Leviticus 7:30
With his own hands he is to bring the offerings made by fire to the LORD; he shall bring the fat, together with the breast, and wave the breast as a wave offering before the LORD.
With his own hands he is to bring the food offerings to the LORD;

The worshiper personally brought the appointed portions, acknowledging that reconciliation and thanksgiving required willing obedience before God. No Israelite could treat sacrificial worship as a matter performed entirely by others. The offering involved the individual who had received the Lord’s mercy and provision.

Lev 2:1 “When anyone brings a grain offering to the LORD,…
Lev 1:2-3 “Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When any of you”…
Deu 12:6 To that place you are to bring your burnt offerings…

he shall bring the fat,

The fat belonged exclusively to the LORD and was burned on the altar as His portion. As the richest and choicest part of the animal, it represented the honor due to God, who deserved the first and best of His people’s possessions. Such worship anticipated the wholehearted devotion required of all who belong to Him.

Lev 3:3-5 From the peace offering he is to bring a food offering…
Lev 3:14-16 And from his offering he shall present a food offering…
Num 18:17 But you must not redeem the firstborn of an ox…

together with the breast,

The breast was presented before the LORD and afterward assigned to the priests for their sustenance. God’s provision for Aaron and his sons established the principle that those devoted to His service should be supported through the offerings of His people. The shared peace offering also expressed restored fellowship among God, the worshiper, and the priesthood.

Lev 10:14 And you and your sons and daughters may eat the breast…
Num 18:18 And their meat belongs to you, just as the breast…
Exo 29:26 Take the breast of the ram of Aaron’s ordination…

and wave the breast as a wave offering before the LORD.

The breast was ceremonially presented before God, declaring that it first belonged to Him before He gave it as food to the priests. The act recognized the LORD as the source of every blessing and the One who receives worship. The peace offering ultimately points to Christ, whose sacrifice brings believers into peace with God and fellowship with His people.

Exo 29:24 Put all these in the hands of Aaron and his sons…
Lev 8:27 He put all these in the hands of Aaron and his sons…
Num 6:20 The priest shall then wave them as a wave offering…

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Offerer
The individual bringing the sacrifice, who is required to present the offering with his own hands, signifying personal involvement and dedication.

2. The LORD
The recipient of the offerings, representing the divine presence and authority in the sacrificial system.

3. The Priest
Although not directly mentioned in this verse, priests play a crucial role in the sacrificial process, facilitating the offering and performing the wave offering.

4. The Tabernacle
The central place of worship where offerings are brought and presented before the LORD.

5. Wave Offering
A specific type of offering where the breast of the sacrifice is waved before the LORD, symbolizing the presentation and dedication of the offering to God.
Teaching Points
Personal Involvement in Worship
The requirement for the offerer to bring the offering with his own hands underscores the importance of personal involvement in worship. Worship is not a passive activity but requires active participation and dedication.

Symbolism of the Wave Offering
The wave offering symbolizes the act of presenting and dedicating something to God. In our lives, this can translate to dedicating our time, talents, and resources to God's service.

Holistic Worship
The inclusion of both the fat and the breast in the offering signifies a holistic approach to worship, where we offer the best of what we have to God, not just in material terms but also in our spiritual devotion.

The Role of the Community
While the individual brings the offering, the priest and the community are involved in the process, highlighting the communal aspect of worship and the importance of supporting one another in our spiritual journeys.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the requirement for the offerer to bring the offering with his own hands apply to our modern-day worship practices?

2. In what ways can we incorporate the symbolism of the wave offering into our daily lives as a form of dedication to God?

3. How does the concept of holistic worship challenge us to evaluate what we are offering to God in terms of our time, talents, and resources?

4. What role does the community play in our worship today, and how can we support each other in our spiritual growth?

5. How can the transition from physical offerings in the Old Testament to spiritual sacrifices in the New Testament (as seen in Hebrews 13:15) influence our understanding of worship and dedication to God?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 29:24
This verse describes the wave offering during the consecration of Aaron and his sons, highlighting the importance of the wave offering in dedicating something to God.

Leviticus 3:1-5
Provides details on peace offerings, which include the wave offering, emphasizing the communal and reconciliatory aspects of these sacrifices.

Hebrews 13:15
Connects the concept of offerings to the New Testament, where believers are encouraged to offer a sacrifice of praise, indicating a shift from physical offerings to spiritual ones.
Ministerial SupportR.M. Edgar Leviticus 7:1-38
Four Thoughts on Sacred ServiceW. Clarkson Leviticus 7:11-18, 30
The Kingdom of God: Lessons from the Heave OfferingW. Clarkson Leviticus 7:14, 28-34
The Service of the OblationJ.A. Macdonald Leviticus 7:28-38
The Wave Breast and the Heave ShoulderR.A. Redford Leviticus 7:28-38
No Offering by ProxyJ. A. Seiss, D. D.Leviticus 7:29-34
The Believer's Peace and PortionJames Fleming, D. D.Leviticus 7:29-34
The Peace-OfferingsP. Fairbairn, D. D.Leviticus 7:29-34
The Threefold ParticipationS.R. Aldridge Leviticus 7:29-34
People
Aaron, Israelites, Moses
Places
Sinai, Teman
Topics
Beside, Breast, Bring, Fat, Fire, Fire-offerings, Hands, Offering, Offerings, Presented, Wave, Waved, Wave-offering
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Leviticus 7:28-32

     7480   wave offering

Leviticus 7:29-34

     7364   fellowship offering

Leviticus 7:30-31

     5140   breasts

Library
Leviticus
The emphasis which modern criticism has very properly laid on the prophetic books and the prophetic element generally in the Old Testament, has had the effect of somewhat diverting popular attention from the priestly contributions to the literature and religion of Israel. From this neglect Leviticus has suffered most. Yet for many reasons it is worthy of close attention; it is the deliberate expression of the priestly mind of Israel at its best, and it thus forms a welcome foil to the unattractive
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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