Spurgeon Morning and Evening April 13 PM

Biblical Context

Leviticus, a book many people find hard to get through, is actually a deep well of meaning for us. It comes from the Hebrew word וַיִּקְרָא (Vayikra), meaning ‘And He called,’ right from its first word. This book, written by Moses, lays out God’s laws for His chosen people, Israel, especially when it comes to worship and holy living.

The burnt offering, or עֹלָה (olah) in Hebrew, was one of the oldest and most complete sacrifices in ancient Israel. It was a picture of total surrender and devotion. The entire animal, except for its hide, was burned on the altar, showing a person’s complete dedication to God and a desire for reconciliation. When the person offering the sacrifice put their hand on the animal’s head, as described here in Leviticus 1:4, it wasn’t just a physical act; it was a symbolic transfer. It meant the sins of the person were being placed onto the innocent animal, which would then bear the consequences.

This act was for atonement, which means ‘covering’ or ‘making amends for.’ It allowed a way for sinful people to stand before a holy God. Without shedding blood, there wasn’t forgiveness. This whole system pointed ahead to the ultimate sacrifice, Jesus Christ, who would take away sin once and for all.

Key Word Study

Let’s look closely at the word סָמַךְ (samak), which is translated as ‘put his hand’ in Leviticus 1:4. While it can mean a simple touch, its deeper sense, often seen in other places in the Bible, means ‘to lean heavily upon,’ ‘to support,’ or ‘to rest one’s full weight on.’

This isn’t just a light contact; it’s a real leaning. Think about leaning your full weight on a strong wall, knowing it won’t give way. This physical act of leaning carries a deep spiritual truth. It shows dependence, trust, and the transfer of a burden. When the Israelite put their hand on the animal’s head, they weren’t just touching it; they were symbolically placing their sin, their guilt, and their need for forgiveness directly onto that animal. They were leaning the weight of their wrongdoing onto it, trusting that this act, through God’s appointed way, would make things right.

The Transfer of Sin and Our Substitute

The idea of our Lord being made “sin for us” really comes to life in this picture. You see a clear and meaningful transfer of sin to the bullock. It wasn’t just any bullock; the elders of the people made this choice. This act sets up a powerful truth for us today: God had a plan to deal with our sin, and it involved a substitute.

The laying of the hand wasn’t just a light touch of contact. The Bible shows us that the original word means leaning heavily. It’s like the feeling in Psalm 88:7 when it says, “Thy wrath lieth hard upon me.” This isn’t a gentle tap; it’s a heavy, pressing weight. When we think of this, we start to understand how deep this transfer really was.

Faith Means Leaning Hard

Surely, this is what faith really is. It doesn’t just bring us near the great Substitute, Jesus; it teaches us to lean on Him with the entire weight of our guilt. Imagine carrying a huge, heavy bag of rocks. Faith tells you to drop that bag and lean completely on someone strong enough to take it all. You’re not just touching Him; you’re putting your full weight, your full burden, on Him.

Jehovah, our God, made all the offenses of His people meet on the head of the Substitute. Every single wrong thing His covenant people ever did was placed there. But here’s the amazing part: each one of us, who are chosen, gets to personally agree to this deep covenant act. How? By grace, we are able, through faith, to lay our hand on the head of the “Lamb slain from before the foundation of the world.” You don’t just know about it; you do it yourself, by faith.

Remembering Your Day of Deliverance

Believer, do you remember that joyful day when you first understood pardon because of Jesus, the sin-bearer? Can you make a glad confession right now and join me in saying, “My soul recalls her day of deliverance with delight. Laden with guilt and full of fears, I saw my Saviour as my Substitute, and I laid my hand upon Him; oh! how timidly at first, but courage grew and confidence was confirmed until I leaned my soul entirely upon Him; and now it is my unceasing joy to know that my sins are no longer imputed to me, but laid on Him, and like the debts of the wounded traveller, Jesus, like the good Samaritan, has said of all my future sinfulness, ‘Set that to My account.’”

What a discovery! What lasting peace for a thankful heart! It’s not just about past sins; it’s about knowing Jesus handles all of it, even future failures. He’s got your back. He’s taken your debt.

All Your Sins Drowned in His Blood

This truth brings such freedom. We don’t have to carry the load anymore. It’s truly a blessed discovery and something that gives a grateful heart never-ending comfort:

“My numerous sins transferr’d to Him,
Shall never more be found,
Lost in His blood’s atoning stream,
Where every crime is drown’d!”

Let that sink in today. Your sins are gone, transferred, and drowned. You are free because you have a Substitute who carried it all for you, and you’ve leaned on Him with all your heart.