are in the place of leaders ought to feel the sin of one of the children of God with a godly concern for the Lord’s glory. The realization of the value of the blood was ever to be maintained, and no lightness as to it was to be allowed. Any garment or vessel on which the blood was mistakenly sprinkled was to be cleansed or broken. I would like to say a word in connection with jokes about the Bible. Sometimes we hear such jokes, and we would learn from this chapter just how hateful such things are to God. We who are Christians should have no part with them, whether they are said in fun or not. Sin is a terrible thing with God.
For Further Meditation
1. What does the meat offering represent?
2. Some natural activities such as eating and drinking are important for maintaining a healthy physical life. What is essential daily in order for us to grow in a healthy, spiritual way?
3. You will find a nice summary of the offerings that would provide a nice review in your study of them if you refer to a copy of the Concise Bible Dictionary by G. Morrish. If you don’t own one, you can find a free copy online at bibletruthlibrary.org.