LEVITICUS 17
I. Purpose of this chapter.
A. To show the sacredness of blood to God and men.
B. This chapter only is effective when Israel is in the wilderness. When they come into the promised land, there are other laws that come into effect.
1. 17:4 - All animals killed must be brought before the door of the tabernacle.
2. Deut. 12:13-15, 20-24 - In Canaan, the tribes will be to scattered to come to Jerusalem every time they would kill an animal to eat. In this case, God will appoint a place convenient so the animal could be killed.
II. Detail of this chapter.
A. V. 1-7
1. This is a commandment of God, not the request of man.
2. Any animal killed out of the camp, its blood not being brought to the door of the tabernacle is under the condemnation of God, and shall be excluded from the people of Israel.
3. This may sound like a hard thing, but verse 5 gives the reason.
4. Israel needs to constantly remember that God supplies all things. He supplies the body and blood of the sacrifices showing eternal life. He supplies our daily food. The person that will not kill the animal before the door of the tabernacle and allow the blood to be poured out to the Lord is failing to recognize that his very food comes from the Lord. A person raises an animal, then brings this animal before the Lord to kill it, its blood is poured out, then the person receives the animal back from the Lord and consumes it that he might live. (This is exactly the same principle as us returning thanks before we eat.)
5. Verse 5 - This is a peace offering. The peace offering is the only sacrifice that is eaten by the giver. May we eat our meat in peace.
6. 6. Verse 6 - The blood is sprinkled on the brazen altar. And the fat (holiness of God) is burned as a sweet savour to the Lord.
7. Verse 7 - To fail to return thanks, or to kill the animal before the Lord is the same thing as doing sacrifices before devils (shaggy goats). Is it not a serious thing to return thanks before we eat?
B. Verse 8,9 - Anyone (a stranger or a person of Israel) who gives a sacrifice any place except at the designated place of worship shall be cut off from the people. This ought to show us the importance of worshipping God in His church and not paying so much attention to television and radio preachers. They can preach many good things, but they cannot be our pastor or involve us in true Christian (Church) Fellowship.
C. Verse 10,12 - Life is in the blood.
1. 1. God is against those that eat blood. Many people today eat "blood pudding", saying that they do no offense to God. Maybe so. They say this passage is no longer in effect. Maybe so, but why do the people involved in demon worship include the drinking of blood in their worship? Why do they drain the blood from their victims, using that blood to worship Satan? I doubt seriously that "blood pudding" was intended by God to be a part of our diet. (See verse 7.)
2. The reason for this probation (verse 11,12) is because life is in the blood. Jesus shed his pure blood to give us eternal life. When the blood is gone from our bodies, there is no longer life in the body.
D. Verse 13,14 - The hunter that kills an animal in the field must pour out the blood of that animal and cover it with dust. A hunter couldn't kill an animal before the door of the tabernacle for wild animals don't life there, and wouldn't go there so you could kill them. So this exception is made fore them. Covering the poured out blood with dust shows the holiness of blood for the hunter.
E. Verse 15,16 - If blood is in the animal, and is eaten.
1. An animal that dies of itself does not bleed (besides that you don't know why it died).
2. An animal torn or strangled - sometimes they don't bleed like they ought to.
3. The person that eats such an animal must wash his flesh in water (running, or living water) wash his clothes and be unclean until the even.
4. If he doesn't, he shall bear his own iniquity.