Contemplative Bible Reading

Leviticus 7:16-18 (New Living Translation)

16 “If you bring an offering to fulfill a vow or as a voluntary offering, the meat must be eaten on the same day the sacrifice is offered, but whatever is left over may be eaten on the second day. 17 Any meat left over until the third day must be completely burned up. 18 If any of the meat from the peace offering is eaten on the third day, the person who presented it will not be accepted by the Lord. You will receive no credit for offering it. By then the meat will be contaminated; if you eat it, you will be punished for your sin.

God’s people were commanded to sacrifice animals at the altar. They could eat the sacrificed animal. They could eat the leftovers on the second day. That was the end of it—no more leftovers.

Several things to note. First, God asked for sacrifices, but these were really feasts. The person bringing the animal was able to eat it. Was that a sacrifice? Next, there was a limit to keeping and eating the leftovers. Even without refrigeration, the people had a way of preserving meat and eating it for a while thereafter. That, however, wasn’t much of a sacrifice as they weren’t giving anything to anyone. They were merely changing the location of the slaughter and initial feast.

Let’s look at a definition of sacrifice: giving up something valued. I am not boasting, but I sacrifice some things to God. I sacrifice some money and some time. These sacrifices cannot be compared to the blessings I receive, but they are sacrifices. When I give time, it is gone. When I give money, it is gone.

Blessed be the name of the Lord.