We have been studying the different types of offerings God required from the people of Israel in the times of the Wilderness Tabernacle.

Leviticus, Chapter 6 speaks of what a person should do if they are unfaithful to the Lord by telling lies and deception; or about being irresponsible for things they have been trusted with. It speaks of requirements for cheating your neighbor in a business transaction. It speaks of those who commit extortion.

MAKING RESTITUTION BEFORE GOD

Ever cheated on your taxes?

That would apply here as an example of one of the sins mentioned in Leviticus, Chapter 6.  There was a proper sacrifice for this sin.

Ever sold something worthless for a lot of money? That would also apply to this situation.

Ever put your fence over on your neighbor’s property knowing that you were moving the line? That would also apply as a Leviticus, Chapter 6 sin.

Ever repeat gossip that ruined someone’s name and reputation? This too is one of the things we are speaking about when we talk of sin as it pertains to the requirements of Leviticus Chapter 6.

GOD IS WATCHING US

God always knows what we are doing; whether our neighbors realize it or not.

This passage in Leviticus tells us that restitution must be made whenever a wrong is committed. What was made wrong must be admitted and it should be made right again.

If you committed any of the above sins and you were a Child of God living in the wilderness times of Moses; then you had to go and take care of offering the guilt offering before God.

In those days; one would bring a sacrifice. In these days one would confess their sin in prayer before God.

Certain sins required restitution as well as sacrifice.

RESTITUTION IS MORE THAN REPLACEMENT VALUE

If the restitution involved money for replacement of something; a fifth of the value of the item would be added to the original value to make up for the problems caused by the sin.

Restitution meant returning the value stolen or damaged, plus a penalty for the trouble you caused when you committed the theft or vandalism.

This restitution was to happen on the same day that the guilt offering was brought to the tabernacle and presented to the LORD. Restitution was to happen first, then the sacrifice was presented to God for the sin.

Restitution proves one is sincere in their repentance.

THE PROCESS OF RESTITUTION

The people were commanded to bring a ram from the flock without defect and transfer their sins on to that animal that was to be sacrificed in their place. The scriptures state this process this way “the priest will make atonement for them before the LORD, and they will be forgiven for any of the things they did that made them guilty.” (Leviticus 6:7.)

To make the proper restitution and sacrifice to be forgiven; the sinner must:
1. Confess before God and all involved.
2. Correct the wrong deeds.
3. Take the sacrifice to the tabernacle and offer it up through the priest.
4. Transfer their sins on to the head of the sacrificial animal.
5. Trust the priest to make atonement for them at the altar before God.
6. Walk away free and clear with every intention to not commit such sins again.

SEEING THAT WE HAVE SUCH A HIGH PRIEST

Who could ever read that scripture and not have a vision of Jesus Christ, our High Priest, bringing The Atonement of His own blood before the altar of God?

This is what Jesus does for us every time we pray for forgiveness of our sins.

Jesus took all of our sins (past, present and future) all at once upon Himself on the cross. He suffered and died for EVERYONE as “a ram from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value.” (Leviticus 6:6.)

THE OLD IS CONTINUALLY MADE NEW

All of this is restated clearly in the New Testament in Hebrews 4:15 where it speaks of the qualifications of Jesus as our High Priest:  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who had been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet He did not sin.

These things that are happening in the Wilderness Tabernacle with the People of God are merely shadows of the whole picture of the days to come which would bring our salvation as an offering before God from Jesus Christ; our Savior.

I enjoy reading the Phillips translation of this verse: “Seeing that we have a great High Priest who has entered the inmost Heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to our faith. For we have no superhuman High Priest to whom our weaknesses are unintelligible – he himself has shared fully in all our experience of temptation, except that he never sinned.”*(Hebrews 4:14)

IT IS ALL ABOUT COMING TO JESUS

There is a popular song that very clearly explains what people living today need to understand about this passage in the book of Leviticus.  (Please note the true credit to the song and lyrics here.)  It is a song written and sung by Chris Rice called “Untitled Hymn;”

I suppose because the title “Come To Jesus” was already taken by another author, and another set of lyrics in another song; this song simply became known as the “Untitled Hymn.” One gets the sense that there might be more to that story; but I haven’t done the research to know.

Maybe the song title is just another beautiful example of one of those little “hidden” messages within a message that we all need to discover for ourselves.

At any rate; the lyrics are beautiful and they have captured my heart. 

Mr. Rice’s lyrics put the whole process of salvation into a very simple language which we all can understand.

I have typed the words to the lyrics out here so that we all can ponder the words together and compare how they tie right in with the words of Leviticus, Chapter 6.  

You can find the music to this song by a simple You-Tube search.   It is well worth a listen; but please read the words first and let them sink deep into the recesses of your heart:

UNTITLED HYMN

By Chris Rice

Weak and wounded sinner,
Lost and left to die,
O raise your head for Love is passing by
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus and live.
Now your burden’s lifted
And carried far away
And precious blood has washed away the stain…so
Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus and live.
And like a newborn baby
Don’t be afraid to crawl
And remember when you walk sometimes we fall….so
Fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus and live.
Sometimes the way is lonely
And steep and filled with pain,
So if your sky is dark and pours the rain….then
Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus and live.
O, and when the love spills over
And music fills the night
And when you can’t contain your joy inside….then
Dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus and live.
And with your final heartbeat,
Kiss the world goodbye,
Then go in peace and laugh on Glory’s side….and
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus and live.

TODAY IS THE DAY

It couldn’t get much simpler than this beautiful song that Chris Rice has poured out on the altar to God.

Today is the day of salvation.

Why not go talk to God about the words above?

Perhaps you too, just like those ancient Israelites of long ago, will begin to find new life.