Peace Offering: A Sweet Savor

The whole world is seeking peace, desperately seeking peace. Nations are furiously fighting for it. Thousands of men are selling their souls for riches, hoping that riches and gain will bring them peace, happiness and security. But, there’s no real peace… it’s all in vain… except from the great Prince of Peace. Peace was never received as a reward, a reward of useless bloodshed. Peace was never received, also, as a reward for greed of the world.

What was the last legacy of the Saviour? It was a legacy He gave to the disciples. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you, not as the world gives, I give unto you.” Here we have a distinctive brand of peace, different from that of the world. They, the disciples, would panic at receiving a “world peace” such as this, at such an hour when death was so close. The gift of His peace would make His followers unafraid, as He was. The abiding peace of God in the heart is not obtained in pursuit of worldly fame, riches, or power.

The peace offering in the Levitical service, beautifully taught, in type and shadow, how to obtain this coveted peace, in fact, the whole work of Christ in relation to the believer’s peace is here in type. How? And why is this important to understand for the children of God today? Christ (l)made peace, (Col. 1:20); (2) proclaimed peace, (Eph. 2:17); and (3) is our peace. (Eph. 2:14).

In Christ, God and the sinner meet in peace; God is propitiated (gain good will-appeased) and the sinner is reconciled; both then are alike satisfied with what Christ has done. But, all of this was at the cost of blood sacrifice and fire.

In ancient Jewish ritual, there were many sacrificial offerings in the Tabernacle services; named the law of burnt offerings. Many different creatures were acceptable for sacrifice: the bullock, or ox, the sheep, or lamb, the goat, the turtledove, and pigeon. Then, too, there were the sweet savor offerings; the meal offering, and the peace offering. The sweet savor offerings are so called because they typify Christ in His own perfection and in his affectionate devotion to the Father’s will.

In many ways the peace offering was different from any other offering. How? Of no other offering, except the Passover offering were the people to eat of the flesh. Unlike the Passover, it was not confined to one day of the year, but could be celebrated any day in the year. The animals for peace offerings chosen from the flock were to be without blemish, sickness, or lameness. Why? No deformed or abnormal animal could rightly represent the Prince of Peace.

What did the peace offering represent? They were made in a token thanksgiving to confirm a vow or contract and as voluntary offerings. It was a peace offering, in fact, with which Moses confirmed the old covenant with Israel (Ex. 24:5-8). The Israelites bravely said, “All the Lord said, we will do and be obedient” (v.7). Then the people were set apart, and sealed. Sacrifices were then offered to confirm this vow of loyalty.

In times of special rejoicing, we read often in the Old Testament of the celebration of the peace offering. When David brought the ark into Jerusalem, he offered “peace offerings”, and we read in 1 Chron. 16:1-3… “he gave to every one of Israel, both man and woman a loaf of bread, and a good piece of flesh.” The peace offering was associated with other offerings and whenever the people ate of the flesh it was the peace offering celebrated, except Passover.

How was the offering made? The individual who offered the peace offering put (laid) his hands on the head of the animal, and the killed it himself. Could you do such a thing… kill a helpless animal? It demonstrated vividly to the one making the peace offering sacrifice, how cruel and offensive was the nature of sin. After the animal was sacrificed, all the fat from the different organs of the body was removed and the priest then took this fat and burned it on the altar of “burnt offerings”. The separation and burning of the fat typified the only way real peace could be obtained… complete elimination and destruction by fire.

Interestingly, not only was the fat given to the priest, but also the breast, the right shoulder, and the two cheeks of every offering. The separating and burning of the fat truly typified again the only way real peace could be obtained, namely by delivering all our sins to the rightful owner… the Prince of Peace, the blessed Saviour, who gave Himself for our sins. (Gal. 1:3,.4). He bought them that He might destroy sin and give us peace. He was, or became the Chief Sinner… all the sins of the world were His. He drank of this most bitter cup!

All of this was beautifully typified by the action of the priest, who “served unto the example and shadow of heavenly things.” (Heb. 8:5). How? In taking the fat from the hands of the one making the peace offering, and burning it upon the altar (Ps. 37:20); (Isa. 43:23,24). The ensuing smoke, and continuing smell hovering over the Israeli camp constantly, consumed much of the time and energies of the populace and weighed heavily on the economy, gathering wood, raising animals, finding feed, and keeping order. This was, however, an acceptable way of life and all had a purposeful goal.

The colourful and sacred service of the peace offering continued, as the officiating priest waved the breast and shoulder before the Lord, and these were then eaten by the priest. As his portion of the peace offering, it became a part of his body, thusly beautifully typifying how Christ was to “bare our sins in His own body” and then entered the Heavenly sanctuary with that same body to appear in the presence of God for us. Observe now that it is the breast (affections) and shoulders (strength) upon who we, as priests (1 Pet. 2:9) feed in fellowship with the Father. This it is, which makes the peace offering especially a thank offering (Lev. 7:11-13).

The prophet Isaiah understood what was typified by presenting the breast of every peace offering to the priest, for in writing of the Saviour he says, “He shall feed His flock like a shepherd: He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom.” (Isa. 40:11). The child of God today who, like John the beloved disciple, leans on the bosom of his Lord, enjoys the real peace of God, of which the peace offering was but a type.

This antitype of the priest’s taking the breast of each peace offering as his portion is comforting to every trusting child of God likewise. In the antitype of the priest’s receiving the right shoulder of every peace offering, there is a special strength and blessing.
Let’s read again from the prophet Isaiah who loved to write of the Saviour; (Isa. 9:6,7) “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his ‘shoulder’; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with justice and righteousness from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.” Notice here carefully that it is the one who, realizing that Christ is his personal Saviour, lets the government of his affairs rest upon Christ’s safe “shoulder”, that receives never ending peace.

When we deliver the key, or control, of all our affairs to Christ, we shall find that he will “open up ways before us… astounding ways, which no earthly powers can shut… and He will close ways He would not have us travel, and no powers of earth can open them to entrap our feet.” (Isa. 22:22).

After Samuel had anointed Saul to be over Israel, he brought him to his house and “said unto the cook… bring what I gave thee and the cook took the ‘shoulder’ and set it before Saul, and Samuel said, eat it.” (1 Sam. 9:23,24). The people wanted a King to rule over them, and persisted, in spite of the warning of Samuel in such a step. God finally agreed and gave them a King in Saul, a self-seeking, cowardly King, whom God afterwards rejected. King Jehosaphat, in contrast did good, and “lived in peace for many years.” (PK 192). If Saul, on the other hand, comprehended the wonderful lesson taught in this act of Samuel, he would have placed the government of the kingdom upon the shoulder of the Great Prince of Peace, and not shipwrecked his life-work.

The offerings and sacrifices are over. The rituals and ceremonial services are over. We now have Jesus Christ as our High Priest. The former Tabernacle services all pointed to Christ in the peace offering. The peace offering was a symbolic service expressing thanksgiving to God in the form of a sacrificial feast reserved for the offerer, and friends with specified portions for the priest. (PP 576)… the bosom (affections) and shoulder (strength). In this peace offering we behold Jesus, the Son of God and seed of the woman, making peace for men with God, by the blood of the cross, the travail of His soul and obtaining eternal redemption for us. Let us learn then to thank God for every mercy received, and seek every blessing which we need through Jesus’ atonement, surrendering our soul wholly to His service and honour; so that we at once shall be the sweet savor to our God, the rejoicing of ministers, and a comfort to the Lord and our friends. But never let us dare to make use of any thing relating to the Lord, and exhibiting His Christ as if it were a common thing, or forget the smallest of His injunctions, but receive His truth in love, and diligently observe His precepts.

May the Lord bless us to understand this message and place our lives on the bosom and shoulder of Jesus Christ. AMEN.