Leviticus 7:28-38: a reflection

28The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 29“Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘He who offers the sacrifice of his peace offerings to the LORD shall bring his offering to the LORD out of the sacrifice of his peace offerings. 30With his own hands he shall bring the offerings of the LORD made by fire. He shall bring the fat with the breast, that the breast may be waved for a wave offering before the LORD. 31The priest shall burn the fat on the altar, but the breast shall be Aaron’s and his sons’. 32The right thigh you shall give to the priest for a heave offering out of the sacrifices of your peace offerings. 33He among the sons of Aaron who offers the blood of the peace offerings, and the fat, shall have the right thigh for a portion. 34For the waved breast and the heaved thigh I have taken from the children of Israel out of the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and have given them to Aaron the priest and to his sons as their portion forever from the children of Israel.’” 35This is the consecrated portion of Aaron, and the consecrated portion of his sons, out of the offerings of the LORD made by fire, in the day when he presented them to minister to the LORD in the priest’s office; 36which the LORD commanded to be given them of the children of Israel, in the day that he anointed them. It is their portion forever throughout their generations. 37This is the law of the burnt offering, the meal offering, the sin offering, the trespass offering, the consecration, and the sacrifice of peace offerings 38which the LORD commanded Moses in Mount Sinai in the day that he commanded the children of Israel to offer their offerings to the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai.

In the laws of the peace offering, God makes provision for the priests who served at the altar: the breast and the right thigh of the offering were given to Aaron and his sons as their portion. For the waved breast and the heaved thigh I have taken from the children of Israel, God says, and have given them to Aaron the priest and to his sons as their portion forever. Those who served God in the priesthood were provided for out of the offerings; God gave them a portion, so that in serving him they were not left without provision. God took care to provide for those who ministered to him, giving them their portion from what was offered.

Notice God's provision for those who served him. The priests devoted themselves to the service of the altar; and God did not leave them without provision, but gave them a portion from the offerings, the breast and the thigh, as their share. Those who ministered to God were provided for by God, given their portion from what was brought to him. God did not call people to serve him and then leave them to fend for themselves; he made provision for them, giving them a share. The provision of a portion for the priests shows God's care to provide for those who devote themselves to his service; they had their portion, given by God, from the offerings.

That is worth taking to heart, for God provides for those who serve him, giving them their portion. We can fear that devoting ourselves to God's service means being left without provision, having to fend for ourselves; but God provided a portion for the priests who served him, giving them a share from the offerings. God takes care to provide for those who devote themselves to his service; they are not left without a portion. Do not fear that serving God will leave you without provision; he provides for those who serve him, as he gave the priests their portion. Trust that God provides for those who devote themselves to his service, giving them their portion, as he gave the priests the breast and the thigh from the offerings as their share forever; for God does not leave those who serve him without provision, but takes care to give them their portion, and we can trust his care as we devote ourselves to serving him.

Lord, in the laws of the peace offering, you make provision for the priests who served at the altar: the breast and the right thigh of the offering were given to Aaron and his sons as their portion. For the waved breast and the heaved thigh I have taken from the children of Israel, you say, and have given them to Aaron the priest and to his sons as their portion forever. Those who served you in the priesthood were provided for out of the offerings; you gave them a portion, so that in serving you they were not left without provision. Show me your provision for those who served you. The priests devoted themselves to the service of the altar; and you did not leave them without provision, but gave them a portion from the offerings as their share. Those who ministered to you were provided for by you. You did not call people to serve you and then leave them to fend for themselves; you made provision for them. The provision of a portion for the priests shows your care to provide for those who devote themselves to your service. Take that to my heart, for you provide for those who serve you, giving them their portion. I can fear that devoting myself to your service means being left without provision, having to fend for myself; but you provided a portion for the priests who served you. You take care to provide for those who devote themselves to your service. Keep me from fearing that serving you will leave me without provision; you provide for those who serve you, Lord, as you gave the priests their portion. Help me trust that you provide for those who devote themselves to your service.