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"Walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering
and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour."
and that such a high ideal of practical love is attainable Phil. 4: 8 testifies:--
"I have all things and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things
which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well
pleasing to God."
Three degrees.
In the law of the burnt offering provision is made for the differing degrees of wealth
among the various offerers. The burnt offering could be either a bullock, a lamb, or
fowls. Bullock and bull are used interchangeably in the A.V., but it is well to remember
that the true concept is a bull, for the term "bullock" to-day often means an animal that is
not complete, and which is simply retained for fattening purposes. The three animals
used in the burnt offering represent varying degrees of appreciation on the part of the
believer, for while there is a great difference between the conception of the work of
Christ as set forth by the bull and that set forth by the sheep, or that set forth by the doves
and pigeons, the result Godward never changes. This is most blessed fact. While the
appreciation of Paul may be represented by the bull, and the appreciation of the weakest
child of God be set forth by the dove, yet in Christ and before God Paul is not one whit
more accepted or safe than the weakest and the lowest. This can be seen if we set out the
law of the offering in Lev. 1::--
A1 | Lev. 1: 3-9-.
THE BULLOCK.
Put his hand on.
Accepted for him.
Animal flayed.
Parts exposed and detailed.
B1 | -9.
THE RESULT. A burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire,
of a sweet savour unto the Lord.
A2 | 10-13-.
THE SHEEP. No hand laid on.
No mention of acceptance.
No flaying of the animal.
No detailed parts.
B2 | -13.
THE RESULT. A burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire,
of a sweet savour unto the Lord.
A3 | 14-17-.
THE DOVES. No hand laid on.
No mention of acceptance.
Not all on the altar; some part cast beside the altar.
Not divided into parts at all.
B3 | -17.
THE RESULT. A burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire,
of a sweet savour unto the Lord.
(To be continued).