Leviticus Chapter 4
Today as we read about the sacrificial system it will cause the believer to do one thing; and that is to be humbly grateful for what Christ Jesus did for us upon that awful cross. And it is really good for us who live in the age of grace, to read and study this Old Testament Sacrificial system because it opens our eyes to the terrible sinners that we are. We take for granted how marvelous the mercy of our God is. We take for granted how much we need a Savior to pardon our sins.
This chapter will give the laws of what the people were to do about unintentional sins. There are instructions for everyone who commits these sins from the priest, to the nation of Israel as a whole, to the leaders of the people, and to the common people. These unintentional sins were committed when humans missed the mark of God’s commandments. It wasn’t that they accidentally sinned, but rather they missed the mark of God’s standard. When brought to the person’s attention that they had missed the mark, they were to offer a sacrifice to God, an animal was to be the substation for him or for her.
Let's Reflect
1. If the priest himself sinned unintentionally what type of animal was he to sacrifice on the altar to save the people from the guilt of the sin of the priest?
2. In this sacrifice there were some specific instructions for the blood that was shed of the animal. What were those instructions regarding the blood?
3. The only parts of the animal burnt on the altar for the sacrifice were what? The rest of the carcass was taken outside the temple court area and burnt on a burn pile.
4. What is critical about examining our life as it was for the Israelites? See verses 13-14, 22 and 27.
5. Sometimes we realize that we have sinned and sometimes what needs to happen? See verse 23.
6. When a leader of the people sinned, he brought a male goat as his sacrifice. What did the common people bring for their sacrifice of the unintentional sin? See verses 28 and 32.
7. And the key to the whole sacrificial system is wrapped up in the phrase of the last verse of the chapter. What was the purpose of bringing an animal to be sacrificed at the Tabernacle?
Devotionals
