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The House of Gold - the Tabernacle in the wilderness (Part 4)- PUBLISHED 1 JANUARY 2007
The altar of burnt offerings (study 2) Details of the altar
HOW LARGE WAS THE ALTAR?
As the Israelite ponders what has just taken place he notices anew the altar. It is five cubits long and five cubits wide. It causes him to consider the ten commandments and how they are designed to lead man God’s way. Yet he knows that he has not always abided by them. And because like all mankind he has broken every commandment at some time or other in his life, whether in thought or deed, he knows he must one day give an account to God.
This is why the Israelite brought his sacrifice to the altar and why you to must come to the altar, the cross. For upon this instrument of judgement and death hung the one perfect Man who ever lived; the one perfect Man who throughout His earthly life obeyed all God’s commandments in every respect. The Man, Christ Jesus. He was the only one who could present Himself as the perfect atonement, the perfect sacrifice. Not as a lamb of the fields came He, but as the Lamb of God.
The Israelite looked again and saw that the altar had four sides. These are the four points of the compass (see Isaiah chapter 11 verse 12). Then the Israelite saw the height of the altar which was three cubits. In that figure three we see God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Do these three Persons have anything to do with the altar? Yes, absolutely everything. The Godhead was involved in the salvation of man.
The Father gave His Son (see 1 John chapter 4 verse 14)
The Son gave Himself (Galatians chapter 2 verse 20)
He offered Himself through the Holy Spirit (Hebrews chapter 9 verse 14)
WHAT WAS THE ALTAR MADE OF?
The altar was made of acacia wood which came from the desert tree called Acacia Arabica. This tree grew out of dry ground and it provides a picture of Jesus who grew up before God as a tender sapling, as a root out of dry earth which talks of His manhood (see Isaiah chapter 11 verse 1 and chapter 53 verse 2). We read in Galatians chapter 4 verse 4 that He was born of a woman, and in Isaiah chapter 4 verse 2 He is called the fruit of the earth.
We should never forget that Jesus Christ is God’s Son, the one true God who brings eternal life (see 1 John chapter 5 verse 20). But He, who is our eternal God, came in love and grace to the earth and became truly Man. Why did the almighty Creator humble Himself so greatly? So that He could suffer and die for His creation (see Hebrews chapter 2 verse 17). As God He could not die, that is impossible; which is why He became flesh and blood, so that He could undergo God’s judgement and accomplish the work of atonement for all mankind. Jesus was crucified in weakness (see 2 Corinthians chapter 13 verse 4). This is what the wood of the altar speaks of.
THE BRONZE
The wood of the altar is covered with bronze which typifies power (see Job chapter 40 verse 18). More than that it is a power that can withstand the fire of God’s judgement. Proof of this can be found in Numbers chapter 16. In this chapter we read of 250 men who very improperly wanted to sacrifice, but these rebels were consumed by the fire of God’s judgment (see verses 35 to 39 in this chapter). Most remarkably the bronze censers they carried in their hands endured the same fire yet were not consumed. With the bronze of these censers the altar was covered.
Who had the power to undergo the judgement of God? Man couldn’t and neither could angels. Only the Righteous One, the Holy Son, the Lord Jesus Christ; what a wonderful Saviour. He became Man (the wood). He could endure judgement like the bronze. Only He could be the one true offering acceptable in the sight of God. Only He could finish the great work of redemption for which man had been waiting many centuries for. This finished work is sufficient to bring the lost to God; to cleanse and restore His creation.
Some years ago scientists discovered that a wooden door which was covered with bronze was completely fire resistant. This discovery was tested by the London Fire Brigade. It withstood all the tests and certified as fire proof. This shows how accurate and so far ahead of science the Bible really is.
THE GRATING, THE FIRE, AND THE HORNS OF THE ALTAR
Half way up the inside of the altar was a grating on which was laid the wood for lighting. Here the fire burned, kindled by God Himself (see Leviticus chapter 9 verse 24). The Israelite watches intently as the priest lights the fire and lays the dead lamb upon it. The fire consumes the sacrifice and the Israelite cries out, ‘Our God is a consuming fire’ (see Hebrews chapter 12 verse 29). Deeply touched by the occasion the Israelite watches as the lamb is engulfed by the flames; the Lamb in his place. He deserves to pay the penalty for his sins, but it was Christ who was nailed to the cross, enduring God’s flaming wrath. How terrible it must have been for Him, who was made sin for us so that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him, to suffer in this way (see 2 Corinthians chapter 5 verse 21).
For three hours Jesus Christ suffered the agony of separation from God the Father (Matthew 27 verse 46). As we dwell on His love, His finished work, we should give thanks for this tremendous act made on our behalf. It will also help us to better understand why no mercy can ever be shown to someone who rejects Christ, why only the lake of fire remains for those who refuse to accept Christ’s sacrifice.
The Israelite shrinks back from the wondrous display that is before him; the great brazen altar for the burnt offering; the flames leaping high above it; smoke ascending toward heaven; the four corners of the altar covered with the lambs blood, looking as if the altar itself were stretching towards God, presenting the sacrifice to Him.
So we could say that the altar on which the sacrifice has been made, has become a type of the Lord Jesus Christ.; for just as the altar was used to bring the offering to God, so He offered up His own Son to Himself; a priceless offering too wonderful for words. Perhaps now Matthew chapter 23 verse 19 will become easier to understand.
The altar is more than the offering because it sanctifies the sacrifice. In Christ we see the altar and the sacrifice. He is the priest who causes the sacrifice to go through the burning as an offering to God. Is this too hard to understand? Read on.
Jesus Christ has offered Himself up on the cross at Calvary. But the cross isn’t merely salvation for the sinner, there is more to it than that. It represents the consecration of the Son to the Father. Yes the Son gave Himself for us but firstly He gave Himself to God. God had been dishonoured by sin. It was His Son’s desire to honour and glorify the Father. Jesus gave Himself of His own free will, even unto death. Initially God hid His face from His Son who bore our sin but then the full might of God’s love gazed down on His Son as He hung there on that cross for you and for me. As Christ said in John chapter 10 verse 17, ‘Therefore My Father love Me, because I lay down my life that I may take it again.‘
NEVER SEATED
A sense of tremendous relief wells up in the Israelite. He has been cleansed from his sins and can walk away free from the stain it once left on his life. Suddenly, anxiety grips his heart and he grabs hold of the priest.
‘But if I sin again tomorrow, what then?’
‘Then you must present another sacrifice,’ answers the priest.
‘An what if I sin next week?’ asked the Israelite.
‘Then you must bring a sacrifice,’ replied the priest. You see I’m never finished, my work goes on. Did you notice there are no chairs here, nor in the court* or in the tent itself?’
‘No,’ said the Israelite, ‘I didn’t. Why is that?’
‘Because there is no opportunity for me to sit and rest while so many sacrifices have to be made.’
Why wasn’t the priest allowed to sit in the tabernacle where he served? We find the explanation for this in Hebrews chapter 10 verse 11 where it says that every priest stands daily ministering and offering the same sacrifices to God. He lived under the old covenant and, therefore, before the cross. The great work of redemption had not yet been accomplished and so rest was not possible.
Innumerable sacrifices have been brought to the altar. In 1 Kings chapter 8 verse 63 we read the staggering number of sacrifices for the dedication of the temple built by Solomon. In this one event over 22,000 bulls and 120,000 sheep were sacrificed. Yet despite all these sacrifices made over the years not one of them could take away our sins. As it says in Hebrews chapter 10 verse 4, ‘For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.’ However, sins were still forgiven under the old covenant as we have seen with the Israelite.
In the Psalms chapter 32 David says, ‘Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.’ But the forgiveness was a) temporary (for when a person sinned again, he had to bring another sacrifice), and b) only a forerunner of the true sacrificial Lamb that would be slain on the cross (see Romans chapter 3 verse 25).
* There are two objects in the court before the sanctuary. These are the altar, and the laver.
A SHOUT FOR JOY
Now let us look at the contrast between the sacrifices under the old covenant and the sacrifice of our Redeemer and Saviour. Through the sacrifice of Christ we have an eternal redemption (see Hebrews chapter 9 verse 12). It was a once for all sacrifice (see Hebrews chapter 9 verse 26). Now Christ is seated and at rest at the right hand of God forever.
In the past an earthly priest, now the heavenly Priest.
In the past an animal sacrifice, now the Lamb of God.
In the past many sacrifices, now one sacrifice.
In the past repeated offerings, now only one.
In the past standing, now seated.
In the past never finished, now finished for ever.
In the past no remission of sins, now full remission.
In the past temporary forgiveness, now total forgiveness for all eternity.
COMPLETE REST
On the cross for about six hours our Lord Jesus Christ hung, shedding His blood, suffering as our sacrifice until at the end He cried out, ‘It is finished!’ Now he has entered into His rest as it says in Hebrews chapter 4 verse 10. Nothing remains to be done, nothing more can be done except one thing, to come to Him just as you are a lost sinner; in repentance and sorrow; laying your hands upon that one true sacrifice, acknowledging your guilt and confessing your sins.
That is true conversion, a turning back to God through His Son. As it says in 1 John chapter 1 verse 9, ‘If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.’ Believe in Him; trust Him; thank Him for His perfect redemption. And let us sing the words of that great old hymn:
Then doubt not thy welcome, since God has declared,
There remaineth no more to be done,
That once in the end of the world He appeared,
And completed the work He begun.
Look, look, look and live,
There is life in a look at the crucified one,
There is life at this moment for thee.
Do you know who else is resting? God the Father. He is completely satisfied with His Son’s work completed on the cross and He rests in that. You too can rest in the same sacrifice that God rests in. Another great old hymn puts it this way:
Sweetest rest and peace have filled us,
Sweeter praise than tongue can tell,
God is satisfied with Jesus,
We are satisfied as well.
And when all the redeemed ones are forever in the presence of God, they will not sing about themselves, for they are not worthy. They will sing:
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
To receive power and riches,
And wisdom and strength,
And honour and glory and blessing. (see Revelation chapter 5 verses 9 to 12).
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