Scripture: “If his offering is a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offers an animal from the herd, male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the LORD.” Leviticus 3:1 ESV
Observation: Unlike the burnt offering (where the priest chars the entire body of the animal on the altar as Yahweh’s portion) or the grain offering (portioned between the Lord and the priest), the priest distributes the fellowship (or peace) offering three ways:
- fat (including kidneys, tail, and entrails) to God (burned on the altar, 3:3-5),
- right breast and thigh to the priest (7:34), and
- the remainder of the meat to the offerer of the sacrifice (7:15-21).
The priest and offerer must eat the meat by the end of the second day, whereas the priest must consume the grain offering by the close of the first day. Because the meal is sacred, the offerer must be ritually pure (7:19-21) and the animal unblemished (3:1 above). And, whereas only a male could present the burnt offering, both women and men may bring a fellowship/peace offering before the Lord (3:1 above).
One final observation, the fellowship offering could be voluntary (a particular offering of thanks to God), based on a vow, or given as a freewill offering (7:12–26).
Takeaway: The word šelāmîm, translated as peace in the passage, comes from the root šlm, whose semantic range includes šalom (“peace”), šalem (“whole”), and šillem (“repay”). Thus, as R. Laird Harris contends, the sacrifice carries an understanding of health, wholeness, welfare, and peace that constitute fellowship with God based on atonement.
Accordingly, while Israel sought atonement through the sacred offering of animal sacrifices, we gain fellowship with God through the consecrated sacrifice of his Son. Thus, while Israel offered the animal’s fat to the Lord as a peace offering, Christ offered himself to the Father to bring us reconciliation and peace. Indeed, this is why Paul writes to the church in Rome, “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). For what we could not repay, Christ paid in full. And because the Son of God atoned our sins, we enjoy fellowship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit that brings wholeness to life, marked by Christ’s supernatural peace (John 14:27).
So what’s our part? When worldly troubles disrupt our sense of fellowship with God (robbing us of shalom peace and well-being with our Lord), we need to humbly draw near to him through his word that discerns our hearts’ anxious thoughts and intentions (Hebrews 4:12) and seek his grace and mercy in prayer (Hebrews 4:16) with thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6). Indeed, fellowship with our Lord begets peace.
Prayer: Father God, as always, we thank you for the fellowship offering of your Son who restores peace to our weary and anxious minds and hearts. Would you please help us, when worn down by the ills of sin, cooperate with your Holy Spirit in seeking communion with you and your Son through Scripture, prayer, and the community of believers? Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
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