Leviticus 2 - MEAL OFFERING - HEALING, THE CHILDREN'S BREAD

MEAL OFFERING

Healing, The Children’s Bread

Leviticus 2

Taught by:  Pastor Carolyn Sissom

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

The Meal Offering represents Jesus Christ in his human perfections tested by suffering.  This offering was not so much a sacrifice as an oblation of praise, a gift brought by the worshipper to God in recognition of His sovereignty and his ownership of all things.  This is the complete consecration of Jesus in His life.  The Person of the Savior is seen in the moral perfection of His Manhood wholly untainted by sin.  He surrendered Himself to God for the service and the “food” of man.  This reveals His fitness to undertake the work of the Cross.  These truths find fulfillment also in the Body of Christ, for we being many are one bread and the Bread of God is many-membered.

Jesus is the surety of the New Covenant and the “better sacrifice” which He established by His death and resurrection.  His suffering was the penalty due and the remedy by which man is to be restored.  He was wounded (“tormented”) for us.  Healing for the spirit, mind and body of man is provided for in His atonement.  Healing is the children’s bread. (Mark &: 24-30)

1 Cor. 10:16-18:  “Is not the “cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ?  Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ?  Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread.  Look at the nation, Israel; are not those who eat the sacrifices sharers in the altar?”

John 6:32-33:  “Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven.  For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven and gives life to the world.  They said therefore to Him, Lord evermore, give us this bread.  Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life; for he who comes to Me shall not hunger and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.”

This was a bloodless offering.  The Meal Offering was an accessory to the Burnt and Peace offerings.  It was always accompanied by a drink offering.  These bloodless offerings were never presented alone, for the imputation and removal of sin were not in view.

As with the Burnt Offering (which represents Christ’s death) the ingredients represent differing measures of the character of Christ the Head of the Body.  “Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the Body of Christ? 

1. FINE FLOUR: 2:1:  This was offered with oil and frankincense.  Only the finest wheat flour was permitted.  It was obtained by bruising or pounding the corn and then sifting it.  This was the highest grade of the Meal Offerings (Princes’ offerings)

The sons (Princes) of the leaders of the twelve tribes presented this offering:  Numbers 7: 13, 19, and 25.  “And the offering was one silver dish whose weight  was one hundred and thirty shekels.  One silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering. One gold pan of ten shekels, full of incense.”

This speaks of the consistent, even moral quality of the Lord and His Body. (Balance and Perfection)  The flour was mixed with oil, and the life of Christ the Head and Body is mingled with and permeated by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Silver is faith purified seven times and gold is divinity.

The Frankincense (“white”) was a white gum resin obtained from the bark of an Indian tree by incision.  Fire brought out its sweet enduring fragrance.  This reveals the sweet savor of worship in the offering of the life of Christ, the Head and Body.

Acts10:38: “You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power; and how He went about doing good, and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”

“The Priest in Zion is better than the priesthood of Sinai.  As we continue to develop from the Feast of Pentecost to the Feast of Tabernacles, we mature from the blessing of healing to union with the Healer.  This is termed the Man Principle because the whole man is to be healed.  This completed work happens in the third day in the Most Holy Place.” (K.V. The Priesthood is Changing)  It is for all believers who desire to cross the golden altar and live in union with Him. 

Hos. 6: 1-3 KJV:  “Come and let us return unto the Lord; for he has torn, and he will heal us; he has smitten, and he will bind us up.  After two days will he revive us; in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.  Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord; his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.”

He is not perfecting us.  He is perfecting Himself in us so that we can carry the weight of His Glory. There is a time to heal (Eccl. 3:1-3).  God has ordained the third day as His season to heal man completely (1 Thess. 5:23) “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The whole man is to be delivered and come into union with the healer in the Most Holy Place in the third day. 

In the Outer Court, there is healing.  In the Holy Place, there is health; in the Most Holy Place, there is life (John 14:6) “Jesus said, I am the way, the truth and the life.”

Webster defines “healing” as tending to cure; remedial’ curative; becoming sound, well or healthy again.”  He adds that “heal” means to make whole’ restore to health’ to cure or get rid of a disease; to free from grief, troubles or evil; to make up a breach or differences; to reconcile.”  To be healed is to be whole!

2. BREAD CAKES – They were perforated or punctured to prevent fermentation and speak of crucifixion.  These kind of cakes were part of a firstfruits offering.  They could be prepared in three ways:

(a)    OVEN-BAKED – This speaks of the intensity of being tried by fire.  This kind of fiery trial is endured in secret by Christ the Head and Body.  The oven was heated by dry twigs and grass.  It was enclosed.  The oven was a furnace.  This is a type of Hidden manna. Rev. 1:15:  “And his feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been caused to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters.”

Rev. 2:17: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.  To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna and I will give him a white stone, a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.”

                        Isa. 48:10:  “Behold I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested    

                       You in the furnace of affliction.

(b)    GRIDDLE-BAKED -  This word for “pan” in Lev. 2:5 means “a flat plate or griddle”.   This shows the sufferings of Christ the Head and Body of a more open character and seen by others.   Heb. 12:3: “For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow wear and lose heart.”

The oil here was pouted on (Jn. 3:34) as well as being mingled in the offering. “For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure.” The parting reveals each part of Jesus’ life and also the parts or members of the Body of Christ.

© CAULDRON-COOKED -  The word for “Frying pan” in Lev. 2:7 means “a stew-pan.”  The root word means to “stir or keep moving.”  This would seem to be a sort of dumpling of fine flour containing oil and boiled.  The lack of detail can be understood that the fiery ordeals of Christ, the hand and Body are not always fully understood. 

Heb. 5: 8-9: “Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which he suffered.  And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation.”

3. PARCHED CORN – The firstfruits of grain in Lev. 2: 14-16 points to the Lord Jesus and the firstfruits Company.  This food consisted of fresh ears of corn bruised and roasted.  This corn was beaten out of full ears, point to the full stature of the Head and Body of christ. 

The reference in Lev. 2:12 is to the new Meal Offering at the Feast of Pentecost (Lev. 23: 15-21).  This was not burnt on the Altar because it contained leaven (in-part realm of Pentecost, not the fullness) and had a different typical significance, the two leavened loaves representing not just Jesus Christ, but His Church made up of believing Jews and Gentiles.

The ingredients of the Meal offering:

1. Fine Flour – evenness, balance; nothing coarse to mar the life.
2. Olive Oil – poured upon (2:1) mingled, and anointed (2:4) – This reveals the three anointings of David (Psa. 45:7)  “You have loved righteousness, and hated wickedness; Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of joy above your fellows.  Your garments are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia.”
3. Salt – Grace (2:13) which savors the life.  “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person,” Col. 4:6  Salt is a preservative and has an action opposing that of leaven and honey and of corrupting substances in general.
4. Frankincense – All was burned, for worship belongs only to God. (2:15)

There were two ingredients that were strictly prohibited: (Lev. 2: 11-13):

1. Leaven – The exclusion of leaven (a type of evil) signifies that there is to be nothing sour or evil in the life and service of the Head and Body of  Christ. (1 Cor. 5:6):  “Your boasting is not good.  Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough.  Clean out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened for Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed.”  Leaven possesses fermenting properties.  Like Pride and hypocrisy, leaven swells.  “Luke 12:1 “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees which is hypocrisy.”  Mark 8:15: “Watch out beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the leaven of Herod.  The leaven of Herod is the political spirit mixture of mammon and religion.

2. HONEY – (Type of natural sweetness) was excluded.  (Song 4:11)  the natural sweetness of our disposition is insufficient to satisfy God.  it is mere natural sentiment.

The preparation of the offering was done at home before bringing the offering unto the Lord. (2:1) 2:52).  The offering was presented unto the priest.  The priest presented the offering at the altar.  The priest burned the memorial handful.  To Jehovah belonged the Memorial portion with all the frankincense (2:16; 6:15; Psa. 20:3).  It was submitted to the test of Divine holiness.  A sweet fragrance and bought forth for God.  Zeph. 3:17:  The Lord your God is in your midst.  A victorious warrior.  He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love.  He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.”

Then to the priest belonged the remainder of the offering (2:3; 10; 6:16; 7: 9-10; 10:12-13).  The priests fed upon that which had first delighted God and which God gave back to them in love for their due sustenance. 

The priests had no portion or inheritance in the land. (Num. 18:20)

Next week we will study the Peace Offering   Ps. 20:3: May he remember all your meal offerings, and find your burnt offering acceptable.  May he grant you your heart desire.  And fulfill all your counsel; We will sing for joy over your victory, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners.  May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.”

Healing is precious and is the children’s bread, the inheritance of the saints.  The Lord is going to heal man’s spirit, soul and body as the Melchisedec  priesthood is brought into union with Him, armed with the awareness that the Healer is within.

Man is a trichotomy; spirit, soul, and body; pneuma, psyche and soma.  The Greek word for salvation is soteria and means a complete deliverance.  The total subject of healing includes all three dimensions.   The source of Divine healing is the life and cross of Jesus Christ (Isa. 53).  Jesus took not only our sins, but also our sicknesses in His body.  The Tree of Life was placed on the tree of death that we might be made whole.

God’s healing program is greater than the laying on of hands.  It is ultimately found in the Most Holy Place as we understand and acknowledge that the Healer lives within.  We must learn how to release the Christ.  Don’t seek healing; seek Him!  the highest order of anything is to become it.  The redemptive Name of God, Jehovah-Rapha, was fulfilled in Jesus Christ our Healer; so His Name or nature is being reproduced in the church.  We are ministering His healing, and are to become healing to others in His Name.

The same is true of ministry.  Don’t seek ministry.  Seek Jesus.   Don’t seek money.  Seek Jesus.  Don’ seek earthly love.  Seek Jesus.   

1 John 4:17: “
By this love is perfected with us that we may have confidence in the day of judgment because as He is, so also are we in this world.”

Taught by:  Pastor Carolyn Sissom

Scripture from New  American Standard

Text from Principles of Present Truth from Leviticus by:  Kelly Varner and The Priesthood is Changing by:  Kelly Varner.  The comments and conclusions are my own and not meant to reflect the views of those from whom I have gleaned.