ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Falaite ‘Epeleli 14, 2023

קרב Bringing an Offering

‘Oatu ha kōpano ki he ‘Eiki

LEVITICUS 1:1-2

THE LORD CALLED MOSES AND SPOKE TO HIM FROM THE TENT OF MEETING, SAYING, "SPEAK TO THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL AND SAY TO THEM, WHEN ANY ONE OF YOU BRINGS AN OFFERING TO THE LORD, YOU SHALL BRING YOUR OFFERING OF LIVESTOCK FROM THE HERD OR FROM THE FLOCK."

LEVITIKO 1:1-2

PEA ui ange ‘a Mōsese ‘e he ‘Eiki, ‘o ne folofola ki ai mei he Tēniti Fe‘iloaki‘anga, ‘o pehē, Lea ki ha‘a ‘Isileli, mo ke pehē kiate kinautolu, Ka ‘i ai ha tangata ‘iate kimoutolu te ne ‘oatu ha kōpano ki he ‘Eiki, te ne fai ‘ene kōpano mei he‘ene fanga manu, mei he fanga pulu, pe mei he fanga sipi.

Almost every Hebrew word is formed from a three-consonant stem/root. Prefixes, suffixes, and other additions to this stem make it a particular kind of verb, noun, adjective, or adverb. Invisible in English translation is the interconnected web of many Hebrew words. For instance, the stem q-r-b is the basis of "approach," "brings," "offering," "midst," and "near." This is vital for understanding Leviticus. Pulling all these q-r-b words together, we might say, "Because the Lord is in Israel's midst (qereb), near to them (qarob), they approach him (qarab), bringing (hiqrib) an offering (qorban) to him." All five words, like branches of a tree, are from the same q-r-b trunk. And together they teach us that God's nearness makes possible Israel's approach and offerings to him.

All these offerings are the backstory for the Messiah, who drew near to us as both priest and offering. "We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all" (Heb. 10:10), "for by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified" (v. 14).

Jesus, our priest and offering, make our bodies a living sacrifice in loving service to others.