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Copyright © 2007 by Staci Osterman. All Rights Reserved. For permission to duplicate write to the author at [email protected].
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WITH JESUS IN HIS SANCTUARY
Lesson 16: The Peace Offering The Hebrew word translated “peace offering” comes from a root word that means “to complete, to make safe, whole, or good, to restore, to make resolution.” The purpose of the peace offering was to celebrate the peace one has with God rather than to get it. While burnt offerings represented the dedication and consecration of the offerer to God and grain and drink offerings recognized one’s dependence on God for all his needs and his commitment to be a faithful steward of these gifts, the peace offering expressed one’s thankfulness. They were presented on the occasion of making vows or when the offerer wanted to praise God for some blessing received. This voluntary offering was not about asking God for favors but for praising Him for who He is and what He had done. Sometimes called a “fellowship offering,” the peace offering also represented a person’s desire to seek fellowship or communion with God. It is the only sacrifice that was accompanied by a fellowship meal in which God, the priest, and the offerer participated. THE PEACE OFFERING 1. What animals could be offered as a peace offering? Leviticus 3:1, 6, 7, 12; 22:21-25.
______________________________________________________________________________ The peace offering could come from the herd or the flock and could be either male or female. Normally, an offering had to be perfect (Leviticus 22:21), but in the case of a peace offering presented as freewill offering it did not. It could be used even if it had “any thing superfluous or lacking in his parts.” 2. What was done to the victim? Leviticus 3:2, 8, 13.
______________________________________________________________________________ Certain aspects of the ritual are similar to that done in a burnt offering or sin offering, such as laying his hands on the victim’s head and having the blood sprinkled on the altar. However in the peace offering, the emphasis is not on a person needing to find peace with God and atonement
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for sin, but rather on communion with God and rejoicing in the peace God has provided. The person is already considered to be in good standing with God. 3. What part of the peace offering was removed and burnt on the altar? Leviticus 3:3-5, 9-11, 14-16.
______________________________________________________________________________ In Scripture fat is associated with abundance (Deut 32:13-15; Nehemiah 9:25). To give God the fat meant to give Him the choicest and best parts of the animal. 4. What command was God’s people given regarding the fat and blood of any animal? Leviticus 3:17; 7:22-27.
______________________________________________________________________________ Neither the fat or the blood could be eaten because both belonged to God. The lesson in relation to the peace offering is that peace with God only comes as we give Him our best (represented by the fat) and our lives (represented by the blood). 5. What was this offering by fire called? Leviticus 3:5, 16.
______________________________________________________________________________ REASONS FOR THE PEACE OFFERINGS 6. What was the first reason why a person would bring a peace offering? Leviticus 7:11-13; Psalm 107:21, 22; Amos 4:5.
______________________________________________________________________________ When a person wanted to thank God for a specific blessing they had received they would bring a peace offering to show their gratefulness. This was to be offered of a person’s own free will (Leviticus 22:29). A gift of thankfulness cannot be coerced. It is the natural response of a heart filled with gratitude for God’s goodness in his or her life. 7. For what is David thankful for in Psalm 116 that he should desire to offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the Lord?
______________________________________________________________________________ 8. What were the second and third reasons why a person would bring a peace offering? Leviticus 7:16; 22:21, 23; 23:38; Numbers 29:39.
______________________________________________________________________________ On the occasion when a person was taking, renewing, or completing a vow, he would offer a peace offering. If a person wanted to express general thankfulness or love toward God without
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regard to a specific blessing, he could also bring a peace offering. These were called free-will offerings and were the spontaneous expression of love and gratitude on the heart of the offerer. 9. What occasion led to the offering of the following peace offerings and which type of peace offering were they? Genesis 31:51-55 – _____________________________________________________________
Exodus 24:3-5, 8 – _____________________________________________________________
Numbers 6:13-18 – _____________________________________________________________
1 Samuel 1:21-25 – _____________________________________________________________
1 Chronicles 16:1-4 – ___________________________________________________________
2 Chronicles 7:1-10 – ___________________________________________________________ THE FELLOWSHIP MEAL The peace offering represented a time of joy and thanksgiving for blessings received and vows being made or fulfilled. In connection with the offering there was a fellowship meal in which God, the priest, the offerer and his family and friends could participate. The peace offering was a covenant of friendship and the accompanying meal represents the spirit of community God desires to have between Himself and His people. 10. What food items might accompany a peace offering? Leviticus 7:12-14
______________________________________________________________________________ Here is the only record of leavened bread being offered to the Lord (Amos 4:5). Could it be that because this is a communal feast between God and man, that the unleavened bread represents the sinless Savior while the leavened bread represents man with his imperfections? 11. Before participating in the fellowship meal, what did a person have to do? Leviticus 7:20, 21.
______________________________________________________________________________ The fellowship meal was a holy meal and only those who were ceremonially clean could participate in it. God is the host of this meal and those coming to eat with Him need to be clean. “For the Lord has prepared a sacrifice; He has invited His guests.” Zephaniah 1:7. To partake in this meal while in a sinful, unclean condition would lead to excommunication. One cannot be in a state of sin and be at peace with God at the same time. 12. How did God participate in this fellowship meal? Leviticus 3:9-11.
______________________________________________________________________________ The fatty portion of the sacrifice belonged to the Lord and was the “food” portion of the meal that God consumed. Israel was never to eat the fat nor the blood (Leviticus 3:17).
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13. How did the priest participate in the meal and what was this portion called? Leviticus 7:14, 28-36.
______________________________________________________________________________ The priest’s portion included the breast (lower chest) and right thigh (upper portion of the back leg) of the animal and one cake from a thanksgiving peace offering. The breast was called the “wave offering” and the right thigh was called the “heave offering” (vs. 34) because of the gestures used in presenting these offerings to the Lord. The wave offering was moved in a horizontal forward and backward motion toward the altar symbolically showing the giving and receiving of both God and the sacrificer. The heave offering is called such because it was lifted up and extended to the priest who received it on behalf of the Lord. These portions were given to the priest in payment for the assistance he offered in helping with the offering. They could be eaten by his entire family in a clean place (Leviticus 10:14). 14. What instructions were given regarding the eating of the peace offering by the offerer? Leviticus 7:15-18.
______________________________________________________________________________ The largest portion of the sacrifice was eaten by the offerer and his family and friends in a community meal. The meal associated with a thank offering had to be completed the same day to show that our expression of praise to God must always be fresh. When God has blessed us with great benefits, let us that day offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving and rejoice in His goodness and immediately share our testimony of His faithfulness with others. A peace offering in commemoration of a vow or freewill offering could be eaten for a second day, but by the third day it had to be set aside. The sacrifice was holy and after two days there was danger of putrefaction. We are reminded of Christ who on the third day was resurrected. “For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will you allow Your Holy One to see corruption.” Psalm 16:10. Perhaps the speediness with which the peace offering is eaten teaches us best that we need to avail ourselves of the peace Christ offers us today through His death because tomorrow it may be too late (Hebrews 3:13, 14). HE IS OUR PEACE 15. What does Paul say that Christ has accomplished for us? Ephesians 2:11-17; Colossians 1:19-22.
Because of the cross, we can experience peace with God. This peace comes as God reconciles us to Himself, bringing us into the fellowship of His family. As we draw close to Christ, we are also united with other believers in a community of peace. The fellowship of peace and joy God desires to have with His church is typified in the peace offerings of Israel.
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16. How can you experience this peace in your life? Romans 5:1.
______________________________________________________________________________ Peace only comes when we are made right with God. “There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked.” Isaiah 48:22. When we accept the forgiveness Jesus offers, we are made righteous and acceptable to God. The result is peace. 17. What kind of peace is this? John 14:27; Philippians 4:7.
______________________________________________________________________________ 18. How can we maintain this peace in our lives? John 6:53-56; Matthew 26:26-28.
______________________________________________________________________________ Jesus said that to eat His flesh and drink His blood is to abide in Him. This is the main purpose of the peace offering – to bring us into a state of communion and fellowship with Christ. We can participate in a fellowship meal with Christ through a daily devotional life of Bible study and prayer. The communion service also brings us into a close relationship with Christ as we accept for ourselves the death of Christ and internalize it through eating the bread and drinking the juice. SUMMARY The peace offering provided a way for a person to express to God his appreciation for all the blessings God had given and his desire to experience joyful fellowship with God. Those who appreciate the sacrifice Christ made for them on the cross and manifest a heart of gratitude for all the blessings God has bestowed on them, will say as did David, “What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me? I will take up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord, now in the presence of all His people.” Psalm 116:12-14. 19. Has God been faithful to you in giving you more blessings that you may deserve? Will you offer Him the sacrifice of praise and fulfill your vows to show Him how appreciate you are? Your Answer: ________________
