Torah Portion: Leviticus 6:8-8:36
Tsav (‘Command’)
The Sacrificial System
The Levitical system contained a sequence of three types of offering, all of which have spiritual significance for us today:
- Sin and guilt offerings: First, sin had to be dealt with, to establish the grace of atonement and purification through sacrifice.
- Burnt and grain offerings: Second, the complete burning of the sacrifice, all for God, symbolised the total dedication and commitment of one’s life in loving gratitude for his forgiveness.
- Fellowship or peace offering: Third, another burnt offering, this one shared between God and his people, denoted the restoration of fellowship and the building of relationship with God.
The sacrifices that God commanded required the slaughter of an innocent animal. This obligation was crucial to the Hebrew understanding of atonement, of holiness (both God’s and theirs) and of relationship with God. It substituted life for life, for it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life (Lev 17:11).
Ultimately, this law points to Jesus, Messiah Yeshua, who came to save His people from their sins through His death on the Cross. For “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Heb 9:22). Through faith in Him we have all the blessings foreshadowed by the Levitical sacrificial system: (a) the expiation of our sin; (b) a life consecrated to God in thankfulness; and (c) communion with our holy God.
Mercy, Not Sacrifice
When Jesus was asked which was the most important of all the commandments, He answered by referring to Deuteronomy 6:4-5 and Leviticus 19:18: "'The most important one,' answered Jesus, 'is this: "Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." The second is this: "Love your neighbour as yourself." There is no commandment greater than these'" (Mark 12:29-31).
The prophetic portion this week (Jer 7:21-34) shows, sadly, that Israel did not hear and obey God as they had originally been commanded, and Jeremiah had to announce God’s judgment upon a people deep in covenant-breaking pagan idol worship. God’s grieving heart-call to Jeremiah has a terrifyingly accurate application to humankind today in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic:
"'"For when I brought your ancestors out of Egypt and spoke to them, I did not just give them commands about burnt offerings and sacrifices, but I gave them this command: obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in obedience to all I command [tsav] you, that it may go well with you.
But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts. They went backwards and not forwards. From the time your ancestors left Egypt until now, day after day, again and again I sent you my servants the prophets. But they did not listen to me or pay attention. They were stiff-necked and did more evil than their ancestors."'
'When you tell them all this, they will not listen to you; when you call to them, they will not answer. Therefore say to them, "This is the nation that has not obeyed the LORD its God or responded to correction. Truth has perished; it has vanished from their lips."'" (Jer 7:22-28)
Can we hear God’s indictment upon Britain, under judgment now, and upon the whole of humanity, in these days? Through this pandemic plague, God is shouting to us today to listen to Him and obey His command: “To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Mic 6:8). For surely He desires “mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of [Him] rather than burnt offerings” (Hos 6:6).
Let us use this time of relative isolation at his command (Isa 26:20-21) to re-assess our walk with the Lord in preparation for Passover next week (Ex 12:7), that we might bear fruit for the Kingdom.
Author: Greg Stevenson