8/20/2008 11:24 AM
My Worship Time Focus: The sin offering
Bible Reading &
Meditation Reference: Leviticus 4:1-5:13 6:24-30
Message of the verses: I want to begin this SD by saying that there
is something that I do not understand from the notes in Dr. Wiersbe’s book on
Leviticus, for in the commentary from yesterday’s section he mentioned that the
fellowship offering was the only offering that a female animal could be used,
yet a female can be used in the sin offering.
The sin
offering is described in the verses from the reference part of this SD and
there were different ways that it was to be offered depending on who it was
that was offering it. The higher the
position of the person who sinned the more costly the sacrifice and it was also
done in a different way. If the high
priest sinned then he had to bring a bull and the blood from the bull was
sprinkled before the curtain that divided the holy place and the holy of
holies, which was before the Lord. Then
the blood was also put on the horns of the altar and some poured out by the
altar. The fat and some of the organs
were burned on the altar and the rest of the sacrifice was burned outside the
camp in the place where the ashes were put from the other offerings, a holy
place. If the whole camped sinned the
procedure was the same and if a ruler of Israel
The reason
that the High priests offering and other higher ranking officials sacrifice had
to be burned outside the came was twofold:
It mad a distinction between the sin offering and the burnt offering so
that the worshipers couldn’t be confused as they watched. But even more it reminded the people that the
sins of the high priest and the whole congregation would pollute the whole
camp; and the sin offering was too holy to remain in an unholy camp. This was also a picture of Jesus Christ who
was crucified outside the city gate…outside the camp as my sin offering. “10 We
have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. 11 For
the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy place by the
high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside the camp. 12
Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own
blood, suffered outside the gate.
13 So, let us go out to Him
outside the camp, bearing His reproach.” (Hebrews 13:10-13)
The sin
offering was for sins that were committed without a persons knowing that they
had sinned, for if a person sinned “with his eyes wide open,” there was no
sacrifice to be offered for that sin and must depend on the mercy of God. A close look as Psalm 51, which was written
after David sinned with Bathsheba shows that David knew that a sacrifice for
that could not be offered because he knowingly committed adultery with her and
had her husband killed. “16 For You do not delight in sacrifice,
otherwise I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering. 17 The
sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God,
You will not despise. 18 By Your favor do good to Zion ;
Build the walls of Jerusalem
Spiritual meaning for my life today: As I read and study about this offering I can
say that I am so very thankful for the grace of God. Sin has it’s consequences as seen in the life
of David, but just as David realized that it was God’s mercy and his love that
caused Him to forgive him so it is the same with me. I want to be more aware of the sins that I
commit and certainly not commit any sins with “my eyes wide open.”
My Steps of Faith for
Today:
- Keep a short list with the Lord.
- Give myself to the Lord for worship and service.
- Trust the Lord to guide my path today.
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