Regular Offerings at the Tabernacle

Scripture gives a number of different sacrifices that the old covenant believers were to offer for specific reasons and on specific occasions. The book of Leviticus contains directions for most of these sacrifices, but there are instructions elsewhere as well. For instance, we have read in Exodus 29:1–37 about various offerings that were given when priests were ordained to serve in the tabernacle and later in the temple. In addition to specific offerings that were given in light of certain circumstances and on holidays, there were also offerings that were sacrificed every day of the year even if no Israelite happened to have a gift for God on the altar. These were the daily offerings that the priests burned for the sake of the people, and we read about them in today’s passage.

Exodus 29:38–39 as translated in the ESV says that one “lamb” was offered in the morning and one at twilight, but the actual Hebrew text specifies that it should be a ram, or male lamb. These two rams offered each day had to be a year old, when the animal was at the peak of its economic value, again showing us that only the very best should be given to the Lord. Each ram was offered with flour, oil, and wine, providing a “meal,” as it were, to Yahweh, the God of Israel, that signified devotion and acknowledged that He was truly living there among His people. Every offering was burned up in its entirety, making the offering a burnt offering that was given to satisfy and turn aside the wrath of the Lord against sin (Ex. 29:40–42; see Lev. 1). These sacrifices, of course, were not in themselves effective but pointed forward to the final sacrifice of Jesus, and they demonstrated the necessity of a Mediator and a sacrifice to make the people acceptable to God. John Calvin comments, “Since it is plain that God can listen to no prayers without the intercession of Christ, the constant morning and evening sacrifice was instituted to consecrate the prayers of the Church; and, even when they only celebrated the bounties of God, blood was shed, that they might know that not even their gratitude was acceptable to Him, except through the sacrifice of the Mediator; in a word, that nothing pure can proceed from men unless purged by blood.”

When offered in faith, these sacrifices acknowledged the nation’s commitment to the Lord and belief that He was with them (Ex. 29:42–46). Other pagan peoples had idols to signify the favor of their gods, but the presence of the one true God among His people was demonstrated by worship conducted according to His commands.