QT 9/25/2023 Ezek 43:18-27, Am I still rebelling to his Lordship?

Ezekiel 43:18–27 (ESV) —

18 And he said to me, “Son of man, thus says the Lord God: These are the ordinances for the altar: On the day when it is erected for offering burnt offerings upon it and for throwing blood against it, 19 you shall give to the Levitical priests of the family of Zadok, who draw near to me to minister to me, declares the Lord God, a bull from the herd for a sin offering. 20 And you shall take some of its blood and put it on the four horns of the altar and on the four corners of the ledge and upon the rim all around. Thus you shall purify the altar and make atonement for it. 21 You shall also take the bull of the sin offering, and it shall be burned in the appointed place belonging to the temple, outside the sacred area. 22 And on the second day you shall offer a male goat without blemish for a sin offering; and the altar shall be purified, as it was purified with the bull. 23 When you have finished purifying it, you shall offer a bull from the herd without blemish and a ram from the flock without blemish. 24 You shall present them before the Lord, and the priests shall sprinkle salt on them and offer them up as a burnt offering to the Lord. 25 For seven days you shall provide daily a male goat for a sin offering; also, a bull from the herd and a ram from the flock, without blemish, shall be provided. 26 Seven days shall they make atonement for the altar and cleanse it, and so consecrate it. 27 And when they have completed these days, then from the eighth day onward the priests shall offer on the altar your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, and I will accept you, declares the Lord God.”

 

NOTE: Animal sacrifices are displeasing to us in our culture. But there is a lot of significance in the altar and the sacrifices. And to be honest, since most of the sacrifices (in the OT) were accompanied by eating of the meat, how can we say that it is any different than taking an animal to the butcher. But even if the meat was not "used," that would not change the significance. We don't give something to God that we are really giving to ourselves. Cooper identifies at least seven theological concepts contained within the altar and the sacrifices.

 

1. The altar was regarded as the "table" of Yahweh. The sacrifice was transformed by fire into smoke that rose to heaven. Because it was burned, it became an irrevocable gift.
2. The temple was regarded as God's house, and a house had a hearth, so this was the "hearth" of God. In Exodus, during the night, the pillar of fire was used as a sign of God's presence. There are many other examples of the symbolic and physical use of fire in God's word.
3. Similarly, the altar was a sign of God's presence (the burning bush) and was a sort of theophany.
4. The altar was associated with purity, and consequently holiness. Additionally, mercy and sacrifice went together.

 

The remaining allusions are associated with the OT law, and not the millennium. Jesus now is our direct mediation. We can talk to him directly. And his bloods cover all sins, both those committed with knowledge and those unintentional.

 

But I think the real purpose of the temple is a new reminder (like communion and baptism) that brings in the concept of the great tribulation. Men were judged for their failure to believe and the result was a massive shedding of blood upon the earth. The temple sacrifices will remind the physical humans of the cost of rebellion.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I remember who is truly Lord? Or do I live my life as if I am god and master of it? What will it take to change that view?

 

PRAYER: Father, I will enjoy today, but the day is coming when life will be much different. Thank you for the salvation I enjoy. Thank you that I am already a part of the kingdom. I want to be eagerly engaged in whatever your plan is for me.