Ever since I was a young girl, I have adored the paintings of Claude Monet. In his paintings he combines the effect of light, varied brush strokes, and color to provide a glimpse into a fleeting moment that I would love to experience. About a year ago, a museum in St. Petersburg was hosting an exhibition of numerous impressionist artists. I was able to go see my loved Claude Monet paintings along with some other treasured works from artists. It was an adventure I will always cherish.
In Numbers 28 and 29, the Bible gives us a different type of a beautiful picture for our minds to contend with. The methodical plan of devotion that the Lord required of the Hebrews was a shadow of a love story unlike any the world has ever known.
Every morning, every evening, every week, every month, every holy day... there was to be a display of dedication to Yahweh. I suppose it could have been hard to see the forest for the trees for the average citizen of Israel as they continually brought their offerings. Daily there was much physical labor to deal with in order to remain faithful to God's directions; the bringing of the grain and the animals to the tabernacle, the slaughter of the sacrifices, and the burning of the offerings. Likewise, we may read these verses and mainly think of the bloody mess, offensive smells, and awful noises that could occur with this many livestock being sacrificed daily. But from God's perspective, it was a beautiful thing to see His children obediently accomplishing His will through continual devotion.
The Lord's design of the sacrificial system wove together complex moments of rejoicing because of fellowship, sorrow from the effects of sin and repentance from failures to create a picture, rich with deep spiritual meaning for the lives of all believers. It is a beautiful thing for us to behold an entire nation working together to preserve the truth of God's Word for all generations.
Below is a recap of the commands regarding the offerings that the Lord gave the children of Israel:
"My offering, and My bread for My sacrifices by fire, for a sweet savor unto me, shall ye observe to offer unto me in their due season." (v 28:2)
Daily Offerings: performed twice daily, morning and evening
Burnt Offering - One spotless lamb
Meat (Meal) Offering - A tenth of an ephah of flour, mingled with a fourth of a hin of oil
Drink Offering - A fourth of an hin
Sabbath Offerings: performed once a week on the Sabbath in addition to the daily offerings
Burnt Offering - Two spotless lambs
Meat (Meal) Offering - Two tenths of an ephah of flour, mingled with oil
Drink Offering -
Monthly Offerings: performed on the first day of the month, in addition to the daily offerings
Burnt Offering - Two young bullocks, one ram, and seven lambs - spotless yearlings
Meat (Meal) Offering - Three tenths of an ephah of flour, mingled with oil for the bullock; Two tenths of an ephah of flour, mingled with oil for the ram; A tenth of an ephah of flour, mingled with a fourth of a hin of oil for the lamb
Drink Offering - half a hin for the bullock, a third a him for a ram, and a fourth a hin for the lamb
Sin Offering - One kid of the goats
Passover: Fourteenth day of the first month - fifteenth day of the month
No leaven to be eaten for seven days
No work done in the first day or the seventh day
Offerings to be made daily in addition to the daily offerings
Burnt Offering - Two bulls, one ram, seven lambs
Meat Offering - flour with oil, three tenths a hin for a bull, and two tenths a hin for a ram, several tenths for a lamb
Sin Offering - One goat
Firstfruits - Occurs at the end of Passover
Burnt Offering - Two bulls, one ram, seven lambs
Meat Offering - Mingled with oil, three tenths for one lamb
Sin Offering - One kid of the goats
Trumpets - Seventh month, first day
Holy convocation, no work, trumpets are blown
Burnt Offering - One bull, one ram, seven lambs
Meat Offering - mingled with oil, three tenths a hin for a bull and two tenths for a ram and one tenth for one lamb
Sin Offering - One kid of the goats
Atonement - Tenth day of the seventh month
Afflict your souls, no work
Burnt Offering - One bull, one ram, seven lambs
Meat Offering - mingled with oil, three tenths a hin for a bull and two tenths for a ram and one tenth for one lamb
Sin Offering - One kid of the goats
Tabernacles - Fifteenth day of the seventh month
Holy convocation, no work, feast unto the Lord seven days
Day 1
Burnt Offering - Thirteen bulls, two rams, fourteen lambs
Meat Offering - Flour mingled with oil, three tenths for a bull, two tenths for a ram, several tenths for each lamb
Drink Offering
Sin Offering - One kid of the goats
Day 2
Burnt Offering - Twelve bulls, two rams, fourteen lambs
Meat Offering - Flour mingled with oil, three tenths for a bull, two tenths for a ram, several tenths for each lamb
Drink Offering
Sin Offering - One kid of the goats
Day 3
Burnt Offering - Eleven bulls, two rams, fourteen lambs
Meat Offering - Flour mingled with oil, three tenths for a bull, two tenths for a ram, several tenths for each lamb
Drink Offering
Sin Offering - One kid of the goats
Day 4
Burnt Offering - Ten bulls, two rams, fourteen lambs
Meat Offering - Flour mingled with oil, three tenths for a bull, two tenths for a ram, several tenths for each lamb
Drink Offering
Sin Offering - One kid of the goats
Day 5
Burnt Offering - Nine bulls, two rams, fourteen lambs
Meat Offering - Flour mingled with oil, three tenths for a bull, two tenths for a ram, several tenths for each lamb
Drink Offering
Sin Offering - One kid of the goats
Day 6
Burnt Offering - Eight bulls, two rams, fourteen lambs
Meat Offering - Flour mingled with oil, three tenths for a bull, two tenths for a ram, several tenths for each lamb
Drink Offering
Sin Offering - One kid of the goats
Day 7
Burnt Offering - Seven bulls, two rams, fourteen lambs
Meat Offering - Flour mingled with oil, three tenths for a bull, two tenths for a ram, several tenths for each lamb
Drink Offering
Sin Offering - One kid of the goats
Day 8 - Solemn assembly, no work
Burnt Offering - One bull, one ram, seven lambs
Meat Offering - mingled with oil, three tenths a hin for a bull and two tenths for a ram and one tenth for one lamb
Sin Offering - One kid of the goats
The burnt offering included the aspect of making an offering for the sins of the nation in a general sense. In combination with the meat and drink offerings, the entire process represented Christ's complete devotion to the Father. As followers of Christ, we are to live after His example in complete devotion and surrender to God. Notice that the monthly offerings and the yearly feasts include a sin offering that isn't required on a daily basis. This offering is made as an atonement from theirs sins and to cleanse them from defilement. This sacrifice represents Christ's work on the cross for us.
The instruction for repetitive and continual sacrifice speaks to my heart of our frailty and our being so easily prone to wander from the love of God; it highlights the necessity of addressing sin regularly and the need for us to reinforce our commitment to the Lord daily.
I started digging for verses that encourage us to come to the Lord, morning and evening, to praise Him and commit ourselves anew. I believe this is our reasonable service to God and that the children of Israel repeated the pattern for us for centuries. We continue on the love story that was begun thousands of years ago.
Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud; and he shall hear my voice. He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me. Psalm 55:17
My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD: in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. Psalm 5:3
And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. Mark 1:35
O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; Psalm 63:1-11
I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. Proverbs 8:17
With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when they judgements are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. Isaiah 26:9
Seek the Lord and His strength, seek His face continually. I Chronicles 16:11
Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Romans 12:12
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he truseth in thee. Isaiah 26:3
Pray without ceasing. I Thessalonians 5:17
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: Joshua 1:8
But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find Him, if thou seek Him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. Deuteronomy 4:29
Yet the Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life. Psalm 42:8
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