The Shelamim Offering
By Eric Carlson in October-3 on September 29, 2022
As we are celebrating the Fall Feasts, Sukkot is one of the Feast Days that we receive our Shelamim offering. I’m sure some are asking what is a Shelamim offering? The book of Leviticus records five offerings or sacrifices. The Olah (Burnt Offering), Minchah (Grain Offering), Hatta-At (Purification Offering), Asham (Guilt Offering), and Zevah Shelamim (Peace Offering).
Leviticus 3:1 (CJB) “‘If his offering is a sacrifice of peace offerings, then, if he offers before ADONAI an animal from the herd, then, no matter whether it is male or female, it must be without defect.
The root word of Shelamim is Shalom, Peace! Shalom is a complex word that has many meanings. Shalom does mean peace and much more. Shalom is rooted in the word שלם (shaleim), which means completion, wholeness, wellness, Kingdom perfection, the absence of all conflict, not just peace alone. In the Kingdom of Heaven there is no wholeness or completion without Shalom.
Shalom is also commonly used as a greeting and salutation. When we wish one another “Shalom” we are expressing the hope that we experience physical, emotional, and psychological wholeness, wellness, and Kingdom perfection! This offering is commanded to be received three specific times a year that brings us into Shalom with Adonai, our creator!
Deuteronomy 16:16-17 (CJB) Three times a year all your men are to appear in the presence of ADONAI your God in the place which he will choose – at the festival of matzah, at the festival of Shavu’ot and at the festival of Sukkot. They are not to show up before ADONAI empty-handed, 17 but every man is to give what he can, in accordance with the blessing ADONAI your God has given you.
The Shelamim offering has nothing to do with the absolution of sin but is a central key to Kingdom living. As noted in Deuteronomy 16 the Shelamim offering is a command. The Shelamim offering is an expression, an act of our Kingdom walk done in joy, honor, coupled with fear of the Lord in fellowship with Adonai! Shelamim is a fellowship/peace offering above and beyond our normal tithe! It’s an offering based upon how Adonai has blessed you since the last Shelamim offering. It is a covenant act of Shalom between you, the giver, and Adonai. The Shelamim is integrally related to the personal generosity and appreciation a person feels as a servant of Adonai, who desires that you bring your best offering to Him.
The Shelamim is a voluntary offering from the heart in submission and obedience. As you participate in the Shelamim offering you will experience a supernatural blessing as you give according to how you have been blessed over the last year! While we have Shalom with Adonai bought by the blood of Yeshua, the emphasis on the Shelamim offering is the fellowship we have with Adonai, with Yeshua, and with each another. According to Adonai, this is the only area we are to test Him in:
Malachi 3:8-10 (CJB) Can a person rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In tenths and voluntary contributions (Shelamim offering). 9 A curse is on you, on your whole nation, because you rob me. 10 Bring the whole tenth into the storehouse, so that there will be food in my house, and put me to the test,” says ADONAI-Tzva’ot. “See if I won’t open for you the floodgates of heaven and pour out for you a blessing far beyond your needs.’
Test Him, give your voluntary contribution, your Shelamim offering and watch Him “open the floodgates of heaven and pour out for you a blessing far beyond your needs”. Through the sacrifice of Messiah, we are able to fellowship with our Father in heaven by offering our Shelamim offering, a Kingdom covenant act. This is a direct fellowship offering with the Lord.
Psalms 107:22. (CJB) Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and proclaim his great deeds with songs of joy.
Join with us and honor Adonai with your Shelamim offering and proclaim His great deeds with songs of joy!