The Altar of Burnt Offering (Exodus 27:1-8)
“Using acacia wood, construct a square altar 7 1⁄2 feet wide, 7 1⁄2 feet long, and 4 1⁄2 feet high. Make horns for each of its four corners so that the horns and altar are all one piece. Overlay the altar with bronze. Make ash buckets, shovels, basins, meat forks, and firepans, all of bronze. Make a bronze grating for it, and attach four bronze rings at its four corners. Install the grating halfway down the side of the altar, under the ledge. For carrying the altar, make poles from acacia wood, and overlay them with bronze. Insert the poles through the rings on the two sides of the altar. The altar must be hollow, made from planks. Build it just as you were shown on the mountain. (Exodus 27:1-8)
The brazen altar, bronze altar, or altar of sacrifice was situated right inside the courtyard upon entering the gate to the tabernacle. The Hebrew root for altar means “to slay” or “slaughter.” The Latin word alta means “high.” An altar is a “high place for sacrifice/slaughter.” The altar stood raised on a mound of earth, higher than its surrounding furniture. This is a projection of Christ, our sacrifice, lifted up on the cross, His altar, which stood on a hill called Golgotha.
The altar was made of wood from the acacia tree and overlaid with bronze (usually symbolic of judgment on sin in the Bible), measuring 7.5 feet on all four sides and 4.5 feet deep. Four horns projected from the top four corners and a bronze grating was inside to hold the animal.
The altar was the place for burning animal sacrifices. It showed the Israelites that the first step for sinful man to approach a holy God was to be cleansed by the blood of an innocent creature.
Any common Israelite could enter the courts but only the priestly tribe could go beyond and into the Tabernacle and only the high priest could go beyond still into the holy of holies once per year on Yom Kippur, The Day of Atonement.
Exodus 27:16 "For the gate of the court there shall be a screen twenty cubits long, woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, made by a weaver. It shall have four pillars and four sockets.
This 30 foot gate was the entrance. Once an Israelite entered the gate into the outer court with his sacrifice he was standing on "holy ground". As we examine the gate it is important to note that we will be discussing two more gates or curtains later. The entrance gate was 20 cubits (30 feet). It was a curtain or screen made of richly woven material:
There were no cherubim represented on this outdoor screen. Cherubim were only seen within the Holy Place.
This screen with its blend of white, blue, purple and scarlet was identical to that hanging at the entrance to the tabernacle building. But it was very different from the white linen fence, which went around the entire courtyard. Think of the beauty that would meet the eye of the Israelite as he approached the gate of the Tabernacle. The bright rays of the sun would be shining upon the four colors of the gate.
This was the one and only way by which men and women could draw near to God. It was the single entrance to the entire tabernacle. There was no other way in. Whether he is a priest going to carry out his duties or a repentant sinner seeking forgiveness, a man had to enter by that one way.
No one could enter by any other way except this gate. Any Israelite approaching the Tabernacle leading his sacrifice and desiring atonement knew that there was no way to reach the bronze altar but through the gate that faced east.
Num 2:3 "On the east side, toward the rising of the sun, those of the standard of the forces with Judah shall camp according to their armies;
The Gate was always open, never barred, with no one to forbid a person who wanted to worship God. But one must make a personal decision to enter if he is to receive.
A Type of Christ
Jesus revealed Himself as the only entrance to God. The eastern gate pointed to Him. Every other possible way has been barred by the righteousness of God but because of the blood of Christ we have a way of approach. The tribe of Judah camped outside the eastern gate, the kingly tribe, and the tribe that means praise. Jesus sits as king with everything under Him. He is Malach Yahweh (The Lord our King).
The worship of countless hosts will be unto Him for eternity. The beautiful gate reveals how beautiful Jesus is to behold. He is the altogether lovely One. In Him there are no flaws. He is perfect in character. If we could see His face we would see a look of love that would give us strength forever.
“And you shall command the children of Israel that they bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to cause the lamp to burn continually.
Until the olives were pressed, crushed the oil could not come- there is no other way for the oil to come forth
The Courtyard (Exodus 27:9-21)
Chapters
- Chapter 1
- Chapter 2
- Chapter 3
- Chapter 4
- Chapter 5
- Chapter 6
- Chapter 7
- Chapter 8
- Chapter 9
- Chapter 10
- Chapter 11
- Chapter 12
- Chapter 13
- Chapter 14
- Chapter 15
- Chapter 16
- Chapter 17
- Chapter 18
- Chapter 19
- Chapter 20
- Chapter 21
- Chapter 22
- Chapter 23
- Chapter 24
- Chapter 25
- Chapter 26
- Chapter 27
- Chapter 28
- Chapter 29
- Chapter 30
- Chapter 31
- Chapter 32
- Chapter 33
- Chapter 34
- Chapter 35
- Chapter 36
- Chapter 37
- Chapter 38
- Chapter 39
- Chapter 40