Leviticus 7:1-10 – God takes care of His servants through His people

These ten verses deal with the guilt offering. There was a close connection between this offering and the sin offering in that they were both considered most holy. This is how verse 7 puts it: “The guilt offering is like the sin offering, there is one law for them….” Like many of the sacrifices, the animal presented for this offering would be slaughtered on the altar of the burnt offering. But where the blood of the guilt and the sin offerings would be applied was different. The blood of the guilt offering would be sprinkled around the altar whereas, in the sin offering, it would be applied on the horns of the altar.

Verses 3-4 tell us that the “…fat: the fat tail and the fat that covers the entrails, and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them, which is on the loins, and the lobe on the liver he shall remove with the kidneys” would be offered up to the LORD. These were burnt up in smoke on the altar. The rest of the animal would be consumed by all the male members of the priesthood in the Holy place. The skin of the burnt offering would be given to the officiating priest. The skin of the animal was useful in that they could be used as a mattress to sleep at night and carpet to sit on in the day. Verse 9 tells us that as the skin of the sacrifice, any grain offering, however it was prepared, was to be given to the officiating priest.

These verses teach us that the ministers of the altar should be sustained by the offerings. This indicates to us that the people of God are given the responsibility to support those who gave their lives to the work of God. This support enables those who give their lives to serve God to concentrate on their assignments without wondering how they will be supported.  The principle is not to muzzle the ox that treads the corn. The workman of God must be taken off by the people they serve. The mutuality of the service is here: the worshippers must be responsible to take care of the ministers and the ministers must be accountable for the spiritual well-being of the worshippers. Praise God for seeing to the nitty-gritty of life and ministry to ensure that His work will not suffer lack. It is up to us to obey God and collaborate with each other for the advancement of His Kingdom.