Exodus 29:36-4636And thou shalt offer every day a bullock for a sin offering for atonement: and thou shalt cleanse the altar, when thou hast made an atonement for it, and thou shalt anoint it, to sanctify it. 37Seven days thou shalt make an atonement for the altar, and sanctify it; and it shall be an altar most holy: whatsoever toucheth the altar shall be holy. 38Now this is that which thou shalt offer upon the altar; two lambs of the first year day by day continually. 39The one lamb thou shalt offer in the morning; and the other lamb thou shalt offer at even: 40And with the one lamb a tenth deal of flour mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil; and the fourth part of an hin of wine for a drink offering. 41And the other lamb thou shalt offer at even, and shalt do thereto according to the meat offering of the morning, and according to the drink offering thereof, for a sweet savor, an offering made by fire unto the Lord. 42This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord: where I will meet you, to speak there unto thee. 43And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by my glory. 44And I will sanctify the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar: I will sanctify also both Aaron and his sons, to minister to me in the priest's office. 45And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God. 46And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them: I am the Lord their God. (Exodus 29:36‑46)
THE SIN offering was to be offered each day for seven days, while Aaron and his sons were being consecrated. God would have His people—ourselves as believers, made priests unto God by the work of Christ—always to remember what it cost Christ to put our sins away from His sight.
Then we have the continual burnt offering — two lambs every day one in the morning, the other in the evening. The fire that was kindled of God upon the altar was never to go out. And this continual ascending or sweet savor offering speaks of the continued preciousness of Christ to God, and to His people. We need Christ in the morning and Christ in the evening all along our earthly pathway.
Then with this sacrifice there was also offered the fine flour mingled with oil, and the wine. In this we get the meat (or meal) offering, and the drink offering. Here again we have Christ in His perfect life as begotten by the Holy Ghost, while the drink offering speaks of joy. To be in counion with God in contemplating the perfections of His Son, is one of the joys of the Christian. We share with God His joy in Christ as the One in whom is all His delight.
“And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by My glory.” v. 43. The children of Israel were not allowed to go nearer than the gate of the tabernacle, but God in His grace did permit Moses to go into His presence before the mercy seat. Now that Christ has died and the veil is rent, we as believers can go into God’s holy presence without fear; and wonderful to think, God delights to have us there.
“The tabernacle shall be sanctified by My glory.” At that time that was the only spot on earth where God’s glory was manifested. But now, since the cross, the glory of God shines in the face of Jesus Christ. And it also shines in and through the hearts of all those who believe in Him as their Saviour.
From Hebrews 9 we learn that the tabernacle was a type of both the heavenly and earthly scenes. When Jesus comes to reign both heaven and the whole earth will be filled with His glory. This looks on to that blessed millennial day.
“And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God.” v. 45.
God’s purpose and desire from the beginning was to dwell with man. But how sad that man does not want God. Like the prodigal son, he will take all that God gives him with an unthankful heart, and then go off to the far country to enjoy it without any thought of God.
But God will not be frustrated in His purpose. He will have His joy and happiness in the joy of His redeemed people, surrounding Himself. The tabernacle in the wilderness is a picture of that which waits the coming day. In the meantime God has His joy now in those who have been redeemed, gathered around Christ as their Saviour, in His presence. This blessed thought of God will soon be displayed in glory when He has His heavenly people at home in His presence, when He will “show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness towards us through Christ Jesus.” Eph. 2:77That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:7).
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