Vayikra
“He called”
Vayikra / Leviticus 1:1 – 5:26 (6:7) with an emphasis
on parashah #1, 1:1 – 14
Simplistic, maybe simpleton. Yes, that’s me. I certainly feel that way when something that
I think is definitely obvious strikes me for the first time. Unless I am misunderstanding something, which
I have never done before (note: show a hint of sarcasm in your voice), it
occurred the other day as I read the first parshah / portion of this week’s
readings.
All sentences that are properly
constructed have a subject and a verb.
The subject alerts us as to who is the actor or receptor of the verb,
while the verb, especially action verbs reveal…well, they reveal the
action. There are two nouns that I would
like to focus on in tonight’s lesson, and those are the words “he”, in
reference to those men of Israel who are bringing a burnt sacrifice; and “the
sons of Aaron”, which is also stated in the term “cohanim” or “cohen”.
“He” brings the defect-free animal
of the herd to the tent of meeting so that ADONAI may accept “him”, the offerer. Next, “he” is to lay his hand upon the
animal’s head, so that by his offering of this animal of his flock, it will be
accepted on “his” behalf to make atonement for “him” (vs 3). With one hand on the head of the beast, “he”
is then to slaughter the young animal before ADONAI.
As the animal of the herd is
slaughtered one of the “cohanim” is to catch the blood so that it may be
presented. And how do they present the
blood to the HaShem? They are to take
the blood and splash it against all the sides of the altar, the altar which is
located at the entrance to the tent of meeting.
In succession of this action, “he”
is to skin the burnt offering and cut it into pieces. My assumption is that they either have been
taught how to do this, or the cohanim, or maybe some of the other Levites,
guided them through this process. The
“sons of Aaron” make sure that there is fire on the altar and that the wood is
arranged in the proper fashion. The
“cohen” then takes the head and the fat of the sacrifice and places them on the
wood of the fire.
Why?
Why the head and the fat? Why are
they placed first? Sin does not just
happen. Let us suppose that an evil
thought, assign whatever degree of evil you wish, comes into our cranium. Did that thought get thought as a result of
having observed the “world” around us?
Did the enemy “plant” it? However
the thought got there, it did. But what
did we do with it then? Did we take it
captive (II Cor. 10:5)? Did we verify
its credentials? Did we entertain
it? Apparently we did. I do recognize that not all burnt offerings
were sin offerings; likewise, neither did they forgive sin, for if they had
there would have been no need for the Moshiach to go to the cross.
Regardless, our thoughts are what
direct us in our walks. Similarly, there
is a seemingly “enjoyable” aspect to sin; it has a draw which, if we are not
prepared to do battle against this desire, will draw us in with the hopes of
consuming us, much like the enticing sinners (Proverbs 1:10 – 19) as well as
the “loose woman” of Proverbs 2:16 – 19.
Our thoughts are something we must
deal with, but the fat is what makes meat so savory, so flavorful. From the offerings the priests were permitted
to eat, they were not permitted the fat; it was to have been boiled away. Certainly Eli’s sons disobeyed that
directive, for we only need to look at I Sh’mu’el (Samuel) 1:12 – 17 to see
that they craved the fat of the offerings.
Dare I say that they also craved the “worldly blessings” of their
positions as well, for they were savory to them?
“He”, the offerer, it seems is to
wash the entrails and lower parts of the legs with water. Is it not true that the Lord looks on the
inward parts? We must do likewise if we
are serious about our commitments to following and obeying Him. It is the “cohen” who causes all of it to go
up in smoke on the altar as a burnt offering (Lev. 1:9). As a result of the offerer’s and cohen’s
obedience to the Lord and to the process, it is a fragrant aroma for
ADONAI. The fragrant aroma is as a
result of the obedience, not the sacrifice itself.
The process is the same if the
animal is an offering from the flocks.
Verses 10 – 13, the closing of this portion, are somewhat repetitive
with the previous seven verses.
Now I will admit that I have never
heard any teaching on exactly how an offering is presented other than the fact
that it was the one bringing the offering who slew it while his hand was upon
its head. Reading this selection though,
has given me pause to consider that the presenter of the offering had a more
active role than I had ever considered before.
I am sure that if I am mistaken someone will set me straight. Right or wrong, I relish the chance to be
directed to the truth of the interpretation of this reading.
Father, if there is anything here
that is not of You, would You please protect the hearts, minds, and spirits of
those who read it. May it lead none of
us astray in any way. Amen.
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