Worship in the Wilderness #17: The Holiness of Blood

Read Leviticus 17

Background: Over the last two weeks we have seen God describe this elaborate system of offerings overseen by the priests as part of God's organized system of worship.  The ultimate goal is having peace and fellowship with God.  Our last study covered the Day of Atonement dealt with any unconfessed sin which may have "slipped through the cracks."   Also, part of this big picture was the Tabernacle as the place God intended for this to take place.  Worshipping apart from God's plan and place could lead to distance from God and that is the last thing He wanted. 

Key Verses:  And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to Aaron and his sons and to all the people of Israel and say to them, This is the thing that the Lord has commanded. 3 If any one of the house of Israel kills an ox or a lamb or a goat in the camp, or kills it outside the camp, 4 and does not bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting to offer it as a gift to the Lord in front of the tabernacle of the Lord, bloodguilt shall be imputed to that man. He has shed blood, and that man shall be cut off from among his people. 5 This is to the end that the people of Israel may bring their sacrifices that they sacrifice in the open field, that they may bring them to the Lord, to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and sacrifice them as sacrifices of peace offerings to the Lord. 6 And the priest shall throw the blood on the altar of the Lord at the entrance of the tent of meeting and burn the fat for a pleasing aroma to the Lord. 7 So they shall no more sacrifice their sacrifices to goat demons, after whom they whore. This shall be a statute forever for them throughout their generations.

Thoughts: There is something to be said for not just "doing it anywhere."  Left to our own devices, sinful man tends to stray away from God and His plan.  Also, if we get "too used" to taking blood into our own hands, we lose that sense of value in "the life of the blood." The people of Israel were never to forget the great price, just as we as followers of Christ are to never forget the great price Christ paid for our forgiveness and salvation.  "The life is in the blood." Offering sacrifices, anywhere, anyhow, but anybody made the whole process less holy and of lesser importance and meaning.