Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 27:1-8.
“And you shall make the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long and five cubits wide; the altar shall be square, and its height shall be three cubits. You shall make its horns on its four corners; its horns shall be of one piece with it, and you shall overlay it with bronze. You shall make its pails for removing its ashes, and its shovels and its basins and its forks and its firepans; you shall make all its utensils of bronze. You shall make for it a grating of network of bronze, and on the net you shall make four bronze rings at its four corners. You shall put it beneath, under the ledge of the altar, so that the net will reach halfway up the altar. You shall make poles for the altar, poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with bronze. Its poles shall be inserted into the rings, so that the poles shall be on the two sides of the altar when it is carried. You shall make it hollow with planks; as it was shown to you in the mountain, so they shall make it.” Exodus 27:1-8.
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Today’s Scripture focuses on the altar for the tabernacle. An altar is an object where animals are sacrificed to God to please God and to appease His wrath incurred from sin. For example, in Exodus Chapter 29:10-25., we read detailed instructions showing how the animals’ blood should be placed on the “horns” of the altar or at the base of the altar, and certain parts of the animals should be placed on the altar to be offered up in smoke.
From Genesis to Revelation, we see wide-spread use in Scripture of the word “altar” with some literal uses and some figurative uses. “Then Noah built an altar to the Lord, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar.” Genesis 8:20. “And I heard the altar saying, “Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.” Revelation 16:7.
All the altars and the sacrifices point to Christ Who made one perfect sacrifice for sins for all time to sanctify the people through His blood.
“We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate. So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come.” Hebrews 13:10-14.
“Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He (Christ), having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet. For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.” Hebrews 10:11-14.
Although we do not need to sacrifice animals anymore, we can and should continue to offer sacrifices of praise to God and doing good to others for God.
“Through Him (Christ) then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” Hebrews 13:15-16.
And, there is help!
God equips us in every good thing to do His will and works in us that which is pleasing in His sight.
“Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20-21.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 