We are continuing on with our study of the 5th Levitical sacrifice known as the ASHAM, what Bibles normally call the “Guilt Offering” but what I am calling in this study the “Reparation Offering”.
Again, this sacrifice was all about making reparations for offenses committed with FULL AWARENESS or UNAWARES.
The ASHAM was offered up to make amends because God’s holiness had been assaulted.
It was all about making right the wrongs that had been committed.
Let’s talk a little bit about this concept of “making reparations” and how it is quite different than paying a penalty because I think we have a tendency to confuse the two.
For example, when you pay a fine for a speeding ticket, this is NOT reparation.
You are not making amends or in some way righting the wrong you have committed.
Rather you paying the fine is a form of punishment.
The ASHAM offering was NOT about punishment.
Instead this sacrifice is all about an attempt to COMPENSATE the injured party for the damage that has been done due to your wrongdoing.
This is different than a penalty.
The Lord is saying that His Holiness has been trespassed against and thus compensation is necessary according to His justice system.
The ASHAM or “Reparation Offering” is the “compensation” the Lord requires.
It is also important to remind you that the “Reparation Offering” must be given with a sincere and repentant heart or it is NOT effective.
An ASHAM offered up with a bad attitude would be no reparation at all.
This would be no different than an unrepentant criminal thrown into prison.
His heart hasn’t changed at all.
He is still just as dangerous as ever, but just locked behind bars.
Speaking of criminals being thrown into prison, from a Biblical perspective, the idea that a prisoner “pays his debt to society” in such a way is hogwash.
The prisoner isn’t paying anybody anything.
Or to put it another way, he is in no any way making reparations, amends, or compensating anybody for his criminal acts.
He is being PUNISHED or PAYING A PENALTY, pure and simple.
Actually, come to think about it, it is society that pays because the criminal is being housed with 3 square meals a day at our expense!
I hope this clarifies the difference between “making reparations” and “paying a penalty”.
To conclude, just understand that the ASHAM was all about making reparations with A SINCERE HEART to compensate an injured party.
It was NOT a penalty.
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