The book of Leviticus, sadly, is where many plans to the read the Bible in a year meet their demise. The book takes five chapters to detail five distinct offerings for the common worshiper before it commits two additional chapters to the five kinds of offerings for priests. There are 20 more regulatory chapters that follow.
Readers may find themselves bogged down in the details, but it is important to remember that those existed for two reasons. The first is that they pointed in many unexpected ways to the greater, perfect sacrifice of the Messiah. Second, they were God’s method for making it possible for His people to meet with Him.
On Mt. Sinai, after he spent time in the presence of God, Moses’ face shone so brightly that it had to be covered. Yet once God’s presence filled the tabernacle, not even Moses could draw near to it due to God’s holiness. In kindness, God created a way in which His people could meet with Him, and that was through the sacrificial system. They included ceremonies that provided temporary cleanness so that the impure could be in the presence of the Pure. According to Hebrews 10:4 “it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” so it was a gracious, yet provisional measure for His people.
On this side of the cross, however, the perfect sacrifice has been made. The author of Hebrews notes the contrast.
And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. (Heb. 10:11–14)
There is no longer a need for burnt, grain, peace, sin or guilt offerings. “Where there is forgiveness of [lawless deeds], there is no longer any offering for sin” (Heb. 10:18). That is not to say that there is no longer a need for a sacrifice. Since Christ has comprehensively accomplished what the original sacrifices could not, today’s sacrifice is not one that leads to purity. It is one that is borne out of being permanently made clean. It is a sacrifice of thanksgiving!
Psalm 50 instructs you to “offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving” and “the one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me.” Because there are no works to perform to attain salvation, the Christian’s heart is driven to performing the work of thankfulness!
And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the LORD. (Psalm 27:6)
I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving. (Ps. 69:30)
Thankfulness is a choice, and never was there a greater reason for you to be thankful than today. Take your eyes off of yourself and choose, instead, to have an attitude of thankfulness.
Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice! (Ps. 105:1–3)
Over and over again the child of God is commanded to be a thankful person. Just as the sacrificial system was a matter of routine for the priests of the Old Testament, so the sacrifice of praise must be a routine part of the Christian’s life. Make thankfulness one of your character traits. And if it already is, then thank God for that.
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Col. 3:15–17)