The Five Offerings Of Leviticus Part 3: Dove Offering

The Dove Offering.

Leviticus 1:14-17
¹⁴ And if the burnt sacrifice for his offering to the Lord be of fowls, then he shall bring his offering of turtledoves, or of young pigeons.
¹⁵ And the priest shall bring it unto the altar, and wring off his head, and burn it on the altar; and the blood thereof shall be wrung out at the side of the altar:
¹⁶ And he shall pluck away his crop with his feathers, and cast it beside the altar on the east part, by the place of the ashes:
¹⁷ And he shall cleave it with the wings thereof, but shall not divide it asunder: and the priest shall burn it upon the altar, upon the wood that is upon the fire: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord."
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The poorest of Israel brought a pair of turtle doves or young pigeons because that's all they could afford.  Unlike those who brought sheep, goats or bullocks, the bird was not cut into pieces nor it's entrails washed with water.  They are simply too small.  The head was twisted off by the priest and blood poured out at one side of the altar.
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What does it all mean?

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(Mournful Jesus.)

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Typology Of Believers.

Doves represent innocence.  They also have a mournful cry.  In fact, they are often called, "mourning doves."  As such, they are a picture of believers who are "mourning innocents."  This offering of birds depicts how some Christians see Jesus. 

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Ever see pictures of Jesus where He appears sad, pale and weak, like He's never been outside in the sun, as in the picture above?  That is how many see Him: As a mourning Innocent.  

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But that is not really an accurate picture of Him, is it?  No!  Jesus was a carpenter in a day and age where they didn't have power tools.  It required a great deal of physical strength to be a carpenter back then.  Far from being a pale, skinny weakling, His muscles had muscles!  

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(Jesus as a carpenter.)

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Mourning Innocents.

In the case of these Christians, The priest takes the dove from the worshipper.  The priest twists off its head.  The priest pours its blood out "at the side of the altar," but not around it on all sides because, again, they are too small.  They don't exactly have very much blood in their bodies.  The priest burns it on the altar.  The priest plucks out it's crop and feathers.
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Are you sensing a pattern here?  Of all three offerings, this one is completely handled without the worshipper's participation, except the bringing to him.  It typifies Churches and denominations where the priest pretty much does everything.  He is their intermediary, their intercessor, he absolves them of the sins they confess to him, instead of the ind the dove, are "mourning innocents."  They have a small revelation of Jesus and little knowledge, understanding or appreciation of His shed blood, as compared to someone who has, say, a "bullock" revelation.  They don't understand that ALL THEIR SINS are cleansed for their entire lives.  They see Him like a bird:  Someone who came down from heaven.

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The Meaning Of The Altar.

"Altar" depicts God's claims on sinful man.  The blood being poured out in only one place typifies that these folks don't believe that the blood avails for all of those claims but offers only partial forgiveness; good reason for all the "mourning."  

They know their sins are forgiven from birth to the moment of conversion, but they must confess as they go to be forgiven of sins committed afterward in order to get right with God again.  This is not true, mind you, it is simply their perception.  Your sins are cleansed for your entire life.  

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Doves are also fearful, fragile, and shy creatures.  These believers are actually afraid of God.  Timid in their approach to Him, they see Him as standing over them, possibly with a big stick, ready to smack them down for the least little infraction.  Sound like anyone you know?  

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Equal Standing Before God.

Understand, this has NO BEARING whatsoever on the their acceptance before God. This person is just as precious and acceptable to God as the one who offers a bullock.  It represents the lowest form of understanding of redemption.  
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HOWEVER:  It does affect their journey though life.  The smaller revelation of the efficacy of the blood of Christ, the less one can receive from God and walk in His blessings on this earth.  This affects their walk; not their standing.

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Isn't God Good!  No matter how great or small our understanding or view of Him, we can come to Him just as we are as long as we come bringing our Burnt Offering:  JESUS.  He is our acceptance before the Father!
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Please proceed to part 4 where we'll discuss the sheep and goat offering.