THE PEACE OFFERING, A PICTURE OF RECONCILIATION
Lev. 3:1-5 “And if his oblation be a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offer it of the herd; whether it be a male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the LORD. And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and kill it at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron's sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about. And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire unto the LORD; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards, And the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away. And Aaron's sons shall burn it on the altar upon the burnt sacrifice, which is upon the wood that is on the fire: it is an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.”
THE NAME OF THE OFFERING
The word “oblation” means “offering.” The word “peace” translates “shelem” and means, “peace offering, requital, sacrifice for alliance or friendship.” The general meaning behind the root word is completion and fulfillment—of entering into a state of wholeness and unity, a restored relationship. It also has in it the meaning of prosperity, health and completeness.
Peace is obtained through sacrifice not negotiation. Man is not reconciled to God by going back and correcting what he has done wrong. Man’s sins have offended a holy God and He must be satisfied before fellowship is restored. The price has to be paid in the death of a sacrificial animal. This is the picture that is made in the peace offering.
THE LORD’S PORTION
The peace offering (shelem) is one where the fat around the intestines, the kidneys, the liver, and the fat of the sheep’s tail is burned on the altar. This was offered to God.
“This was the fat of the inwards, which is called suet, and not the fat that runs in the lean. It was considered the best part of the beast and was loved by the Easterner. It was required by God. Quoting from the British Encyclopedia fat is ‘an animal substitute of a more of less oily character, deposited in vessels, in tissues. It forms a considerable layer under the skin, is collected in large quantity around certain organs, as for instance, the kidneys, fills up furrows on the surface of the heart, surrounds joints, and exists in large quantities in the marrow of bones. It is an excellent packing material in the body, being, light, soft, and elastic. Being a bad conductor of heat, it enables a person to retain the warmth he has generated, but its chief use is for the purpose of nutrition.’” (Thus Shalt Thou Serve, p. 70, by C.W. Slemming).
Slemming adds this: “There is a breed of sheep in the East which grows a long and heavy tail, weighing upwards to twenty pounds, most of which is fat. This part of the animal is considered sweet and valuable, and is greatly appreciated by the Easterner. They loved this fat so much that if they could, they would keep part of the tail for themselves; hence the statements that the tail should be ‘cut off hard by the backbone,’ and ‘all the fat is the Lord’s.’”
“Fat is, therefore, that which protects the vital life-giving, health-sustaining parts of the body, keeps the warmth, and feeds every part of the being. That is what the Lord required—all that maintains spiritual life, keeps the warmth and love of our devotion, and feeds the soul with divine energy and a spiritual fervor.”
This portion was for food for the Lord (Lev. 3:11, 16). The Lord participated with them in eating this sacrifice. It is like sitting down at the table with the Lord where He has His portion, the priests, and the offerer and his friends have theirs.
God required what was considered the best. Then next,
THE PORTION FOR THE PRIESTS
The breast and the shoulder was given to the priests for their portion of this sacrifice for eating (Lev. 7:31).
