Greeting God
“Now this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings which shall be presented to the LORD.” Leviticus 7:11
Peace Offerings – Do the Levitical offerings confuse you? Do they seem strange, ancient and (perhaps) irrelevant? Some of that discomfort might be the fault of the translation. When we take a closer look, we find that God’s instructions include appropriate ways to greet Him in worship. Oh, and they don’t include a Praise & Worship band.
The key word here is ha-shelamim. The word is difficult because there is some debate about its original meaning. But this much we can determine fairly quickly. Our translation (above) doesn’t come from Middle-Eastern languages. Our translation is based on the Latin Vulgate (where the word is pacificus – peace) and perhaps on the one of the three renderings in the LXX (eirenikos – peace). “Peace offerings” doesn’t come from any ancient Semitic language. In fact, when we look at Hebrew cognate languages, we find that this word is most similar to Ugaritic shelamuma, a word that means “a tribute or gift of greeting.” Of course, that ties the word in Hebrew directly to the standard Hebrew greeting, shalom. In other words, this offering might not be about “peace” with God at all. It might be the proper way to greet the Most High. It’s our way of saying “Hello” to God in worship.
POW! Did that suddenly hit your spiritual solar plexus? Did you realize that God Himself has given us the proper first step in approaching Him in worship? What does that mean for all of our “relevant” substitutions? What does this imply about the claim of the cessation of sacrifices after the death of Yeshua? Perhaps we need to seriously rethink how we worship, right from the start. Would your experience of worship change if it began with a meal celebration as an offering to God? Does this remind you of the Sabbath tradition?
“We greet you, YHWH, King of the Universe, Lord of our lives, with this offering of unleavened hamets, according to Your directions. We partake of this meal with You, offering Your portion first. We celebrate this greeting in our meal together, recognizing its covenant symbolism. We accept Your provision of shalom and we bless You.”
Oh, yes. One more thing. Did you notice that ha-shelamim is plural? It isn’t “sacred gift of greeting.” It’s greetings. Now why do you suppose God would use a plural word to describe a single act? Maybe there is something more in this symbolic ritual than we think.
Topical Index: ha-shelamim, greeting, shalom, peace offerings, Leviticus 7:11
It is SO not fair to stop right there! I hope you’ll expand on this in the upcoming days! 🙂 I am certainly one of the confused ones – about the various types as well as about the place of sacrifice today.
What do you mean when you write, “Would your experience of worship change if it began with a meal celebration as an offering to God?” – do you mean the meal is eaten in thanksgiving or are you speaking more literally or have I completely missed the point? I think my confusion lies to some degree in the meaning of “offering” to begin with.
Regardless of my confusion, I would never have thought of the “peace” offering this way! Thanks!
Who said life was fair? Time to go dig a bit, isn’t it? 🙂 If you seriously consider that God actually tells us how He wants to be worshipped, and then you look at what we call worship, you have to wonder where all of our rituals actually came from. That will send you to Frank Viola’s Pagan Christianity. And Todd Bennett’s Restoration. And then you will really think life isn’t fair.
I actually just got the book “Pagan Christianity”… I’m only a few chapters in, but it’s amazing how far we’ve wandered. I guess the thing I struggle with is, especially within the music aspect (because I love music and singing), does it anger God when we worship Him in different ways? Or is it okay to do that in addition to His requests for worship (but again, most of His requests for worship seem to be tied into sacrifice and I have no idea how that gets applied today)? I’ll keep reading the book I have, and I’ll see if I can find the book by Todd Bennett. Maybe there will be some answers in there?
“Now this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings which shall be presented to the LORD. Leviticus 7:11″
“We partake of this meal with You, offering Your portion first.”
Hi Skip,
We were visiting the Old Mission Santa Barbara at 2201 Laguna Street a couple of days ago and it was very beautiful.
My wife who is not a Catholic wanted to go there and I note the address because my mother’s name was Barbara, her idea of “paradise” was Laguna Beach, and she was born on 11/7.
Anyway, my son was asking me what a priest was and I was trying to explain what I remember about a Catholic priest.
Then I started to compare a Catholic priest with a Hebrew priest and Sean asked me why a Hebrew priest would sacrifice an animal.
All I could think of at the time was “God told them that’s what he wanted.”
Today I will have a better answer for him 🙂
Hi Michael,
I don’t know about now, but Laguna Beach WAS paradise in 1972-1974 when I lived there!! Are you and your family there now? If so, I want to ask you some things about that town. Thx
Mary, glad you are back on commenting, I missed you for awhile. I am not Michael, but our youngest daughter & husband lived in Santa Barbara for six years while he earned a PhD from U of CA Santa Barbara in Chemistry Research, and they go back once or twice a year to visit with friends. When they lived there, of course we visited several times, but I remember that our oldest daughter bought this lovely hard -back book on the Mission of S.B., I read it and the Catholic Church actually de-sainted Barbara , as they decided she never existed.— Also we did the Blue Whale Boat watching and saw one, that was great, have pictures up in my upstairs bathroom with all of my other sea pictures taken through our lives. BUT if you will write your questions, I will send them to my daughter in Los Gatos, CA, and get her answers back to you through e-mail–ours– LaVaye-Ed Billings melshad@cebridge.net
Hi Mary,
My mother’s experience of Laguna Beach must have been formed in the 40’s, because I was born in 48 and then she had two more sons in 52 and 56 and did not see much of Laguna Beach.
During the 50’s we vacationed in a trailer park in Oceanside, which was a far cry from Laguna, but seemed like paradise to me.
During the 70’s I lived in Del Mar, which is south of Laguna, and surfed the beaches up and down the coast.
I visited Laguna from time to time, but did not spend much time there.
Just enough to know that for me it would be an ideal place to live 🙂
I read The Messianic Church Arising, by Robert Heidler, a few years ago, and it really impacted me. It certainly moved away from the pews, prerequisite worship team,, and pastor led service. It was much more a community meal sharing accompanied by spontaneous song and dance. Sounds great!
But how did the Jews who no longer had the temple adapt?
Did they simply continue with synagogue alone, and leave the temple worship, (because it can’t be done anywhere else,) until it is rebuilt?
In the synagogue, the focus is on reading and discussing His Word.
Maybe HaShem was saying we need to return and spend time in His Torah, before we can properly understand how to worship.
However, I am afraid that just as the serpent deceived Eve by its tricks, so your minds may somehow be lured away from sincere and pure devotion to the Messiah. (2 Corinthians 11.3) Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything (2 Timothy 2.7)
We are not the children of confusion- we are the children of clarity. We have the holy scriptures to guide us, gladden us, guard us. “It is written” is our foundation, our faith and our future. We wil not be turned aside to “another” gospel, but cleave unto the LORD and unto His (all-sufficient, atoning, sacrifice on Calvary’s tree.
The blood of Jesus Christ G-d’s Son (and G-d the Son!) cleanses from all sin. Why is this important? … Or (to be radical..) is this “important?” Does this “carry weight?” Is this glorious?
The answer my friends is an absolute unequivocal Yes! Let us look at (consider, review) Isaiah 59.2: “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.” What is it that “separates” sinful man from holy Elohim? (using the “KISS” method!)… and the answer is: (what did we just read here?- black print on white paper il is what? Do we need to read this again? Okay, I’ll wait- “return” and read Isaiah’s (ever fresh) message to you and I written (for our example and edification) in G-d’s book. “Your iniquities” have separated between you and your G-d!
G-d is holy- we are sinners. It’s just that difficult.. er.. simple. Now, what about the “sin” question. Know that we know what “It” is (sound familiar?- oh, brother..)- What to do about this..
“if we confess our sins”- (is it written?)- do we really “need” to confess our sins? And by the way- here is a good place for this news- “there is one mediator between G-d and man- the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2.5)- yes, dear friends- once again.. “it is written”. (I’m tempted to get a “tat!”) -Let me say once again- (these three words really do bother someone- “remember”?) Yes, “it is written”, Amen. (and Hallelujah!- If we confess (say the same thing as) our sins, He (who would that be?) is faithful and just who is “faithful and just?”) – Is this really that complicated?, to forgive us our sins- (yes, is “forgiveness of sins all that necessary?- only if you want to know your G-d, and (but wait!- there’s more!) and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We (you and I) can be “clean!” – there is a “gospel soap!”- it is the precious blood of Christ (the Annointed One) spilled for us on the tslav- the cursed/blessed tree of Calvary.
Oh, hallelujah! for the cross. And now this.- Read and consider: “The whole Scriptures are a testimony to Christ: the whole history of the chosen people, with its types and its law, and its prophecies, is a showing forth of Him.” Yes, dear family, our Bible is our Him-book, – Is that “clear?” –
Jesus (His latter name) paid it all- all to Him I owe, sin had left a crimson stain- He washed it white as snow. Jesus (His latter name) loves me, this I know!-, for the Bible tells me so.. Yes!, Hallelujah!- “it is written!” He lives! and He loves.. He rules and He reigns! Our Savior and our soon coming King of kings, and LORD of lords. The first time He came as the Lamb, but (maybe today?) when He appears again, it will be as the Lion of the tribe of Judah! Are we looking for (and longing for) His return?
“This is the day which the LORD has made!- Let us rejoice and be glad in it!” My sin, O the bliss of this glorious thought- my sin, (not in part, but the whole!) is nailed to His cross, and I bear it “no more!”, praise the LORD, praise the LORD, O my soul!
A Psalm of David. A Maskil. How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered! (Psalm 32:1) Has G-d “made a way” for us to be this man?.. -just askin’..
Hello Skip,
I asked a question some time ago, about child sacrifice, and how God abhorred it,
yet He sent Yeshua to rectify creation through death on the cross.
I don’t recall what you said then, and I don’t remember which TW the question was attached to so I can’t find your answer to reread it. But the question is back again, so I need redirection in how I perceive the Father offering His Son. Please help!
I will need a bit more to find it. A verse, a tag word, something specific.
Shalom … The timing of this commentary is quite convenient! 🙂
Last Shabbat and through this week I have been speaking with some brethren regarding practical application of Torah … last evening the topic was the community OLAH! …
So one might ask … “and what does this have to do with us?”
The OLAH was an offering (a lamb) made twice each day … typically at sunrise and sunset; the offering (not directly a sin offering) was fully consumed by fire … the head was burned immediately and the legs and the entrails were washed before going to the altar.
In Revelations it is revealed to John that we are made Kings and Priests by Mashiach. So think about it … we are Priests and Yeshua is the eternal Kohen HaGadol or The Head!
Yeshua is the Head and we are the body of Mashiach! – Ephesians 4
Yeshua is clean and we are unclean … needing to be washed with His Word as is declared in Ephesians-5!
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of Adonai, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto Adonai, which is your expected service. Romans 12
By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to Elohim continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices Elohim is well pleased. Hebrews-13
Perhaps the connection can be seen between us and the OLAH … between us and the Sacrificial System?
Of course the basic spiritual application of this Torah mitzvah is at least twice daily prayer! Preferably at the appointed times … morning and evening! b/t/w This is the time that faithful Jews recite their prayers … including the Sh’ma!
And of course … as should be apparent … there is much more to it!
The OLAH was an offering (a lamb) made twice each day … typically at sunrise and sunset; the offering (not directly a sin offering) was fully consumed by fire … the head was burned immediately and the legs and the entrails were washed before going to the altar.
Hi Drew,
Great point and OLAH took me to the following link: http://www.jewfaq.org/qorbanot.htm
The first thing Senorita Conde taught us in 7th grade Spanish class was the following phrase:
“HOLA Paco, que tal?”
Hi Drew. Romans 12:1 is a great example of Sha’ul teaching Torah and being very Hebrew. “…by the mercies of Adonai” links back to this passage in Exodus:
Exd 34:6-7 NASB – 6 Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; 7 who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.”
Everyone should take very careful note of this passage – this is God describing God, not man describing God. Jewish sages say that there are 13 separate attributes of the mercies of YHVH listed in this passage. There are also 13 distinct offerings/sacrifices described in Leviticus, each of which link to an aspect of God’s mercy and each of which teach us of an aspect of Messiah’s ministry and purpose. By appealing to the mercies of YHVH Sha’ul is also appealing to the whole altar service.
There is another point worth noting too. To be a sacrifice, the animal being offered had to a) be without blemish and b) die. How can a sacrifice remain alive? There is only one way – if it was found to be blemished, then it could not be a sacrifice – it had to be substituted by a blemishless sacrifice (are we not all blemished, and were we not provided a blemishless substitute in Yeshua?). At this point, however, it was already dedicated to God, so it could not be returned to the flock. Once rendered holy (set apart for God) it could not return to being profane (common). My understanding is that such animals were added to the temple flocks – they did not return to the flock from whence they came.
For an offering to be accepted as a sacrifice it also had to be declared acceptable by a Levitical priest. Without that declaration it was not an acceptable offering. Think back to Yeshua’s baptism.
The day after He was baptised, John the Baptist declared, “Behold the Lamb of God” (John 1:36). As soon as he heard this Andrew ran to find Simon (Peter) and declared, “We have found the Messiah!” What was it that made him make such a statement? Yeshua had done no miracles yet, nor taught publicly. Why was John’s statement so significant? Because John was a Levitical priest and had just declared Yeshua to be a blemishless, acceptable sacrifice!
As well as the materials that Skip has recommended elsewhere in this thread, Monte Judah has some excellent audio teachings on these matters – “The Law of Sacrifices” in particular. They’re available from Lion and Lamb Ministries’ web site.
Shalom Rodney … yes indeed brother … we could spend much time delving into the Sacrificial System! With nearly 100 mitzvot associated with the Sacrificial System, there are assuredly Spiritual principles applicable to us today! 🙂
Maybe the “Praise Bands” are not appropriate, but then the rest of what passes for “Christian Worship” does not fit the bill too well either. A meal together which praises God! Interesting. Maybe a little tweaking of the Church Potluck” could change it into a great worship opportunity.
I think it will take a bit more than a change in the potluck. But at least it’s a move in the right direction.
I’m new at being Torah observant/Messiah believing. I’m reading Yahweh’s book. Are there other books that would help me have a clearer understanding of HIS Word that you would suggest as good/helpful reading?
I would suggest that you immediately start listening to Rabbi Bob Gorelik’s work on http://www.eshavbooks.org
In particular, it would be very helpful to get his series called “the Essentials”
Also, a great deal of material is available on the DVD set that Bob and I did in Israel
You can get it here
skipmoen.com/products/lessons-from-israel
And there is an audio download on my site called
“Living the Biblical Worldview”
Thanks, I ordered the DVD set and a book. That should kep me busy for awhile.
“We partake of this meal with You, offering Your portion first.”
How would I offer his portion? What do I do with it? What is the history for that?
Read the rest of the Leviticus instructions. You will find the answer.