Instructions to the priests for the sacrifices…

• Side note: Concerning theft… Read: Leviticus 6:1-5

• The sin of steeling…
  • If some one gave you something for safekeeping – and you take it saying it was lost…
  • Or suppose you find something someone lost – but refuse to return it…
  • All of these are sin – and must be repaid – and an offering made for the sin…
  • Often when we think of theft – we think of robbery / or breaking into a house…
  • But in reality taking anything that does not belong to us – is theft…
  • If someone give you back too much change at the store – and you don’t give it back…
  • If someone gives you some food to give to someone else – and you eat it…
  • If you find a P10 on the road – and you saw who dropped it – but keep it…
  • All of these are just as wrong – just as much sin – as armed robbery
  • There are no ‘little sins’ – just sin – either we do what is right or we choose to sin!
• Restoration and forgiveness…
  • If you have sinned in any of these ways – you must give back what you took – plus 20%
    • The point is to teach a lesson that crime does not pay – it comes with consequence…
    • Not only do you not end up with you stole – the sin ends up costing you!
    • One of the reasons theft is so common today – is there is little to no consequence!
  • You also had to bring a ram as a sin offering to the Lord…
    • When we choose to sin by taking what is not ours – it is not just others we hurt…
    • We sin against God – and we also have to make our relationship right with Him!
      
• The commands for the priests – the 4 sacrifices…

• Having laid out the 4 sacrifices Israel was to offer to God – Leviticus 1-5
• God now gives the priests specific rules regarding how to perform these sacrifices…
• 1^st – The burnt offering… Read: Leviticus 6:9, 13
  • Concerning the burnt offering – the animal was to burn on the alter all night…
    • In the morning the ashes would be removed outside the camp of Israel…
    • The priests were to change their clothes every time they removed the ashes…
    • The fire on the Bronze Alter was never to go out – it was to be constantly lit…
  • The burnt offering was the offering of dedication to the Lord…
    • It took work – effort – to keep the fire burning for God…
    • When you first meet the women/man you marry – there is GREAT excitement…
    • But over time – if we are not careful – we can loose the joy – the love we once had…
    • Good relationships do not happen by accident – they take time and effort…
    • Often times we get complacent in our walk with God – it becomes routine…
    • The joy we once felt – the excitement of following Jesus – melts away into apathy…
    • It takes work – effort – to keep on fire for the Lord – dedicated to following Him…
    • We have to make the time – to kindle – stir up – the fire of our love for the Lord…
    • * Hebrews 10:24 – “Consider one another in order to stir up love and good works.”
• 2^nd – The grain offering… Read: Leviticus 6:18
  • Only a small portion of the grain offering was burnt on the Bronze Alter…
    • The rest was to be given to the priests – as their portion of the sacrifice…
    • It could only be eaten by the priests – in the courtyard of the Tabernacle…
  • The priests did not only receive – they also were to give back…
    • The priests also had to make a grain offering to the Lord – Leviticus 6:22-23
    • There are two bodies of water in Israel – the Sea of Galilee / Dead Sea…
    • Both have the same water flowing into them – but only one supports life…
    • The difference in only the Sea of Galilee has water flowing out as well…
    • As believers we are not to just receive God’s word – His blessings…
    • We are also called to give them back out – we are to be the Sea of Galilee…
    • The blessing of God flows into our lives – and we pass them onto others!
    • If we only take from others – from the Lord – we will be like the Dead Sea…
• 3^rd – The sin & the guilt offering… Read: Leviticus 7:7-10
  • The sin offering vs. the guilt offering (elaboration of the sin offering)…
    • The sin offering was for ‘unintentional’ sin – broke God’s law but did not know it…
    • When you found out you had sinned – at that point you offered the sin offering…
    • The guilt offering was for those who ‘intentionally’ sinned – rebelled against God…
  • The sacrifice was the same as the sin offering – but the sin was more severe…
    • If a child takes someone else’s candy – but was never told not to – it’s still wrong…
    • But if a child takes the candy – having been just told not to – that is rebellion!
    • Luke 12:48 – “Much is required from those to whom much is given, and much more is required from those to whom much more is given.”
    • There are many who sin against God – and don’t know any better…
    • They do not know God’s Word – but even though they don’t know – its still sin…
    • But those who know what God expects – know the truth of His word…
    • Yet still choose to sin – that is rebellion against the Lord – far greater sin…
• 4^th – The peace offering… Read: Leviticus 7:12-17
  • Offered with various kinds of bread – loaves / wafers / cakes – with oil – no yeast
    • The peace offering was the offering of fellowship with God…
    • The only sacrifice to also be offered with loaves with yeast (a picture of sin)…
    • Too many people think they have to be perfect before God will accept them…
    • They don’t want to go to church – until they have gotten rid of the sin in their lives…
    • You do not clean a fish before you catch it – you catch it then you clean it…
    • We do not have to be perfect to have fellowship with God – no sin (yeast)…
    • Come as you are – God knows we are sinners – and still loves us!
  • The fat of the animal was burnt in the fire – the rest had to be eaten the same day…
    • Unless it was a free will offering – then it could be eaten on the 2^nd day as well…
    • It was forbidden to eat the meat on the 3^rd day – it would be contaminated…
    • Sometimes God’s Laws were not spiritual – they were simply practical…
    • If you try and keep meat for more than 2 days – it will spoil – unhealthy to eat…
    • God isn’t only interested in our spiritual well being – also takes care of the practical
  • Never eat the fat or the blood… Leviticus 7:23-27
    • It was completely forbidden for the priests or the Israelites to eat the fat or blood…
      • The ‘fat’ belonged to the Lord – the best part – in every sacrifice it was His…
      • We should give the best part of ourselves to God – our gifts / talents / abilities…
      • Yet often people leave the best for themselves – and give the leftovers to God 
    • The blood represented the life of the animal – it was the payment for sin…
      • Now that does beg the question – are we forbidden to eat blood today…
      • Matthew 15:11 – “Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”
      • Eating blood – or pork – or shrimp – does not make us better or worse…
      • It doesn’t matter what we eat – what comes out of our mouths defiles us…
      • What comes out of our mouth reveals what is in our heart!
• The portion of the priest… Read: Leviticus 7:36-38
  • Notice with all of the offerings – the priest were to take a portion for themselves
    • As they ministered to the spiritual needs of the people of God…
    • The priests of God – were to be provided for practically – by the sacrifices to God…
  • God provides for the ‘priests’…
    • Paul picked up on this idea in the New Testament concerning church leadership…
    • * I Corinthians 9:13-14 – “Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar?  Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.”
    • Those who minister to the spiritual needs of the church – pastoral ministry…
    • As much as possible – should be provided for practically by those within the church
    • It is a blessing to the people to provide for the pastor to free him up to minister
  • Does that mean a pastor should demand to be provided for…
    • Far from it – the heart of the Pastor should be to give – not to take from the sheep…
    • * I Corinthians 9:15, 18 – “Yet I have never used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that I would like to start now. In fact, I would rather die than lose my distinction of preaching without charge… What then is my pay? It is the satisfaction I get from preaching the Good News without expense to anyone…”

The dedication of the priests… Leviticus 8-9

• Clothing the priests… Read: Leviticus 8:6-10

• Following the command of Exodus 28 – Aaron and his sons we dressed as priests…
  • The tunic / sash / robe / the ephod / the breastplate with the Urim and Thummim…
  • The turban on his head / the gold medallion on his forehead…
  • Then Moses took the anointing oil and dedicated them to the Lord…
• The priests were set apart – called to be the bridge between God and men…
  • They were not to look like the rest of Israel – so people knew who to go to…
  • They were to wear beautiful clothing that would set them apart from Israel…
  • Show the special purpose for which God had chosen them…
  • If in trouble – you see a man in a police officer uniform – you know he can protect you…
  • If you’re sick – and you see a man in a white doctor’s robe – you know he can heal you…
  • If you’re lost in sin – and you see Jesus in someone – you know he can save you!
  • What do we look like to the world – do we act like a sinner – or a saint…
  • If we act like the world around us – why would they want to hear about Jesus…
  • By being different from the world – living for Jesus – people come looking for answers!

• Dedicating the priests…  Leviticus 8:14-36

• Following the command of Exodus 29 – Moses dedicated the priests – a 7-day feast…
  • 1^st – the sin offering – to prepare the priests – they first had to deal with their sin…
  • 2^nd – the burnt offering – to prepare the priests – they first had to submit to the Lord…
  • 3^rd – the peace offering – to prepare the priests – they first had to hear from the Lord…
• The blood of the peace offering was put on the Priests right – ear / thumb / and big toe…
  • What they heard / what they did / and where they went – guided by the Lord… 
  • Their clothes were to be sprinkled with the blood (Jesus) mixed with oil (Spirit)…
  • Being a good priest is not just about how to act – but where you go…
  • We must be careful of what we hear – what we do – and where we go…
  • In so many ways we are like little children – easily influenced by our surroundings…
  • If we constantly hear bad things – have idle hands – feet that go where they should not
  • We find we will get into a lot of sin – become a poor representative for Jesus…

• The glory of the Lord… Read: Leviticus 9:1-7, 23-24

* I Corinthians 3:16 – “You are the temple of God and that Spirit of God lives in you?”

After 8 days…

Moses commanded Aaron to offer a sin offering and burnt offering – for himself…

Then he was to offer a sin offering and a burnt offering – for Israel….

Finally he was to offer a peace offering – with a grain offering – to the Lord…

Then the glory of the Lord would appear to Israel…

Fire came out from the Lord and consumed the burnt offering…

The Priests were not special because of the clothes they wore …

The Children of Israel were not special because they had come out of Egypt…

What made all of these things special – was God lived there among His people!

We are not special because of who we are – we are just clay pots – II Corinthians 4:7

We are special because of who is in us – we are the Temple of God…