Rabbi Ken Alpren
Sermon Notes by Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
March 26, 2011
Leviticus 11:44-47, “For I am ADONAI your God; therefore, consecrate yourselves and be holy, for I am holy; and do not defile yourselves with any kind of swarming creature that moves along the ground. 45 For I am ADONAI, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. Therefore you are to be holy, because I am holy. 46 "'Such, then, is the law concerning animals, flying creatures, all living creatures that move about in the water, and all creatures that swarm on the ground. 47 Its purpose is to distinguish between the unclean and the clean, and between the creatures that may be eaten and those that may not be eaten.”
How is one distinguished? We are to be holy, set apart, separate, or other. The Hebrew word used for holy is ‘kadosh’. Our distinction as His begins with what He has done for us rather than what we might be doing for Him. Notice the Scripture says, “be holy, for I am holy.” We respond to His Holiness rather than striving for it.
1 John 4:19, “We ourselves love now because he loved us first.”
The L-rd has already made us holy and our being distinguished or set apart; indeed holy, has to do with aligning ourselves with what He has already done. See 1 Corinthians 5:7.
Our tendency is to turn our obedience into legalism without grace which results in our failing miserably and being phony living a world of contradictions. How do we avoid this trap? Be balanced in obedience, grace and love!
Hosea 11:1-4, “"When Isra'el was a child, I loved him; and out of Egypt I called my son. 2 But the more [the prophets] called them, the farther they went from them. They sacrificed to the ba'alim and offered incense to idols. 3 "Yet it was I who taught Efrayim to walk; I took them by their arms. But they did not know that it was I who was healing them, 4 who was guiding them on through human means with reins made of love. With them I was like someone removing the yoke from their jaws, and I bent down to feed them.”
We are holy, so be holy and don’t be ashamed to stand out, to be separate for G-d’s use and to be unique. We are to be distinguished! See Leviticus 11:46-47.
The L-rd distinguished between the clean and the unclean; specifically, the mammals, birds, grasshoppers and locusts, and fish. The Hebrew word used is ‘badal’ which means to divide, separate and set apart. A derivation of ‘badal’, Havdalah, is used to close out the Shabbat, distinguishing it from the rest of the week.
Being distinguished as His begins with what is permitted as food but goes beyond encompassing both spiritual and physical application. We are to avoid what pollutes us physically and spiritually because we love G-d!
Why not limit ourselves for our Master’s sake and choose to be self-sacrificing for the purpose of His training? When we submit to G-d’s provision, our character is cultivated.
What contaminates us?
James 3:6, “Yes, the tongue is a fire, a world of wickedness. The tongue is so placed in our body that it defiles every part of it, setting ablaze the whole of our life; and it is set on fire by Gei-Hinnom itself.”
Similarly, alcohol, drugs and smoking can be defiling. What do we have an appetite for that properly satisfied, nourishes us, and improperly, contaminates us? Is it movies, music, knowledge, friends, possessions, idle talk and gossip?
We so desperately need discernment, discrimination in order to distinguish ourselves.
James 3:13-18, “Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him demonstrate it by his good way of life, by actions done in the humility that grows out of wisdom. 14 But if you harbor in your hearts bitter jealousy and selfish ambition, don't boast and attack the truth with lies! 15 This wisdom is not the kind that comes down from above; on the contrary, it is worldly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where there are jealousy and selfish ambition, there will be disharmony and every foul practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is, first of all, pure, then peaceful, kind, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 And peacemakers who sow seed in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.”
What else will defile us?
Familiarity!
1 Corinthians 8:2-3, “The person who thinks he "knows" something doesn't yet know in the way he ought to know. 3 However, if someone loves God, God knows him.”
Familiarity can blunt our ability to learn afresh, to believe, to be healed and to see things from G-d’s point of view.
Mark 6:3-6, “Isn't he just the carpenter? the son of Miryam? the brother of Ya`akov and Yosi and Y'hudah and Shim`on? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. 4 But Yeshua said to them. "The only place people don't respect a prophet is in his home town, among his own relatives, and in his own house." 5 So he could do no miracles there, other than lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 He was amazed at their lack of trust. Then he went through the surrounding towns and villages, teaching.”
Being distinguished as holy includes being healthy spiritually as well as physically and being able to discern between what is clean and unclean.
Further Reading: Leviticus 11:1-7, 9-10, Proverbs 2:1-5, 10-13, Job 12:10-11, Philippians 1-9-11, 2 Timothy 2:14-17, 20-21, 1 Corinthians 5, Song of Songs 1:4, Genesis 1:14,19, 1 Samuel 20:23, 2 Corinthians 5:16, 1 John 1:17.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
The Great Turn Around
Rabbi Ken Alpren
Sermon Notes by Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
March 19, 2011
Esther 4:1-3, “When Mordekhai learned everything that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes and went out through the city, lamenting and crying bitterly. 2 He stopped before entering the King's Gate, since no one was allowed to go inside the King's Gate wearing sackcloth. 3 In every province reached by the king's order and decree, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing, as many lay down on sackcloth and ashes.”
Historically, Ha Satan has raised up people to come against the Jews; notably Pharoah, Haman, Antiochus Epiphanes, Hitler, and in our day, Ahmadinajad. All have been judged by G-d based upon Genesis 12:3, “I will bless those who bless you, but I will curse anyone who curses you; and by you all the families of the earth will be blessed."
We can’t change the past or even the present, but G-d can add to it and redeem it through our prayers and obedience illustrated so definitively by the story of Esther. The Edict for the death of the Jews was given, but through the prayers and obedience of Esther, Mordekhai and the people, G-d turned the outcome around by an addition to the Edict.
Most recently, we have witnessed much devastation in Japan and other nations with the tsunami and earthquakes. But with His great Grace and Power and through our prayers and obedience to help, G-d can turn the devastation around. We can pray that hearts will be open to Him and that He will use this catastrophic event to draw people to Himself.
Esther 4:10-17, “Then Ester spoke to Hatakh and gave him this message for Mordekhai: 11 "All the king's officials, as well as the people in the royal provinces, know that if anyone, man or woman, approaches the king in the inner courtyard without being summoned, there is just one law - he must be put to death - unless the king holds out the gold scepter for him to remain alive; and I haven't been summoned to the king for the past thirty days." 12 Upon being told what Ester had said, Mordekhai 13 asked them to give Ester this answer: "Don't suppose that merely because you happen to be in the royal palace you will escape any more than the other Jews. 14 For if you fail to speak up now, relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from a different direction; but you and your father's family will perish. Who knows whether you didn't come into your royal position precisely for such a time as this." 15 Ester had them return this answer to Mordekhai: 16 "Go, assemble all the Jews to be found in Shushan, and have them fast for me, neither eating nor drinking for three days, night and day; also I and the girls attending me will fast the same way. Then I will go in to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish." 17 Then Mordekhai went his way and did everything Ester had ordered him to do.”
Intercession and intervention go hand in hand. Esther committed to prayer and action. and G-d took what was meant for evil and turned it around.
1 Corinthians 3:19-23, “For the wisdom of this world is nonsense, as far as God is concerned; inasmuch as the Tanakh says, "He traps the wise in their own cleverness,"e 20 and again, "ADONAI knows that the thoughts of the wise are worthless."f 21 So let no one boast about human beings, for all things are yours - 22 whether Sha'ul or Apollos or Kefa or the world or life or death or the present or the future: they all belong to you, 23 and you belong to the Messiah, and the Messiah belongs to God.”
He takes the things of this world and makes them ours through prayer and obedience.
When Mordekhai came to the King’s Gate he was dressed in sackcloth and ashes, Esther’s first response was to bring him fresh clothes demonstrating her fleshly inclination to play down the seriousness of the situation. But Mordekhai was serious. He didn’t allow reason to replace necessity nor past experience to alter or replace G-d’s will. He could understand Esther’s feelings, but he wasn’t sentimental. Sentimentality must not supplant Divine Urgency! We have a choice of succumbing to sites and reasonability or to submit to the Spirit of G-d! We can rationalize and be emotional or we can trust and be obedient!
Mordekhai made it clear to Esther that this was her opportunity, but if she didn’t choose to respond that He would not allow her to escape.
Ultimately, she choose to put G-d’s Will before her needs and witnessed first hand His supernatural provision for her and her people!
Why are we where we are today? Who knows, that you’ve come, just as Esther did, to the Kingdom for such as time as this?
Our purpose here is connected to G-d’s eternal purpose and plan. G-d providentially placed you where you are for an eternal purpose.
Notice that Esther did not wait long to repent. She listened to Mordekhai and without making excuses, she acted! She didn’t apologize with morbid regret or wallow in her selfishness or mistrust.
The application in this passage of Scripture is that we all tend to respond naturally first and say “no” to whatever the L-rd may be directing us to do. But G-d loves a heart that turns to Him and responds even regardless of our first response.
This principle is also illustrated by Peter who never apologized to Yeshua or the Talmidim for being a coward or for abandoning them and he wasn’t sentimental toward himself, either. He pressed forward as should we.
Phil 3:13-14, “Brothers, I, for my part, do not think of myself as having yet gotten hold of it; but one thing I do: forgetting what is behind me and straining forward toward what lies ahead, 14 I keep pursuing the goal in order to win the prize offered by God's upward calling in the Messiah Yeshua.”
Esther concluded that if she perished, she perished. The Hebrew word for perish in this passage of Esther is abad which means she is lost, or even that she has already died or dead to herself.
Gal 2:20, When the Messiah was executed on the stake as a criminal, I was too; so that my proud ego no longer lives. But the Messiah lives in me, and the life I now live in my body I live by the same trusting faithfulness that the Son of God had, who loved me and gave himself up for me. See also Galatians 6:14, Galatians 5:24, Romans 6:6 and Romans 6:2
We are here to make a difference. Like Esther we can humble ourselves and courageously go before our King and make intercession, then with His direction, take action and witness His Work on behalf of men to turn it all around; to draw people to Himself and to save them from destruction which was the result of Esther’s intercession and intervention.
Esther 8:17, “In every province and city where the king's order and decree arrived, the Jews had gladness and joy, a feast and a holiday. Many from the peoples of the land became Jews, because fear of the Jews had overcome them.”
Be an Esther in your day, make a difference by being in His Presence, praying and taking action as He leads and watch Him turn it all around for His glory!
Esther 9:22, “[to commemorate] the days on which the Jews obtained rest from their enemies and the month which for them was turned from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday; they were to make them days of celebrating and rejoicing, sending portions [of food] to each other and giving gifts to the poor.”
Further Reading: Matthew 16:24-26, Romans 9:3, Romans 10:1, 1 Corinthians 15:46, Philippians 3:21, Galatians 3:3
Sermon Notes by Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
March 19, 2011
Esther 4:1-3, “When Mordekhai learned everything that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes and went out through the city, lamenting and crying bitterly. 2 He stopped before entering the King's Gate, since no one was allowed to go inside the King's Gate wearing sackcloth. 3 In every province reached by the king's order and decree, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing, as many lay down on sackcloth and ashes.”
Historically, Ha Satan has raised up people to come against the Jews; notably Pharoah, Haman, Antiochus Epiphanes, Hitler, and in our day, Ahmadinajad. All have been judged by G-d based upon Genesis 12:3, “I will bless those who bless you, but I will curse anyone who curses you; and by you all the families of the earth will be blessed."
We can’t change the past or even the present, but G-d can add to it and redeem it through our prayers and obedience illustrated so definitively by the story of Esther. The Edict for the death of the Jews was given, but through the prayers and obedience of Esther, Mordekhai and the people, G-d turned the outcome around by an addition to the Edict.
Most recently, we have witnessed much devastation in Japan and other nations with the tsunami and earthquakes. But with His great Grace and Power and through our prayers and obedience to help, G-d can turn the devastation around. We can pray that hearts will be open to Him and that He will use this catastrophic event to draw people to Himself.
Esther 4:10-17, “Then Ester spoke to Hatakh and gave him this message for Mordekhai: 11 "All the king's officials, as well as the people in the royal provinces, know that if anyone, man or woman, approaches the king in the inner courtyard without being summoned, there is just one law - he must be put to death - unless the king holds out the gold scepter for him to remain alive; and I haven't been summoned to the king for the past thirty days." 12 Upon being told what Ester had said, Mordekhai 13 asked them to give Ester this answer: "Don't suppose that merely because you happen to be in the royal palace you will escape any more than the other Jews. 14 For if you fail to speak up now, relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from a different direction; but you and your father's family will perish. Who knows whether you didn't come into your royal position precisely for such a time as this." 15 Ester had them return this answer to Mordekhai: 16 "Go, assemble all the Jews to be found in Shushan, and have them fast for me, neither eating nor drinking for three days, night and day; also I and the girls attending me will fast the same way. Then I will go in to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish." 17 Then Mordekhai went his way and did everything Ester had ordered him to do.”
Intercession and intervention go hand in hand. Esther committed to prayer and action. and G-d took what was meant for evil and turned it around.
1 Corinthians 3:19-23, “For the wisdom of this world is nonsense, as far as God is concerned; inasmuch as the Tanakh says, "He traps the wise in their own cleverness,"e 20 and again, "ADONAI knows that the thoughts of the wise are worthless."f 21 So let no one boast about human beings, for all things are yours - 22 whether Sha'ul or Apollos or Kefa or the world or life or death or the present or the future: they all belong to you, 23 and you belong to the Messiah, and the Messiah belongs to God.”
He takes the things of this world and makes them ours through prayer and obedience.
When Mordekhai came to the King’s Gate he was dressed in sackcloth and ashes, Esther’s first response was to bring him fresh clothes demonstrating her fleshly inclination to play down the seriousness of the situation. But Mordekhai was serious. He didn’t allow reason to replace necessity nor past experience to alter or replace G-d’s will. He could understand Esther’s feelings, but he wasn’t sentimental. Sentimentality must not supplant Divine Urgency! We have a choice of succumbing to sites and reasonability or to submit to the Spirit of G-d! We can rationalize and be emotional or we can trust and be obedient!
Mordekhai made it clear to Esther that this was her opportunity, but if she didn’t choose to respond that He would not allow her to escape.
Ultimately, she choose to put G-d’s Will before her needs and witnessed first hand His supernatural provision for her and her people!
Why are we where we are today? Who knows, that you’ve come, just as Esther did, to the Kingdom for such as time as this?
Our purpose here is connected to G-d’s eternal purpose and plan. G-d providentially placed you where you are for an eternal purpose.
Notice that Esther did not wait long to repent. She listened to Mordekhai and without making excuses, she acted! She didn’t apologize with morbid regret or wallow in her selfishness or mistrust.
The application in this passage of Scripture is that we all tend to respond naturally first and say “no” to whatever the L-rd may be directing us to do. But G-d loves a heart that turns to Him and responds even regardless of our first response.
This principle is also illustrated by Peter who never apologized to Yeshua or the Talmidim for being a coward or for abandoning them and he wasn’t sentimental toward himself, either. He pressed forward as should we.
Phil 3:13-14, “Brothers, I, for my part, do not think of myself as having yet gotten hold of it; but one thing I do: forgetting what is behind me and straining forward toward what lies ahead, 14 I keep pursuing the goal in order to win the prize offered by God's upward calling in the Messiah Yeshua.”
Esther concluded that if she perished, she perished. The Hebrew word for perish in this passage of Esther is abad which means she is lost, or even that she has already died or dead to herself.
Gal 2:20, When the Messiah was executed on the stake as a criminal, I was too; so that my proud ego no longer lives. But the Messiah lives in me, and the life I now live in my body I live by the same trusting faithfulness that the Son of God had, who loved me and gave himself up for me. See also Galatians 6:14, Galatians 5:24, Romans 6:6 and Romans 6:2
We are here to make a difference. Like Esther we can humble ourselves and courageously go before our King and make intercession, then with His direction, take action and witness His Work on behalf of men to turn it all around; to draw people to Himself and to save them from destruction which was the result of Esther’s intercession and intervention.
Esther 8:17, “In every province and city where the king's order and decree arrived, the Jews had gladness and joy, a feast and a holiday. Many from the peoples of the land became Jews, because fear of the Jews had overcome them.”
Be an Esther in your day, make a difference by being in His Presence, praying and taking action as He leads and watch Him turn it all around for His glory!
Esther 9:22, “[to commemorate] the days on which the Jews obtained rest from their enemies and the month which for them was turned from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday; they were to make them days of celebrating and rejoicing, sending portions [of food] to each other and giving gifts to the poor.”
Further Reading: Matthew 16:24-26, Romans 9:3, Romans 10:1, 1 Corinthians 15:46, Philippians 3:21, Galatians 3:3
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Sanctification
Rabbi Ken Alpren
Sermon Notes by Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
March 12, 2011
Leviticus 1: 1-10, ADONAI called to Moshe and spoke to him from the tent of meeting. He said, 2 "Speak to the people of Isra'el; say to them, 'When any of you brings an offering to ADONAI, you may bring your animal offering either from the herd or from the flock. 3 If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he must offer a male without defect. He is to bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting, so that it can be accepted by ADONAI. 4 He is to lay his hand upon the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him. 5 He is to slaughter the young bull before ADONAI ; and the sons of Aharon, the cohanim, are to present the blood. They are to splash the blood against all sides of the altar, which is by the entrance to the tent of meeting. 6 He is to skin the burnt offering and cut it in pieces. 7 The descendants of Aharon the cohen are to put fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire. 8 The sons of Aharon, the cohanim, are to arrange the pieces, the head and the fat on the wood which is on the fire on the altar. 9 He is to wash the entrails and lower parts of the legs with water, and the cohen is to cause all of it to go up in smoke on the altar as a burnt offering; it is an offering made by fire, a fragrant aroma for ADONAI.
Judaism has been described as a religion of action whereas Christianity has been defined by beliefs. There is something wrong with just believing without action. We are called to a life devoted to Him because we are His.
Malachi 3:16-18, Then those who feared ADONAI spoke together; and ADONAI listened and heard. A record book was written in his presence for those who feared ADONAI and had respect for his name. 17 "They will be mine," says ADONAI-Tzva'ot, "on the day when I compose my own special treasure. I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him. 18 Then once again you will see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between the person who serves God and one that doesn't serve him.
When we are His, we are distinguished by the fact that we serve Him!
It’s not about what we believe so much as in Whom we believe!
2 Timothy 1:12, and this is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, because I know him in whom I have put my trust, and I am persuaded that he can keep safe until that Day what he has entrusted to me.
The Sacrificial System described in Leviticus illustrates many facets of the Messiah as well as our devotion to Him, our right relationship to Him as well as our service to Him and through Him. They also beautifully illustrate aspects of our salvation and our sanctification.
There were five offerings described in Leviticus; the Burnt Offering (olah), Grain Offering (minchah), Peace Offering (shl’mim), Sin Offering (chatat) and Guilt Offering (asham). The Sin and Guilt Offerings were obligatory; whereas, the Burnt, Grain and Peace Offerings were voluntary.
The Sin and Guilt Offerings or obligatory offerings were required for forgiveness of sin and therefore are representative of our Salvation and the voluntary offerings represent our Sanctification! The Sin and Guilt Offerings signified our need to amend our relationship with G-d and the Burnt, Grain, Peace Offerings reflect our desire to improve our relationship with Him!
The Sin and Guilt Offerings provided atonement for forgiveness of sin and the Burnt, Grain and Peace Offerings resulted in a ‘satisfying aroma’.
The Burnt Offering symbolizes the complete submission or giving of oneself to the L-rd. This sacrifice not only produced a satisfying aroma but was also completely consumed; even burnt to a crisp with nothing left. Oleh is related to ascend or draw near to G-d submitting one’s will completely to Him.
This same principle is illustrated in 1 Peter 3:4, ‘rather, let it be the inner character of your heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit. In God's sight this is of great value.‘ A gentle and quiet spirit is one that is submitted, resting in His finished work as we are in our spiritual relationship with the L-rd as our Husband.
Colossians 2:6, ‘Therefore, just as you received the Messiah Yeshua as Lord, keep living your life united with him.’
And as we live our life united to Him, we are a ‘satisfying aroma’. Don’t we want our lives to be totally His and resulting in a ‘satisfying or sweet aroma’? Totally in His service as described in Romans 12:1? As such we are totally His, pleasing to Him and able to serve the eternal purpose for which He called us. We are available to Him and what He can do through us. That is sanctification; to grow more in Him as we give ourselves to Him!
Further Reading: Leviticus 4:14-20, Isaiah 43:22-25, Isaiah 53:5-8,10, 2Corinthians 2:15-16, Hebrews 10:11-13, 18-22, 1 John 2:1-2, Ephesians 3:11, 1John 3:2-3, Philippians 3:21, Romans 8:29, John 9:30, Psalm 130:4, Galatians 5:16, Ephesians 5:2, Ezekiel 20:41, Philippians 4:18
Sermon Notes by Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
March 12, 2011
Leviticus 1: 1-10, ADONAI called to Moshe and spoke to him from the tent of meeting. He said, 2 "Speak to the people of Isra'el; say to them, 'When any of you brings an offering to ADONAI, you may bring your animal offering either from the herd or from the flock. 3 If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he must offer a male without defect. He is to bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting, so that it can be accepted by ADONAI. 4 He is to lay his hand upon the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him. 5 He is to slaughter the young bull before ADONAI ; and the sons of Aharon, the cohanim, are to present the blood. They are to splash the blood against all sides of the altar, which is by the entrance to the tent of meeting. 6 He is to skin the burnt offering and cut it in pieces. 7 The descendants of Aharon the cohen are to put fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire. 8 The sons of Aharon, the cohanim, are to arrange the pieces, the head and the fat on the wood which is on the fire on the altar. 9 He is to wash the entrails and lower parts of the legs with water, and the cohen is to cause all of it to go up in smoke on the altar as a burnt offering; it is an offering made by fire, a fragrant aroma for ADONAI.
Judaism has been described as a religion of action whereas Christianity has been defined by beliefs. There is something wrong with just believing without action. We are called to a life devoted to Him because we are His.
Malachi 3:16-18, Then those who feared ADONAI spoke together; and ADONAI listened and heard. A record book was written in his presence for those who feared ADONAI and had respect for his name. 17 "They will be mine," says ADONAI-Tzva'ot, "on the day when I compose my own special treasure. I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him. 18 Then once again you will see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between the person who serves God and one that doesn't serve him.
When we are His, we are distinguished by the fact that we serve Him!
It’s not about what we believe so much as in Whom we believe!
2 Timothy 1:12, and this is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, because I know him in whom I have put my trust, and I am persuaded that he can keep safe until that Day what he has entrusted to me.
The Sacrificial System described in Leviticus illustrates many facets of the Messiah as well as our devotion to Him, our right relationship to Him as well as our service to Him and through Him. They also beautifully illustrate aspects of our salvation and our sanctification.
There were five offerings described in Leviticus; the Burnt Offering (olah), Grain Offering (minchah), Peace Offering (shl’mim), Sin Offering (chatat) and Guilt Offering (asham). The Sin and Guilt Offerings were obligatory; whereas, the Burnt, Grain and Peace Offerings were voluntary.
The Sin and Guilt Offerings or obligatory offerings were required for forgiveness of sin and therefore are representative of our Salvation and the voluntary offerings represent our Sanctification! The Sin and Guilt Offerings signified our need to amend our relationship with G-d and the Burnt, Grain, Peace Offerings reflect our desire to improve our relationship with Him!
The Sin and Guilt Offerings provided atonement for forgiveness of sin and the Burnt, Grain and Peace Offerings resulted in a ‘satisfying aroma’.
The Burnt Offering symbolizes the complete submission or giving of oneself to the L-rd. This sacrifice not only produced a satisfying aroma but was also completely consumed; even burnt to a crisp with nothing left. Oleh is related to ascend or draw near to G-d submitting one’s will completely to Him.
This same principle is illustrated in 1 Peter 3:4, ‘rather, let it be the inner character of your heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit. In God's sight this is of great value.‘ A gentle and quiet spirit is one that is submitted, resting in His finished work as we are in our spiritual relationship with the L-rd as our Husband.
Colossians 2:6, ‘Therefore, just as you received the Messiah Yeshua as Lord, keep living your life united with him.’
And as we live our life united to Him, we are a ‘satisfying aroma’. Don’t we want our lives to be totally His and resulting in a ‘satisfying or sweet aroma’? Totally in His service as described in Romans 12:1? As such we are totally His, pleasing to Him and able to serve the eternal purpose for which He called us. We are available to Him and what He can do through us. That is sanctification; to grow more in Him as we give ourselves to Him!
Further Reading: Leviticus 4:14-20, Isaiah 43:22-25, Isaiah 53:5-8,10, 2Corinthians 2:15-16, Hebrews 10:11-13, 18-22, 1 John 2:1-2, Ephesians 3:11, 1John 3:2-3, Philippians 3:21, Romans 8:29, John 9:30, Psalm 130:4, Galatians 5:16, Ephesians 5:2, Ezekiel 20:41, Philippians 4:18
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