Read Leviticus chapter 2, verses 1 to 3 he shall take thereout his handful of the flour… (v2)

 

As we all know, the meal offering is one of the three sweet savour offerings which are found in the first three chapters of Leviticus. It was a “meal” offering, not a “meat” offering and not a blood offering. It was always offered with the burnt offering and the peace offering and it was a freewill offering given voluntarily.

 

The meal offering is a picture of the perfect, sinless life of our Lord Jesus. How we delight to contemplate the fine flour with its even, balanced character that had no coarse grain or lump. What a joy to God’s people to run, as it were, the fine flour through our fingers and appreciate His perfection. He himself was always the perfect, fine flour unlike us that need rolling, beating, grinding and sifting down. He could not be made any finer, we most certainly can.

​

 

A quick look at the ingredients…

 

Flour

This was wheat flour and we notice in Numbers chapter 15 that the quantity could vary. If the offering was of the herd or the flock (goat or lamb) then it was one tenth deal, a ram was two tenth deals while a bullock was three tenth deals. What they were able to offer had to have the corresponding quantity of meal. Our greater appreciation of the peace offering and the burnt offering enlarges and enhances our appreciation of the perfection of the Lord Jesus as seen in the meal offering.

 

Oil

Lev 2:4 instructs oil mingled while Lev 2:6 oil upon; both a picture of the Holy Spirit...

• Acts 10:38 God hath anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power…

• John 1:33 John saw the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him…

• John 3:34 God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him.

 

Frankincense

Frankincense was particularly fragrant when burnt and the meal offering was an ascending offering and a sweet-smelling savour. So too our Lord Jesus; Eph 5:2 Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us and offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. In 2Cor 2:15 those that preach the gospel are unto God a sweet savour of Christ and in the next verse the gospel itself is the savour of life unto life and death unto death. In Phil 4:18 the gift received was an odour of a sweet smell and in Song 1:12 While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.

 

Salt

Salt was a preservative and prevents corruption and brother Phil Coulson pointed out that there was nothing to preserve in Christ as there was no sin; in Him is no sin, He knew no sin, He did no sin. He could not sin nor was there any possibility of Him sinning yet by His perfect life He restrained sin by promoting and living out the truth of God and His word by His righteous life and the bold declaration of God’s righteousness. We can see this in the life of believers Matt 5:13 ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? In 2Thess 2:7 the apostle writes of the mystery of lawlessness which doth already work (today) only he who letteth (withholds and restrains) until he be taken out of the way. Both the Holy Spirit and the church have this effect today and will have until the rapture of the church. Are we salty? Col 4:6 Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt.

 

Salt was also for flavour (chips without salt and not the same). Phil pointed out that there was nothing bland about Christ; He was full of flavour. In Song 2:3 his fruit was sweet to my taste and the psalmist cries O taste and see that the Lord is good.

 

Salt was once also of great value (even valued above gold) and sometimes labourers wages were paid in salt.

 

So, notice the…

• The fineness of the flour

• The fragrance of the frankincense

• The flavour of the salt

 

No leaven

Leaven represents sin and puffs up; see Paul’s teaching to the Corinthians in his first letter in chapters 4 and 5. It was also bitter and there was no bitterness in Christ but in Heb 12:15 the apostle exhorts the saints to holiness: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you. Don’t let bitterness take root in our lives.

 

No honey

Honey speaks of sweetness and sentiment (see Prov 25:27) but our Lord Jesus was not overly sweet. Honey ferments when placed upon fire and gives off an unpleasant odour and speaks of natural sweetness. Again, our Lord Jesus didn’t display natural sweetness but divine characteristics of grace and mercy.

 

 

Now a look at its preparation…

 

The offering was prepared at home and presented to the priest who then offered it on the brazen altar. What we meditate on and prepare at home is then presented to God. How much do I prepare? Notice every priest; every brother and every sister is a priest so do we all offer?

 

There were different ways to prepare, so consider and apply the oven, the pot and the pan but the ingredients were always the same.

 

 

What caused me to take a little look at this was v2 his handful, as every priest had a different size of hand. They offered it on the altar as it was most holy. When we offer to God worship for His Son let us remember it is most holy. The rest was for the priests to eat in the holy place for their enjoyment and nourishment.

 

In these unprecedented times let us make sure that while we are unable to gather as we love to, that we prepare and meditate on God’s word that we may be able to present our handful of the meal offering and nourish our souls as well.

 

With every blessing in the Lord.

​

David Lind