Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Blood - pays the price of another's freedom

Leviticus 17:1-16
Any Israelite who sacrifices an ox, a lamb or a goat in the camp or outside of it. instead of bringing it to the entrance to the tent of meeting to present it as an offering to the Lord in front of the tabernacle of the Lord—that person shall be considered guilty of bloodshed.
The Lord said to them: "I will set my face against any Israelite or any foreigner residing among them who eats blood, and I will cut them off from the people. For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar."
One who hunts any animal or bird that may be eaten must drain out the blood and cover it with earth, because the life of every creature is its blood.
The context is one in which the killing of domestic animals is thought of as a kind of sacrifice. so as a safeguard against sacrificing to the demons of desert places, all sacrifice must be offered in the proper place, and to the proper Person.
Why?
Because the life of every creature is its blood, and blood is used to make atonement for Israelite on the altar.
Offering is job of priests so anyone can not present offering to the Lord by himself.
Blood - that is the life laid down/poured out in death - which makes reparation(賠償): the animal 'stands in' as substitute for the offender. One precious life, forfeit(被沒收), pays the price of another's freedom. For Christians, the connection with the atoning death of Christ is inescapable.
How?
Respect life in the world, for the blood is the life of a creature.

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