No Fishing Allowed

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No Fishing Allowed

When Tommy's parents gave him a BB gun for his birthday, they told him not to aim it at any animals. The gun was only for shooting at paper targets or tin cans on the back fence. Tommy agreed to the​​ conditions his parents imposed. After a few days however he got tired of shooting only targets and cans. Spotting a bird in the tree he took aim and fired, and the bird fluttered out of the tree mortally wounded. Tommy ran over to the bird and watched it slowly die. Overcome with guilt he buried the little bird in a shallow grave at the base of a tree. Then he looked up and saw his sister Jane walking towards him from the house. “I saw what you did” Jane said, “you shot that bird and killed it and I'm telling.” “No don't” Tommy said, “I'll give you the money in my piggy bank if you don't tell.” Jane agreed to the bribe. That night at dinner when mom told Jane to wash the dishes, Jane said “Tommy said he'll wash the dishes for me.”

Tommy was about to protest when he saw the smug look on his sister's face. He knew what that meant: wash the dishes or I’m telling. So, Tommy washed the dishes. On Sunday after Jane left the comics strewn all over the living room floor mom told Jane to clean up the mess. Jane said, “Tommy promised he'd clean up the papers.” Again, Tommy was about to protest, when he saw the look on his sister's face and he cleaned up the papers. After several more days of doing his own chores and Jane’s, while feeling horrible thinking about the bird, Tommy finally told his mother what he had done. “Oh, I know all about the bird” his mom said. “You mean Jane told you? She promised she wouldn't.” Mom replied “Jane didn't say a word. I was standing at the window, and I saw you shoot the bird. I saw how sad you were, and I knew you'd come and tell me sooner or later.” “Why didn't you say anything? Tommy said. Mom said “I just wanted to see how long you were going to let your sister make a slave out of you.”

That is what guilt is like. We sin and we try to hide our sin from other people, from God, and even from ourselves. Soon we become slaves to guilt. It makes us do things we don't want to do. It damages our relationships and destroys our happiness. God did not want His people, the Israelites, to become slaves to their sin and guilt, so He made a way for them to be atoned for, forgiven, and restored to relationship with Himself. He did this by teaching and training them to bring offerings before Him and to admit, confess and repent of their sin, and ask Him for forgiveness. In this way, the Israelites became slaves to God and His righteousness and by believing in God for cleansing and salvation and by resting in Him, the result was that they received full forgiveness and restoration. The same is true for us today. God does not want us, as Christians, to become slaves to our sin and guilt. So, He made a way for us to be atoned for, forgiven, and restored to relationship with Himself. He did this by teaching and​​ training us to trust in Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for our sins. Just like the Israelites, we need to come before God and admit, confess and repent of our sin, and ask Him for forgiveness. In this way, we become slaves to God and His righteousness and by believing in Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and by resting in Him, we receive full forgiveness and restoration. That brings us to our big idea this morning that​​ God desires His people to not be slaves to sin and guilt.

Let’s pray: Heavenly Father, thank you for another opportunity to be in your house to worship and praise you this morning. Pour out your Holy Spirit on each one of us, open our hearts and minds to your Word, so that we can be transformed through the obedience and application of it to our lives. Help us to pass what you teach us on to others that need to know your Son and His salvation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

So far, God through Moses has instructed all Israelites, the priests, leaders and the common people, on four offerings or sacrifices they were​​ to bring before Him at the Tent of Meeting as they came to worship Him. The first three were voluntary offerings. The burnt offering signified the worshipper’s complete love and devotion for God, for His atonement for their sins and their access to His presence. The grain offering signified the joy and celebration of the worshipper for God’s faithful provision and covenant saving relationship. The peace or fellowship offering signified the peace and fellowship the worshipper could now have with God because​​ of His grace and covenant. The next two offerings were mandatory offerings meaning that it wasn’t what they were to do if they brought these offerings, but when they brought them. They were mandatory because there would be definite times that the people, because of their sin nature and sinful lives, would have to bring these offerings before the Lord.

The first mandated offering was the sin offering which signified cleansing and purification of the worshipper’s unintentional sin that polluted both people and the Holy Place. It also signified that it required blood to fully remove sin’s penalty and pollution, allowing renewed access to God’s presence. The second mandated offering, was the guilt offering and just like sin, guilt would be prevalent in the Israelites lives and would require an offering. The guilt offering signified making things right and reconciling with the offended party, either God or a fellow Israelite. It was offered for specific sins of defrauding God and deceiving others. It consisted of confessing their sin and seeking restoration and reconciliation through restitution. Last week, we saw for the first time God implicitly commanded them to confess their sin as they brought their offerings. Confession means “to expose” or “reveal” and was a sign of genuine repentance and was necessary for forgiveness. It wasn’t enough to just bring your​​ sacrifice without genuine confession and repentance. It was important for the Israelites, and subsequently for us, to verbally confess their sin before the Lord. It was important​​ because as Peyton Jones says, “Confessing meant they were less likely to commit it again.”

Now we come to our first point, Sin Offering, as we finish God’s instruction of it in Leviticus 5:6-13. This is what God’s Word says, “As a penalty for the sin they have committed, they must bring to the Lord a female lamb or goat from the flock as a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement for them for their sin.” “Anyone who cannot afford a lamb is to bring two doves or two young pigeons to the Lord as a penalty for their sin—one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. They are to​​ bring them to the priest, who shall first offer the one for the sin offering. He is to wring its head from its neck, not dividing it completely, and is to splash some of the blood of the sin offering against the side of the altar; the rest of the blood must be drained out at the base of the altar. It is a sin offering. The priest shall then offer the other as a burnt offering in the prescribed way and make atonement for them for the sin they have committed, and they will be forgiven. “‘If, however, they cannot afford two doves or two young pigeons, they are to bring as an offering for their sin a tenth of an ephah of the finest flour for a sin offering. They must not put olive oil or incense on it, because it is a sin offering. They are to bring it to the priest, who shall take a handful of it as a memorial portion and burn it on the altar on top of the food offerings presented to the Lord. It is a sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for them for any of these sins they have committed, and​​ they will be forgiven. The rest of the offering will belong to the priest, as in the case of the grain offering.”

This section is a continuation of 4:27-35 and 5:1-5, which instructed the common Israelites, not the priests, the entire community or the leaders, what to do when they brought a sin offering. After becoming aware of their unintentional sin and realizing their guilt, the worshipper was to confess in what way they had sinned and then pay the penalty for their​​ sin. We know that this is still talking about the common Israelite because the same offering, a female goat or lamb without defect, was required. The female goat or sheep was less valuable than the bull or male goat or sheep and so it was more affordable for the common person. Once the worshipper brought their offering before the Lord, the priest made atonement for their sin and they were forgiven. Atonement and forgiveness were stated so the sinning party would know beyond a shadow of the doubt that their​​ sin was cleansed, forgiven, forgotten and they were put back into a right relationship and close fellowship with their covenant king.

Next, we see the same kind of gracious provision from God to the worshipper that we saw in the burnt offering. If the common Israelite could not afford a female sheep or goat, there were other offerings they could bring. It wasn’t the offering itself that made the difference, it was the sincere act of admitting, confessing, repenting of their sin and asking God for His gracious forgiveness and restoration. If they could not afford a lamb or goat, they were allowed to bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons to the Lord for their sin offering. The Hebrew is translated as, “And if his hand is not able to reach what is sufficient for a lamb.” The meaning being that the worshipper was not able to get his hands on a sheep or goat for his offering because they were literally too poor to afford it. The fact that the worshipper could bring a lesser offering showed that no one was excluded from God’s grace and mercy and despite their poverty in the community, they were not less valued in God’s eyes.

We see differences as the worshipper had to bring two turtledoves or pigeons, not just one, as in the burnt offering. The first was for their sin offering and the other one was for a burnt offering. This is probably because of the size of the bird. There was no way to separate the fat from the bird so it could be burned on the altar as God’s portion. And if​​ only one bird was offered and completely burnt on the altar it would become a burnt offering not a sin offering. So, two birds were offered, the first for the worshipper’s sin offering which would become the priest’s portion and the second one for a burnt offering which symbolized it was God’s portion. The priest was to wring the bird’s head from its neck but not divide it completely and then he was to splash some of the blood against the sides of the altar.

Not severing the head of the​​ bird from its body signified completeness, distinguishing it from the burnt offering where the head was removed and burned, signifying total surrender. Splashing the blood against the sides of the altar​​ emphasized that the sinner was being ransomed and cleansed, which foreshadowed Jesus’ ransoming and cleansing of us.​​ Draining the rest of the blood​​ at the base of the altar symbolized that life belonged to God and it was being returned to Him. Once the sin offering was finished the priest presented the burnt​​ offering. It was to be done in the prescribed way given in chapter one and when it was done correctly, it made atonement for the worshipper and the sins they committed and brought them forgiveness from God. We may think that these offerings were violent and bloody and they were, but we also need to remember that Christ’s death on the cross was violent and bloody as well. This should continually remind us of the heinousness and costliness of our sin. We must remember that our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,​​ paid it all on that violent and bloody cross for us.

God continued to make provision for the poorest of the poor in the Israelite community by allowing them to be able to bring one-tenth of an ephah of fine flour as an acceptable sin offering. In bringing the finest flour it still represented the best the worshipper had to offer. There were a couple of additional instructions the worshipper was to follow when bringing fine flour as a sin offering. They were not to put olive oil or incense on it. As we saw with the grain offering in chapter two, the fine​​ flour symbolized Christ, the oil symbolized the Holy Spirit’s presence, and the incense symbolized the worshipper’s complete and fragrant act of devotion and worship. They were not to put the oil and incense on because when we harbor sin in our hearts, to some degree, we quench the Spirit in our lives, and we are not acting in complete devotion and worship toward the Lord. What is left is the fine flour, symbolizing Jesus Christ, who is the only way our sins can be atoned for and forgiven. Once the worshipper prepared their sin offering, they brought it to the priest who took a handful as a memorial portion and burned it on the altar on top of the food offerings to the Lord. It was called a “memorial” portion because the worshipper was “to remember” God had done for them in atoning for and forgiving their sin.

The reason it was burned on top of the altar on top of the food offerings was practical. Without the oil and incense, burning the flour by itself would have been difficult. Also, the “burning” of the flour would symbolize that it was a blood offering on behalf of the worshipper, still portraying the needed symbolism of the sufferings of Jesus Christ. Lastly, the worshipper was reminded this was a sin offering given for any of their sins committed and that atonement was made and forgiveness given. The sins committed refer back to verses one through four talking about withholding known evidence, touching an unclean animal or person, and taking a thoughtless oath, plus all other sins that these sins represented. We are now told that the priest was able to keep the rest of the sin offerings as they were able to with the grain offering. The only time this would have been inappropriate was when they sinned or the entire community sinned because they would not have been allowed to benefit from their own sin offering. The Lord made provision for everyone to be atoned for, forgiven and reconciled to Him. It didn’t matter if the worshipper could bring a female lamb or goat, two turtledoves or pigeons or only one tenth of an ephah of fine flour. What​​ mattered was that when the worshipper sinned, they brought whatever offering they could afford before the Lord, and they confessed their sin. Confession and repentance are what mattered most to the Lord. Confession and repentance are the most important things we can do in our​​ relationship with Jesus. We must continually, daily, be searching our hearts for sin and sincerely confessing it before the Lord.

That brings us to our second point, the Guilt Offering, found in Leviticus 5:14-19. This is what God’s Word says, “The Lord said to Moses: “When anyone is unfaithful to the Lord by sinning unintentionally in regard to any of the Lord’s holy things, they are to bring to the Lord as a penalty a ram from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value in silver, according to the sanctuary shekel. It is a guilt offering. They must make restitution for what they have failed to do in regard to the holy things, pay an additional penalty of a fifth of its value and give it all to the priest. The priest will make atonement for them with the ram as a guilt offering, and they will be forgiven. “If anyone sins and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands, even though they do not know it, they are guilty and will be held responsible. They are to bring to the priest as a guilt offering a ram from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value. In this way the priest will make atonement for them for​​ the wrong they have committed unintentionally, and they will be forgiven. It is a guilt offering; they have been guilty of wrongdoing against the Lord.”

This is the beginning of a new instruction from the Lord through Moses to the people. This is the last offering, the “guilt offering,” also called the “trespass” or the “reparation” offering. The word for “unfaithful to the Lord” means to “cover up” or “act covertly or treacherously.” Again, the sins were unintentional and when brought to the worshipper’s attention, a guilt offering had to be offered. The “Lord’s holy things” refer to things that belong to Him or are part of His tabernacle; things​​ that have been set apart by God for His service. These could be neglecting to redeem their firstborn, not observing the Sabbath or the law of the tithe, or failing to offer their first-fruits, etc. It would be any type of defrauding God in spiritual matters. Withholding any “holy things” from God was considered stealing from Him and a major offense to Him. Malachi 3:8 says, “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.” The penalty for sinning unintentionally with any of the Lord’s “holy things” was a ram without defect. A ram was a symbol of strength and a defender of the flock and as such was a picture of Jesus, who is called the defender of the weak, the fatherless, the poor and the oppressed. Psalms 82:3, talking about God, says, “Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.”

The ram​​ was one of the most expensive offerings that could be brought before the Lord and there was no allowance for the poor Israelite. This was because of the seriousness and severity of the breach of loyalty or trust committed by the worshipper in defrauding or profaning the “Lord’s holy things.” The value of​​ the “holy thing” that was defrauded was to be set in silver based on the sanctuary shekel. The shekel itself was a common weight in the ancient Near East, but the "sanctuary shekel" was a specific, holy standard for religious purposes, possibly heavier than common shekels. The reason a value was put on the Lord’s holy things at all was because the worshipper was to pay restitution to the Lord for defrauding and profaning his “holy things.” This payment of restitution is what differentiated the sin offering from the guilt offering. Restitution was to consist of the original cost of the defrauded thing such as the cost of their tithe and an additional penalty of one-fifth or twenty percent was added onto it.​​ For example, if a person didn’t pay their tithe to the Lord which consisted of an ox, a goat, and grain, the value of those things would be set in silver according to the sanctuary​​ shekel. If the value was 100 silver shekels, one fifth or twenty more shekels would be added to it in order to make restitution to the Lord for sinning in regard to the Lord’s holy things. The guilt offering would then consist of the ram, the cost of the tithe and the one-fifth restitution. All this was given to the priest who would then offer the ram as their guilt offering, making atonement for the worshipper and bringing forgiveness from the Lord. Notice that restitution was to be paid to the Lord first followed by the guilt offering of the ram. This symbolized putting things right with God before seeking divine atonement and forgiveness.

Next, in verses 17-19, we see a difference in the breach of loyalty or trust against the Lord. In the previous verses it is known which holy things were defrauded and so restitution could be set. But now the worshipper is not sure what the actual breach of loyalty was and so no restitution is figured in. They may have forgotten what the transgression was or they were just feeling guilty without knowing the reason why. But the worshipper was still considered guilty and to be held responsible. It is possible​​ that the worshipper actually did nothing wrong but in order to have a clear conscience he would bring a guilt offering of a ram without defect to the priest. Since proper restitution couldn’t be set, the priest probably just figured the value of the ram and that was what the worshipper was to bring in addition to the ram. Since he acknowledged his guilt on his own, the one-fifth is waived. The life and cost of the ram was sufficient to make atonement for the worshipper and the unintentional wrong they committed against the Lord and were forgiven by Him. The guilt offering was interesting because most of the time, the sin was only known to God and the sinner. The worshipper’s conscience became guilty, and they felt the need for ransoming and cleansing from their guilt. In other words, they did not have to come forward. This offering showed a genuine heart of repentance because it dearly cost the worshipper something. It wasn't cheap or easy​​ repentance. I like how Garrett puts it: The worshipper stands forgiven​​ because of the substitute. This is the picture of Christ’s work for us. We have certainly offended God without even knowing it in too many ways to count in our lifetimes. “Yet, the debt is paid, and we stand justified before the Lord despite those sins known but to Him.”

This reminds me of the Holy Spirit’s working in my life. As I have grown older, the Holy Spirit has convicted me of my sin and guilt faster and faster. I remember a time in elementary school when I was able to get away with my sinful choices for an entire quarter. But later in high school and just out of school I can remember barely being able to stand the guilt for a couple of days before I was like Tommy in the opening illustration and “telling on myself.” It made me sick to keep my guilt bottled up inside me. I appreciate the Holy Spirit convicting me of my sin and guilt and the grace and mercy of God not letting me live in it for any length of time. We can be sure that our sin and guilt will find us out sooner or later. I hope you are the same as I, and that the Holy Spirit convicts you immediately of your sin and guilt giving you the opportunity to confess it and repent of it as soon as possible. That brings us to our first next step, which is​​ I will​​ listen​​ to the Holy Spirit when He​​ convicts​​ me of my sin and​​ guilt​​ allowing me to​​ confess​​ and repent of my sin as soon as possible. ​​​​ 

In conclusion: When the Lord accepted a sin or guilt offering and granted forgiveness the sinner no longer bore the burden of guilt and evil. Witnessing the blood and smoke a sincerely repentant Israelite could have assurance that his or her relationship with God was truly restored even though no heavenly voice or banner was let down from the sky proclaiming, “I forgive you.” In John Bunyan’s allegory depiction of his expedition from sin, Christian let his burden of sin go and when it rolled into a cave, he​​ accepted that it was gone. He did not go spelunking in order to retrieve it. Corrie Ten Boom draws on another​​ metaphor saying, “When we confess our sins, God casts them into the deepest ocean gone forever. Even though I cannot find a scripture for it I believe God then places a sign out there that says​​ no fishing allowed (Big Idea). The act of letting go and accepting that God holds all our iniquities into the depths of the sea is a transaction not simply a feeling.” Micah 7:18-19 says, “Who is a God like​​ you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins under foot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.” That brings us to our second and last next step which​​ I will​​ let go​​ of my confessed and forgiven sin and​​ guilt​​ trusting that God has thrown my​​ iniquities​​ into the depths of the​​ sea.

As Gene and Roxey come to lead us in a final hymn and the ushers prepare to collect the tithes and offerings, let’s pray: Heavenly Father, thank you for your provision of your son, Jesus, who takes our sin and guilt away, through His perfect sacrifice on the cross for us. Thank you that we no longer have to be slaves to our sin and guilt. Help us to listen to the Holy Spirit when He convicts us of our sin and guilt and bring us before your throne in confession and repentance as soon as possible. Then once we have confessed and been forgiven, help us to let go trusting that you have thrown our iniquities into the depths of the sea, and they are remembered no more. In Jesus’ name, Amen. ​​ 

Opening: Ray Stedman “The Way of Wholeness”; page 71ff

Closing: Gane “The NIV Application Commentary om Leviticus and Numbers; page 114

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Scorpion’s Sting

Scorpion’s Sting

Do you know how to avoid​​ common colds?​​ The only way to ensure that you don't pick up one of the many cold and flu viruses is to​​ be​​ dead.​​ On average preschool children​​ get​​ nine colds a year and adults​​ get​​ seven. Cold viruses, of which there are many kinds, are contracted through hand-to-hand contact with an infected person or touching the surface of an object that has been touched by an infected person, such as the handle of a grocery cart or the coffee cup extended to you by a​​ fast-food​​ server. In other words, catching a cold is inevitable regardless of the care you take to avoid​​ encountering​​ the annoying cold virus. There are preventative steps you can take, including regularly washing your hands​​ but​​ watch out for the​​ bathroom​​ door handle, or staying fit through good nutrition and exercise, but beware the germs lurking on the treadmill's grip at the gym. We can't see cold viruses, but they are unavoidably enveloping us. And as we might be​​ victims​​ of a cold virus, we​​ are​​ just as​​ likely to be​​ the​​ spreader​​ of​​ it​​ as well.

What can be said about the common cold virus and the human condition is true of the spiritual condition of each one of us. By virtue of our human condition as sinners we are all,​​ every​​ one of us, inevitably committing sinful thoughts and making sinful choices​​ daily. Even if our sin is not premeditated and​​ even​​ if we are most​​ attentive​​ to avoid​​ sin, we cannot escape the inevitability of committing​​ it. The Bible clearly tells us that the human soul stands in need of​​ cleansing​​ from sin and guilt.​​ And the sacrificial system that is detailed in the book of Leviticus made an accommodation for the unavoidable human condition of sin. The sin offering was God's gracious provision for the guilty person by which his or her sin was​​ removed​​ and by which he or she received divine forgiveness. The corruption of human sin​​ also​​ polluted the tent​​ of meeting​​ and required cleansing​​ which is why this​​ offering​​ is also called​​ the​​ purification​​ offering. But the sacrifice of an animal only purged the​​ corruption of the outer person,​​ the body. What was needed​​ was​​ to purge the malignancy of the inner person,​​ the soul.​​ The Lord made a sure means of forgiveness for​​ every​​ one of us through the​​ atoning sacrifice and​​ death of Jesus Christ whose sinless life made it possible for our iniquities​​ to be purged from our souls.​​ 

Two weeks ago, we discovered that God desired those who call Him Lord and Savior to live in an awareness of their sin and their​​ need for repentance and forgiveness. Last week we discovered that God desired to forgive all who would come​​ to Him​​ in repentance of their sin. Today we will​​ see​​ that​​ God desires His people to come before Him​​ confessing​​ their sin​​ daily, which is required because of our sin nature. And​​ through the atoning sacrifice and death of Jesus Christ,​​ God graciously gives​​ forgiveness and restoration to​​ us.​​ That brings us to our big idea that​​ God desires His people to come before Him in daily confession of their sin.​​ 

Let’s pray:​​ "Heavenly Father, as we gather to hear your Word proclaimed​​ this morning, we ask that you​​ open​​ our hearts and minds by the power of your Holy Spirit. Lord, let these words be your words, not ours, pointing​​ us​​ always to​​ your Son, Jesus​​ Christ. May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, our Rock and Redeemer, that we might hear your truth, be transformed by it, and give you all the glory.​​ In Jesus’ name,​​ Amen

Before we get into this morning’s scripture, let me recap our study​​ of God’s chosen people so far. In Exodus, Yahweh​​ (the Lord)​​ rescues​​ His chosen people, the Israelites, from slavery to Pharaoh, saves​​ them​​ from​​ the Egyptians at the Red Sea, and​​ guides​​ them to Mt. Sinai to give them​​ His​​ Ten Commandments. Because they were His people and He was their God, He commanded them to​​ build​​ a​​ “tent” so He could dwell​​ among them as they traveled to the Promised Land and where they could worship Him. After Moses finished the “tent of meeting” the Lord came down​​ in​​ all His holiness and took up residence in the Holy of Holies, between the cherubim that were on the Mercy Seat on the​​ Ark of the Covenant. God then began to instruct Moses and the Israelites on how they were to approach Him with proper worship and​​ because they were sinful human beings​​ this included offerings and sacrifices. Some of these offerings and sacrifices were voluntary signifying the​​ worshipper’s​​ complete​​ love and devotion for God, for His atonement for their sins and their access to His presence. They also signified the joy and celebration of the worshipper for God’s faithful provision and covenant saving relationship and the reconciliation and peace the worshipper could now have with God​​ because of His​​ grace and covenant.​​ 

Then God​​ mandated​​ the sin offering.​​ The sin offering was mandatory​​ because of the​​ people’s​​ sin nature and their sinful lives.​​ It signified cleansing and purification for the sin that polluted both people and the Holy Place and that it required blood to fully remove sin’s penalty and pollution, allowing renewed access to God’s presence.​​ As we have studied the sin​​ offering,​​ we have noticed and descending order of importance in who has sinned and the​​ sacrifice​​ they were to bring for their atonement. The first offerings were for the high priest and the whole Israelite community when they sinned unintentionally and then became aware of their sin. They were to bring the most expensive offering of a bull​​ without defect. This was because their sin was the most serious​​ and could cause the entire community to become estranged from God and His presence.​​ The next offering was for the leaders of the community and was to be male goat without defect. And today we will study what​​ the final group of people were​​ to bring​​ as an offering​​ when they sinned unintentionally, realized their guilt and the sin they committed became known to them. We will also look at four specific​​ unintentional sins committed by​​ this​​ final group​​ and what they were to do to make atonement and be forgiven.​​ 

Now let’s​​ turn to​​ Leviticus 4:27-35. Follow along as I read these verses. This is what God’s Word says, “If any member of the community sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands, when they realize their guilt and the sin they have committed becomes known, they must bring as their offering for the sin they committed a female goat without defect. They are to lay their hand on the head of the sin offering and slaughter it at the place of the burnt offering. Then the priest is to take some of the blood with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. They shall remove all the fat, just as the fat is removed from the fellowship offering, and the priest shall burn it on the altar as an aroma pleasing to the Lord. In this way the priest will make atonement for them, and they will be forgiven. “‘If someone brings a lamb as their sin offering, they are to bring a female without defect. They are to lay their hand on its head and slaughter it for a sin offering at the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered. Then the priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. They shall remove all the fat, just as the fat is removed from the lamb of the fellowship offering, and the priest shall burn it on the altar on top of the food offerings presented to the Lord. In this way the priest will make atonement for them for the sin they have committed, and they will be forgiven.”​​ 

The fourth and final group that God instructed on​​ what they were to bring as a sin offering was any member of the Israelite community.​​ The word used is speaking of an individual,​​ not of the high priest or a leader in the community, but of the​​ common Israelite.​​ Again, their​​ sin​​ was​​ unintentional, they had done what was forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands, they​​ realized their guilt and the​​ sin they committed had​​ come to their knowledge. The sin could have come to their knowledge because another person informed them of a sin they committed or a law they unwittingly​​ violated.​​ Also, the individual may have become​​ aware of their sin because they suffered consequences of their guilt and were prompted to discover whether sin was the cause. In some cases, they might simply have thought back over the past several days or weeks to see how they might have sinned. In others they might have sought an answer directly from the Lord.​​ 

But no matter how the knowledge of their sin came to light, when it did, they had to bring an offering of a female​​ hairy​​ goat without​​ defect.​​ The female goat would have been of less value than the male goat and so more affordable for the common Israelite. Of course, it had to be perfect, without​​ defect, symbolizing Jesus Christ as the perfect and unblemished sacrifice for our sins.​​ The goat’s rough, hairy nature​​ symbolized an awareness of sin and​​ was visibly​​ linked to human guilt and rebellion against God, contrasting with the innocence of lambs in other offerings.​​ The worshipper then was to lay their hand on the head of the female goat​​ which identified them as the guilty party and it as their sin offering​​ and substitute.​​ The worshipper slaughtered the goat at the place of the burnt offering or​​ on​​ the north side of the altar. The priest​​ then​​ took over taking​​ some of the blood with his finger and putting​​ it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering.​​ The horns of the altar represented power and strength​​ and​​ when​​ covered​​ with blood symbolized complete​​ atonement from sin, purification from defilement and​​ reconciliation with God.​​ The penalty for sin was paid,​​ the sacred altar was​​ purified, and one life was exchanged for another bringing God’s forgiveness, foreshadowing Christ ultimate sacrifice.​​ Then all the remaining blood was to be poured out at the base of the altar​​ signifying that God was the giver of life and the life​​ of the sacrifice was being returned to Him.​​ The worshipper was to then remove the fat, just like that of the fellowship offering, and the priest was to burn the fat on the altar for a sweet aroma to the Lord.​​ The fat was the choicest and best part of the animal and​​ again,​​ as such,​​ was reserved for God alone.​​ 

One difference between the fat offering of the common Israelite and the​​ offerings for the​​ high priest, whole community and leader was that this time the​​ priest was to burn the fat on the altar “for a sweet aroma to the Lord.” These words showed extra favor to the common Israelite.​​ The fact that this same ritual is stated almost exactly word-for-word as the rituals performed on behalf of​​ the​​ high priest,​​ the​​ whole community and the leader showed that the sin of the common Israelite was as completely atoned for, forgiven and just as important to the Lord. Garrett says, “In fact, the forgiveness of the lowly person is actually exalted in the use of the terminology.” After​​ each ritual has been performed, the priest is said to have made atonement for the person, or group and their sin had​​ been forgiven.​​ This was stated so the sinning party​​ or parties​​ knew beyond a shadow of the doubt that their sin was cleansed, forgiven, forgotten and​​ they​​ were put back into a right relationship and close fellowship with their covenant king.​​ 

Next, we see an alternative​​ option of a lamb for the sin offering of the common Israelite. Again, it was to be a female​​ without defect which made it​​ less valuable than a bull and more affordable for the common person. The Hebrew word used here for “lamb” means “to dominate” and was used to symbolize that Christ​​ would​​ dominate over sin with His death, burial and resurrection.​​ This made an offering of a lamb a suitable sin offering reminding​​ us of​​ the words of​​ John 1:29:​​ “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” The ritual presented in verses 33 to 35a are almost exactly word-for-word from the common​​ Israelites’ sin offering of the female goat. It all points us to remember Christ’s pure and perfect atoning death on the cross at Calvary​​ which was​​ foreshadowed​​ for 1500 years by the sin offerings the Israelites brought to the “tent of meeting.” Each offering they brought with the right heart and motives, that they laid their hands on and slaughtered,​​ restored their communion with Almighty God​​ repeatedly.​​ Both the goat and the lamb are a picture of Jesus Christ and were to​​ foreshadow that there​​ was a perfect sacrificial offering coming who would once and for all not only cover the sins of humanity but take them completely away.​​ 

God spent an extravagant amount of time in human history to point humanity to His Son Jesus for salvation. I’ve mentioned many times before that Jesus is the only way, the only truth and the only life​​ and that no​​ one comes to the Father except through​​ Him. There is no relationship or peace with the Father except through believing Jesus for our salvation. All of history is all about Jesus. We need to be careful not to worship anyone or anything else. Instead, as Hebrews 12:2 says, we need to​​ “fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Let’s fix our attention on God’s Word and His love for us shown at the cross.​​ Let’s turn our eyes upon Jesus​​ and​​ stop making excuses for not coming to​​ Him​​ for salvation and not accepting His gracious sacrifice on our behalf. God loves​​ us​​ so much that as Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” For those who have been ignoring God’s call to surrender your life to Him, it is time for you to echo Paul in Galatians 2:20, which says, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” That brings us to our first next step which is​​ I will​​ stop​​ making​​ excuses​​ for not surrendering my life to Jesus,​​ be​​ crucified​​ with Him​​ and​​ invite​​ Jesus to live in me.

That brings us to Leviticus 5:1-5​​ and​​ three​​ specific unintentional sins that the common Israelite may have committed​​ requiring​​ them to bring a sin offering before the Lord. This is what God’s Word says, “If anyone sins because they do not speak up when they hear a public charge to testify regarding something they have seen or learned about, they will be held responsible. “‘If anyone becomes aware that they are guilty—if they unwittingly touch anything ceremonially unclean (whether the carcass of an unclean animal, wild or domestic, or of any unclean creature that moves along the ground) and they are unaware that they have become unclean, but then they come to realize their guilt; or if they touch human uncleanness (anything that would make them unclean) even though they are unaware of it, but then they learn of it and realize their guilt; or if anyone thoughtlessly takes an oath to do anything, whether good or evil (in any matter one might carelessly swear about) even though they are unaware of it, but then they learn of it and realize their guilt— when anyone becomes aware that they are guilty in any of these matters, they must confess in what way they have sinned.”

These specific sins are of less magnitude​​ than​​ what was discussed for much of chapter four​​ and this section is a continuation of the sins of the common Israelite. The word for “anyone” is again “soul” meaning a person with a will or desire. Three specific sins are highlighted. The first has to do with an individual who hears a public charge to testify about something, and they do not speak up. They have specific knowledge​​ in a judicial matter​​ and are being asked on oath to divulge what they know.​​ Or they are being asked on oath about a​​ matter,​​ and they are​​ being​​ deceitful about their answer for some reason. In the Israelite community it was an individual’s duty and responsibility to tell the truth but​​ especially in​​ judicial matters. This was the proper behavior that God required of all Israelites to maintain the integrity of the society ultimately ruled by God’s divine law. If someone was aware of an offense committed by someone else, they were required to tell the truth, or they would be held responsible and bear​​ guilt. In fact, that individual would​​ be​​ considered in God’s eyes to have participated in what had​​ occurred. This was​​ a​​ willful concealing of something that undermined​​ the Lord’s control of​​ His​​ people through His law.​​ In Matthew 26, Jesus was put under oath by the high priest to answer whether He was the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus was now bound by the law of Moses to answer and tell the truth. Of course, he did and remained without guilt in the matter.​​ 

The second type of sin was about becoming unclean, either through touching something or someone who was unclean. This is the first time the word “unclean” has been used in the Bible​​ and​​ is a verb​​ meaning “the​​ act of becoming defiled.”​​ If someone came in contact which something or someone unclean, they also became unclean until they were “purified.” This was​​ another reason​​ why the sin offering was also called the purification offering.​​ There​​ were many things that could make a​​ person ceremonially unclean. Three dead things are mentioned:​​ the​​ carcass of an unclean wild or domestic animal such as a pig or donkey and the carcass of an unclean creature that moved​​ along the ground such as​​ a​​ reptile. These general categories were given to symbolize all unclean animals that would later be designated by God’s dietary laws.​​ There were four likely reasons that​​ an​​ individual would be unaware of becoming unclean. One,​​ they​​ didn’t know they touched something unclean. Two, they were unaware of the law​​ that would tell​​ them they had touched something unclean. Three, they had forgotten they had become unclean by touching something​​ unclean. And four, they had willingly ignored the fact they had touched something​​ unclean.​​ Also,​​ someone​​ would​​ be considered unclean if​​ they​​ were to​​ touch a person who was unclean.​​ The mitigating factors​​ here​​ were​​ the​​ touching​​ of someone who was bleeding, the touching of bodily fluids or​​ touching​​ someone​​ to do with death. No matter whether it was something or someone unclean, the individual would be considered​​ guilty​​ even if they were unaware of becoming unclean. This was an exhortation for them to be aware of their surroundings and not to go about life like they didn’t have a care in the world. This was not considered a moral failure but a ceremonial one​​ and as such they were still considered guilty and had to bring an offering.​​ 

The third​​ type of sin was​​ like the first.​​ Someone had​​ thoughtlessly​​ made an oath​​ or swore​​ carelessly about​​ something,​​ and it didn’t matter if it was for good or evil. The word for “speaking thoughtlessly” means “to babble.”​​ It comes from the idea of speaking rashly or unadvisedly. They spoke​​ rashly in the heat of the moment and when the situation had​​ died down, they didn’t​​ consider the oath they​​ had​​ spoken. The phrase “whether good or evil” means every conceivable situation is​​ covered and guilt has been incurred. Once the matter is brought to the attention of the offender, they were guilty under the law and would have to bring the appropriate sacrifice. In verse five we again see a word used for the first time in scripture. When a person was guilty of any of these three offenses, remaining silent under oath, touching something or someone unclean or making a rash oath,​​ and it was brought to their attention, they became guilty and had to “confess” their sin.​​ Even though it is not mentioned, we​​ can surmise that the sin offerings that were to be brought in chapter four also included confession and so the necessity to confess shows that the​​ offer​​ itself was not enough to bring atonement, forgiveness and restoration. This again points us to the gospel and Jesus Christ as our sin-offering. There is no such thing as universal salvation. Without confessing that we are sinners, without confessing that we​​ need​​ a Savior and without confessing Jesus as Lord we will not be saved. Also, our sin is not cleansed without confessing as seen in 1 John 1:9, which says,​​ “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us of all unrighteousness.”​​ (Big Idea)​​ Garrett says, “Confession, whether of sin or for salvation, is necessary for things to happen.”

In conclusion of today’s message, I want you to consider this illustration. Imagine that you have a scorpion on your brow, and you don’t​​ know it and it​​ is​​ prepared to thrust its deadly sting into you. Now imagine a timely​​ friend who​​ sees​​ the deadly scorpion and alerts​​ you to the danger so you​​ can​​ sweep it off just in the nick of time. The scorpion is our unintentional sins and the God “of all knowledge” is our gracious friend. God’s Son, His Word, and His gracious provision of confession, forgiveness and restoration is offered to us so that we will​​ purpose​​ to live holy lives. And when we​​ inevitably​​ sin,​​ we​​ are to​​ come before Him in confession lest we die in our sins and are separated from God for all eternity. So, let’s purpose to live holy lives, in awareness of the scorpion​​ sting​​ of​​ unintentional​​ sin​​ that sits on our brow.​​ Let me finish with I John 2:1-2 and our last next step: “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.​​ Let’s purpose to listen​​ to the Holy Spirit,​​ to help keep us from sin or to remember God’s gracious provision of confession, forgiveness and restoration.​​ That brings us to our second and last next step which​​ is​​ I will daily​​ confess​​ my sins finding​​ forgiveness​​ and​​ restoration​​ through God’s provision of the sin offering of​​ Jesus​​ Christ.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the opportunity to be in your presence and​​ to​​ learn from your Word. As we live our lives in this sin saturated​​ world, help us by your Spirit to be attentive to the scorpion’s sting of sin. Help us to listen​​ to​​ your Holy Spirit’s prompting to daily confess our sins before you. Thank you for your forgiveness and restoration through your provision of our sin offering, Jesus Christ. And Lord​​ pricks​​ the hearts of those who don’t know you​​ so that they would​​ stop making excuses,​​ surrender​​ their lives to your son, be crucified with Him and​​ invite​​ Him to live​​ within​​ them.​​ In Jesus’ name, Amen.​​ 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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