The Peace Offering

 The Peace Offering

Leviticus 7:11-13

Now this is the law of the peace offering that one may present to the LORD: If he offers it in thanksgiving, then along with the sacrifice of thanksgiving he shall offer unleavened cakes mixed with olive oil, unleavened wafers coated with oil, and well-kneaded cakes of fine flour mixed with oil.

Along with his peace offering of thanksgiving he is to present an offering with cakes of leavened bread. From the cakes he must present one portion of each offering as a contribution to the LORD. It belongs to the priest who sprinkles the blood of the peace offering. The meat of the sacrifice of his peace offering of thanksgiving must be eaten on the day he offers it; none of it may be left until morning.

There were many different kinds of OT offerings.  It's fascinating that there is even an offering for peace.  

It stands out to me that a peace offering is to be presented with thanksgiving.  Peace and thanksgiving are often coupled.  I love that when presenting a peace offering, we are supposed to do it with thanksgiving. There is definitely a profound point to be made that an offering of peace is to be done with a thankful heart. 

Further, I love that a peace offering is accompanied by food, and not just any food, cakes. So, if I understand this correctly, a peace offering should be accompanied by thanksgiving and cakes. Offering a sacrifice of peace sounds like a good deal to me.  Sign me up for thanksgiving, cake, and peace.  

Reading on, it says that the meat that goes with a peace offering is to be eaten on the same day.  So, what they are saying is, a peace offering is basically a meal of meat, bread, and cake preceded by a thankful heart. I mean, if I get to eat meat, bread, and cake, why wouldn't I be thankful?  The OT peace offering just sounds like a Sunday afternoon with our small group.

  

Upon doing a little more research on the OT peace offering, I learned that, when the Israelites presented a peace offering, it was a way to worship God and show their devotion and commitment to following Him.  So, the more I think about this type of offering, the more I realize that as the NT people, we participate in the peace offering regularly.  We are basically asking God for peace every time we sit down to a meal, bow in a prayer of thanksgiving, and enjoy God's provision. When we fellowship with other Christians over a meal and build one another up "towards love and good deeds," we are offering our peace offering of devotion to God and His ways. 

This brings me to my next revelation of the OT peace offering and its purpose.  Did you know, Hannah offered a peace offering after dedicating her son, Samuel, to the Lord, which was a commemoration of a vow fulfilled? (1 Samuel 1:21–28).  The OT peace offering was presented when God answered someone's prayer.  It was a way to thank God for the affirmative answer through a sacrificial action.  I think we can learn a lot from this OT practice.  Although we may remember to thank God when He answers a pleading or request from our hearts, maybe we should follow the OT Israelites' example by actually making a meal, inviting others to join us, and together thanking God for what He has done for us.  While even this action of thanksgiving can't equally represent God's work in our lives, it is closer than just saying, "thank you" and moving on. 

All in all, it is comforting to know that every time we sit down to a meal, it can be another reminder that we are in God's peace and His love through answered prayers.  Therefore, as we eat, we pause in wonder, praise, and glory of our awesome God of peace.  Thank you, God, for helping us to remember peace every time we take a bite of the food you provide.