LEVITICUS 6


     We will be looking at the Peace Offering in this lesson. The
Hebrew name for the peace offering is [zebach shelamim], which meant
sacrifice of peace offerings. This was a festive feast and was along
with and after the burnt offering, meat offering, and firstfruits.
This offering symbolizes the peace that comes through Jesus Christ
after He has reconciled us to Father God. There is a peace that true
Christians have, that is actually beyond the world's comprehension.
Just the fact that we have no fear of death, sets us aside from the
world. The believers have hope of the resurrection, as we said in a
previous lesson. Peace offerings were a way of thanking God for His
bountiful blessings.

     We will begin now in Leviticus 3:1 "And if his oblation [be] a
sacrifice of peace offering, if he offer [it] of the herd; whether [it
be] a male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the
LORD."

     We see that both males and females are acceptable in this
offering. This peace offering does not relate to the physical body of
Jesus Christ is why this is so. The peace of God comes to both male
and female, when we receive Jesus as our Saviour.  Take note that all
offerings are to be without blemish. Of course, LORD here is Jehovah.
Their herd consisted not only of cattle, but sheep, and goats, as
well.  This would mean then, that they could bring a bull, or cow, a
he goat or a she goat, or a ram or a ewe.

     Leviticus 3:2 "And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his
offering, and kill it [at] the door of the tabernacle of the
congregation: and Aaron's sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood
upon the altar round about."

     The peace offering, the burnt offering, the meat offering, and
the firstfruits offering were all just inside the door of the
tabernacle. This is like a brand new Christian who has just received
the Lord Jesus as their Saviour. What overwhelming joy there is when
one sinner comes to Christ. It calls for a celebration, and that is
what the peace offering is all about. We see, again, the laying of the
hand on the animal's head to show the transfer of the person's sin
{symbolically} to the offering.  Actually this offering will turn into
a feast. The sons of Aaron and the one who offers will eat of this
meat after it is properly prepared.  We see, in this blood, that the
Lord Jesus is the one who brings this peace.  It is as if we are
thanking Him for His sacrifice of His blood for us. Jesus made peace
with God for us, He is our peace. Ephesians 2:14 "For he is our peace,
who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of
partition [between us];"

     Leviticus 3:3 "And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace
offering an offering made by fire unto the LORD; the fat that covereth
the inwards, and all the fat that [is] upon the inwards,"

     This fat and the inwards that were burned on this bronze altar,
were a sweet smelling savour unto the Lord. This offering to God
recognized where the peace of God came from. This is like a prayer of
thanksgiving from us to God. Remember, on this same altar, the
covenant with God and His people had been sealed with the salt. There
is plenty to rejoice about. Since we are looking at types and shadows,
we can see the Lord's supper with the apostles shadowed in this peace
offering. Notice, in the next few verses that the priests partake of
the food from this offering. The priests symbolize Jesus' followers
then and now.

     Leviticus 3:4 "And the two kidneys, and the fat that [is] on
them, which [is] by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the
kidneys, it shall he take away."

     We see in this that the portion to be burned is the kidney and
all of the fat. This is to be burned as a sweet savour to the Lord.
Later on in this same chapter the people are told to not eat fat or
blood, that they belong to God. One of the terrible practices of Satan
worshippers today is the drinking of blood. This would be a horrible
abomination to God.

     Leviticus 3:5 "And Aaron's sons shall burn it on the altar upon
the burnt sacrifice, which [is] upon the wood that [is] on the fire:
[it is] an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD."

     This is to be burned on the brazen altar. The priests, the sons
of Aaron, were to do the burning. Remember one more time that the
priests symbolize the Christians. This shows us that in our
thanksgiving to God, we should also give offerings to His work.

     Leviticus 3:6  "And if his offering for a sacrifice of peace
offering unto the LORD [be] of the flock; male or female, he shall
offer it without blemish."

     We notice, again, here that there is provision made for those who
are too poor to bring a specific offering. This just shows me that
regardless of how poor you are, you are not exempt from giving. God
allows those who have less to give less, but He does not exempt them
from giving. Since this is still the peace offering and does not
typify the body of Jesus, a male or female can be given. This still
must be a first class offering, not any damaged goods.

     Leviticus 3:7 "If he offer a lamb for his offering, then shall he
offer it before the LORD."

     This is just going into more detail about each of the offerings.
In fact, this was included in verse 1 when male or female of the herd
were mentioned.

     Leviticus 3:8 "And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his
offering, and kill it before the tabernacle of the congregation: and
Aaron's sons shall sprinkle the blood thereof round about upon the
altar."
     We discussed earlier, that the laying the hand over on the
animal's head was as if this animal represented the offerer before
God. This offering of thanksgiving to the Lord should not be a private
affair. When we are praising God, we should not be ashamed to do it in
front of others. We should tell the world that God has blessed us. The
person offering the lamb should not touch the altar. The sons of Aaron
will place the meat to be burned and sprinkle the blood, as well.

     Leviticus 3:9 "And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace
offering an offering made by fire unto the LORD; the fat thereof,
[and] the whole rump, it shall he take off hard by the backbone; and
the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that [is] upon the
inwards,"

     Rump here means the fat tail of an oriental sheep. All fat was to
be burned in all of these offerings. The only reason I can see this
mentioned separately here, is, that most of the other animals did not
have these fat tails. The reason this fat is mentioned so many times
is that God wants to impress upon them the importance of not eating
fat. The fat belonged to God. I say, again, all fat was to be burned
as a sweet savour to the Lord.

     We need to go over a few things in this lesson one more time, so
that we will not forget them. The peace offering was to be offered on
the bronze altar just inside the door of the tabernacle of the
congregation. The offerer was, to kill the animal. The offerer was to
place his hand upon the animals head while he was killing it to show
that the animal represented the offerer. For the peace offering, the
animal could be male or female. This was a thank offering and did not
shadow the very body of Christ. This thank offering was shared by the
person offering it and the priests, after the fat and blood and the
inward parts were offered to God. The part offered to God must be
burned upon the burnt altar.





















                             Questions 6

1.  Which offering does this lesson deal with?
2.  What is the Hebrew name for the peace offering?
3.  What does it mean?
4.  What other offerings were made on the same altar?
5.  Christians have no fear of ______.
6.  What hope do the Christians have that the world does not have?
7.  What animal could be offered in the peace offering?
8.  What must be the condition of the animal offered?
9.  What animals did their herds consist of?
10. Where was the person to kill the animal?
11. Who was to sprinkle the blood upon the altar?
12. What overwhelming joy there is when one _______ comes to ______.
13. Who will be allowed to eat of this meat after it is properly
    prepared?
14. Where do we find the Scripture that says He is our peace?
15. What part of this offering was to be burned upon the fire, an
    offering to God?
16. This peace offering is like a prayer of _____________.
17. What had the covenant of God been sealed with?
18. What 2 things are not to be eaten, because they belong to God?
19. What is one of the terrible practices in the church of Satan
    today?
20. Do the poor have to sacrifice? Explain.
21. Should the offering of praise be made privately or publicly?
22. What does rump mean in verse 9?
23. Why is the fat mentioned over and over?
24. Name at least 4 things we repeated about this offering at the end
    of the lesson.