May the mumbling commence!
What do you have to offer? Give of yourself knowing that you do so with the attitude of gratitude. Give of yourself knowing that the talents you bring are a seasoning to the greatest gift of all… the gift of Jesus. Read from Leviticus chapter two:
"Do not use yeast in any of the grain offerings you present to the Lord, because no yeast or honey may be burned as an offering to the Lord by fire. You may add yeast and honey to the offerings presented at harvest time, but these must never be burned on the altar as an offering pleasing to the Lord. Season all your grain offerings with salt, to remind you of God's covenant. Never forget to add salt to your grain offerings.
If you present a grain offering to the Lord from the first portion of your harvest, bring kernels of new grain that have been roasted on a fire. Since it is a grain offering, put olive oil on it and sprinkle it with incense. The priests will take a token portion of the roasted grain mixed with olive oil, together with all the incense, and burn it as an offering given to the Lord by fire.” (Verses 11-16)
Yeast and honey were not to be used in offerings to the Lord… except at harvest time. When a grain offering is given during harvest time that includes yeast and honey, these sweet offerings went to the priests. None of this kind of offering must be burned on the altar.
So, what is it about yeast and honey? I know that yeast helps to make the bread rise… which takes time that the Israelites didn’t have in their escape from Egypt. I know that yeast is also associated with sin in the Hebrew culture. Don’t become puffed up.
But what is wrong about honey? Honey is sweet. Honey has some healing properties. I would be interested to know why honey is forbidden in most of the grain offerings. Why couldn’t honey roasted grain be burnt of the offering fire?
Well, too much sweet can become problematic I suppose. The Word of God is sweeter than the finest honey; but when the Word of God is consumed, it is sweet in the mouth and bitter in the stomach. We need the balance. That could be one reason.
Another reason may be found in the fact that honey was used in the sacrifices to other gods. And the living Lord who we serve is not to be worshiped as the other gods of our lives.
But we are always to use salt and olive oil. These help us to connect with the Lord. Salt is a preservative. God’s covenant with us preserves us better than anything else can. Salt can also having healing properties… just as olive oil can. We still use olive oil in anointing services for healing. It is a wonderful rite. Look to the way Jesus sent his disciples two-by-two. Read from Mark chapter six:
Then Jesus went out from village to village, teaching. And he called his twelve disciples together and sent them out two by two, with authority to cast out evil spirits. He told them to take nothing with them except a walking stick – no food, no traveler's bag, no money. He told them to wear sandals but not to take even an extra coat.
"When you enter each village, be a guest in only one home," he said. "And if a village won't welcome you or listen to you, shake off its dust from your feet as you leave. It is a sign that you have abandoned that village to its fate."
So the disciples went out, telling all they met to turn from their sins. And they cast out many demons and healed many sick people, anointing them with olive oil. (Verses 6b-13)
So in our offerings to the Lord we have embraced our senses of taste and sight and feeling – there is nothing like the feeling of being anointed with oil. But in this rite of grain offering, there is also the scent of incense… a wonderful heavenly aroma. Let’s season the world and engage the totality of our senses. Let’s allow the blessings that God gives us to season the world.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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