The Altar of Burnt Offerings

Introduction:

Christian Jargon: “Fellowship”, “Travelling mercies”, “…a fountain filled with blood”

· So also: the altar is messy, bloody, unsettling – but like all fixtures, it proclaims the gospel to us.

LET’S LOOK AT THE MEANING OF THE ALTAR, THE MESSAGE OF THE OFFERINGS, AND THE PROMISE OF A SACRIFICE

I) The Meaning of the Altar

A. The Purpose of the Altar

i. The uncomfortable reality of a bloody mess at Church

1. Compare coming into church w. the tabernacle…?

2. Sights, sounds, smells: blood, smoke, burning meat, animal noises…

ii. The bloodshed communicated the seriousness of sin in relationship to God

1. Altars were places where people brought prayers to God, dealt w. sin

2. Sin is a matter of life & death; relationship with God demands payment

B. The Construction of the Altar (vv. 1-5)

i. The Horns of the altar provided the means to hold the offering in place

1. 7.5’x7.5’x4.5’; bronze with a grating, and utensils (vv. 1, 3-5)

2. The larger animals could be tied to the corners of the altar (vs. 2)

ii. The Horns of the Altar provided refuge (see 1 Kings 1:50-53)

1. Adonijah seeks shelter at the altar

2. At the altar, God provides refuge for condemned people

BUT IT WASN’T JUST THE ALTAR THAT PAINTS A PICTURE FOR US – IT WAS ALSO THE OFFERINGS PLACED ON THE ALTAR.

II) The Message of the Offerings

A. The Offerings provided relief from the penalty of sin (Lev. 1-6)

i. Burnt, guilt, sin, offerings: covered guilt of incidental, unintentional sins

1. We stand at the bar of justice, and fall short

2. EXAMPLE: Nixon & the recording device

3. Even by our own standards we fall short!

ii. God instituted offerings to cover the debt of the people

1. Why can’t God just forgive? Because wrong incurs a debt

2. EXAMPLE: loaning out a car – for you to be “whole” they or you pay

3. Offerings were a way to acknowledge this debt, and pay it

B. The offerings provided purification from the contamination of sin

i. Sin brings impurity to us (Lev. 4:1-5:13)

1. Sin also brings shame, dishonor to us…

2. And to our community

ii. God institutes offerings to purify us from sin

1. God provides not only for the penalty but also the pollution of sin

2. APPLICATION: We can be haunted by past failure; God releases!

HOW CAN WE EXPERIENCE THIS?

III) The Hope of a True Sacrifice

A. Jesus is the true & greater sacrifice bound to the altar

i. The problem with (perpetual) sacrifices (see Lev. 6:12-13)

1. Offerings were made yearly, daily, occasionally…

2. The amount of bloodshed! And it could never pay the debt (Heb. 10:3)

ii. Jesus “Finishes” Payment for our sins

1. Jesus was “bound” to an altar not against his will, but in obedience

2. He cried out “Tetelestai!” meaning that our debt was paid in full! (John 19:30 )

John 19:30 ESV

When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

B. We are the “new” Sacrifice!

i. We must take hold of the horns of the altar

1. When we grasp the horns of the altar – the cross – we find refuge in God

2. When we grasp the horns of the altar, we are purified from guilt

ii. We must “offer ourselves” to God (Rom 12:1-2)

1. Do sacrifices continue? Yes!

2. In Gratitude to God, we offer ourselves to Him.

Transition:

Conclusion

Seek shelter in the altar that God has provided us!