V. Old Testament Worship Part 4
Priesthood/Offerings
1) Beginning with Lev. 1, God instructs Moses concerning the different kinds of offerings. What were they? (Also Ch. 16, 17)
Burnt offering Peace Offering (Wave) Meal offering Sin (Guilt) Offering Grain Trespass Offering
Fellowship
2) When were these to be offered?
Burnt Offerings: There were two of these daily, one in the morning and one in the evening. There was a double burnt offering on the Sabbath, and a special burnt offering to begin each month. There were also special burnt offerings during the feasts. (Ex. 29: 38-42; Num. 28:9-31; 29:1-6)
Meal (Meat) Offerings: These were presented at pretty much the same times as the burnt offerings. (Grain) (Ex. 39:40,41; Num 28:9-29)
Peace (Wave) Offerings: Also called a `heave' offering. They were offered in thanks to a special divine blessing, spontaneous freewill offerings, and vowed offerings when coming before God with request (Ex. 24:5, 32:6, Lev. 7:11,12)
Sin (Guilt) Offerings: Presented when unintentional or intentional sins were committed which could not be corrected (Lev. 4: 5-13, 6:24-30)
Trespass Offering: Presented for sins of a lesser degree, which could be followed by restitution. (Lev. 5:15)
3) What was involved in each of these offerings? Again, what was the priest's part?
Burnt: When a man offered a burnt offering, he brought a bullock, sheep, goat, turtledove, pigeon (the 2 former a male without defect) to the doorway of the `tent of the meeting', laid his hand on its head and kill it there before the Lord, Aaron, and his sons.
The priests then sprinkled the blood on the Altar; the man skinned the offering and cut it into pieces. Then the priests were to put wood on the fire and arrange the pieces of the offering upon the altar over the fire. Then the man was to wash the entrails and its legs and the priests burned them as well. This was the instruction for offering a `ram' from the flock. The instructions for the others varied somewhat, but in each case it was offered as a `soothing aroma to the Lord'. (Lev. 1)
Meal: This was of fine flour, oil, and frankincense or unleavened cakes of fine flour and oil. It was brought to the priests, who took their portion, then burned the rest upon the Altar. (Lev. 2)
Peace: Offered from the herd or flock, it was to be killed in the same way as the burnt offering, but certain parts were to be offered (fat, kidneys, loins, lobe of the liver) and burnt as a soothing aroma. It was slightly different for an offering from the flock. (Lev. 3)
Sin: A bull from the herd was to be brought to the doorway to the tent of meeting and killed, the priest was to dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle some of the blood seven times before the Lord in front of the veil of the sanctuary. He was to also put some of the blood on the horns of the Altar of Incense and pour the rest of the blood at the base of the Altar of the burnt offering. (Then he was to offer the same portions as the peace offerings) The remaining part of the bull was to be buried outside of camp (Lev. 4). (A goat was used for a leader.) (Guilt offerings in Lev. 5 are similar, but the sin committed decides the type of offering).
Trespass: Also called guilt offering. Beginning with Lev. 15:5, this is much the same as the sin offering, but involves restitution for whoever the sin was committed against.
WHY DID THEY HAVE THESE OFFERINGS?
A) Symbolized only giving the best to the Lord.
B) Tremendous bother for the people to offer, thus reminding them of
their guilt and their Lord God.
C) Caused man's heart to be in them (Isa. 1:2-4, 11-15).
D) Caused them to remember their sinfulness (Heb. 10:3).
E) To prepare the way for Christ's sacrifice.
(1 Tim. 2:4-6) (Heb 9:15)
4) What was the sin of Nadab and Abihu? Lev. 10: 1-3
Offering a strange fire before the Lord. (Perhaps incense or wood
other than that commanded?)
5) What were some of the instructions given to the priesthood
concerning their `worthiness' for worship?
(Lev. 10:9-11; Lev. 21 and 22)
A) No physical blemish
B) Moral fitness
C) Marry only a virgin of God's people
D) Not to drink when coming into God's presence
E) Not bald, shaven, or having any fleshly cuts
F) Holy, not profane God
G) Any un-behaving daughter to be burned
H) Not come near any dead person
I) Not show outward mourning
J) Not to serve while `unclean'
K) Not to offer anything or way but according to God's will
L) May eat of certain offerings
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