No Fishing Allowed

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