4.10.25

Good morning!

The offerings/korbanot were indeed a source of joy and favor every time they were brought to the Temple or Tabernacle. For instance, when the Temple was being dedicated under Solomon's kingship, they had this incredible feast. The nation feasted on these thanksgiving and peace offerings; 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep and goats (2 Chron. 7:5; 1 King. 8:63) and the glory of the Lord, as with the Tabernacle in Exodus 40, filled the Temple (2 Chron. 7:2).

There was great joy in the presence of the Lord! And we have this covenantal intimacy because the offerings/korbanot expressed love, joy, loyalty and gratitude. 

Let me speak very briefly to one common objection, particularly in a modern sense. Yeah, OK, fine, but still weird! OK, Solomon's dedication doesn't seem consistent with blood and guts, splashing blood, limbs cut off and burning on an altar to appease an angry god for the sinful disobedience of mankind; it is so barbaric. It's disgusting. How could God possibly like that? How could it be a sweet smelling savor in His nostrils (Gen. 8:21; Lev. 1:9, 13, 17; 2:2, 9, 12; 3:5, 16; 4:31; etc.)? 

Here's a simple question for us to consider, which comes from my college experience of lugging beef at Gooch Packing Plant in Abilene, Texas. Have you ever eaten a hamburger, a steak, or a chicken sandwich?  Have you ever been to the slaughterhouse where that meat was killed and prepared for you to eat? You wanna talk about barbarism!  As they said in Texas, 'it ain’t pretty'!  And yet, while I know that there are vegetarians and vegans who object to meat on moral grounds, I understand their point of view, most of the people who would level that complaint about the barbaric sacrificial system, established and solidified in Leviticus, will be happy to level it over a nicely seasoned and seared T-bone steak that they are selfishly demolishing without a second thought. 

What’s one of the most significant overlooked considerations of the system is that they are not simply sacrifices in the commonly expressed mode. We talk about the korban olah, the complete burnt offering (Lev 1), where the animal is totally consumed, marks the exception to the offerings.  In some way a portion of the offering/korban was food for the priest, for his family, for the people who brought the sacrificial offering; they were in large part celebratory meals that you shared with God and enjoyed in His presence (Ex. 29:42, 43). In other words, every offering was an invitation to dine with God, a powerful relational  builder to foster a connection and intimacy. The symbolic participation was indeed joyful!  

But, why would God choose that method of connection? Enquiring minds want to know :-)...It wasn’t about blood and guts and gore or pacifying an angry God; it was an invitation/vayikra. God was the honored and invited guest at the table of Israel. For those who haven't yet, but are about to celebrate Passover, the Passover sacrifice in its original form was a family meal with God to be remembered, sanctified, celebrated for the provision of that Lamb (Ex. 12:8-11). In this loss of life, of the lamb, the cleaning of the animal, the offering up with thanksgiving, the roasting, and all that stuff, even in a very tangible way, it was an experience of life in a literal nourishing sense that empowered them to leave their past enslavement in Egypt. 

Now let me ask you another question: Isn't that better than a hamburger? Isn’t it a special meal with God? Yeppers! So let me express one last very beautiful reality about the sacrifices, particularly the sacrifice known as the meat offerings, the daily 'tamid' offerings, the morning and the evening offerings (Ex. 29:39-41; Num. 28:4). These daily sacrifices, which are connected to us directly (Rom. 12:1,2; 8:36,37; Eph. 5:1,2; etc.) were, and are, a huge part of inviting and sustaining God‘s presence; they are defined in the Torah as a pleasing aroma. 

As you continue into the Spring feast of the Lord, may your life produce a sweet aroma that is pleasing in His nostrils!

Chag Sameach Pesach!

Shalom

Last night's study from Grace Church, Ft. Walton Beach, Florida. 'Home remedies and living like a worm'