Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Leviticus+004
Leviticus 4（ESV）
13 “If the whole congregation of Israel sins unintentionally and the thing is hidden from the eyes of the assembly, and they do any one of the things that by the Lord’s commandments ought not to be done, and they realize their guilt, 14 when the sin which they have committed becomes known, the assembly shall offer a bull from the herd for a sin offering and bring it in front of the tent of meeting. 15 And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands on the head of the bull before the Lord, and the bull shall be killed before the Lord. 16 Then the anointed priest shall bring some of the blood of the bull into the tent of meeting, 17 and the priest shall dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle it seven times before the Lord in front of the veil. 18 And he shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar that is in the tent of meeting before the Lord, and the rest of the blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering that is at the entrance of the tent of meeting. 19 And all its fat he shall take from it and burn on the altar. 20 Thus shall he do with the bull. As he did with the bull of the sin offering, so shall he do with this. And the priest shall make atonement for them, and they shall be forgiven. 21 And he shall carry the bull outside the camp and burn it up as he burned the first bull; it is the sin offering for the assembly.
REFLECTION
- Read the passage in a very soft voice, maybe even a whisper. Focus on each word and listen intently to each word while reading.
- We might be tempted to believe that Leviticus is a confusing and irrelevant book, but it has some direct implications for our lives. In Leviticus, we find specific rules and regulations from Yahweh, given to distinguish His people, the nation of Israel, from every other culture. God commanded the offering of many different types of sacrifices. Each of these served a specific purpose for interaction with God. For example, a sin offering was given for confession, forgiveness, and cleansing.
- Why do you think God prescribed offerings to be done in such a unique way? Is He cruel to require that animals be killed to make offerings to Him? Why or why not? Why don’t we do these types of sacrifices today?
- Why does God take sin so seriously? When we sin, what sort of sacrifices are we required to bring to God?
PRAYER:
Ask God to help me understand the severity of my own sin. Thank God that He sent Jesus, the Lamb of God, to come and be the sacrifice for my sins. As I drive, walk, work, and relax, whisper under my breath, “Thank you, Jesus,” each time I remember the sacrifice He made for my sins.
HYMN:
Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) – youtu.be/QBRwoqJP2sk
