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Point of Grace Church
PGI - October 8, 2023 Sunday Service
In our church we aim to make it feel like a home, where strangers feel they are part of the family, where smiles are overflowing and hugs are natural, because we believe that life is a journey, and that we are simply channel of blessings. In our church we value three things, gratitude because it's the proper response to God, excellence because God expects nothing less, and grace because we all need it.
Locations & Times
Point of Grace Church
15601 Sheridan St, Davie, FL 33331, USA
Sunday 9:00 AM
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CCLI License # 1613304
CCLI License # 1613304
October 8 | Leviticus 2 ISG
Holy Grain!
Leviticus 2 (ESV)
1 “When anyone brings a grain offering as an offering to the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour. He shall pour oil on it and put frankincense on it 2 and bring it to Aaron's sons the priests. And he shall take from it a handful of the fine flour and oil, with all of its frankincense, and the priest shall burn this as its memorial portion on the altar, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the LORD. 3 But the rest of the grain offering shall be for Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the LORD'S food offerings.
4 “When you bring a grain offering baked in the oven as an offering, it shall be unleavened loaves of fine flour mixed with oil or unleavened wafers smeared with oil. 5 And if your offering is a grain offering baked on a griddle, it shall be of fine flour unleavened, mixed with oil. 6 You shall break it in pieces and pour oil on it; it is a grain offering. 7 And if your offering is a grain offering cooked in a pan, it shall be made of fine flour with oil. 8 And you shall bring the grain offering that is made of these things to the LORD, and when it is presented to the priest, he shall bring it to the altar. 9 And the priest shall take from the grain offering its memorial portion and burn this on the altar, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the LORD. 10 But the rest of the grain offering shall be for Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the LORD'S food offerings.
11 “No grain offering that you bring to the LORD shall be made with leaven, for you shall burn no leaven nor any honey as a food offering to the LORD.
12 As an offering of firstfruits you may bring them to the LORD, but they shall not be offered on the altar for a pleasing aroma. 13 You shall season all your grain offerings with salt. You shall not let the salt of the covenant with your God be missing from your grain offering; with all your offerings you shall offer salt.
14 “If you offer a grain offering of firstfruits to the LORD, you shall offer for the grain offering of your firstfruits fresh ears, roasted with fire, crushed new grain. 15 And you shall put oil on it and lay frankincense on it; it is a grain offering. 16 And the priest shall burn as its memorial portion some of the crushed grain and some of the oil with all of its frankincense; it is a food offering to the LORD.
The Text in Context
Leviticus 1–7 gives Israel instruction concerning sacrifices at the tabernacle that Israel had just completed (Exod. 40). The instruction about the grain (or cereal) offering follows the burnt offering probably because it could serve as the poor person’s burnt offering. The sequence in the burnt offering is from more expensive to less expensive (bull, sheep/goat, bird). The cereal offering, in line with that sequence, is even less expensive. It is also an important sacrifice that is used to supplement both burnt offerings and other offerings in making an appeal for God’s goodwill or expressing gratitude for his blessings.
Historical and Cultural Background
Sacrifices similar to Israel’s grain offerings were not unknown outside Israel. Food offerings to gods were common in ancient Mesopotamia, though without burning. The cognate for “grain offering” (minhah), like the Hebrew word itself (see below), was used for “gift, tribute” in Late Bronze Age Ugarit. The cognate was used for gifts and sacrifices (stelae, temples, vegetables, food [cereal?] offerings) in Aramaic and Phoenician-Punic. Leviticus appropriated some customs well known among the surrounding nations in setting up Israel’s sacrificial system, though always in a way compatible with Israel’s unique covenant relationship with Yahweh.
Theological Insights
Distinctive is the grain offering’s acknowledgment of God as the provider of Israel’s food, some of which is returned to God as “tribute” in the offering. The grain offering’s purpose overlaps with the purposes of the burnt offering (Lev. 1). That this least expensive of offerings could be substituted for the sin offering (Lev. 5:11) and probably also the burnt offering shows the mercy of God for the poor.
The grain offering is composed of three elements: “fine flour,” “oil,” and “incense.” The “fine flour” is the best of flour, whether wheat or barley. It is the flour that Sarah used to make cakes for the special visitors in Genesis 18:6. It is the essence of the grain offering.
The “oil” (i.e., olive oil) is poured rather than mixed. Similar pouring of oil occurs in the anointing of priests (Ex 29:7; Lev 8:12; 21:10) and kings (1Sa 10:1; 2Ki 9:3, 6). In every case it is associated with the verb “to anoint” ( GK 5417). This is the root of the word “Messiah” (lit., “anointed one”). Thus the pouring of the oil on the bread has the significance of setting it aside to the Lord for a special purpose.
Finally, “incense” is placed on it. Literally, this is the frankincense spice (lebônâ, GK 4247). The term occurred once earlier in the Pentateuch. In Exodus 30:34 it describes the making of a special incense only used in and around the tabernacle. Frankincense is one of the four spices used.
Fine flour” describes the best of ingredients for the choicest of baked goods. The “oil” that is poured suggests a special consecration of the cakes to God. The addition of incense describes its great value and fragrance. Thus the grain offering expresses gratitude, praise, or special offering to God. Its dedication and fragrance symbolize the customary joy, gratitude, and worship contexts in which the offering is made.
Holy Grain!
Leviticus 2 (ESV)
1 “When anyone brings a grain offering as an offering to the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour. He shall pour oil on it and put frankincense on it 2 and bring it to Aaron's sons the priests. And he shall take from it a handful of the fine flour and oil, with all of its frankincense, and the priest shall burn this as its memorial portion on the altar, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the LORD. 3 But the rest of the grain offering shall be for Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the LORD'S food offerings.
4 “When you bring a grain offering baked in the oven as an offering, it shall be unleavened loaves of fine flour mixed with oil or unleavened wafers smeared with oil. 5 And if your offering is a grain offering baked on a griddle, it shall be of fine flour unleavened, mixed with oil. 6 You shall break it in pieces and pour oil on it; it is a grain offering. 7 And if your offering is a grain offering cooked in a pan, it shall be made of fine flour with oil. 8 And you shall bring the grain offering that is made of these things to the LORD, and when it is presented to the priest, he shall bring it to the altar. 9 And the priest shall take from the grain offering its memorial portion and burn this on the altar, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the LORD. 10 But the rest of the grain offering shall be for Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the LORD'S food offerings.
11 “No grain offering that you bring to the LORD shall be made with leaven, for you shall burn no leaven nor any honey as a food offering to the LORD.
12 As an offering of firstfruits you may bring them to the LORD, but they shall not be offered on the altar for a pleasing aroma. 13 You shall season all your grain offerings with salt. You shall not let the salt of the covenant with your God be missing from your grain offering; with all your offerings you shall offer salt.
14 “If you offer a grain offering of firstfruits to the LORD, you shall offer for the grain offering of your firstfruits fresh ears, roasted with fire, crushed new grain. 15 And you shall put oil on it and lay frankincense on it; it is a grain offering. 16 And the priest shall burn as its memorial portion some of the crushed grain and some of the oil with all of its frankincense; it is a food offering to the LORD.
The Text in Context
Leviticus 1–7 gives Israel instruction concerning sacrifices at the tabernacle that Israel had just completed (Exod. 40). The instruction about the grain (or cereal) offering follows the burnt offering probably because it could serve as the poor person’s burnt offering. The sequence in the burnt offering is from more expensive to less expensive (bull, sheep/goat, bird). The cereal offering, in line with that sequence, is even less expensive. It is also an important sacrifice that is used to supplement both burnt offerings and other offerings in making an appeal for God’s goodwill or expressing gratitude for his blessings.
Historical and Cultural Background
Sacrifices similar to Israel’s grain offerings were not unknown outside Israel. Food offerings to gods were common in ancient Mesopotamia, though without burning. The cognate for “grain offering” (minhah), like the Hebrew word itself (see below), was used for “gift, tribute” in Late Bronze Age Ugarit. The cognate was used for gifts and sacrifices (stelae, temples, vegetables, food [cereal?] offerings) in Aramaic and Phoenician-Punic. Leviticus appropriated some customs well known among the surrounding nations in setting up Israel’s sacrificial system, though always in a way compatible with Israel’s unique covenant relationship with Yahweh.
Theological Insights
Distinctive is the grain offering’s acknowledgment of God as the provider of Israel’s food, some of which is returned to God as “tribute” in the offering. The grain offering’s purpose overlaps with the purposes of the burnt offering (Lev. 1). That this least expensive of offerings could be substituted for the sin offering (Lev. 5:11) and probably also the burnt offering shows the mercy of God for the poor.
The grain offering is composed of three elements: “fine flour,” “oil,” and “incense.” The “fine flour” is the best of flour, whether wheat or barley. It is the flour that Sarah used to make cakes for the special visitors in Genesis 18:6. It is the essence of the grain offering.
The “oil” (i.e., olive oil) is poured rather than mixed. Similar pouring of oil occurs in the anointing of priests (Ex 29:7; Lev 8:12; 21:10) and kings (1Sa 10:1; 2Ki 9:3, 6). In every case it is associated with the verb “to anoint” ( GK 5417). This is the root of the word “Messiah” (lit., “anointed one”). Thus the pouring of the oil on the bread has the significance of setting it aside to the Lord for a special purpose.
Finally, “incense” is placed on it. Literally, this is the frankincense spice (lebônâ, GK 4247). The term occurred once earlier in the Pentateuch. In Exodus 30:34 it describes the making of a special incense only used in and around the tabernacle. Frankincense is one of the four spices used.
Fine flour” describes the best of ingredients for the choicest of baked goods. The “oil” that is poured suggests a special consecration of the cakes to God. The addition of incense describes its great value and fragrance. Thus the grain offering expresses gratitude, praise, or special offering to God. Its dedication and fragrance symbolize the customary joy, gratitude, and worship contexts in which the offering is made.
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https://open.spotify.com/show/1PtjmWN3kTOagTfG1QPnbT?si=f76ab3059e7049beFinancial Report for the month of August.
Giving: $ 6,730.45
Expenses: $ 8,962.64
------------------------------
Needed: -$ 2,232.19
Financial Report for the month of September.
Giving: $ 8,392.45
Expenses: $ 9,072.37
—--------------------------
Needed: -$ 679.92
Giving: $ 6,730.45
Expenses: $ 8,962.64
------------------------------
Needed: -$ 2,232.19
Financial Report for the month of September.
Giving: $ 8,392.45
Expenses: $ 9,072.37
—--------------------------
Needed: -$ 679.92
References:
Sprinkle, Joe. Leviticus and Numbers (Teach the Text Commentary Series). Grand Rapids, Michigan, Baker Academic, 2015.
Gane, Roy. Leviticus, Numbers: The NIV Application Commentary. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2004.
Sprinkle, Joe. Leviticus and Numbers (Teach the Text Commentary Series). Grand Rapids, Michigan, Baker Academic, 2015.
Gane, Roy. Leviticus, Numbers: The NIV Application Commentary. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2004.
Guide Questions
1. Name the ingredients allowed in the offering described in Leviticus 2? (Leviticus 2:1-3) What is not allowed if grain is involved? Why? What do these prohibited items represent? (Leviticus 2:11; Exodus 12:7-11; 14-18; 25-27)
2. Leviticus describes this offering as a pleasing aroma to the LORD. (vs. 3, 9, 12) Why do you think it’s called most holy (qadosh qadoshim) and why are the rest given to the priests? (vs. 3, 10)
3. Leviticus also mentions salt as an important ingredient. What do you think is the significance of the “salt of the covenant”?
4. Read John 6:47-59 and recall the last Supper event. What image do you see that looks like Leviticus 2:3?
5. Exodus 12:14 mentions the feast of Unleavened bread as a memorial, do you see a continuity of practice to what Jesus said in Luke 22:19? What do you think it really means to eat the body of Jesus?
6. If Jesus is the true bread, do you think there is a spiritual dimension to the prayer, “give us this day our daily bread”?
Prayer
1. Pray for specific prayer requests.
2. Pray for a new place of worship for 2024.
Helpful Link Attached Above.
1. Name the ingredients allowed in the offering described in Leviticus 2? (Leviticus 2:1-3) What is not allowed if grain is involved? Why? What do these prohibited items represent? (Leviticus 2:11; Exodus 12:7-11; 14-18; 25-27)
2. Leviticus describes this offering as a pleasing aroma to the LORD. (vs. 3, 9, 12) Why do you think it’s called most holy (qadosh qadoshim) and why are the rest given to the priests? (vs. 3, 10)
3. Leviticus also mentions salt as an important ingredient. What do you think is the significance of the “salt of the covenant”?
4. Read John 6:47-59 and recall the last Supper event. What image do you see that looks like Leviticus 2:3?
5. Exodus 12:14 mentions the feast of Unleavened bread as a memorial, do you see a continuity of practice to what Jesus said in Luke 22:19? What do you think it really means to eat the body of Jesus?
6. If Jesus is the true bread, do you think there is a spiritual dimension to the prayer, “give us this day our daily bread”?
Prayer
1. Pray for specific prayer requests.
2. Pray for a new place of worship for 2024.
Helpful Link Attached Above.