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beef, Bible, Christ, God, Jesus, lamb, Leviticus, offering, Peace offering, rock, sacrifice, spiritual drink, spiritual food
John 1:29 On the next day John saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
John 6:57 As the living Father has sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also shall live because of Me.
Leviticus 7:15-16 And the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten on the day that he presents his sacrifice, and on the next day what remains of it shall be burnt with fire. But if the sacrifice of his offering is a vow or a freewill offering, it shall be eaten on the day that he presents his sacrifice, and on the next day what remains of it shall be eaten.
Leviticus 17:2b-4 This is what Jehovah has commanded saying, Anyone of the house of Israel who slaughters an ox or a sheep or a goat within the camp, or who slaughters it outside the camp, and has not brought it to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting to present it as an offering to Jehovah before the tabernacle of Jehovah, that man shall be accounted as guilty of bloodshed. He has shed blood, and that man shall be cut off from among his people. This is so that the children of Israel will bring their sacrifices which they sacrifice in the open field, that they will bring them to Jehovah at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting to the priest and sacrifice them as sacrifices of peace offerings to Jehovah.
We know that the priestly food was entirely composed of the offerings and sacrifices, and we know that these offerings and sacrifices were a type of Christ, as the reality of all the offerings and sacrifices. We also know that the Children of Israel “All ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they drank of a spiritual rock which followed them in the wilderness, and the rock was Christ!” 1 Cor. 10:3-4.Here in Leviticus comparing the passages in chapters 7 and 17 we can see a confirmation of this not only for the priests, but also for the rest of the people. They were not allowed to slaughter any ox, sheep or goat without bringing it as an offering before the Tent of Meeting. Of course today we are a Kingdom of Priests, a Royal Priesthood, God intends that all His people would be kings and priests to Him (Exo. 19:6, 1 Pet. 2:9, Rev. 1:4-5).
So in today’s terms if anyone of the children of Israel wanted to eat some beef, some lamb, kid or mutton (they didn’t eat pork…) you would present it as an offering to Jehovah, as a peace offering. Then you would receive back your portion from the offering as your food! They surely had the realisation that they were eating an offering, a sacrifice to Jehovah. Not to mention the priests eating the Sin offering and the Trespass offering. Just imagine if they refused to eat these offerings – then there would be no acceptance of them by God.
How much more we as we partake of our food daily, we should bless it and pray over it and offer it to the Lord. Then as we eat it we should have the realisation that Christ Jesus is the real food, the reality of this food, that being taken into us gives us life (cf John 6).
Lord, thank You for dying for us, You offered Yourself up willingly as a sacrifice for our sin, sins and offenses, and so that You might become life to us. Even the divine, eternal life of God to us. Thank You Lord for this spiritual reality. Cause us to remember, enjoy and appreciate You as such more abundantly in our daily living. Lord, the knowledge of You is eternal life. Lord, pour out Your Holy Spirit upon us in these days, anoint us for Your service, call us deeper in prayer, deeper in our relationship with You. Lord, even make our heart the reproduction of Your heart, so that we could stand before You as Your people, Your friends, Your sons, and Your Bride. We would know You in such an intimate, private personal and affectionate way. Amen.