Many many years ago there were laws, that eventually turned into commands. Curiosity and systems that eventually turned into philosophy and what we refer to as legalism. You know, it's kind of interesting that we have so much Jewish literature to go along with the Old Testament, and it's a huge blessing. Clearly, we haven't even scratched the surface of all the layers within the New Testament even, especially when we consider there is over 800 commands given within the New Testament, and I'm sure there's a hidden parallel of Laws in the Torah (611 commands) and commands given by the Son of God. The reason I think so is that there are deep theological concepts ingrained into chapters like Leviticus 9. Within this chapter not only is Aaron commanded to make a different sacrifice than the rest of the Israelites, but he is required to sacrifice on behalf of them, on top of the sacrifices that the Israelites are thereby required to make. However I didn't title this post "the Altar Heart" for no reason, and whilst I am able to make connections toward how each of us has a different job in the Kingdom, we all must draw near to the Altar of the LORD. I think this is most accurately depicted in the beginnings of 2 Samuel when David is thinking up and founding the tent of meeting.
To draw a connection to something other than Romans 12 would be near heresy, because as far as Sacrifices goes Paul makes an absolute conclusion that we must offer ourselves as a Living Sacrifice unto the Lord. However what if we didn't have Pauls letters, do you think God would still have a way to tell us that Sacrifices are of some sort of intrinsic value to Him? That is the argument I'd like to make specifically about Leviticus 9, that God is showing us in the middle of the commands about food, sexual morality, slaves, and sacrifices, that He has a heart that is shaped like an altar that we all must come toward and offer sacrifices on. To take from 90's pop culture and say our hearts are shaped like a box would be quite the wrong sentence anatomically but because each of us have an altar both living inside of us, maybe Nirvana wasn't wrong. The altar within the Holy of Holies is even referred to as the heart of the tent, the host of the presence of the Lord, just as our hearts are nowadays.
We must remember though that God takes immense pleasure in righteous sacrifice, but if the sacrifice is attached to a string of selfishness, hatred, animosity, or even done in sin, it only leaves God with grief and turmoil. That's why even Jesus says "if you have anything against your brother, it is better to ask him forgiveness than to offer sacrifice. First, go to him, and remedy the situation, and then offer sacrifice." The Lord will help us with that, and we must look for that assistance in what we do, because we simply do not have the strength to make a proper sacrifice to Him. To honor His heart we must recognize the beat of His heart. That is how it goes.
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