Leviticus 7:28-34
Lev 7:28 Yahveh spoke to Moses, and this is what he said,
Lev 7:29 “Speak to the people of Israel, and this is what you should say, whoever offers the sacrifice of his healthy relationships offering to Yahveh will bring his offering to Yahveh from the sacrifice of his healthy relationships offering.
Lev 7:30 His own hands will bring Yahveh’s fire offerings. He will bring the fat with the breast, that the breast may be waved as a wave offering in Yahveh’s sight.
Lev 7:31 The priest will burn the fat on the altar, but the breast will be for Aaron and his sons.
Lev 7:32 And the right thigh you will give to the priest as a contribution from the sacrifice of your healthy relationships offering.
Lev 7:33 Whoever among the sons of Aaron offers the blood of the healthy relationships offering and the fat will have the right thigh for a portion.
Lev 7:34 Because the breast that is waved and the thigh that is contributed I have taken from the people of Israel, out of the sacrifices of their healthy relationships offerings, and have given them to Aaron the priest and to his sons, as a permanent prescription from the people of Israel.
the portion for the priests
The healthy relationships offering was all about ensuring a wholeness among the members of the old covenant community. A portion (in this case, the right thigh) was set aside to be eaten by the priests alone. By doing this, the worshippers indicated that they recognised the importance of the priests, as the LORD’s chosen mediators. They ministered to the LORD by making reconciliation between others possible.
As priests under the new covenant, we serve the LORD by encouraging unity and reconciliation among all the members of the body. When their is discord, we are to facilitate harmony. This is a valuable ministry for all of us, no matter what title we have in the church.
LORD, make us mediators and reconcilers, bringing harmony and unity within the community of faith.