The Bringing of the Burnt Offering

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Introduction: Although the burnt offering is a picture of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, it is also a picture of the believer who gives himself unto the Lord. In this message, we will look at this second way of understanding the meaning of the burnt offering. We are to give ourselves entirely and without reserve to God.

I.                 The Offering was Presented (1:4)

II.                The Offering was Killed (1:5a)

A.      It was killed by the one making the offering

1.  The part of the offerer

1. He determined to make the offering “of his own voluntary will” (v.3)

2. He brought the offering to the door of the tabernacle (v.3)

3. He laid his hand on the head of the offering (v.4)

4. He killed the offering

2.  As far as the law allowed, the offerer was identified with the offering. In bringing the burnt offering, he was in a sense bringing himself to the altar (Psalm 40:6-8; 51:16-17)

B.      It was killed before the Lord

1.  Practically, this meant that it was killed in front of the tabernacle, a place which represented the presence of the Lord

2.  Symbolically, this meant that it was killed for the sake of the Lord in total surrender to Him

III.             The Blood of the Offering was Sprinkled (1:5b)

A.      A common practice under the law

1.  To hallow or sanctify (Exodus 29:21; Leviticus 8:30)

2.  To cleanse the impure (Leviticus 14:51-52; 16:19; Hebrews 9:13)

B.      It was sprinkled by the priests; as mediators for the offerers

C.      It was sprinkled on the burnt altar; to make the offering acceptable to the Lord

D.      It is a type that was fulfilled by Jesus Christ (Hebrews 12:24; 1Peter 1:2)

IV.            The Offering was Prepared (1:6)

A.      It was flayed; that is, the skin or hide was cut off (Micah 3:3)

1.  The skin, being considered unclean, was not to be part of the burnt offering. It was to be removed before the offering was sacrificed.

2.  The skin could be kept by the priests who made the offering (Leviticus 7:8)

3.  A type of the believer putting off the flesh (Ephesians 4:22; Colossians 2:11; 3:9)

B.      It was cut into pieces

1.  Each part must be separate from the others

2.  Each part must be sacrificed

3.  A type of the systematic surrender of the believer unto the Lord. He may give himself entirely and whole unto the Lord. But then he finds that each part of his heart and life must be dealt with separately (Romans 12:1-2; Philippians 3:10).

One Dream Too Many – In Valley So Wild (p.89-90), Alberta and Carson Brewer tell how land in the Little Tennessee Valley was settled by whites in the early 1800’s. One of the early settlers was John McGhee and he wanted all the rich river-bottom land he could get. “The island land was especially rich. McGhee wanted it too. The Indian owner of one island wanted a very fine rifle McGhee had. One day the Indian told McGhee he had a dream. In the dream the Great Spirit had told him that McGhee gave him the rifle. ‘What the Great Spirit said, John McGhee will do. Here, take the rifle,’ McGhee responded.

 

“A short while later McGhee told the Indian he, too, had dreamed, and the Great Spirit told him the Indian had given him the island. The Indian offered, ‘Here, take gun back.’ McGhee shook his head. ‘Can’t take gun back. Indian dreamed it away. No good to McGhee any more.’ The Indian reflected gloomily. Then he replied: ‘Big chief make you a deed to island, but Indian no dream against white man no more.’ ”

V.               The Altar was Prepared (1:7)

A.      The priests put fire on the altar

1.  A continual fire burned on the altar (Leviticus 6:12-13)

2.  But the fire was built up for the particular offerings

3.  God gives us trials sufficient for the offering we are ready to make (2Corinthians 4:10; 12:9-10)

B.      The priests laid wood on the fire

1.  The wood was laid in order

2.  Every part of our trial is designed to accomplish its purpose

a.        It works together for good (Romans 8:28)

b.       It works the work of God (Romans 5:3-5; Hebrews 12:10-11)

VI.            The Offering was Placed on the Altar (1:8-9a)

A.      The offering was laid on the wood in order (v.8)

1.  The parts; a picture of the various areas of the persons life

2.  The head; the mind and soul of the man

3.  The fat; a picture of the pleasures and joys of life; these also must be given to the Lord in a complete sacrifice

B.      Some parts were washed in water before being offered (v.9a); washing in water is a picture of the cleansing of the word of God (John 15:3; 17:17; Ephesians 5:26-27)

1.  The inwards; a picture of the inward man, the heart

2.  The legs; a picture of the works of man

VII.         The Offering was Consumed on the Altar (v.9b)

A.      The entire offering was burned

B.      It was a sweet savor unto the Lord

1.  It was especially sweet unto the Lord

2.  It was a complete sacrifice made willingly

C.      NOTE: The first three offerings (burnt, meat, peace) and both voluntary offerings and they are a sweet savor unto the Lord.  The last two offerings (sin, trespass) are required and are not called sweet savors to the Lord.  It is evidently sweet to the Lord when we serve Him because of love and not because we must (see Eph.5:2; Phil.4:18; Heb.13:16).

CONCLUSION:

• Some have never made the complete sacrifice of themselves to the Lord

• Others think they have given themselves to the Lord, only to fight Him every step of the way through the process.

• Others still may be discouraged by what is the gracious working in their life of a fuller dedication to Him