Leviticus 17
-Chapter 17 deals more with the issue of blood for atonement
and can be included in a larger section that scholars have dubbed “the holiness
code,” which extends into chapter 26 of the book. This section can be summed up
by Leviticus 19:2, “You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.” With
that in mind, let’s take a closer look into this issue of blood for atonement
(covering).
-First, God directly gives Moses the command that an ox,
goat, or lamb slaughtered inside the camp or outside the camp that has not been
brought before the LORD to the doorway of the tent of meeting (the tabernacle
front) will incur bloodguiltiness reckoned upon that person doing the action.
That person has shed blood not of God and will be cut off from among the people
(Leviticus 17:1-4). The tendency in this ancient culture was to offer
individual sacrifices in open fields as a paganistic practice. This is
evidenced by verse seven, “They shall no longer sacrifice their sacrifices to
the goat demons with which they play the harlot.” The sacrificial system was
meant to bring peace between sinful man and holy God, not to promote idolatry
and false faith (Leviticus 17:5). This is why it was such a big deal to only
sacrifice in the proper manner at the proper place before the LORD with His
priests. So, we see the stress being placed on order and decorum here, not
every man doing what he thinks is right in his own eyes (Judges 17:6). In other
words, there is structure in the plan of righteous God, and no man should thwart
it, whether native or alien (Leviticus 17:8).
-Next, the blood was not to be eaten by anyone in Israel or
a sojourning alien that happens to be among them (Acts 15:19-21, 28-29). In
fact God says that He will set His face against those that partake in this
exercise of eating blood, and they shall be cut off from His people (Leviticus
17:10). Why is this the case? God says that the life is in the blood, and it
has been given for the people on the altar to make atonement for their souls.
The blood was identified with its life, which was shed for the remission of
sins (Matthew 26:28). To partake in the drinking of this type of blood was
again a pagan practice. Israel was instructed to be different, separate, and
distinct from its godless neighbors. The pagans who had false religious systems
thought that the blood from the animal they were drinking would give them
special powers of that animal such as strength, speed, keen eyesight, etc. If
the Jewish people were to drink the blood, it would then ruin the symbolism of
the sacrifice. The sacrifice was to instruct them on humility, not personal
gain in a deceptive source of false hope. It also was designed to protect the
people from infection and disease that could be carried by the sacrificed
animal. This prohibition was taken seriously, and it is why many in the Jewish
faith had such a strong reaction in Jesus’ symbolic reference to partake of His
blood in communion (Matthew 26:27-29, Mark 14:23-25, Luke 22:20, John 6:53-56).
It is easy to see how there could be misunderstandings to the foreshadowing and
types that God was presenting in setting up His perfect sacrifice through His
Son. Proper interpretation and application is essential.
-*Application* There are still many cultures who practice
the art of drinking blood for delicacy or superstitious power. The recent phenomenon
with vampires and their allure is just one example. From the time of Noah it has
been a prohibition in the economy of God (Genesis 9:4), and for that fact we
need to take it seriously. Perhaps we might need to get that steak a little bit
more well-done J.
Verse to Memorize:
Leviticus 17:11
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