Vayikra - Reading #3

Vayikra  וַיִּקְרָא - And He Called

Leviticus 1:1-5:26

Reading #3 - Leviticus 2:7–16

My Thoughts:

In verse 13 Hashem is asking the meal offering to be seasoned with salt, because of the “salt covenant” with Him. In ancient days, covenants were sealed with salt. Making a covenant was a way of confirming a relationship. Salt gives flavor. Some sages say it represents fire and water. In this journey of the Israelites to the Land He has given them, there are many covenants being instituted. The covenant of following Torah is probably the largest. But in this small meal offering, we are reminded that we are in covenant with Hashem. And within that is great power and destiny.

Challenge:

Take some time today to think about what “covenants” or agreements you are in with Hashem. Are you following and obeying your covenant with Him regarding Torah? Are you in a marriage where you made a marital covenant before Hashem? Are you in covenant with Hashem regarding the Sabbath -- do you honor and preserve it? Review your covenants today and make a re-commitment to follow them. Worship and praise Hashem for your covenant relationship with Him. There is no other like it.

Reading #3 - Leviticus 2:7–16

7 If your offering is a meal offering of the pan, it shall be made of fine flour with oil. 8 You shall bring the meal offering that is made of these things to Hashem. It shall be presented to the priest, and he shall bring it to the altar. 9 The priest shall take from the meal offering its memorial, and shall burn it on the altar, an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Hashem. 10 That which is left of the meal offering shall be Aaron’s and his sons’. It is a most holy part of the offerings of Hashem made by fire.

11 “‘No meal offering which you shall offer to Hashem shall be made with yeast; for you shall burn no yeast, nor any honey, as an offering made by fire to Hashem. 12 As an offering of first fruits you shall offer them to Hashem, but they shall not rise up as a pleasant aroma on the altar. 13 Every offering of your meal offering you shall season with salt. You shall not allow the salt of the covenant of your Elohim to be lacking from your meal offering. With all your offerings you shall offer salt.

14 “‘If you offer a meal offering of first fruits to Hashem, you shall offer for the meal offering of your first fruits fresh heads of grain parched with fire and crushed. 15 You shall put oil on it and lay frankincense on it. It is a meal offering. 16 The priest shall burn as its memorial part of its crushed grain and part of its oil, along with all its frankincense. It is an offering made by fire to Hashem.

Vayikra - Reading #2

Vayikra  וַיִּקְרָא - And He Called

Leviticus 1:1-5:26

Reading #2 - Leviticus 1:14–2:6

My Thoughts:

In verse 3 we read that whatever is left over from the offering can be eaten by Aaron. When I was in Israel the first time, we went on a little tour in Cana. A man dressed up as a shepherd took us on a walk. The one thing I remember that he said was “G-d doesn’t waste anything”. I don’t remember what context he said this in – maybe he was talking about plants on the path. The point was that Hashem uses everything and doesn’t waste. So it is with the offerings. Either they are consumed by fire, or they are offered to the priests for food. And maybe later as greater offerings were given, back to the people for food? I really don’t imagine any was thrown out or wasted. This is an important message in our lives -- not to waste food. Let’s be more careful.

Challenge:

I read today how the grain offering was given as a sign of worship and appreciation for Hashem’s provision. It was given after an animal sacrifice and was voluntary. Our worship of Hashem should be like this. It should be voluntary and for appreciation of His provision. If Hashem has blessed you recently (really He blesses every day, sometimes several times!), then consider giving Him an offering of worship. This can be by song, reciting a prayer or words of thanksgiving. Amen.

See Psalm 145. What a wonderful Scripture to praise Him with.

Reading #2 - Leviticus 1:14–2:6

1:14 “‘If his offering to Hashem is a burnt offering of birds, then he shall offer his offering from turtledoves or of young pigeons. 15 The priest shall bring it to the altar, and wring off its head, and burn it on the altar; and its blood shall be drained out on the side of the altar; 16 and he shall take away its crop and its feathers, and cast it beside the altar on the east part, in the place of the ashes. 17 He shall tear it by its wings, but shall not divide it apart. The priest shall burn it on the altar, on the wood that is on the fire. It is a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Hashem..

2 “‘When anyone offers an offering of a meal offering to Hashem, his offering shall be of fine flour. He shall pour oil on it, and put frankincense on it. 2 He shall bring it to Aaron’s sons, the priests. He shall take his handful of its fine flour, and of its oil, with all its frankincense, and the priest shall burn its memorial on the altar, an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Hashem. 3 That which is left of the meal offering shall be Aaron’s and his sons’. It is a most holy part of the offerings of Hashem made by fire.

4 “‘When you offer an offering of a meal offering baked in the oven, it shall be unleavened cakes of fine flour mixed with oil, or unleavened wafers anointed with oil. 5 If your offering is a meal offering made on a griddle, it shall be of unleavened fine flour, mixed with oil. 6 You shall cut it in pieces, and pour oil on it. It is a meal offering.

Vayikra - Reading #1

Vayikra  וַיִּקְרָא - And He Called

Leviticus 1:1-5:26

Reading #1 - Leviticus 1:1–13

My Thoughts:

We read in verse 13 that the offerings are a “pleasant aroma” to Hashem. I’ve always kind of wondered about this. If Hashem creates animals, why would their killing and “roasting” be pleasant to Him. But, as I have studied more, I believe what Hashem finds “pleasant” is that His people are being obedient. He does provide for them to eat of the meat afterwards (however, sometimes the entire offering is consumed by fire). Just as a parent is happy when his/her child obeys -- so must be Hashem. That is what is pleasant to Him is our obeying His Commandments. Are we doing that every day?

Challenge:

We read in verse 11 that the offering is prepared “before Hashem”. It’s almost like they do this in front of Him for His approval. That makes total sense. Like a King sitting before His servants witnessing their acts of servitude and obedience. My challenge today is do you go “before” Hashem in prayer and worship? Sometimes we get in the habit of just praying without a lot of thought. We should not take communication with Hashem lightly. Let’s go before Him with reverence and consideration of who He is. Let’s start doing this today!

Reading #1 - Leviticus 1:1–13

Leviticus 1:1 Hashem called to Moses, and spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting, saying, 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘When anyone of you offers an offering to Hashem, you shall offer your offering of the livestock, from the herd and from the flock.

3 “‘If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer a male without defect. He shall offer it at the door of the Tent of Meeting, that he may be accepted before Hashem. 4 He shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him. 5 He shall kill the bull before Hashem. Aaron’s sons, the priests, shall present the blood and sprinkle the blood around on the altar that is at the door of the Tent of Meeting. 6 He shall skin the burnt offering and cut it into pieces. 7 The sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire on the altar, and lay wood in order on the fire; 8 and Aaron’s sons, the priests, shall lay the pieces, the head, and the fat in order on the wood that is on the fire which is on the altar; 9 but he shall wash its innards and its legs with water. The priest shall burn all of it on the altar, for a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Hashem.

10 “‘If his offering is from the flock, from the sheep or from the goats, for a burnt offering, he shall offer a male without defect. 11 He shall kill it on the north side of the altar before Hashem. Aaron’s sons, the priests, shall sprinkle its blood around on the altar. 12 He shall cut it into its pieces, with its head and its fat. The priest shall lay them in order on the wood that is on the fire which is on the altar, 13 but the innards and the legs he shall wash with water. The priest shall offer the whole, and burn it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Hashem.

Vayikra - Week #1

Vayikra  וַיִּקְרָא - And He Called

Leviticus 1:1-5:26

Isaiah 43:21-44:23

Matthew 5:23-30

1.1 First reading — Leviticus 1:1–13

1.2 Second reading — Leviticus 1:14–2:6

1.3 Third reading — Leviticus 2:7–16

1.4 Fourth reading — Leviticus 3:1–17

1.5 Fifth reading — Leviticus 4:1–26

1.6 Sixth reading — Leviticus 4:27–5:10

1.7 Seventh reading — Leviticus 5:11–26