“And thou shalt offer every day a bullock for a sin offering for atonement: and thou shalt cleanse the altar, when thou hast made an atonement for it, and thou shalt anoint it, to sanctify it.”
Context:Exodus is the second book of the Bible and primarily focuses on the deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and their subsequent journey towards the Promised Land. The passage we are studying comes from a section that outlines the consecration of Aaron and his sons as priests, along with the dedication of the altar in the tabernacle.
Key Points:
Daily Offering for Atonement:In this verse, God instructs Moses to offer a sin offering every day in the form of a bullock (a young bull) to atone for the sins of the people. This daily ritual was an essential aspect of the Old Testament sacrificial system, and it served as a way to seek forgiveness for unintentional sins committed by the Israelites.
Cleansing the Altar:After making atonement for the altar with the sin offering, the altar needed to be cleansed. This was necessary to ensure that the place of worship remained pure and sanctified, worthy of God’s presence.
Anointing the Altar:The last part of the verse instructs Moses to anoint the altar after it has been cleansed. Anointing was a ceremonial act of consecration, where oil was poured on objects and individuals to set them apart for a specific holy purpose. In this case, anointing the altar signified its dedication to God’s service and made it holy and set apart from common use.
Spiritual Significance:
Atonement and Forgiveness:The daily sin offering reminds us of the need for atonement and forgiveness of sins. In the New Testament, Jesus Christ becomes the ultimate and final sacrifice for our sins. Through His death and resurrection, believers can find complete forgiveness and reconciliation with God, no longer requiring daily sacrifices as in the Old Testament.
Cleansing and Sanctification:The act of cleansing the altar highlights the importance of maintaining purity in our relationship with God. As believers, we should strive to lead holy lives, consecrated for God’s service, and avoid anything that defiles our hearts and minds.
Anointing by the Holy Spirit:In the New Testament, we see the fulfillment of anointing through the Holy Spirit. As believers, we are anointed by the Holy Spirit (1 John 2:20, 27), empowering us for God’s service, guiding us in truth, and making us vessels through which God works in the world.
Overall, Exodus 29:36 reminds us of the significance of atonement, cleansing, and sanctification in our relationship with God. It also foreshadows the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ and the anointing of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers in the New Testament era.
