Leviticus 3:1-5: a reflection

1“‘If his offering is a sacrifice of peace offerings, if he offers it from the herd, whether male or female, he shall offer it without defect before the LORD. 2He shall lay his hand on the head of his offering, and kill it at the door of the Tent of Meeting. Aaron’s sons, the priests, shall sprinkle the blood around on the altar. 3He shall offer of the sacrifice of peace offerings an offering made by fire to the LORD. The fat that covers the innards, and all the fat that is on the innards, 4and the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the loins, and the cover on the liver, with the kidneys, he shall take away. 5Aaron’s sons shall burn it on the altar on the burnt offering, which is on the wood that is on the fire: it is an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to the LORD.

Among the offerings God gives his people is the peace offering, which differed from the others in a striking way. Unlike the burnt offering, wholly consumed, the peace offering was shared: part burned to God, part given to the priests, and part eaten by the worshiper and his family in a fellowship meal before the LORD. It was an offering of peace and fellowship, a shared meal that pictured communion with God, the worshiper and God, as it were, at table together. The peace offering spoke of peace and fellowship with God, a communion enjoyed in his presence, a picture of the reconciled relationship in which one shares a meal with God.

Notice what the peace offering pictured: peace and fellowship with God, a shared communion. It was not wholly given up and consumed like the burnt offering; it was shared, part enjoyed by the worshiper in a fellowship meal before the LORD. The offering spoke of peace with God, of a reconciled relationship in which one could sit, as it were, at table with him, enjoying communion. Peace and fellowship, not merely atonement, were pictured: the restored relationship in which the worshiper shares a meal in God's presence. The peace offering spoke of a God who is not merely to be appeased at a distance but to be enjoyed in fellowship, at peace with his people, sharing communion with them.

That is worth resting in, for God offers us not merely distant appeasement but peace and fellowship, communion with himself. We can think of our relationship with God as a matter of distant appeasement, of keeping him satisfied from afar; but the peace offering pictured a God who shares fellowship with his people, a peace and communion in which we are, as it were, at table with him. God offers us not merely atonement but fellowship, peace and communion with himself, fulfilled in Christ, our peace, through whom we have fellowship with God. Do not think of God as one to be merely appeased at a distance; he offers peace and fellowship, communion with himself. Rest in the peace and fellowship God offers, not merely distant appeasement but communion with himself, as the peace offering pictured a shared meal in his presence, fulfilled in Christ our peace; for God offers his people not only atonement but fellowship, peace and communion with himself, and through Christ we are brought into that fellowship, at peace with God and enjoying communion with him.

Lord, among the offerings you give your people is the peace offering, which differed from the others in a striking way. Unlike the burnt offering, wholly consumed, the peace offering was shared: part burned to you, part given to the priests, and part eaten by the worshiper and his family in a fellowship meal before you. It was an offering of peace and fellowship, a shared meal that pictured communion with you, the worshiper and you, as it were, at table together. Show me what the peace offering pictured: peace and fellowship with you, a shared communion. It was not wholly given up and consumed like the burnt offering; it was shared, part enjoyed by the worshiper in a fellowship meal before you. The offering spoke of peace with you, of a reconciled relationship in which one could sit, as it were, at table with you, enjoying communion. Peace and fellowship, not merely atonement, were pictured. The peace offering spoke of a God who is not merely to be appeased at a distance but to be enjoyed in fellowship. Let me rest in that, for you offer me not merely distant appeasement but peace and fellowship, communion with yourself. I can think of my relationship with you as a matter of distant appeasement, of keeping you satisfied from afar; but the peace offering pictured a God who shares fellowship with his people. You offer me not merely atonement but fellowship, fulfilled in Christ, our peace. Keep me from thinking of you as one to be merely appeased at a distance; you offer peace and fellowship, communion with yourself, Lord. Help me rest in the peace and fellowship you offer, not merely distant appeasement but communion, as the peace offering pictured a shared meal in your presence, fulfilled in Christ our peace.