The Sweet Fragrance Of Prayer: Aroma Pleasing To God

The phrase pleasing aroma to God is used in the Bible to refer to sacrifices made to God. In the Old Testament, specifically Leviticus, the aroma of sacrifices made by burning grain, meat, and wine is referred to as a pleasing aroma to the Lord. The New Testament, on the other hand, emphasizes the idea of sacrificing one's life as a living sacrifice that is pleasing to God. This is seen in Romans 12, where Paul urges Christians to offer their bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to the Lord.

The aroma of a sacrifice

The Bible tells us that God found the aroma of Noah's sacrifice "pleasing". After the flood waters had receded, Noah built an altar to the Lord and sacrificed some of all the clean animals and birds upon it. The Lord "smelled the pleasing aroma" and promised never again to curse the ground or destroy all living creatures.

In Leviticus, we find specific instructions for various offerings, including the fellowship offering and the grain offering. These offerings were to be made in a particular way, with specific ingredients, and then burned on the altar as "an aroma pleasing to the Lord".

But why was the aroma of these sacrifices so important to God? It's not just about the smell itself, but what the smell represents—the substitutionary atonement for sin. The sacrifices were a way for people to atone for their sins and restore their relationship with God. This idea of atonement is further reinforced by the fact that the word used for "smell" in Hebrew can also mean "accept" or "delight".

Jesus, the Son of God, became the final sacrifice for sin, the ultimate propitiation. Through his sacrifice, we are able to have our sins forgiven and be brought into a permanent relationship with God. As Christians, we are called to imitate God and offer ourselves as living sacrifices, pleasing to Him.

So, when we read about the aroma of a sacrifice in the Bible, we can understand it as a metaphor for obedience, devotion, and the restoration of our relationship with God through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Fellowship offerings

The concept of a "pleasing aroma" to God is a fascinating one, and it plays a significant role in understanding God's desires for fellowship and relationship with humanity. In this response, we will delve into the topic of "Fellowship Offerings" and explore how they exemplify the theme of atonement and restoration of relationship with God.

Understanding Fellowship Offerings

The Significance of Laying Hands on the Offering

The act of laying hands on the head of the offering is more than just a ritualistic gesture. It symbolizes the transfer of sin and identification with the sacrifice. By laying their hands on the animal, the offerer acknowledges that the animal has become their atonement, taking on their sins and providing a pathway to reconciliation with God. This powerful act is a reminder of the seriousness of sin and the need for sacrifice to restore relationship with a holy God.

The Aroma Pleasing to the Lord

The book of Leviticus describes how the fellowship offerings were burned on the altar, creating an aroma pleasing to the Lord. However, the significance of this pleasing aroma goes beyond the mere scent of the sacrifice. It represents the acceptance of the offering and, more importantly, the restoration of relationship with God. The Jews' sacrifices were not just about the act of sacrifice but about the atonement that followed, allowing them to once again dwell in the presence of a holy God.

Jesus: The Perfect Atonement

The ultimate fulfillment of fellowship offerings is found in the sacrifice of Jesus, who became the perfect atonement for our sins. Through his sacrifice, we are brought back into a permanent relationship with God. Jesus' death on the cross, though brutal and painful, was a fragrant offering that restored our fellowship with God. It is through this sacrifice that we, like the Jews, find atonement and are welcomed into God's presence.

Our Lives as a Pleasing Aroma

As followers of Christ, our lives can also become a pleasing aroma to God. When we accept Jesus' sacrifice and allow his fragrance of life to permeate our lives, we become a sweet-smelling offering to God. This doesn't diminish the challenges and struggles we face but instead transforms our perspective and understanding of God's ultimate desire for relationship and fellowship with us.

Atonement

The idea of a "pleasing aroma" to God is mentioned several times in the Bible, specifically in the book of Leviticus. However, the significance of these offerings lies not in the scent itself but in what the aroma symbolises—the substitutionary atonement for sin.

In Genesis 8:20-21, Noah offers a burnt offering of clean animals and birds after leaving the ark. This sacrifice is described as a "pleasing aroma" to God, who promises never to destroy every living creature with a flood again. Here, the aroma represents the propitiation, or satisfaction, of God's righteous requirement.

In Leviticus, the "pleasing aroma" is associated with the various offerings of Jewish tabernacle worship. For example, Leviticus 1:9 states, "The priest is to burn all of it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord." Similarly, Leviticus 2:2 and 9 refer to grain offerings that produce an "aroma pleasing to the Lord." The emphasis is on the act of propitiation rather than the smoke of the burnt offering.

The yearly Feast of Weeks also included a larger sacrifice that focused on the redemption of sinners as the reason for the pleasing aroma. Leviticus 23:18 mentions the offering of bread, lambs, a bull, and rams, along with their grain and drink offerings, as a "food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord."

The New Testament reveals Christ as the final sacrifice for sin, the ultimate propitiation. Ephesians 5:2 states, "Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." Jesus' sacrifice was the perfect atonement, bringing us into a permanent relationship with God.

Therefore, the "pleasing aroma" in the Bible signifies atonement and the restoration of a relationship with God. It symbolises the substitutionary atonement for sin, where God's righteous requirements are satisfied through sacrifice and worship offered in His name.

Propitiation

The idea of a "pleasing aroma" to God is a recurring theme in the Bible, specifically in the book of Leviticus. This phrase is often associated with the sacrifices offered to God, such as burnt offerings of animals, grain offerings, and drink offerings. However, the importance of these aromas goes beyond their pleasant smell; it symbolises the substitutionary atonement for sin.

In Genesis 8:20-21, Noah built an altar to the Lord and sacrificed clean animals and birds as a burnt offering. The pleasing aroma of this sacrifice prompted God to promise never again to curse the ground or destroy all living creatures with a flood (Genesis 8:21). This act of propitiation, or satisfaction, of God's righteous requirement is further emphasised in Leviticus.

Leviticus 1:9 describes a burnt offering as "an aroma pleasing to the LORD." Similarly, Leviticus 2:2 mentions a grain offering with "an aroma pleasing to the LORD." These offerings were not just about their scent but represented the commitment to offer worship in God's name as commanded. The "pleasing aroma" signifies the action of propitiation, where God's wrath is appeased through the sacrifice.

The ultimate propitiation is revealed in the New Testament through Christ's sacrifice. Ephesians 5:2 states, "Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." Jesus, the Son of God, provided the eternally pleasing sacrifice that satisfied God's righteous requirement once and for all.

In conclusion, the concept of a "pleasing aroma" in the Bible is deeply rooted in the idea of propitiation and atonement. God's pleasure in the aroma of sacrifices signifies His acceptance of these offerings as a means of atonement for sin. This theme culminates in the New Testament, where Jesus' sacrifice becomes the ultimate propitiation, bringing about reconciliation between God and humanity.

The pleasing aroma of Jesus' sacrifice

The Bible mentions on sixteen occasions in the book of Leviticus that an "aroma" is a pleasing sacrifice to God. However, the importance of a sacrifice's aroma is not the smell itself but what the smell represents: the substitutionary atonement for sin.

The first mention of God smelling a pleasing aroma is in Genesis 8:20-21, when Noah offers a burnt offering of clean animals and birds after leaving the ark. God is pleased with the sacrifice and promises never to destroy every living creature with a flood again.

In Leviticus, a pleasing aroma is mentioned in connection with the various offerings of Jewish tabernacle worship. For example, Leviticus 1:9 says, "The priest is to burn all of it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord." Similarly, Leviticus 2:2 states, "When someone brings a grain offering to the Lord, his offering is to be of fine flour. He is to pour oil on it, put incense on it and take it to Aaron's sons the priests. The priest shall take a handful of the fine flour and oil, together with all the incense, and burn this as a memorial portion on the altar, an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the Lord."

The "pleasing aroma" is also mentioned in Leviticus 1:9, 13, and 23:18, emphasizing the action of propitiation rather than the actual smoke of the burnt offering. Offerings made to false gods were also described as having a "pleasing aroma" to the idols, although such false worship displeased the Lord, who demanded worship only of Him and sacrifice only to Him.

In the New Testament, Christ is revealed as the final sacrifice for sin, the ultimate propitiation: "Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God" (Ephesians 5:2). Jesus' sacrifice was the perfect atonement, bringing us back into a permanent relationship with God.

Thus, the pleasing aroma of Jesus' sacrifice represents the atonement for sin and our redemption through His death on the cross. It is a symbol of God's love and desire for a relationship with humanity, providing a way for us to be reconciled to Him and bringing us hope and salvation.

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