PEACE, FEASTS, FELLOWSHIP
Opening Prayer
Lord God, inspire me as I read Scripture today. Give me new insight. Help me to not simply read its words, but to apply the truths you offer me.
Read LEVITICUS 3
The Fellowship Offering
3 “‘If your offering is a fellowship offering, and you offer an animal from the herd, whether male or female, you are to present before the Lord an animal without defect. 2 You are to lay your hand on the head of your offering and slaughter it at the entrance to the tent of meeting. Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall splash the blood against the sides of the altar. 3 From the fellowship offering you are to bring a food offering to the Lord: the internal organs and all the fat that is connected to them, 4 both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which you will remove with the kidneys. 5 Then Aaron’s sons are to burn it on the altar on top of the burnt offering that is lying on the burning wood; it is a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.
6 “‘If you offer an animal from the flock as a fellowship offering to the Lord, you are to offer a male or female without defect. 7 If you offer a lamb, you are to present it before the Lord, 8 lay your hand on its head and slaughter it in front of the tent of meeting. Then Aaron’s sons shall splash its blood against the sides of the altar. 9 From the fellowship offering you are to bring a food offering to the Lord: its fat, the entire fat tail cut off close to the backbone, the internal organs and all the fat that is connected to them, 10 both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which you will remove with the kidneys. 11 The priest shall burn them on the altar as a food offering presented to the Lord.
12 “‘If your offering is a goat, you are to present it before the Lord, 13 lay your hand on its head and slaughter it in front of the tent of meeting. Then Aaron’s sons shall splash its blood against the sides of the altar. 14 From what you offer you are to present this food offering to the Lord: the internal organs and all the fat that is connected to them, 15 both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which you will remove with the kidneys. 16 The priest shall burn them on the altar as a food offering, a pleasing aroma. All the fat is the Lord’s.
17 “‘This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live: You must not eat any fat or any blood.’”
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Meditate
Praise God today for enabling you to accept his invitation to the wedding feast of the Lamb.1
Think Further
In chapter 2, we read about the grain offering, which is the second of five offerings described in Leviticus. This chapter tells us about the third, the fellowship or peace offering. Further details are to be found in 7:11–21. It differs from other sacrifices in two respects. First, it is not commanded by God but may be offered as a voluntary act of thanksgiving and worship. Second, it is the one sacrifice from which not only the priest may eat but the person making the offering and their family and friends as well.
Based on the meaning of the Hebrew root word which is linked to ‘shalom,’ Bible translations refer to it both as the peace offering and the fellowship offering. Peace is an essential prerequisite of fellowship, since no two people can be in fellowship if they are not at peace with each other. Anyone making this offering was seeking to experience joyful fellowship with God in spite of all their human flaws. It foreshadows that peace we have through Jesus Christ, which makes possible our fellowship with our holy Creator God. The result is peace in our own heart, leading to peace with others as we keep growing in the grace of God.
In the last supper Jesus Christ had with his disciples, he shared with them the bread and the wine, representing his body and his blood. He instituted it as a memorial in which he invites us to share a fellowship meal with him in the here and now, along with our fellow believers. He has sent out a blanket invitation to all the world, which anyone and everyone is free to accept. The day is coming when we shall be privileged to share a banquet with him—the wedding feast of the Lamb!
Apply
‘Take and eat this in remembrance that Christ died for thee, and feed on him in thy heart by faith, with thanksgiving.’2 Do you?
Closing prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for the gift of communion that reminds me of your sacrifice made for me, and for the faith you have given that makes it possible to come to you with my prayer of gratitude.
1 Rev 19:9 2 Words at giving of Communion in the Anglican Church, Book of Common Prayer
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