A Spirit of Offering: The Sweet Aroma of Surrender
"And he shall bring it to Aaron’s sons the priests: and he shall take thereout his handful of the flour thereof, and of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof; and the priest shall burn the memorial of it upon the altar, to be an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD:" - Leviticus 2:2
In the Book of Leviticus, we are given profound insights into the nature of offerings and worship. In Leviticus 2:2 (KJV), it states: "And he shall bring it to Aaron's sons the priests: and he shall take thereout his handful of the flour thereof, and of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof; and the priest shall burn the memorial of it upon the altar, to be an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD." This passage serves as a reminder of the significance of our offerings to God and the profound connection between our physical acts of worship and spiritual realities.
The first thing to note in this verse is the necessity of bringing our offerings to the priests. In the ancient Israelite context, Aaron's sons represented the line of priests appointed by God to mediate between Him and His people. Just as the Hebrew people were called to present their gifts to the priests, we, too, are invited to lay our offerings at the feet of Christ, the ultimate High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16). This indicates that our gifts, whether they are material, spiritual, or relational, must be presented to God through faith and obedience. The act of bringing our offerings is an acknowledgment of God’s sovereignty in our lives, recognizing everything we have comes from Him.
Next, we observe the elements of the offering: flour, oil, and frankincense. Each of these components holds its own significance. Flour represents the sustenance that God provides—essential for life, it symbolizes our dependence upon Him for our daily needs. Oil symbolizes the Holy Spirit's anointing, representing God's favor and empowerment in our lives. Frankincense, an expensive and fragrant resin, symbolizes worship and prayer—it signifies that our offerings should ascend to God as an aroma of worship. When we blend these elements, we are reminded to combine our physical resources, our spiritual empowerment, and our heartfelt worship as we present ourselves before God.
The phrase "a sweet savour unto the LORD" is critical in this passage. It suggests that God is pleased by our offerings when they come from a heart of genuine love and devotion. It’s not merely about the act of giving but the attitude behind the gift. Just as the priests would process and burn the offerings, turning them into a sweet fragrance wafting towards heaven, our sincere offerings—distributed through our time, talents, and treasures—create an atmosphere of worship that is pleasing to God. Our hearts, when aligned with His will, produce a fragrance that draws us closer to Him, reminding us that He desires not just our gifts but our very selves.
When we bring our offerings, it requires an element of sacrifice. The act of offering specifies that we are giving up something valuable for the sake of honoring God. This can also reflect the sacrifices we make in our day-to-day lives, whether in service to others or in the quiet times set aside for prayer and worship. We learn here that living as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1) is what it means to be a true child of God—our lives become incense rising to Him, enveloping our moments in the holiness of His presence.
In conclusion, Lev 2:2 challenges us to examine how we present ourselves and our gifts to God. What motives drive our offerings? Are we bringing our best to God, reflecting our gratitude for what He has done? In all aspects—be it our financial givings, time dedicated to service, or moments spent in prayer—let us strive to create that sweet savour unto the Lord. Let our lives echo the affection of our hearts and become a fragrant offering unto Him. May we embrace our roles as priests in our households, communities, and churches, bringing all that we are before the Lord, making room for His presence to fill our lives with His goodness.
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Leviticus 2:2 - "And he shall bring it to Aaron's sons the priests: and he shall take thereout his handful of the flour thereof, and of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof; and the priest shall burn the memorial of it upon the altar, to be an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD:"
"And he shall bring it to Aaron's sons the priests: and he shall take thereout his handful of the flour thereof, and of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof; and the priest shall burn the memorial of it upon the altar, to be an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD:" - Leviticus 2:2
Leviticus 2:6 - "Thou shalt part it in pieces, and pour oil thereon: it is a meat offering."
Leviticus 10:2 - "And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD."
Leviticus 2:15 - "And thou shalt put oil upon it, and lay frankincense thereon: it is a meat offering."
Leviticus 26:2 - "¶ Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD."
Leviticus 2:7 - "¶ And if thy oblation be a meat offering baken in the fryingpan, it shall be made of fine flour with oil."
Leviticus 14:2 - "This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought unto the priest:"
Leviticus 18:2 - "Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I am the LORD your God."
Leviticus 2:5 - "¶ And if thy oblation be a meat offering baken in a pan, it shall be of fine flour unleavened, mingled with oil."
Leviticus 2:12 - "¶ As for the oblation of the firstfruits, ye shall offer them unto the LORD: but they shall not be burnt on the altar for a sweet savour."
Leviticus 2:3 - "And the remnant of the meat offering shall be Aaron's and his sons': it is a thing most holy of the offerings of the LORD made by fire."
Leviticus 11:2 - "Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth."
Leviticus 21:2 - "But for his kin, that is near unto him, that is, for his mother, and for his father, and for his son, and for his daughter, and for his brother,"
Leviticus 2:10 - "And that which is left of the meat offering shall be Aaron's and his sons': it is a thing most holy of the offerings of the LORD made by fire."
Leviticus 24:2 - "Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn continually."
Leviticus 8:2 - "Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing oil, and a bullock for the sin offering, and two rams, and a basket of unleavened bread;"
Leviticus 19:2 “be holy because I, The Lord your God, am holy.
Leviticus 27:2 - "Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When a man shall make a singular vow, the persons shall be for the LORD by thy estimation."
Leviticus 2:8 - "And thou shalt bring the meat offering that is made of these things unto the LORD: and when it is presented unto the priest, he shall bring it unto the altar."
Leviticus 19:2 - "Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy."
Leviticus 7:2 - "In the place where they kill the burnt offering shall they kill the trespass offering: and the blood thereof shall he sprinkle round about upon the altar."
Leviticus 2:4 - "¶ And if thou bring an oblation of a meat offering baken in the oven, it shall be unleavened cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, or unleavened wafers anointed with oil."
Leviticus 9:2 - "And he said unto Aaron, Take thee a young calf for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering, without blemish, and offer them before the LORD."
Leviticus 23:2 - "Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts."
Leviticus 2:16 - "And the priest shall burn the memorial of it, part of the beaten corn thereof, and part of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof: it is an offering made by fire unto the LORD."
Leviticus 17:2 - "Speak unto Aaron, and unto his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them; This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded, saying,"
Leviticus 2:9 - "And the priest shall take from the meat offering a memorial thereof, and shall burn it upon the altar: it is an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD."
"And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat." - Leviticus 16:2
Leviticus 2:1 - "And when any will offer a meat offering unto the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour; and he shall pour oil upon it, and put frankincense thereon:"