LESSON 8 Peace Offering

 LESSON 8

Peace Offering



Objective: To experience the peace that Jesus Christ gives

Bible Portion: Lev. 3; 7: 11-37

Memory Verse: Eph. 2: 14-17

For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near.

Introduction

We see many kinds of conflicts in the world today. What is the reason? History tells us that conflict begins in the life of individuals and spreads into society. Therefore, the solution to societal conflicts will come if individuals enjoy peace. Individuals will enjoy lasting peace in themselves only when they first experience peace with God and then with fellow men. Peace offering was the shadow of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which alone can provide abundant peace to men.


Sacrificial Animal

An animal without blemish taken from among cattle, goat, or sheep can be offered as a peace offering. It is different from burnt offering i one aspect that the animal can be either male or female. Each anima (bullock, goat or sheep) point to a particular character of Jesus Christ as

we have already learned. Although God is pleased and His righteousness is also fulfilled through peace offering, the emphasis here is on the worshipper. His infirmity or weakness is acknowledged in the female animal which may also be offered as peace offering.

Method of Offering

The worshipper brings the animal to the entrance of the tabernacle and places his hand on its head. The animal is then killed and the priest sprinkles its blood on the altar. Its fat and kidneys are burned on the altar. The breast of the animal is waved by the priest as a wave offering (waved side to side) and its right shoulder is offered as a heave offering (waved with up and down motion). These parts of the animal are portions set apart for the priests. The remaining flesh is eaten by the worshipper with his family inside the court of the tabernacle. It should neither be eaten outside nor by any unclean person.

Meaning of the Sacrifice

We are reconciled to God by the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. We were once far away from God, in enmity with Him and were the children of wrath but Jesus Christ reconciled us to God by taking upon himself our punishment and died on the cross on our behalf. He is our peace and made us one with God (Eph. 2:13-18; Col. 1:19-22; 2 Cor. 5:17-21; Isa. 53:5; Rom. 5:8-11). By making peace, it is not only that the enmity is removed, but also that an active fellowship with God and the inheritance of son-ship is restored. Not only is God pleased with the peace offering but also the worshipper and his family become its partakers and finds happiness and satisfaction. Peace offering can also be considered as pointing towards the observance of the Lord's Table which symbolizes our fellowship with God and His people. Divine peace fills and overflows in the heart of a person who has obtained peace with God and man. This is the peace of God that passes all understanding (Phil. 4:7). This is same peace which Jesus gave to his disciples (John 14:27).

Two Types of Peace Offerings

There are two types of peace offering: 1. Thanksgiving offering: Lev. 7:12-15 2. Vow or voluntary offering: Lev. 7:16-19

Unleavened cakes and wafers baked with oil are offered with offering as a Thanksgiving offering. Moreover, leavened bread is also permitted (Lev. 7:13). This offering of leavened bread, which is prohibited in other sacrifices, is quite significant here. The emphasis in peace offering is on the worshiper who is weak and has infirmities of the flesh. Although the worshiper is reconciled with God, he still lives in his body, where there is constant warfare between flesh and Spirit. To gain victory over the flesh, one must continually mortify the flesh's deeds with the help of the Holy Spirit and burn them on the altar (Rom. 7:21-22; 8:13; Gal. 5:16-18).

The portions of flesh set apart for the worshiper in the thanksgiving offering must be eaten on the same day (Lev. 7:15). As our blessings through Christ are new every day (Lam. 3:23), we must praise Him in the newness of the Spirit by means of new songs (Rom. 7:6; Ps. 96:1).

The worshipers portion of the vow offering can be eaten on the same day and the next day (Lev. 7:16). This points to the fact that vow we take with God and its joy are not temporary, but enduring.

Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:1). Hence we must try to observe peace with all men and seek after holiness (Heb. 12:14). Let the peace of Christ, which surpasses all knowledge, reign in our hearts (Col. 3:15).

Questions

1. What are the differences between burnt and peace offerings? Why?

2. What are the main spiritual truths that we learn from peace offerings? Why is leaven allowed in peace offerings?

3. The sacrificial animal can either be a male or female in peace offering. Give its reason.

4. What is the difference between thanksgiving and vow offerings?

5. In what way can a sinful man obtain peace with God?

6. In what way can a sinful man obtain peace with God?

7. What are the different life aspects where we must enjoy peace?

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