Today’s devotion comes from Numbers 15:4-13.
“4 The one who presents his offering shall present to the Lord a grain offering of one-tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with one-fourth of a hin of oil, 5 and you shall prepare wine for the drink offering, one-fourth of a hin, with the burnt offering or for the sacrifice, for each lamb. 6 Or for a ram you shall prepare as a grain offering two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with one-third of a hin of oil; 7 and for the drink offering you shall offer one-third of a hin of wine as a soothing aroma to the Lord. 8 When you prepare a bull as a burnt offering or a sacrifice, to fulfill a special vow, or for peace offerings to the Lord, 9 then you shall offer with the bull a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with one-half a hin of oil; 10 and you shall offer as the drink offering one-half a hin of wine as an offering by fire, as a soothing aroma to the Lord.
11 ‘Thus it shall be done for each ox, or for each ram, or for each of the male lambs, or of the goats. 12 According to the number that you prepare, so you shall do for everyone according to their number. 13 All who are native shall do these things in this manner, in presenting an offering by fire, as a soothing aroma to the Lord.” Numbers 15:4-13.
———————–
Why would the LORD care how the offerings were presented? Doesn’t just the heart of the worshipper matter?
The precise numbers of how God commands that offerings are to be made, all of these details in today’s Scripture, should cause us to conclude that God does care and does regulate how He is to be worshipped.
Reformed Doctrine recognizes that worship is all about God and His desires and His commands as to how He wants to be worshipped, and worship is not just about what makes us feel good. Reformed Doctrine calls it the Regulative Principle of Worship. Here is a link to a good article on it titled “The Regulative Principle of Worship (1)” by Rev. Griess Cory of the Protestant Reformed Churches in their publication Standard Bearer – http://standardbearer.rfpa.org/articles/regulative-principle-worship-1
“7 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
8 Ascribe to the Lord the glory of His name;
Bring an offering and come into His courts.
9 Worship the Lord in holy attire;
Tremble before Him, all the earth.” Psalm 96:7-9.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 