A couple of things stand out in these first chapters about offerings for sin. Blood is a dominant principle in the sacrificial system. You remember that in Exodus the Israelites learned that the “life is in the blood.” Blood represents life. So when a man’s blood was shed, life was required as punishment. In the sacrificial system the blood represents this principle. The wages of sin is death says Romans 3:23. The blood of the sacrificial animal represents this penalty. You might remember that when God delivered the people from Egypt he had them put blood on the door posts of their homes. The angel of death would see this blood and pass over that home and spare the lives of those inside. This blood sacrifice is fully revealed in the cross of Christ where he shed his blood for the forgiveness of sin.
These chapters also highlight unintentional sin. The message is clear. Even shen we sin unknowingly, we are still guilty. This should not surprise us. If you are not paying attention and speeding down the road, you are still guilty of breaking the law and can get a ticket. God is so holy that there is no excuse that releases us from the penalty of breaking his laws. This is very bad news. But the good news is already being revealed in Leviticus. God so loved the world that he provided a way for our broken relationship with him to be reconciled. God gave the law to Israel as a teacher to lead them to understand his holiness and their sin. Then, just at the right time, he sent his only Son to be the sacrifice for our sin–once for all!
The wide angle lens of Leviticus reveals a very holy God who loves his people very much and is working tirelessly to help them believe it.
Another key idea that stood out for me was how much the sinner was involved in the sacrifice. Whether it was an identified sin or unknowing, the person was very active in the process. He had to lay his hand on the animal and kill it. It was a very physical and public act. No hiding your imperfection from your neighbors! Yikes.
Your absolutely right, Erica! There was constant public acknowledgement of sin. This is why I admire AA. As I talked about in a sermon a couple of weeks ago, they begin each meeting by admitting they are alcoholics. No hiding, pretending, justifying, or rationalizing. We would do well to do the same in our community of faith. We are all sinners saved by grace. But it becomes old hat and we become numb to the shocking cost to Christ for our sin–his blood on the cross, his body broken for us! We perhaps need to think of ourselves as pounding the nails into his hands and feet or piercing his side with the spear. In the reformed tradition we try to make confession physical and public in worship. But we could use some creative help in making this more “physical” and “public” without turning it into a voyeuristic event. Any ideas?
Two ideas:
1) Not sure how this would work, but how about asking congregation to write his/her sin on a piece of paper, along with a corrective action, and take it up to the alter during worship. It is along the lines of a public offering, but tries to show a public acknowledgment of our sin.
2) Maybe, like AA, we can have a “sponser”. This would be a member in our church community who would partner with another and be willing to hear out the confession of another. Again, not sure how this would work, especially with confidentiality and comfort level, but i find transparency with another sister in Christ is very humbling and freeing! As the confesser, I get to be public of my sin and as a partner I am able to help another by sharing God’s love, but also his desire for us to obey Him.