Leviticus 3: Covenant Fellowship

​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. 2 And he shall lay his hand on the head of his offering and kill it at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and Aaron's sons the priests shall throw the blood against the sides of the altar.3 And from the sacrifice of the peace offering, as a food offering to the Lord, he shall offer the fat covering the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails, 4 and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins, and the long lobe of the liver that he shall remove with the kidneys.5 Then Aaron's sons shall burn it on the altar on top of the burnt offering, which is on the wood on the fire; it is a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord.

6 “If his offering for a sacrifice of peace offering to the Lord is an animal from the flock, male or female, he shall offer it without blemish. 7 If he offers a lamb for his offering, then he shall offer it before the Lord, 8 lay his hand on the head of his offering, and kill it in front of the tent of meeting; and Aaron's sons shall throw its blood against the sides of the altar. 9 Then from the sacrifice of the peace offering he shall offer as a food offering to the Lord its fat; he shall remove the whole fat tail, cut off close to the backbone, and the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails 10 and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins and the long lobe of the liver that he shall remove with the kidneys. 11 And the priest shall burn it on the altar as a food offering to the Lord.

12 “If his offering is a goat, then he shall offer it before the Lord 13 and lay his hand on its head and kill it in front of the tent of meeting, and the sons of Aaron shall throw its blood against the sides of the altar. 14 Then he shall offer from it, as his offering for a food offering to the Lord, the fat covering the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails15 and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins and the long lobe of the liver that he shall remove with the kidneys. 16 And the priest shall burn them on the altar as a food offering with a pleasing aroma. All fat is the Lord's. 17 It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, in all your dwelling places, that you eat neither fat nor blood.”

Meditation
God provides sacrifice for Him to fellowship with His people- celebrated with a meal.
 
God’s desire to fellowship with His people is the story of Scripture, from walking the garden with Adam and Eve to the wedding supper of the Lamb in the New Heavens and New Earth (Revelation 19:1-6). For this reason, at the Last Supper Jesus focused on the New Covenant sealed with His blood, Divine desire to dwell with disciples signified with a meal the night before Jesus’ sacrificial death (Luke 22:20). A fellowship meal is where Jesus restored Peter (John 21). 
 
The fellowship offerings came from the herd (1-5) or the flock (6-16). The person making the offering needed to know what to eat (17), how to leave the best part of the “unblemished” sacrifice on the altar for the Lord (3-4). God wants the good stuff of the sacrifice (the fat!?!-16) but sees the best stuff being restored fellowship with His people.  
 
The fellowship offering accompanied the grain offering and celebrated peace between the Lord and His people (9). God redeemed His people for relationship with Him, former slaves who become sons through covenant relationship. God restores relationship through sacrifice and enjoys fellowship through a meal, the means of God to nourish believers through His gracious, spiritual, presence.
 
Three parties feasted in fellowship- God, people making the offering, and the priest. Our great High Priest, Jesus Christ, puts all three together by becoming the sacrifice so we can feast on Him for fellowship with God. 
 
God Himself was the sacrifice for Him to fellowship with His people.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the sacrifice participation over eating the fellowship offering, relationship between God, the people, and the priest celebrated?
 
-Are you intimidated or invited by God’s passionate plan to restore fellowship with His people? Does your life reflect your answer?
 
-Jesus has done everything necessary for you to feast on fellowship with God. He stands at the door of your heart and knocks, wanting to eat with you (Revelation 3:20). What specific ways can you honor this gracious invitation and open your heart to feast with the King?
 
Key Verse
16 … All fat is the Lord's.