Fat Covering Entrails הַחֵ֖לֶב הַֽמְכַסֶּ֥ה אֶת־הַקֶּֽרֶב

We are rolling into chapter seven of Leviticus with our word for today. הַחֵ֖לֶב הַֽמְכַסֶּ֥ה אֶת־הַקֶּֽרֶב the fat that covers the entrails, the fat covering the entrails. It is used 6 times in the Old Testament. The first two uses of our phrase is in the context of the ordination service for Aaron and his sons to serve as priests. Exodus 29:1, 10-11, 13, 22-24 Now this is what you shall do to them to consecrate them, that they may serve me as priests … Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the bull. Then you shall kill the bull before the Lord at the entrance of the tent of meeting … And you shall take all הַחֵלֶב֮ הַֽמְכַסֶּ֣ה אֶת־הַקֶּרֶב֒ the fat that covers the entrails, and the long lobe of the liver, and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them, and burn them on the altar. You shall also take the fat from the ram and the fat tail and הַחֵ֣לֶב הַֽמְכַסֶּ֣ה אֶת־הַקֶּ֗רֶב the fat that covers the entrails, and the long lobe of the liver and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them, and the right thigh (for it is a ram of ordination) … You shall put all these on the palms of Aaron and on the palms of his sons, and wave them for a wave offering before the Lord. Our phrase is also used with the peace and food offerings. Leviticus 3:3 And from the sacrifice of the peace offering, as a food offering to the Lord, he shall offer the fat covering the entrails and all הַחֵ֙לֶב֙ הַֽמְכַסֶּ֣ה אֶת־הַקֶּ֔רֶב the fat that is on the entrails. We find our phrase used with the guilt offering. This is how our phrase is used in our chapter today. Leviticus 7:1-6 This is the law of the guilt offering. It is most holy. In the place where they kill the burnt offering they shall kill the guilt offering, and its blood shall be thrown against the sides of the altar. And all its fat shall be offered, the fat tail, הַחֵ֖לֶב הַֽמְכַסֶּ֥ה אֶת־הַקֶּֽרֶב the fat that covers the entrails, the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins, and the long lobe of the liver that he shall remove with the kidneys. The priest shall burn them on the altar as a food offering to the Lord; it is a guilt offering. Every male among the priests may eat of it. It shall be eaten in a holy place. It is most holy. It is interesting that part of this guilt offering has to do with the inner part of the animal as a sacrifice for guilt. The tabernacle worship was set up so people could connect with God from their inner part. The good news is that Jesus is our guilt and sin offering to clean us from our inner most being. Hebrews 9:14 How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. I’ll close with these great Psalms that have our word for inner part from our phrase. Psalm 51:9-12 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit בְּקִרְבִּֽי within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Psalm 103:1-5 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is קְ֝רָבַ֗י within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.