THE LEVITICAL BURNT-OFFERINGS.
By J. O. Corliss
Every offering of the Levitical system which had to do with the work of atonement, was required to be an animal of some kind, so that the giving up of life in behalf of the sinner could be typically set forth. When the sacrifice was to be burned on the altar, it must be a male. Lev. 1:3, 10. In order to identify himself with his offering, the sinner brought his victim to the door of the tabernacle, and in the presence of the priests and other witnesses he solemnly laid his hand on the head of the offering, thus acknowledging his guilt. With this ceremony the offering was accepted as the sinner’s substitute, a suitable sacrifice with which to make an atonement for his sin. Verse 4. The accepted substitute was then killed, skinned, and cut in pieces by the one for whom it stood, when the priests laid the parts in order upon the altar preparatory to the offering being consumed by fire. Verses 5–9. Besides these individual sacrifices, daily burnt-offerings also were made, evening and morning, for the sanctification of the whole congregation, the priests, and the tabernacle, in order that God might dwell in the midst of His people Israel. Ex. 29:38–46. All this typical work was designed to meet its fulfilment in the presentation of our own bodies as holy, living sacrifices to God, in order to our sanctification as a dwelling-place for Him. Rom. 12:1. There was another gift required of the people of ancient Israel, which was known as the “meat-offering.” This usually consisted of salted flour, with a white vegetable resin added, called frankincense, which rendered the offering combustible and fragrant. Instead of flour, one might acceptably offer cakes made of the same material, provided they were salted and anointed with oil. Still another form of meat-offering was that of green corn, salted, and dried before the fire, and having oil and frankincense added to it. Lev. 2:7, 13–16. It will be observed that every one of these offerings had to be seasoned with salt. From the nature of the ingredient it may be readily4inferred that its use in these offerings had some reference to the conditions of saving grace. In fact, the Lord says of His followers, “Ye are the salt of the earth.” Matt. 5:13. That is to say that thru His people He will save the earth from desolation. They are really His “covenant of salt” with earth’s inhabitants. Num. 18:19. But these simply stand as representatives of the Lord Jesus, who is the Head of this eternal covenant. He is the great Bread-offering given for us. John 6:48. That He might be an acceptable offering, He was first anointed with the “oil of gladness” (Heb. 1:9), and when, under this preparation, He was humiliated to man’s estate, He was again anointed with the Holy Spirit of power, with which to do the work assigned Him. John 3:34; Acts 10:38. As His witnesses and representatives, we too are to present our bodies as acceptable sacrifices unto God, which can be done only by having the anointing of the same Spirit by which He, as our great High Priest, became our forerunner in the work of salvation. Rom. 8:9–11; Heb. 6:20. “Have salt in yourselves” (Mark 9:50), is therefore an exhortation of great moment to those who would present themselves as acceptable offerings to the Lord. By seasoning the sacrifice of self with the power of God’s grace, one binds himself to the Lord with an indissoluble “covenant of salt,” and thus becomes positively assured of God’s presence and eternal salvation. The frankincense of the typical offering was not only combustible, but its consumption caused a sweet-smelling savor pleasant to the Lord. Lev. 2:2. So we are made a “sweet savor of Christ” unto God. 2 Cor. 2:15. That is, by conquering us, and exhibiting us as His willing captives, we become, not our own, but His sweet savor unto God. As the frankincense of the typical offering was all burned in the fire, so we, whom Christ has taken on His great heart of love, must be entirely consumed, that He, the “Bread of heaven,” may be reserved to the heavenly priesthood, as shown in the type. As no leaven was permitted in the typical sacrifices offered on the altar, so now none is permitted in the service we offer to Christ. Leaven was old dough which had undergone fermentation and consequent corruption. To mix such with the meat-offering would be to corrupt the whole, because only a little leaven permeates and corrupts the whole lump. Gal. 5:9. Corrupt doctrine in the faith of men, is pointed out as leaven. Matt. 16:6, 12. To entertain this is to become permeated with corrupt practises in harmony with the doctrines held, and so be counted hypocrites in the sight of heaven. It was thus with the church at Corinth, which had become rather proud of the evil practise of one of its members. In writing to them of this matter the apostle sharply reproved them, saying, “Your glorying is not good.” After stating the general nature of leaven, he urged them to purge out the old substance, and so become a new and acceptable body of people, having become unleavened. A prominent feature in this old leaven of theirs was the doctrine that a man could have the wife of another under certain circumstances without condemnation. This had led one of their number into a depth of corruption never before heard of. The advice was to purge out the old doctrine, which was a “leaven of malice and wickedness.” This may be thought an extreme presentation of the case; but it is a Bible illustration of the matter, and shows what is possible in the entertainment of false and mischievous doctrines. Sincerity and truth are the constituents which make the offering of the Christian acceptable to God. No excesses of evil follow the adoption of this combination; therefore let all buy the truth at any cost, and sell it not at any price.