Day 48, Chronological Bible Study
Timeline. Map. Go to today’s Bible reading (use your browser arrow to return): Leviticus 5–7 Guilt and Responsibility “Who broke the lamp?” “Not me!” “Who put the scratch on my car?” “Not me!” “Who wrote on the wall?” “Not Me!” “Not Me” gets blamed for everything, but we know someone is guilty. If we are parents of young children, caregivers, or teachers, we can usually identify the guilty one. We can see it by the look on his face or his bowed head and refusal to look into our eyes. Wrong and Right Ways to Deal with Guilt Children learn how to lie as they grow up, so they are experts when they become teenagers and adults. If they are wrong, they often don’t admit it. Instead, they shift the blame to other people or circumstances. But is that what God wants? No. Suppose they (or we) are guilty of anything. In that case, he wants his followers to be ashamed, admit their wrongs, and take responsibility for their actions. In the months following Israel’s meeting with God at Mt. Sinai, he has particular instructions for his people so they can deal with their guilt. Although the instructions given to them are not the same as what the Lord provides for us, this lesson will also show us how to get rid of guilt. Priestly Duties Today’s Bible reading shows the priests’ duties to administer the burnt, sin, grain, fellowship, and guilt offerings. The instructions help the priests know what to do with their offerings. After the priests offer the fat and kidney portions of approved animals or offer a portion of the grain offerings, the priests share the best of what is left. From this, we learn that if we are responsible and faithful to our tasks, we often share God’s best. Dealing with guilt in Israel’s day Closely akin to the sin offering is the guilt offering. A perfect (unblemished) ram is brought for a sacrifice. A person with fewer resources may bring a spotless lamb, two doves, or pigeons. The poorest of Israelites may bring two liters of fine flour to toss on top of a sacrifice being burned on the altar. After the animal or bird is slain, blood is sprinkled on all sides of the altar, and the rest is poured out at its base. Only the blood and fat are offered on the bronze altar—the good parts of the animal or bird are given for the priests to eat (unless the offering is on behalf of their own sins). The remains are taken outside of the camp and burned. There are three elements to the guilt offering, two of which are not present in the sin offering. Confession of the sin committed toward God or man, whether intentional or not. These sins include guilt for witnessing or having knowledge of a crime but keeping silent unintentionally breaking one of God’s commands unintentionally touching an animal or human carcass handling something else, which makes him unclean making a rash vow not offering his sacrifice as prescribed by God defrauding someone robbing someone swearing falsely Paying the penalty, the sin offering. Complete restitution with twenty percent added to it whenever possible and appropriate. How do we get rid of our guilt today? Most of us are not Israelites, and none of us offer burnt sacrifices (unless it is our own meal). What should we do when we are guilty of sin against God, family members, neighbors, co-workers, or even strangers? First, like the Israelites, we need to take responsibility for it. We need to confess our wrongs to the one (s) we have offended, whether our sin was intentional or not. As soon as we are aware of it, we need to confess our misdeeds, if at all possible. This is difficult, especially if we are used to excusing our behavior or shifting our blame onto others. It is time to courageously face our responsibilities, humble ourselves, and admit wrong. Only by doing this will we find peace. Second, we need to seek the Lord’s forgiveness. Unlike the animals the Israelites offered, Jesus Christ is the perfect sacrifice to pay the penalty for our sin—he is our sin and guilt offering Third, like the Israelites, we need to make complete restitution for the wrong(s) we have done, if at all possible. Do we need to add twenty percent? There is no commandment in the New Testament regarding this directive. However, in some cases, if we follow that principle, it will discourage lawsuits—we are presenting ourselves as honest and willing to make things right. The penalty we pay might also deter further misbehaviors. Additional Responsibilities of the Priests and the Offerings For the burnt offering, the priest makes sure the bronze altar is always burning. Why? Perhaps, this symbolizes God’s readiness to receive offerings. Whenever we come to the LORD, he is always ready to forgive us or accept our praise and dedication offerings. After the sacrifice is burned up, the ashes must be removed and taken outside the camp. Whenever this is done, the priest wears clean linen garments before he handles the ashes—the tabernacle and altar are holy, and the sacrifice was also set apart to God. Afterward, he changes into regular clothes to take them to a ceremonially clean place outside the camp. When the priests bring grain offerings before the LORD, they offer a handful of it as a memorial portion, and then the priest and his family share the rest. The only exception to sharing is if the grain offering is offered at his anointing for a priest. It is then that the grain offering is considered a dedication for God alone, and all of it is burned up. As with the other offerings, the sin offering was sacred, and anything touching it became holy. Today, Jesus is our sin offering. …we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all… because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy (Hebrews 10:10,14, NIV). Interestingly, in New Testament times when he heals people, some express the faith that they will be healed if they can only touch him. Those who do are made whole (Matthew 9:20-21; Matthew 14:35-36; Mark 3:10; Mark 6:56; Mark 8:22; Luke 5:12-13; Luke 6:19). When Jesus touches us spiritually, he heals our sinful souls and makes us holy. The fellowship offering is a communal offering of thanksgiving, given upon the fulfillment of a vow, or simply a freely-given (a free-will) offering. First, the animal sacrifice is presented to the priests, along with a grain offering. After the blood and fat are offered, the priests, the worshipper, and his family eat the cooked meal. The priests are given the breast, thighs, and unleavened bread cakes to eat. The worshipper and his family may eat the rest of the good part of the animal and bread made with yeast, but they cannot eat any bloody meat or fat. They, too, must be ceremonially clean to participate in the fellowship offering. God’s concern, as always, is that the people be holy because he is holy. He requires the same of us (1Peter 1:15-16; Leviticus 11:44,45; 19:2; 20:7). Discussion When we are guilty, how does God want us to act? How is the penalty of our guilt paid for? Is confession of our sins enough to rid us of guilt? Focus Verse 1John 1:9 (NIV) “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” If you want to see a video presentation of this lesson, go here
Write a private prayer response to today’s Bible study: Enter your prayer here: Please send your comments to mtbiblestudies@gmail.com Looking Ahead: Like the priests, God has chosen us to minister to others. However, we need to serve with Honor, not Dishonor. Find out what that means in our Next Lesson. Previous Lesson  |  Next Lesson Back to top of page Return to Chronological Bible Studies main page Go to Scriptures main page Go to Topics main page Go to Home page re-edited 2-17-22

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