Leviticus 21, Laws of Holiness (4) Eating with God

I want to take this post to consider Lev. 19:5-8, something easy to overlook.  Of course, the reference to “free will” would likely NOT be overlooked by anyone, whatever side of the argument you are on.  To me, man is making a choice here.  He is not simply carrying out God’s pre-determined will for Him.  This seems to be a sad translation if the act is not free.  However, now that everyone is stirred up, that is not the question.

The question is why is it such an important point of holiness under the Law of Moses (this is also in Lev. 7:15-18) that the meal was to be eaten at certain times?  Some might think it’s just a health issue, so they would not eat spoiled meat.  But that is never sufficient as an answer for the details in the Law.  The Passover and certain peace offerings (Lev. 7:15) had to be eaten the same day. 

The peace offering is about reconciliation and fellowship with the LORD.  The meal is a critical part of that fellowship.  Remember Rev. 3:20, where fellowship with God is illustrated by dining with Him.  Fellowship meals were also part of establishing covenants, and that might be part of this picture. 

If you are wondering, yes, I did check with my favorite commentators.  For the most part, they had nothing to say in answering this question.  Most of them connected it to the command against idolatry in v4, but still giving no specific explanation.  Jameson-Faucette-Browne said this: “The reason of this strict prohibition seems to have been to prevent any mysterious virtue being superstitiously attached to meat offered on the altar.”  Adam Clarke’s commentary gives some illustrations of this superstition in various idolatrous traditions, including in his native Scotland.

Online I found one interesting thought, relating this to the death and resurrection of Christ.  For two days they would feast on the dead animal, that sacrificial animal reminding us of Christ; but since He would be raised the third day, it would indicate the worshiper should no longer consider Christ dead.  Therefore, the meat was not to be eaten on the third day.  That, as I said, is interesting.  Being the Peace Offering and not one of the sin offerings might work against that symbolism, although He is our peace!  The Expositor’s Bible Commentary has a lengthy discourse (tied to the Lev. 7 passage) that sees this as the reason. 

Hopefully you found this helpful.  But I do want to say that the Peace or Fellowship Offering is a wonderful thing.  God gave this to Israel as part of their enjoyment of Him and His presence among them.  Again, it goes against the common thought that the God of the OT is just mean and angry.  He is not!  He is holy and just, and He is full of mercy and love.  God is consistent because He is the same, one and only, Living and True God.  Amen!