Sacrifice

How would you define sacrifice? Does the lord or a servant in his kingdom need to command/ask/etc. in order for something to qualify as sacrifice?

My good friend Travis sent me this question a couple days ago. I haven't thought about it long enough, but I'll comment on it over the next few days.

We're asked to sacrifice. I think the question put another way is, "who comes up with the sacrifice's that count as far as the Lord is concerned?" For example, does sacrificing something during Lent count for anything? What if I am a "swearer" and decide to sacrifice my swearing? Does that count as sacrifice? Additionally, if the Lord's servant asks, is this a sacrifice I have to do?

All I have time for right now is to paste the Bible Dictionary's definition of Sacrifice and then comment.

In all the animal sacrifices of the Mosaic law there were six important acts: (1) The presentation of the sacrifice at the sanctuary door by the sacrificer himself, as his personal act. (2) The laying on of hands (cf. Lev. 16:21; Num. 27:18, 20; Deut. 34:9) dedicated the animal to God and made it the sacrificer’s representative and substitute (Num. 8:10; Lev. 1:4). (3) The slaughtering of the animal. The sacrificer himself slew his sacrifice (at the north side of the altar), and thus carried out actually the dedication to God that he had ceremonially expressed by the laying on of hands. A later custom was for the Levites or priests to slaughter the victims. (4) The pouring out or sprinkling of the blood. The priest collected the blood of the animal in a vessel, and applied it in various ways and places to make an atonement (Ex. 30:10; Lev. 8:15; 16:18; 17:11). (5) Burning the sacrifice on the altar. After the priest had properly prepared the sacrificial victim he offered it (the whole or the fat only) upon the altar of burnt offering. This act symbolized the consecration of the worshipper to Jehovah. (6) The sacrificial meal (in the case of the peace offering only). The fat having been burnt and the priests’ pieces removed, the rest of the flesh was eaten by the sacrificer, his household, and the poorer Levites at the tabernacle.

Notice how much of this process involves the individual making the sacrifice acknowledging what he's doing. Sacrificer can't send someone in his place, he has to do it himself. He had to kill the animal himself. Also, there were a lot of symbols that connected the sacrifice to the Atonement Jesus would later perform.

It sounds like sacrifices in that time were made to help the sacrificer invest time and thought in the Atonement (it's a tool to do this).

Last comment - It sounds like sacrifices were made for man and not man to sacrifice.

More tomorrow. Thanks Travis. You think of the best practical questions.