<Exodus 27>:
1) The altar of burnt offering <v1-8>
2) The courtyard <v9-19>
3) Ever burning lamps <v20-21>
The Altar of Burnt Offering <v1-8>
<Ex 27> 1 “Build an altar of acacia wood, three cubits high; it is to be square, five cubits long and five cubits wide. 2 Make a horn at each of the four corners, so that the horns and the altar are of one piece, and overlay the altar with bronze.
3 Make all its utensils of bronze—its pots to remove the ashes, and its shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks and firepans. 4 Make a grating for it, a bronze network, and make a bronze ring at each of the four corners of the network. 5 Put it under the ledge of the altar so that it is halfway up the altar. 6 Make poles of acacia wood for the altar and overlay them with bronze.
7 The poles are to be inserted into the rings so they will be on two sides of the altar when it is carried. 8 Make the altar hollow, out of boards. It is to be made just as you were shown on the mountain.
- God is both Just and Merciful.
- Bronze altar was first thing to be seen when entering tabernacle.
- Reconciled fellowship with the Holy God is only possible with a blood sacrifice.
- Fire on this altar must be kept burning: God is holy and He is a consuming fire <Heb 12:29>.
- The need for substitutionary atonement: A substitute must die in the sinner’s place so that the sinner may live.
- OT animal sacrifices point to the ultimate sacrifice by Jesus.
- But the altar also reminds us of God’s mercy.
- He chose to accept inadequate animal sacrifices; He chose to let His only Son sacrifice for sinners.
- The need for confession and repentance of sins.
- Confession: Initial and Ongoing
- Burnt offerings had to be sacrificed daily.
- The need for faith too.
Courtyard <v9-19>.
<Ex 27> 9 “Make a courtyard for the tabernacle. The south side shall be a hundred cubits long and is to have curtains of finely twisted linen…
- Separation of sacred and common spaces.
- Christians should be set apart from the world.
- God’s willingness for ordinary people to draw near Him.
- Courtyard only one entrance: Jesus is also the only way to God.
- Access to God is by grace, not entitlement.
- Privilege and joy of being in God’s courtyard.
Constantly burning lamps <v20-21>
<Ex 27> 20 “Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning. 21 In the tent of meeting, outside the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law, Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps burning before the Lord from evening till morning. This is to be a lasting ordinance among the Israelites for the generations to come.
- Co-working: Priests keep lamps burning, ordinary Israelites provide oil.
- Constant light: Perpetual presence of God.
- The role of providing light in darkness.
- We ourselves need light from God to serve God in a dark world.
- Being enlightened, we are to shine our light before others <Mt 5:14-16>.
Reflection:
- God is both just yet merciful; how does this affect the way you act toward Him? Even though you can expect abundant grace from God, how is your ongoing battle with sin (confession, repentance, rejection of sins)?
- Share your experience of being the light of the world. Do you think you have shone your light before others enough? How can you better set yourself apart and let the world see God’s light through your life?
