DEDICATION TO GOD

THE GRAIN OFFERING (Leviticus 2:1:16)

Having been accepted by the Lord, the forgiven person is now called upon to a life of dedication to him. Allen Ross[1] writes …

   It is fitting for those who have been accepted by God through sacrificial atonement to express their dedication to him. And this is the relationship between the meal and the burnt offerings. The meal offering was an acknowledgement that everything the offerer had and was belonged to God: and now, a portion of that substance was given back to God as an expression of the belief that God was the source of and the provider for life.

Ross[2] explains further …
 

   The main emphasis of an exposition of the meal offering should be its idea of dedication to God. The expectation is that those who have been reconciled to God and have access into his presence will regularly acknowledge that they owe everything to God—dedication follows atonement. This sacrifice gave the thankful Israelite worshiper the way to do it.

The psalmist speaks of this next step as we begin our walk with God. "LORD, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O LORD, could ever survive? But you offer forgiveness that we might learn to fear you." (Psalm 130:3-4)

Paul puts it this way.

   And so, dear Christian friends, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will accept. When you think of all he has done for you, is this too much to ask? Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is. (Romans 12:1-3). 

In the meal offering, also known as the grain offering, we find features that parallel those found in the dedication of one’s life to the Lord. The first feature we discover is that …

The Offering Consisted Of Something Choice

The Oxford dictionary defines ‘choice’ as referring to something exquisite, something of quality, of consummate excellence or beauty, something appropriate. This is why the Lord says to his people …

“When you bring a grain offering to the LORD, the offering must consist of choice flour.” (vs. 1a).

It is to be an offering that costs us something. Like that which Mary brought to Jesus at a dinner given in his honour, something which the treasurer of the group took exception to. John recalls the occasion.

   Six days before the Passover ceremonies began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus—the man he had raised from the dead. A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honour. Martha served, and Lazarus sat at the table with him. Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with fragrance.

   But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples—the one who would betray him—said, ‘That perfume was worth a small fortune. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.’ Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief who was in charge of the disciples’ funds, and he often took some for his own use. (John 12:1-6).

David also brought offerings to the Lord that cost him something. He writes of not wanting to make  an “offering that has cost me nothing.”[3] The monetary cost of his gifts towards the building of the temple gives him the moral authority to challenge the people to consider what they will give.

   “Using every resource at my command, I have gathered as much as I could for building the Temple of my God. Now there is enough gold, silver, bronze, iron, and wood, as well as great quantities of onyx, other precious stones, costly jewels, and all kinds of fine stone and marble. And now because of my devotion to the Temple of my God, I am giving all of my own private treasures of gold and silver to help in the construction. This is in addition to the building materials I have already collected for this holy Temple. I am donating more than 110 tons of gold from Ophir and over 262 tons of refined silver to be used for overlaying the walls of the buildings and for the other gold and silver work to be done by the craftsmen. Now then, who will follow my example? Who is willing to give offerings to the LORD today? (1 Chronicles 29:2-5).

We notice also that the offering comes …

From Something The Lord Has Given

Ross[4] notes that ‘only those ingredients representing the best of the Lord’s blessings were used in the offering’. The blessings of the Lord are many. There are the blessings of …

-   abundant crops. The grain producing the choice flour for the offering came from the bountiful barley and wheat harvests. David writes of these.

   What mighty praise, O God, belongs to you in Zion. We will fulfil our vows to you, for you answer our prayers, and to you all people will come …

   You take care of the earth and water it, making it rich and fertile. The rivers of God will not run dry; they provide a bountiful harvest of grain, for you have ordered it so. You drench the ploughed ground with rain, melting the clods and levelling the ridges. You soften the earth with showers and bless its abundant crops. You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance. (Psalm 65:1-2, 10-11).

-   the gift of children. Solomon acknowledges this in one of his songs of ascents.

   Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him. Children born to a young man are like sharp arrow in a warrior’s hands.

   How happy is the man whose quiver is full of them! He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates. (Psalm 127:3-5).

-   spiritual gifts.[5] Paul reminds Timothy that these are gifts that must not be neglected or allowed to die.

   Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecies spoken to you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you. Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and your teaching. Stay true to what is right, and God will save you and those who hear you …

   I know that you sincerely trust the Lord, for you have the faith of your mother, Eunice, and your grandmother, Lois. This why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. (1 Timothy 4:14-16, 2 Timothy 1:5-7).

-   sins forgiven. Paul writes to the church in Ephesus of this blessing from the Lord.

   God saved you by his special favour when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Surrendering one’s life to the Lord may involve a dedication to him of any one or all of the gifts he has given—dedication of the business to him, a child for full time service, giving back the spiritual gift to him, to make sure the gift is used for his honour not ours.

The grain offering was also to be …

Presented With Joy

The instructions for bringing the grain offering continue …

   When you bring a grain offering to the LORD, the offering must consist of choice flour. You are to pour oil on it … (vs. 1a). 

The use of oil indicates that it was a joyous occasion. For example, in writing of his joy in the Lord David writes …  

   You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You welcome me as a guest, anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever. (Psalm 23:5-6).

 Foreshadowing the ministry of Jesus Isaiah writes …

   He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted to proclaim freedom for the captives and release for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favour and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendour …

   I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. (Isaiah 61:1b-3, 10 NIV).

Oil is also a symbol of the Holy Spirit’s involvement in the decision to dedicate one’s life to the Lord. We notice this in the story of David’s anointing for service. When none of his brothers were ready to take this step we read how David responded.

   Then Samuel asked, ‘Are these all the sons you have?’

   ‘There is still the youngest,’ Jesse replied. But he is out in the fields watching the sheep.’

   ‘Send for him at once,’ Samuel said. ‘We will not sit down to eat until he arrives.’

   So Jesse sent for him. He was ruddy and handsome with pleasant eyes. And the LORD said, ‘This is the one; anoint him.’

   So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the olive oil he had brought and poured it on David’s head. And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah. (1 Samuel 16:11-13). 

Dedication is something to be offered willingly and with joy, not reluctantly, not grudgingly. Peter offers this advice. 

   And now a word to you who are elders in the church. I too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I too, will share his glory and his honour when he returns. As a fellow elder, this is my appeal to you. Care for the flock of God entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care but lead them by your good example. And when the head Shepherd comes, your reward will be a never-ending share in his glory and honour. (1 Peter 5:1-4).

The grain offering is to be presented with the joy that flows from the presence of the Holy Spirit in the life being dedicated to the Lord. It is also to be … 

Accompanied By Prayer

This is symbolised in the sprinkling of the offering with incense.

You are to pour olive oil on it and sprinkle it with incense. (vs. 1b). 

David understood the symbolism when he called on the Lord for help during a time of trouble.

   O LORD, I am calling to you. Please hurry! Listen when I cry to you for help! Accept my prayer as incense offered to you, and my upraised hands as an evening offering. (Psalm 141:1-2). 

We also find incense as part of a heavenly scene that John describes.

   When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence throughout heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and they were given seven trumpets.

   Then another angel with a gold incense burner came and stood at the altar. And a great quantity of incense was given to him to mix with the prayers of God’s people, to be offered on the gold altar before the throne. The smoke of the incense, mixed with the prayers of the saints, ascended up to God  from the altar where the angel had poured them out. (Revelation 12:1-4). 

F. N. Hepper[6] points out that the Hebrew term “has a double application: it refers both to the substance used for burning and to the aromatic odour which is produced.” This is why Paul was able to write of the gifts sent to him by God’s people in Philippi—gifts that arose from their dedication to the Lord.

   At the moment I have all I need—more than I need! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are the sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable to God and pleases him. And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:18-19). 

And why he wrote of the death of Christ as a fragrant offering. 

   Live a life filled with love for others, following the example of Christ, who loved you and gave himself as a sacrifice to take away your sins. And God was pleased because that sacrifice was like a sweet perfume to him. (Ephesians 5:2).

In the picture of dedication drawn for us in the grain offering, we have so far discovered that dedication to the Lord will cost us something. It is to come from something the Lord has given, given back to him in the joy of the Holy Spirit, and accompanied by prayer. And now we notice the requirement that the grain offering be … 

Presented Through A Priest

Moses and his brother Aaron were from the tribe of Levi.[7] The priesthood that came into being in Israel arose from Aaron’s sons and their descendants.[8] The grain offering, as were others, was to be presented to the Lord through a priest of the Aaronic priesthood.

   Bring this offering to one of Aaron’s sons, and he will take a handful of the flour mixed with olive oil, together with all the incense, and burn this token portion on the altar fire. (vs. 2a).

Jesus Christ has replaced the Aaronic priesthood. He is the priest through whom we now bring the offering of our lives to the Lord, always remembering that as far as the offering for sin is concerned, he himself is that sacrificial offering presented on our behalf. 

   Now a high priest is a man chosen to represent other human beings in their dealings with God. He presents their gifts to God and offers their sacrifices for sins …

   And no one can become a high priest simply because he wants such an honour. He has to be called by God for this work, just as Aaron was.

   That is why Christ did not exalt himself to become high priest. No, he was chosen by God …  (Hebrews 5:1, 4a).

Paul writes of the life dedicated to the service of the Lord as being ‘a fragrance presented by Christ to God.’ 

   But thanks be to God, who made us his captives and leads us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now wherever we go he uses us to tell others about the Lord and to spread the Good News like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a fragrance presented by Christ to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those being saved and by those perishing. To those who are perishing we are a fearful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this? You see, we are not like those hucksters—and there are many of them—who preach just to make money. We preach God’s message with sincerity and with Christ’s authority. And we know that the God who sent us is watching us. (2 Corinthians 2:14-17).

We notice now that the grain offering reminds us that our dedication to the Lord is to be …

With The Memory Of What Motivated The Dedication

A part of the offering was to be set aside as a ‘token portion’.[9] The translators of the New International Version call it a ‘memorial portion’. It was to be a reminder to the people of what had inspired them to dedicate their lives to the service of the Lord—the sacrificial burnt offering which made possible their acceptance with God.

… he will take a handful of the flour mixed with olive oil, together with all the incense, and burn this token portion on the altar fire. (vs. 2b).

Allen Ross[10] notes however, that … 

   The idea of a memorial portion given to God goes beyond a simple reminding. The verb often carries the nuance of beginning to act on the basis of what is remembered. The ‘memorial portion’ thus reminded or prompted worshipers to live according to the covenant obligations, that is, to live as if all they had truly came from the LORD;

The ‘token portion’ of the grain offering points forward to the memorial Jesus asks his followers to observe. 

   Then at the proper time Jesus and the twelve apostles sat down together at the table. Jesus said, “I have looked forward to this hour with deep longing, anxious to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. For I tell you now that I won’t eat it again until it comes to fulfilment in the Kingdom of God.”

   Then he took a cup of wine, and when he had given thanks for it, he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come.”

   Then he took a loaf of bread; and when he had thanked God for it, he broke it in pieces, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This wine is the token of God’s new covenant to save you—an agreement sealed with the blood I will pour out for you.” (Luke 22:14-20).

A memorial in remembrance of Christ’s sacrificial death. The memory of which moves us to renew our dedication to the Lord. It is a memory which calls us, as Ross has explained, ‘to act on the basis of what is remembered’. The celebration of the Eucharist becomes therefore a time of both the remembrance of Christ’s death on our behalf and the renewal of our commitment to him.

Allen Ross suggests that the ‘token portion’ of the grain offering was also a reminder to God of his covenant promises to his people. 

   The ‘memorial portion’ … prompted or motivated the LORD to honour and bless those who offered this dedication.[11] Other passages show this emphasis: “And God remembered Noah” (Genesis 8:1), which clearly means that God began to act on behalf of his promises to Noah. Likewise the prayers “remember David for all his afflictions” (Psalm 132:1) and “remember me when you come into your kingdom” (Luke 23:42) are certainly looking for more than remembrance.[12]

Jesus may well have this aspect of the ‘token portion’ in mind when he says, “This wine is the token of God’s new covenant to save you.” God is reminded of his part in the agreement. It is not that he will ever forget his covenant promises. He will never forget the covenant promises he has made with his people! It’s just that he likes to hear us remind him of them. Reminding him of them is another way of telling him that we believe what he has said.  

   This is what the LORD says … “Sing for joy, O heavens! Rejoice, O earth! Burst into song, O mountains! For the LORD has comforted his people and will have compassion on them in their sorrow.

   Yet Jerusalem says, ‘The LORD has deserted us; the LORD has forgotten us.’

   Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for a child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you! See, I have written your name on my hand.” (Isaiah 49:8, 13-16a).

The memory of the cost of our redemption, the renewal of our dedication to the Lord and the reminder to him of his promises, as we participate in the eucharistic memorial, is pleasing to him, just as the ‘token portion’ of the grain offering was, for "It is an offering made by fire, very pleasing to the LORD." (vs. 2b). 

And now as we continue to sift through the characteristics of the grain offering we are reminded that in dedicating our lives to the Lord there are to be … 

No Hidden Motives

The grain offering is to have no yeast in it. 

… it must be made of choice flour mixed with olive oil but without any yeast. (vs. 4b).

The yeast (leaven) used then was in a different form to the yeast we use today. Our Bible dictionary[13] explains … 

   It was made originally from fine white bran kneaded with must; from the meal of certain plants such as fitch or vetch; or from barley mixed with water and then allowed to stand still till it turned sour.

   In bread making the leaven was probably a piece of dough, retained from a former baking, which had fermented and turned acid. This was then either dissolved in water in the kneading-trough before the flour was added, or was ‘hid’ in the flour and kneaded along with it.       

   Rabbinical writers often used leaven as a symbol of evil and man’s hereditary corruption. Plutarch echoes this ancient view when he describes leaven as ‘itself the offspring of corruption and corrupting the mass of dough with which it is mixed’. Fermentum is used in Persius (Sat. 1. 24) for ‘corruption’.

Jesus used yeast in some of his stories to show the way that evil can spread, even among people belonging to his Kingdom. For example …

   Jesus also used this illustration: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast used by a woman making bread. Even though she used a large amount of flour, the yeast permeated every part of the dough.” (Matthew 13:33). 

Jesus also used this permeating factor of yeast to illustrate the corrupting influence of the teaching of the Pharisees. On one occasion …

   As they were crossing the lake, Jesus warned them, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod.” (Mark 8:15).

Paul drew from the same word picture in his circular letter to the churches in Galatia. 

   You were getting along so well. Who has interfered with you to hold you back from following the truth? It certainly isn’t God, for he is the one who called you to freedom. But it takes only one wrong person among you to infect all the others—a little yeast spreads quickly through the whole batch of dough! I am trusting the Lord to bring you back to believing as I do about these things. God will judge that person, whoever it is, who has been troubling and confusing you. (Galatians 5:7-10).

And again in one of his letters to the church in Corinth Paul refers to the way in which evil permeates a society. 

   It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife. And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have been filled with grief and put out of your fellowship the man who did this? …

   Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough? (Corinthians 5:1-2, 6-7 NIV).

The hidden activity of leaven in the bread mixture is also symbolic of the part motives play in our lives. The Macquarie National Dictionary defines motive as “something that prompts a person to act in a certain way.” That ‘something’ would be the thoughts and desires of the heart. This is why Jesus said … 

   A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. A tree is identified by the kind of fruit it produces. Figs never grow on thornbushes or grapes on bramble bushes. A good person produces good deeds from a good heart, and an evil person produces evil deeds from an evil heart. Whatever is in your heart determines what you say. (Luke 6:43-45).

And why the Lord reminded Samuel … 

   The LORD doesn’t make decisions the way you do! People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at a person’s thoughts and intentions. (1 Samuel 16:7b).

Just as the grain offering was to be presented to the Lord ‘without any yeast’ so our service to the Lord is to be without any ulterior motive. Not motivated by any desire to gain status or reward for ourselves but by a desire for the Lord to be honoured. Exploring more widely now we discover a number of things the Scriptures have to say about motives.

-   Motives are known to the Lord. David was aware of this as he passed on this advice to his son Solomon …

   And Solomon, my son, get to know the God of your ancestors. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and with a willing mind. For the LORD sees every heart and understands and knows every plan and thought. (1 Chronicles 28:9a).

   As Solomon himself came to understand …"People may be pure in their own eyes but the LORD examines their motives … People may think they are doing what is right, but the LORD examines the heart." (Proverbs 16:2, 21:2).

   In all that we do the Lord knows what is going on behind the scenes. He weighs everything up according to the motives he finds there. Just as he revealed to Belshazzar who succeeded Nebuchadnezzar as king of Babylon, "... you have been weighed on the balances and have failed the test." (Daniel 5:27).

   The Lord weighs things up and then makes his decision. This is why it should always be remembered that, "We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps … You can make many plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail … The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the LORD; he turns it wherever he pleases." (Proverbs 16:9, 19:21, 21:1).

   William Barclay[14] writes …

   Only God knows all the motives. ‘Man sees the deed but God sees the intention.’ Many a deed that looks noble may have been done from the most selfish and ignoble motives; and many a deed which looks base may have been done from the highest motives. He who made the human heart alone knows it and can judge it.

-   Our motives will all be brought to light when the Lord returns. Paul speaks of this when he writes to the church in Corinth …

   So look at Apollos and me as mere servants of Christ who have been put in charge of explaining God’s secrets. Now a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful. What about me? Have I been faithful? Well it matters very little what you or anyone else thinks. I don’t even trust my own judgement  on this point. My conscience is clear, but that isn’t what matters. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide.

   So be careful not to jump to conclusions before the Lord returns as to whether or not someone is faithful. When the Lord comes, he will bring our deepest secrets to light and reveal our private motives. And then God will give to everyone whatever praise is due. (1 Corinthians 4:1-5).

-   The Lord overrides wrong motives. Paul writes of his confidence that even when Christian teaching arises from the wrong motives, the Lord is there to make it ‘spread rapidly and be honoured wherever it goes.’[15]

   Some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. They preach because they love me, for they know the Lord brought me here to defend the Good News. Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me. But whether or not their motives are pure, the fact remains that the message about Christ is being preached, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice. (Philippians 1:15-18).

   The Lord can even speak through a donkey. Peter tells us that this was the way the Lord rebuked Balaam. Speaking of the motives of some false teachers he writes …

   They have wandered off the right road and followed the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved to earn money by doing wrong. But Balaam was stopped from his mad course when his donkey rebuked him with a human voice. (2 Peter 2:15-16).

   Jude, also writing of the false teachers, refers to the greed which motivated Balaam while John’s record of the revelation given to him refers to Balaam’s desire to lure the people of Israel into the occult.

   How terrible it will be for them! For they follow the evil example of Cain, who killed his brother. Like Balaam, they will do anything for money …  Write this letter to the angel of the church in Pergamum. This is the message from the one who has a sharp two-edged sword … You are like Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to worship idols by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin. (Jude vs. 11, Revelation 2:1, 14b).

-   Wrong motives can divide God’s people. James, ever the one to remind Christians of the need for their walk to match their talk, writes … 

   My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim that you have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favour some people above others?

   For instance, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in shabby clothes. If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, ‘You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor’—well, doesn’t this discrimination show that you are guided by wrong motives? (James 2:1-4).

-    Our prayers are rendered null and void by wrong motives. James identifies the problem for us.

   What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Isn’t it the whole army of evil desires at war within you? You want what you do not have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous for what others have, and you can’t possess it, so you fight and quarrel to take it away from them. And yet the reason you don’t have what you want is that you don’t ask God for it. And even when you do ask, you don’t get it because your whole motive is wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure. (James 4:1-4).

Another feature of the grain offering that is so meaningful for us is that … 

The Form Of The Offering May Vary

According to the wishes of the person or family concerned, the offering may be presented as a cake or a wafer, or simply as kernels of new grain. Oil could be mixed with the flour or spread over it in the case of wafers. The mixture could be baked in an oven, fried, or cooked on a hot plate.[16] There is a picture here of the different ways in which each life dedicated to the Lord may be realised. The different forms will be determined by the kind of spiritual gift or gifts each person receives. The life given to the Lord as ‘a living and holy sacrifice’[17] may be fulfilled in serving, teaching, or any other of the gifts of the Spirit. Or in a combination of several.

   Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are all parts of his one body, and each of us has different work to do. And since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others.

   God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out when you have faith that God is speaking through you. If your gift is that of serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, do a good job of teaching. If your gift is to encourage others, do it! If you have money, share it generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. (Romans 12:4-8).

There being different forms of the offering means that the ‘token portion’ taken as a memorial would also be acceptable in its different forms. Likewise, the memorial that Jesus asks us to keep in memory of his sacrificial death may also take different forms.  The ‘cup’ the disciples drank from at that first ‘communion service’ was most likely a large earthenware bowl.[18] The loaf of bread which Jesus ‘broke … in pieces and gave … to the disciples’ was probably one of the large round loaves[19] baked in any one of several kinds of oven then in use. The elements used were those of the culture of that time. For us, the nature of the cup and the shape of the bread that we adopt may be determined by what we use in our own culture. Whether they be small cubes of bread cut from a loaf, chunks of bread broken from a loaf, or thin wafers purchased in a packet, whether the national drink used comes from the fruit of the vine, the coconut, or the fresh water reserve, the cultural form of the elements used in the communion service is acceptable to the Lord.

The table arrangement we follow may also take the form appropriate to that of our culture. For that is what occurred at that first ‘communion service.’ Alfred Edersheim[20] explains ... 

   They reclined on pillows around a low table … it was the custom to recline at table, lying on the left side and leaning on the left hand, the feet stretching back towards the ground, and each guest occupying a separate divan or pillow …

   We can now form a picture of the arrangement. Around a low Eastern table, oval or rather elongated, two parts covered with a cloth, and standing or else suspended, the single divans or pillows are ranged in the form of an elongated horseshoe, leaving free one end of the table.

For us today we may take the elements kneeling at a communion rail, while seated in the church pew, or comfortably relaxed in a chair in a meeting at home. The outward form does not matter. What matters is what is going on in the heart—an expression of thankfulness to the Lord for his substitutionary death on our behalf and a renewed dedication of our lives to him.

What we say as we take part in the service rituals is also not so important. In fact there may be times when the Lord says of us what he said of his people long ago … 

   “These people say they are mine. They honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far away. And their worship of me amounts to nothing more than human laws learned by rote.” (Isaiah 29:13).

More than what we say in the way of learned responses, it is important that we listen for what the Lord may have to say to us. The use of salt in the grain offering reminds us that …

Our Commitment To Serve The Lord Is To Be Maintained

The Lord said to his people …

   “Season all your grain offerings with salt, to remind you of God’s covenant. Never forget to add salt to your grain offerings.” (vs. 13).

R. K. Harrison[21] tells us how salt was used.

   Salt was valued as a preservative and for seasoning food (Matthew 5:13, Mark 9:50, Colossians 4:6). It was often used among Oriental peoples for ratifying agreements, so that salt became the symbol of fidelity and constancy. In the Levitical cereal offerings (Leviticus 2:13) salt was used as a preservative to typify the eternal nature of the ‘covenant of salt’ existing between God and Israel (Numbers 18:19, 2 Chronicles 13:5).

Salt is still used widely as a preservative. Its use in the grain offering reminds us to keep fresh our commitment to the Lord. What do we need to do to maintain this commitment? We need to … 

-   Keep the fire within burning brightly. As Paul challenged Timothy to do.

   I know that you sincerely trust the Lord, for you have the faith of your mother Eunice, and your grandmother Lois. This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid hands on you. (2 Timothy 1:5-6).

   Is the fire burning low? How can the flames be rekindled? By asking the breath of the Holy Spirit to blow on the dying embers. Just as the Lord encouraged Ezekiel, as in a vision, he viewed the people of Israel as a valley filled with lifeless bones. 

   “Then he said to me, ‘Dry bones, listen to the word of the LORD! This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Look! I am going to breathe into you and make you live again!’ ” (Ezekiel 37:4-5).

-   Hold firm to the truths of the Scriptures when false teaching abounds. As Paul reminds us ...

   Be on guard. Stand true to what you believe. Be courageous. Be strong. (1 Corinthians 16:13).

   Be strong with the Lord’s mighty power. Put on all of God’s armour so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms. Use every piece of God’s armour to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will be still standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the sturdy belt of truth and the body armour of God’s righteousness. ( Ephesians 6:10-14).

Salt is also used to add flavour to food, something to make it tasty. In our lives of dedication to the Lord, our lifestyle ought to be seen as something tasteful, something to be desired by those who hunger for something of substance in their own lives. This is why Jesus says to us,  

   “Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavour, how do you make it salty again? You must have the qualities of salt among yourselves and live in peace with each other.” (Mark 9:50).

   And Paul reminds us that our speaking should always be with words that are tasteful.

   Be wise in the way you act towards outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. (Colossians 4:5-6 NIV).

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