LEVITICUS
CHAPTER
1
1. The LORD summoned Moses and spoke to him from the tent of the meeting, saying: 2. Speak to the people of Israel and say to them: When any of you bring an offering of livestock to the LORD, you shall bring your offering from the herd or from the flock.
(Leviticus chapter 1 verses 1 to 2)
On reflecting it appears that now that God had a dwelling place among His people He communicated regularly with them. This shows us oh father that it is your pleasure to communicate with us. Moreover the more time we invest in our relationship with You the more You make it grow.
In order to thank You oh Father as humans we are to offer gifts. However these gifts were to be from our own livestock meaning something that is really ours and not something of somebody else as in the analogy of the herds that was common livestock. Today God is asking an offering from us. This could be an intimate life with Him or even a vocation. Let us not be over cautious with You oh God and offer You the best of our lives and not the mediocre remains of our day in order to offer our offerings such as our prayer time among other offerings to You.
3. If the offering is a burnt offering from the herd, you shall offer a male without blemish; you shall bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting for acceptance in your behalf before the LORD.
(Leviticus chapter 1 verse 3)
When the offering was brought to the sons of Aaron to be offered as a burnt offering the creature is checked for any form of deformity and is treated accordingly thus if the sacrificial offering is defective it will be refused as a worthy offering. However God does not deal with us in the same way and with the same criteria that we deal with each other.God is in control of all situations in life, and even if a baby is born with a form of impairment God still loves that baby because it is His creation and any parent is proud of His creation even if others call it 'disabled, impaired, deformed' or by other label which are always in the pipeline in relation to this issue so much that it is difficult to remain updated for a new label is created almost every year. God's main priority is that of seeing us happy even though at times He permits us to endure tough situations that make our life a living sacrifice that we can offer to Him.
4. You shall lay your hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it shall be acceptable in your behalf as atonement for you.
(Leviticus chapter 1 verse 4)
According to Mr. Devain Pawar the author of this chapter the act of atonement is to compensate for the negative action that we would have done as in when we go to confess our sins that may have negative consequences on both our selves and those of our inner and outer circles. The person making the offering would place his hand, on the head of the burnt offering thus transferring his sins on to the creature who would be offered on his behalf. The issue of offering and beheading is being abused by the fact that humans were not intended to be beheaded to atone for the sins of others or to compensate for other people who were previously killed long time ago.
What is really encouraging oh God is that by means of the sacrament of confession You give us the opportunity to admit our sins in an honest way, admit that we were tempted by sin to do this and that negative action and express feelings of sorrow that we have done such a thing with the intention of never doing it again by means of the help of God, because as humans we are always prone to sin again and again. Therefore a negative act is not compensated for by another negative act as in the killing of a person or group of people to compensate for a negative act previously done by another group with whom we share differences and biases.
5. The bull shall be slaughtered before the LORD and Aaron's sons the priests shall offer the blood, dashing the blood against all sides of the altar that is at the entrance of the tent of meeting.
(Leviticus chapter 1 verse 5)
(Leviticus chapter 1 verse 5)
According to the author of this chapter with whom I agree, today many people are slaughtering people in name of their supreme being or any other deity stating it as being according to the will of that source that they are carrying out these macabre acts of murder or manslaughter. In truth we all know that the God in whom we believe has given to humanity the power to live a happy life and not the authority to decide who lives and who is worthy to be slaughtered in a cage or with a knife. God wants us to live a happy life were we can always consider Him as our number one priority and above all thank him for the important loving and caring role that He has been playing in our life as the Master Creator.
On going back to the text and reflecting You also were offered as a living sacrifice on which you offered your body and blood which was also dashed and scattered on everywhere you passed from especially on the cross which was your sacrificial altar in order to obtain our atonement.
6. The burnt offering shall be flayed and cut up into its parts. 7. The sons of the priest Aaron shall put fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire. 8. Aaron's sons the priests shall arrange the parts, with the head and the suet, on the wood that is on the fire on the altar; 9. but its entrails and its legs shall be washed with water. Then the priest shall turn the whole into smoke on the altar as a burnt offering, an offering by fire of pleasing odor to the LORD.
(Leviticus chapter 1 verses 6 to 9)
According to Mr. Pawar the author of this chapter as humans we all are different pieces of a puzzle in this wonderful and complex world. On the other hand God is the one who is able to solve the puzzle of our selves by joining the pieces of ourselves thus making us whole persons and washes away our sins by means of the sacrament of reconciliation and thus making us happy again as whole persons and this also is of pleasure to God.
When comparing the procedure fashioned for the the creature to be offered as a burnt offering to Jesus, the offering of all offerings we can draw the following comparisons. As in the case of the offering of the creature referred to in Leviticus chapter 1 verses 6 to 9, the body of Jesus was butchered by the soldiers. His body was ripped apart by the spear of the soldier during the time of the passion. On the other hand according to the mentioned procedure the sons of Aaron the priest will arrange the wood on which the sacrificial animal would be placed, while Jesus was forced to carry the wood on which he was to be offered for our salvation. As in the case of the offering Jesus was an offering of love that pleased God in whom He found His pleasure in His loving Son.
10. If your gift for a burnt offering is from the flock, from the sheep or goats, your offering shall be a male without blemish. It shall be slaughtered on the north side of the altar before the LORD, and Aaron's sons the priests shall dash its blood against all sides of the altar. 12. It shall be cut up into its parts, with its head and its suet, and the priest shall arrange them on the wood that is on the fire on the altar; 13. But the entrails and the legs shall be washed with water. Then the priest shall offer the whole and turn it into smoke on the altar; it is a burnt offering, an offering by fire pleasing odor to the LORD.
(Leviticus chapter 1 verses 10 to 13)
On reading these verses for the first time I thought that they were a repetition of verses 6 to 9, however on analysing Leviticus chapter 1 verses 6 to 9, and comparing it to Leviticus chapter 1 verses 10 to 13 the following conclusion can be reached.
In Leviticus chapter 1 verse 5 it is written that if the offering is taken from the herd it was to be offered at the entrance of the tent of the meeting. However if the offering is from the 'flock meaning from the 'sheep or goats' the offering was to be offered on the north side of the altar. Therefore it follows that different types of offerings were offered on different angles of the altar facing the tent of the meeting.
In order to help us understand the significance of the offerings that we are going to reflect on in the following chapters from the book of Leviticus please click on the following link:-
The significance of the sacrificial offerings
6. The burnt offering shall be flayed and cut up into its parts. 7. The sons of the priest Aaron shall put fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire. 8. Aaron's sons the priests shall arrange the parts, with the head and the suet, on the wood that is on the fire on the altar; 9. but its entrails and its legs shall be washed with water. Then the priest shall turn the whole into smoke on the altar as a burnt offering, an offering by fire of pleasing odor to the LORD.
(Leviticus chapter 1 verses 6 to 9)
According to Mr. Pawar the author of this chapter as humans we all are different pieces of a puzzle in this wonderful and complex world. On the other hand God is the one who is able to solve the puzzle of our selves by joining the pieces of ourselves thus making us whole persons and washes away our sins by means of the sacrament of reconciliation and thus making us happy again as whole persons and this also is of pleasure to God.
When comparing the procedure fashioned for the the creature to be offered as a burnt offering to Jesus, the offering of all offerings we can draw the following comparisons. As in the case of the offering of the creature referred to in Leviticus chapter 1 verses 6 to 9, the body of Jesus was butchered by the soldiers. His body was ripped apart by the spear of the soldier during the time of the passion. On the other hand according to the mentioned procedure the sons of Aaron the priest will arrange the wood on which the sacrificial animal would be placed, while Jesus was forced to carry the wood on which he was to be offered for our salvation. As in the case of the offering Jesus was an offering of love that pleased God in whom He found His pleasure in His loving Son.
10. If your gift for a burnt offering is from the flock, from the sheep or goats, your offering shall be a male without blemish. It shall be slaughtered on the north side of the altar before the LORD, and Aaron's sons the priests shall dash its blood against all sides of the altar. 12. It shall be cut up into its parts, with its head and its suet, and the priest shall arrange them on the wood that is on the fire on the altar; 13. But the entrails and the legs shall be washed with water. Then the priest shall offer the whole and turn it into smoke on the altar; it is a burnt offering, an offering by fire pleasing odor to the LORD.
(Leviticus chapter 1 verses 10 to 13)
On reading these verses for the first time I thought that they were a repetition of verses 6 to 9, however on analysing Leviticus chapter 1 verses 6 to 9, and comparing it to Leviticus chapter 1 verses 10 to 13 the following conclusion can be reached.
In Leviticus chapter 1 verse 5 it is written that if the offering is taken from the herd it was to be offered at the entrance of the tent of the meeting. However if the offering is from the 'flock meaning from the 'sheep or goats' the offering was to be offered on the north side of the altar. Therefore it follows that different types of offerings were offered on different angles of the altar facing the tent of the meeting.
In order to help us understand the significance of the offerings that we are going to reflect on in the following chapters from the book of Leviticus please click on the following link:-
The significance of the sacrificial offerings
According to the author of this chapter Mr. Devain Pawar many people including ourselves may wonder why God states wants the animal to have no defect. It may be said that God is judging that offering, however on the other hand God wants to be the number one in our lives and therefore we are to treat God accordingly. On the other hand God knows human nature and is fully aware of both our strengths and of our weaknesses. God is also aware that although we aim to live a perfect life as humans at some point or another the sacrifice of our life is going to be stained by our sinful self. However above all God loves us, and is always ready to welcome us back to His loving arms. That is why He gave us all the opportunity to atone for our sins by means of the sacrament of reconciliation which reconciles us with God and then with those who have trespassed against us ,by means of the graces that this sacrament gives us.
14. If your offering to the LORD is a burnt offering of birds, you shall choose your offerings from turtledoves or pigeons.
(Leviticus chapter 1 verse 14)
When reflecting on verse 14 of the first chapter of Leviticus we cannot stop and go back to our friend Noah in the book of Genesis, who chose to send the dove in order to confirm if the waters of the flood have returned back to their ascribed bearings on earth as according to the will of God. The dove in its nature is calm, and obedient to its master It is generally considered to be a symbol of peace. The dove is sent on a task and unlike the ravenous raven returns back to its master. The Roman Catholic Church has held the symbol of the dove as representing the Holy Spirit of God, who also was sent by God the Father to fulfil the mission of our salvation and then return back to the Master by means of being offered on the cross as a sacrificial offering for our atonement and that of the world.
15. The priest shall bring it to the altar and wring of its head, and turn it into smoke on the altar; and its blood shall be drained out against the side of the altar. 16. He shall remove its crop with its contents and throw it at the east side of the altar, in place for ashes. 17. He shall tear it open by its wings without severing it. Then the priest shall turn it into smoke on the altar, on the wood that is on the fire; it is a burnt offering, an offering by fire of pleasing odor to the LORD.
(Leviticus chapter 1 verses 15 to 17)
When reflecting on verses 15 to 17 which bring us to the end of this chapter it can be observed that as in the case of the offering of the dove as a burnt offering your son Jesus was also laid down on the cross without having one bone broken. During hard times it is good to keep this in mind. Even though we may be processed as a sacrificial offering for the atonement of our sins, God will not permit us to endure harm more than we can bear. Moreover along with the tribulation God always gives us His graces as means of consolation.
The author of this chapter chose to end this chapter with the following prayer:-
14. If your offering to the LORD is a burnt offering of birds, you shall choose your offerings from turtledoves or pigeons.
(Leviticus chapter 1 verse 14)
When reflecting on verse 14 of the first chapter of Leviticus we cannot stop and go back to our friend Noah in the book of Genesis, who chose to send the dove in order to confirm if the waters of the flood have returned back to their ascribed bearings on earth as according to the will of God. The dove in its nature is calm, and obedient to its master It is generally considered to be a symbol of peace. The dove is sent on a task and unlike the ravenous raven returns back to its master. The Roman Catholic Church has held the symbol of the dove as representing the Holy Spirit of God, who also was sent by God the Father to fulfil the mission of our salvation and then return back to the Master by means of being offered on the cross as a sacrificial offering for our atonement and that of the world.
(Leviticus chapter 1 verses 15 to 17)
When reflecting on verses 15 to 17 which bring us to the end of this chapter it can be observed that as in the case of the offering of the dove as a burnt offering your son Jesus was also laid down on the cross without having one bone broken. During hard times it is good to keep this in mind. Even though we may be processed as a sacrificial offering for the atonement of our sins, God will not permit us to endure harm more than we can bear. Moreover along with the tribulation God always gives us His graces as means of consolation.
The author of this chapter chose to end this chapter with the following prayer:-
God please give me the power, so that I can do my best in following your will. I also thank You for the opportunity that one day I will be reunited with You in my home in heaven. I would like to thank You for playing a major role in my daily life. Thank You for guiding me through each day of my life. I also pray for those victims of the atrocities that were committed in the name of 'god' and I also pray for our protection and well being . Bless us with your grace and thank you for giving us the chance to spread Your Holy Words and also for giving us the chance to start praying on the book of Leviticus.
Thank You God
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