This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.

Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.

Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may contact us and request that devotion. Please send your request, along with $.50 (p&h) for each page to:

Bruce McGee,Pastor
205 Adams
Columbia, LA 71418

Bro. Bruce's commentary for the book of Genesis is
now available in hard copy for $7.50. Just mail your request for COMMENTARY ON GENESIS to the address above

LEVITICUS
CHAPTER 2

1 And when any will offer a meat offering unto the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour; and he shall pour oil upon it, and put frankincense thereon:

The "meat" offering is actually a "meal" offering, as one can tell
by the reading of this verse.

2 And he shall bring it to Aaron's sons the priests: and he shall take thereout his handful of the flour thereof, and of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof; and the priest shall burn the memorial of it upon the altar, to be an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD: 3 And the remnant of the meat offering shall be Aaron's and his sons': it is a thing most holy of the offerings of the LORD made by fire.

This offering was in thanksgiving for what God haddone in a person's life. The
meal could be brought uncooked as described here; and was to be accompanied with oil
and frankincense.
The "fine flour" meant the meal had been ground to where no lump or imperfection was
in it. This represents Christ's sinless life which He offerred on the altar of the
cross at Calvary for us.
The oil represented God's Holy Spirit Whose ministry is to present us to the Lord
without imperfection.
The frankincense gave a special and significant aroma to the offering. When we are
"set apart" by God's Holy Spirit, we become very "special" to God.

4 And if thou bring an oblation of a meat offering baken in the oven, it shall be unleavened cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, or unleavened wafers anointed with oil. 5 And if thy oblation be a meat offering baken in a pan, it shall be of fine flour unleavened, mingled with oil. 6 Thou shalt part it in pieces, and pour oil thereon: it is a meat offering. 7 And if thy oblation be a meat offering baken in the fryingpan, it shall be made of fine flour with oil. 8 And thou shalt bring the meat offering that is made of these things unto the LORD: and when it is presented unto the priest, he shall bring it unto the altar.

This offering could be baked (verse 4) or fried (verse 6). But notice it must be
brought to the priest. Again there is that principal of identification.
9 And the priest shall take from the meat offering a memorial thereof, and shall burn it upon the altar: it is an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD. 10 And that which is left of the meat offering shall be Aaron's and his sons': it is a thing most holy of the offerings of the LORD made by fire.

The priest was given the right to keep all of the offering which wasn't burned
in the fire at the altar. When we come to God in thanksgiving, we should remember
that our High Priest JESUS should receive ALL of our thanks, because He made it
possible. All the glory and praise for what God has done and is doing in our life belongs
to Jesus Who died for us and opened the door of God's grace to be poured out toward us.

11 No meat offering, which ye shall bring unto the LORD, shall be made with leaven: for ye shall burn no leaven, nor any honey, in any offering of the LORD made by fire.

Leaven (or yeast) represents sin because eventually it corrupts. Honey will also eventually sour
and corrupt. Sin and unholiness cannot be offered to God. When we come to Him, even
in thanksgiving, we need first to beg forgiveness.

12 As for the oblation of the firstfruits, ye shall offer them unto the LORD: but they shall not be burnt on the altar for a sweet savour.

First fruits weren't to be cooked, nor were they to be offered on the altar. They were
offered as thanksgiving for God's provision, and as a request for God's continued provision. This has a special significance in our lives today. Many rural churches
still have what's called a "first fruits" offering which comes about the time that the
first "fruits" of crops begin ripen.
When we realize that it is GOD Who has saved us, we should also realize it is
HE Who will keep us.
Philippians 1:6 says, "Being confident of
this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day
of Jesus Christ:"
It is not WE who keep ourselves saved, for we ourselves are certainly weak and
continually sin. It is GOD Who continues to work in us and bring us to repentance
with each sin, and therefore KEEPS us washed in His holy forgiveness. (See 1John 1:9)

13 And every oblation of thy meat offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt.

Salt is preservative and is a symbol of God's covenant because He is the One Who KEEPS us.
Salt is also tasty and is reflective of the fact that God Himself IN us causes
us to have a special flavor to the world. Salt is also a preventive. Our work
and service are actually products of God's Holy Spirit in us. He preserves and makes our work
acceptable to God. God's Holy Spirit within us gives us HIS desires, and causes us to want
to do the things of God's desires.

14 And if thou offer a meat offering of thy firstfruits unto the LORD, thou shalt offer for the meat offering of thy firstfruits green ears of corn dried by the fire, even corn beaten out of full ears. 15 And thou shalt put oil upon it, and lay frankincense thereon: it is a meat offering. 16 And the priest shall burn the memorial of it, part of the beaten corn thereof, and part of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof: it is an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

When whole corn (or wheat) was offered as first fruits, they were "dried" before being offered.
Then they were beaten into a flour or meal. I believe this is a reminder that any service and
work we offer to God is first tried in the fires of affliction, and "beaten" with the toil of
dedication. Our service to God in this world of sinfulness is not easy, and we need His guidance and
protection.
When we do God's will, doesn't it go "against the grain" of the world?
What is something you as a Christian DO that causes you to receive
"affliction" in the world? (Believe? Study? Pray? Witness? Attend church?
Stand up for moral right?)

Please continue to follow along in Bible study with us.