Leviticus 2:1-16 (CLICK HERE FOR BIBLE VERSES)
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is Leviticus 2:1-16. With a humble heart, see what sticks out to you in this passage. Is there a verse, a phrase, or a lesson you think the Holy Spirit may be highlighting for you in this passage? After you’ve thought about the passage yourself a bit, read the GAME sharing below. Let’s go!
Leviticus 2:1-12 (NIV)
1 “‘When someone brings a grain offering to the LORD, his offering is to be of fine flour. He is to pour oil on it, put incense on it
2 and take it to Aaron’s sons the priests. The priest shall take a handful of the fine flour and oil, together with all the incense, and burn this as a memorial portion on the altar, an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the LORD.
3 The rest of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the offerings made to the LORD by fire.
4 “‘If you bring a grain offering baked in an oven, it is to consist of fine flour: cakes made without yeast and mixed with oil, or wafers made without yeast and spread with oil.
5 If your grain offering is prepared on a griddle, it is to be made of fine flour mixed with oil, and without yeast.
6 Crumble it and pour oil on it; it is a grain offering.
7 If your grain offering is cooked in a pan, it is to be made of fine flour and oil.
8 Bring the grain offering made of these things to the LORD; present it to the priest, who shall take it to the altar.
9 He shall take out the memorial portion from the grain offering and burn it on the altar as an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the LORD.
10 The rest of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the offerings made to the LORD by fire.
11 “‘Every grain offering you bring to the LORD must be made without yeast, for you are not to burn any yeast or honey in an offering made to the LORD by fire.
12 You may bring them to the LORD as an offering of the firstfruits, but they are not to be offered on the altar as a pleasing aroma.
On verses 1-12: Leviticus 2
If the burnt offering described in Leviticus 1 points us to Jesus’ death on the cross for our sins, what can we learn from the grain offering? Just as the burnt offering is followed by the grain offering in Leviticus 1-2, God’s forgiveness (represented by the burnt offering) should always be followed by our gratitude (represented by the grain offering). Jesus Christ, the perfect lamb of God, without blemish or defect, offered the ultimate burnt offering for us when he sacrificed himself in our place so that we could be forgiven of our sins. Let’s not take this precious burnt offering for granted. Instead, since we have been fully cleansed and forgiven by Christ’s burnt offering, let’s give God our “grain offering”, our gratitude. Like offering our finest flour (v1), let’s offer to God our finest praise, worship, material offerings, testimonies and a life lived for His glory. Forgiveness and gratitude go together. God offered forgiveness (His burnt offering) for us. In return, we offer gratitude (our grain offering) to Him. Like two peas in a pod, like pearls and milk tea, like Kiki and Lala, God’s forgiveness and our gratitude go together.
So no matter what other problem you’re going through today, thank God that He has already solved your biggest problem: God has forgiven you of all your sins! (And if God solved your biggest problem, how will He not help you with all the little problems?) May you live continually in the gratitude that comes from having your biggest problem solved, your sins forgiven and covered by Almighty God who loves you dearly. Forgiveness and gratitude go together!
Leviticus 2:13 (NIV)
13 Season all your grain offerings with salt. Do not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offerings; add salt to all your offerings.
On verse 13: God tells the Israelites to season their grain offerings with salt. Why? Some scholars believe that the salt is a symbol of two things. First, since salt preserves, we want our gratitude to God to last, not just to come and go. Just as Hebrews 13:15 says, “let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise”. In every season and in every circumstance, let’s give thanks to God. Second, since salt adds flavour, we want to give God gratitude that is not bland and ordinary, but something that brings joy and a smile to God’s face. The fact that the Israelites were to season their grain offerings with salt reminds me of Colossians 4:6 which says that our words should be seasoned with salt, bringing joy to those who hear what we say: “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” (Colossians 4:6)
Leviticus 2:14 (NIV)
14 “‘If you bring a grain offering of firstfruits to the LORD, offer crushed heads of new grain roasted in the fire.
On verse 14: Just as the Israelites are to offer crushed heads of new grain roasted in the fire, may we aim to give God praise that is new and fresh every day – not just old, rehashed worship, but something new, fresh, and roasted in the fire that is the Holy Spirit living in us. No wonder the Psalms tell us to “Sing to the Lord a new song” (Psalm 149:1). Aim to keep your praise and worship of God fresh and new.
Leviticus 2:15-16 (NIV)
15 Put oil and incense on it; it is a grain offering.
16 The priest shall burn the memorial portion of the crushed grain and the oil, together with all the incense, as an offering made to the LORD by fire.
On verses 15-16: When you read about the worship system that God legislated for the Israelites in the books of Exodus and Leviticus, you’ll find that oil and incense often go together. Oil and incense were instrumental in the Israelites’ worship of God. Just as oil and incense were placed on the grain offering, let’s remember that our gratitude to God is a form of worship to God. We worship God in many ways, but one important way is giving thanks to God for who He is and what He has done.
Heavenly Father, thank You for offering Your Son Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of my sins. I don’t take this most incredible gift for granted. Since Your forgiveness toward me goes on forward, may my gratitude toward You go on just as long, just as permanently. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
copyright © 2022 Justin Lim. All rights reserved.
