Numbers 15:7

And for a drink offering thou shalt offer the third part of an hin of wine, for a sweet savour unto the Lord.

Numbers 15:7 (KJV)

Context

The book of Numbers records the Israelites’ journey from Mount Sinai to the Promised Land. In this chapter, God gives Moses instructions about offerings, including the drink offering that accompanied burnt offerings and grain offerings. This verse specifies the amount of wine for the drink offering when a ram is offered. The instructions were given while the people were still in the wilderness, preparing them for worship in the land they would enter.

Meaning

The drink offering was a pouring out of wine before the Lord. The specified amount, “the third part of an hin,” was about 1.3 litres, roughly one and a quarter quarts. This quantity matched the oil used in the grain offering that accompanied the ram (Numbers 15:6). The wine was strong wine, as later instructions show (Numbers 28:7). The offering was not burned on the altar but poured out, likely at the sanctuary. This act of pouring symbolized giving something valuable completely to God.

The phrase “a sweet savour unto the LORD” means the offering was a pleasing aroma to God. It was not that God needed the wine, but that the act of obedient worship delighted Him. The offering expressed the worshiper’s devotion and gratitude. God saw the heart behind the gift, not just the gift itself.

Biblical connections

The drink offering was part of a larger system. Different animals required different amounts: a quarter hin with a lamb (Numbers 15:5), a third hin with a ram (Numbers 15:7), and half a hin with a bull (Numbers 15:10). This proportional increase shows that the offering matched the size of the sacrifice. The drink offering accompanied daily, weekly, and special offerings (Numbers 28). It was a regular part of worship, not an occasional event.

The pouring out of wine also points to Christ. In the New Testament, Jesus fulfilled the sacrificial system. His life was poured out as the perfect offering for sin. The drink offering foreshadows His complete sacrifice on the cross. Just as the wine was poured out completely, Christ gave His life fully for our salvation.

Application

This verse calls us to give God our best. The wine was a valuable commodity, not a leftover. We honour God when we offer Him our time, talents, and resources with care and generosity. The cost of the offering mattered because it showed the value we place on God.

It also teaches total commitment. Just as the wine was poured out completely, we are called to surrender our lives fully to God. This means giving Him our will, desires, and ambitions, not holding back what is precious to us. God delights in sincere devotion, not in empty rituals.

Worship and gratitude are central. The drink offering was an act of thanksgiving for God’s goodness and provision. We can express our worship by acknowledging His faithfulness and thanking Him for His blessings. Our daily lives can become a continuous offering of praise.

Reflection

The drink offering reminds us of Christ’s sacrifice. As we remember His poured-out life, we are moved to live in light of His love. We can offer ourselves as living sacrifices, devoted to His purposes. This verse encourages us to approach God with sincere hearts, knowing that He delights in our faithful worship. Let us consider what we are pouring out for Him today.