Leviticus 7 – 9
Verse 7:30 is one of those offerings I find odd:
His own hands shall bring the LORD’s food offerings. He shall bring the fat with the breast, that the breast may be waved as a wave offering before the LORD.
First, we need to get an image of what is happening. The priests cut the breast from the offering, and then wave it before the Lord. I can imagine how bloody this exercise must be, but to take a chunk of the offering and then wave it must spread blood all over the place. The second thing you notice is these offerings that are waved are then used for food by the priests.
Third thing I personally wonder is why they needed to do this. You already have a bloody mess, why make it worse by waving it around? This was the symbolic portion of the offering that was presented to God and then released by God to feed the families of the priests.
The symbolism behind the wave offering makes me wonder about the symbolism behind the other offerings. Did all the offering provide a symbolic representation of God’s forgiveness and not actually provide absolution? I am not saying they were not forgiven, but was this more to teach us repentance? One would feel remorse ad loss for giving up their “best” and that would teach them remorse for their sins? Once they asked for true forgiveness, then they have learned the secret of sin.
No one would argue the price of sin is death and that is why God required a sacrifice. At the same time if I currently lived under the sacrificial system our menagerie around here (goats, chickens, ducks, horses and the donkey) would all have to be offered! I assume it was done for more than one sin, but even still I question if my “flock” could keep up. Thank God Jesus provided that final sacrifice for our sins!
Verse 8:10 talks about anointing:
Then Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and all that was in it, and consecrated them.
This is something a few in the church still practice, but most do not. I often wonder how many actually ensure their “anointing oil” is actually the “formula” from Exodus 30? How many just take cooking oil and anoint with it? Is there really a difference when the purpose is to protect one from evil?
The origin of anointing came from shepherds (surprise) who use to pour oil over the heads to the sheep to protect them from insects that could burrow into their ears and eyes and kill them. From this, anointing became symbolic for blessing, protection and empowerment. Now I know “holistic vets” sell “cedar oil” these days, I wonder how close the “formula” is as was described in Exodus.
When you study the “whys” of many of these Old Testament rituals, you quickly learn the meaning and the reason behind them. Once that makes sense, hopefully that can provide more meaning to when you “anoint” or “sacrifice” next time.