Leviticus 7:2
In the place where they kill the burnt offering they shall kill the guilt offering, and its blood shall be thrown against the sides of the altar.
Tag: Restitution for Guilt and Shame
There were many types of offerings for the Hebrews. One of them is mentioned in the above verse: The "guilt" offering. It is sometimes referred to as the "reparation" offering; or, to "make amends." As compared to the other offerings listed in Leviticus, the "guilt" offering was actually the result of someone who did something wrong and then, later, felt guilty about it and came to make "reparation" with God for the wrong done. Instead of an offering brought on by a command of God to do, it was brought on by the shame and guilt of someone in the nation who realized they did wrong and their guilt drove them to repentance. This is a true repentance offering. It shows that when we do wrong and are overcome by guilt, we need to make amends for that wrong via sacrifice. A simple, "I'm sorry," does not remove the guilt. There must be a sacrifice attached to the offering. Most commentators simply discuss the difference between the sin offering (when we have sinned and it is known) and the guilt offering (whew we have sinned and only we know it) as what happens with the blood during the offering. In the sin offering it is placed upon the horns and in the guilt offering it is thrown against the sides of the alter. Whereas that is significant, the real observation is that the guilt offering is motivated by guilt. God gives us guilt to show us our secret sins. God gives us guilt and expects us to respond in restitution. Got gives us guilt, but a way to deal with it in repentance. Unconfessed guilt and guilt that has no sacrifice of restitution, will result in shame, which will result in physical and psychological damage. God expects guilt to cause us to worship Him in a way that we employ the sacrifice of Christ in our lives. Unconfessed guilt can only result in unwanted shame.
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