The Costliness of Consecration
The LORD called Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting, saying, "Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When any one of you brings an offering to the LORD, you shall bring your offering of livestock from the herd or from the flock. "If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer a male without blemish. He shall bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting, that he may be accepted before the LORD. He shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him. Then he shall kill the bull before the LORD, and Aaron's sons the priests shall bring the blood and throw the blood against the sides of the altar that is at the entrance of the tent of meeting. -Leviticus 1:1-5
The chief feature of the burnt offering is the whole animal offered as a voluntary offering on the brazen altar of sacrifice. This speaks to us of the utter sacrifice of Christ to his Father, first in devotion to him as an act of supreme obedience, and then on our behalf, who are called to follow him in things pertaining to our sanctification, since we can only follow him into complete dedication, consecration and surrender to the Father's will.
The herd refers to cattle, whereas the flock refers to sheep or goats; in cases of poverty the offering would be of birds. The animal selected must be absolutely without blemish, and we know what that speaks of, as far as our blessed Lord is concerned in his spotless sinlessness. The offerer was to lay his hand upon the sacrifice as transferring his sin to it. The slaughter of the sacrifice spoke of the wrath of God to which Christ submitted on our behalf.
The symbolism of this offering suggests Romans 12:1 but also Psalm 40:6-8, appropriately quoted in Hebrews 10:5-10. It speaks to us of Christ's self-giving to the Father in utter devotion, whose utilitarian efficacy in order to save us, although blessed and important to us, is secondary to the Son's filial obedience and devotion to his Father. The lesson of following our Lord into such consecration is clear but costly.
Through the Year with William Still, February 7
The chief feature of the burnt offering is the whole animal offered as a voluntary offering on the brazen altar of sacrifice. This speaks to us of the utter sacrifice of Christ to his Father, first in devotion to him as an act of supreme obedience, and then on our behalf, who are called to follow him in things pertaining to our sanctification, since we can only follow him into complete dedication, consecration and surrender to the Father's will.
The herd refers to cattle, whereas the flock refers to sheep or goats; in cases of poverty the offering would be of birds. The animal selected must be absolutely without blemish, and we know what that speaks of, as far as our blessed Lord is concerned in his spotless sinlessness. The offerer was to lay his hand upon the sacrifice as transferring his sin to it. The slaughter of the sacrifice spoke of the wrath of God to which Christ submitted on our behalf.
The symbolism of this offering suggests Romans 12:1 but also Psalm 40:6-8, appropriately quoted in Hebrews 10:5-10. It speaks to us of Christ's self-giving to the Father in utter devotion, whose utilitarian efficacy in order to save us, although blessed and important to us, is secondary to the Son's filial obedience and devotion to his Father. The lesson of following our Lord into such consecration is clear but costly.
Through the Year with William Still, February 7
posted by Compleat Mom at 7:03 AM
1 Comments:
It's SO not about us. And yet His gracious Holy Spirit helps us to lay down our lives in his service. May He help us to follow Christ in filial obedience today.
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