Friday, March 23, 2012

Consecrating the Altar

Exodus 29:36-37

"And thou shalt offer every day a bullock for a sin offering for atonement: and thou shalt cleanse the altar, when thou hast made an atonement for it, and thou shalt anoint it, to sanctify it.  Seven days thou shalt make an atonement for the altar, and sanctify it; and it shall be an altar most holy: whatsoever toucheth the altar shall be holy.” (Exodus 29:36-37) 

In Exodus 20:25, God commanded, “And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.”  Man’s effort to modify the shapes of the stones from the state God had made it would pollute it.  It was only acceptable as God had made it.  The brazen altar was completely shaped by man’s efforts.  It could only be made acceptable by the cleansing power of the blood, even though it was made according to God’s instructions.

Jesus said, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit,” in John 3:6.  If something originated with or was produced by the flesh it is still flesh, no matter how we may try to spiritualize it.  Only as it is changed and empowered by the spirit does it have spiritual power, as John 6:63 tells us.  “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”  The nature of anything’s power depends on the spirit empowering it.  To glorify God and accomplish it’s purpose, the brazen altar had to be cleansed of every human influence.  When it was empowered by God it affected everyone that came in contact with it.

The Daily Sacrifices
Exodus 29:38-46

“Now this is that which thou shalt offer upon the altar; two lambs of the first year day by day continually.  The one lamb thou shalt offer in the morning; and the other lamb thou shalt offer at even: And with the one lamb a tenth deal of flour mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil; and the fourth part of an hin of wine for a drink offering.  And the other lamb thou shalt offer at even, and shalt do thereto according to the meat offering of the morning, and according to the drink offering thereof, for a sweet savour, an offering made by fire unto the LORD.” (Exodus 29:38-41)

Every morning and every evening they were to offer a lamb to god, accompanied by an offering of flour mingled with oil and a measure of wine as a drink offering .  It was a sweet savour offering, denoting a sharing with God of what he had provided and, in effect, thanking him.  As such the entire offering was to be burned on the altar.

“This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD: where I will meet you, to speak there unto thee.  And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by my glory.  And I will sanctify the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar: I will sanctify also both Aaron and his sons, to minister to me in the priest's office.  And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God.  And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them: I am the LORD their God." (Exodus 29:42-46)

This sacrifice was to be offered to God as long as there was a nation of Israel.  In return God would communicate with them freely, guiding and living among them and would sanctify their religion and priests, demonstrating his power among them.  Once again we see the importance of regular communion and obedience if we are to have a satisfactory relationship with God.

Though they were still observing this command in Jesus’ day, it had become merely a ritual, something they did habitually, whether to make themselves feel good or to impress others, with no real thought of it‘s meaning, and were no longer aware of God’s power among them.  Unfortunately, too often our prayers and devotions and Christian service also become mere ritual or show.  The spirit producing them is no l

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