"After this manner ye shall offer daily, throughout the seven days, the meat of the sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord: it shall be offered beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering."
Context:The book of Numbers is part of the Pentateuch, also known as the Torah, and it records the journey of the Israelites through the wilderness. Numbers contains various instructions given by God to Moses regarding the offerings, sacrifices, and the organisation of the Tabernacle worship.
Daily Sacrifices:In this verse, God commands the Israelites to offer a specific sacrifice daily for seven consecutive days. This sacrifice is referred to as the "meat offering" or the "meal offering" made by fire. The purpose of this offering was to produce a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
Sweet Savour:The phrase "sweet savour" in this verse signifies the acceptable and pleasing nature of the sacrifice to God. It implies that the Israelites were to present these offerings with a heart of obedience, reverence, and devotion to God. The aroma of the offering symbolised their desire to worship and please Him.
Continual Burnt Offering:The daily meat offering was to be offered "beside" or "in addition to" the continual burnt offering. The continual burnt offering was a daily sacrifice offered in the morning and evening, representing the worship and atonement for the sins of the people. The additional meat offering emphasised the Israelites’ commitment to continuous worship and dedication to God.
Spiritual Application:While the ceremonial practices of the Old Testament are no longer required in the New Covenant established through Jesus Christ, we can draw some spiritual lessons from this verse:
- Daily devotion:The instruction to offer a sacrifice daily for seven days teaches us the importance of daily devotion and consistent worship. As believers, we should seek to cultivate a daily habit of spending time with God, reading His Word, praying, and offering ourselves as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1).
- Pleasing God:The phrase "sweet savour" reminds us of the importance of pleasing God in our lives. Just as the aroma of the offering pleased the Lord, we should strive to live in a way that brings joy and satisfaction to God, seeking to obey His commandments and live a life that honours Him (Colossians 3:20-24).
- Sacrificial living:The offering of the meat sacrifice beside the continual burnt offering teaches us about sacrificial living. In the New Testament, we are called to offer ourselves as living sacrifices, presenting our bodies as holy and acceptable to God (Romans 12:1). This means surrendering our desires, ambitions, and will to God’s purposes and seeking to serve and glorify Him above all else.
Remember, while studying individual verses is valuable, it is important to consider the broader context of the Bible and the redemptive work of Jesus Christ in interpreting and applying Scripture.
