Bible Talks: The Law of the Burnt Offering

From: Messages of God's Love: 1971

• 3 min. read • grade level: 8

Leviticus 6:8-13⁸And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, ⁹Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt offering: It is the burnt offering, because of the burning upon the altar all night unto the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be burning in it. ¹⁰And the priest shall put on his linen garment, and his linen breeches shall he put upon his flesh, and take up the ashes which the fire hath consumed with the burnt offering on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar. ¹¹And he shall put off his garments, and put on other garments, and carry forth the ashes without the camp unto a clean place. ¹²And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings. ¹³The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out. (Leviticus 6:8‑13)

HERE begins a new subject the laws of the offerings — and the burnt offering comes first.

“It is the burnt offering because of the burning upon the altar all night unto the morning, and the fire of the offering shall be burning in it... it shall not be put out.” This referred to the two lambs which were to be offered — one in the morning, and the other in the evening (Ex. 29:38-41³⁸Now 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. (Exodus 29:38‑41)). Together they formed a perpetual burnt offering.

It was “all night unto the morning” and no doubt this is to point out to us that for Israel Christ is ever a sweet savor to God, even dung this present time of their darkness and forgetfulness. Aaron had to put on his linen garments to remove the ashes from the altar to “the place of ashes” beside the altar. He then changed his dress and carried the ashes outside the camp. The ashes were the proof that the sacrifice had been completely accepted.

Israel, in a soon coming day, will wake up from their long sleep in the dust of the earth. They will bold, as it were in the morning, Christ, the true Burnt Offering, despised during the long dark night of their unbelief. In deep repentance they will acknowledge with shame their unbelief, when they considered their Messiah as stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted, but in that day they will thankfully own that He was wounded for their transgressions and bruised for their iniquities. In His work on the cross they will read their acceptance and blessing, and that it was through His stripes they are healed.

But what is taught in these wonderful types is for the comfort of faith now for all point to Christ and His own, as Son over His own house, whose house are we (Heb. 3:6⁶But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. (Hebrews 3:6)). The morning without clouds has not yet dawned for us. It is still the night when Christ is rejected of men, though we can say from Scripture, dear young reader, that “the night is far spent and the day is at hand.” But like the sweet savor of the burnt offering ever ascending bore the Lord, so the witness of our perfect acceptance in Christ rises up before God our Father without interruption. Perfect salvation is for every one who by faith is associated with Christ, the Burnt Offering. Men may slumber and the world be in darkness, yet the believer can rest in perfect peace knowing that the fire that burns upon the altar shall never go out.

Oftentimes we are not in the good of Christ’s perfect work as we should be, we are spiritually “asleep"; still the fragrance of Christ ascends to God who never slumbers or sleeps (Psa. 121:4⁴Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. (Psalm 121:4)). O how precious the work of Christ was to God, and ever will be!

The fire Thy love hath kindled

Shall never be put out;

The Spirit keeps it burning

(Though dimmed by things without):

O make it burn more brightly!

By faith more freely shine;

That we may value rightly

The grace that made us Thine.

Memory Verse “THROUGH HIS NAME WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHALL RECEIVE REMISSION OF SINS.” Acts 10:43⁴³To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (Acts 10:43).

ML-08/29/1971

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