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1992-10-28
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The Brazen Altar
SERIES: MOSES. TABERNACLE. LESSON NO.2.
1. THE PURPOSE.
The altar was the place of sacrifice. It was the one and
only place of sacrifice for Israel. It was God who ordained
the principle of sacrifice - Gen.3:21. Adam and Eve were
covered with coats of skins which necessitated the shedding
of blood. Heb.9:22; Lev. 17: 11. The Hebrew word for Altar
is mizbeach, meaning a "slaughter place".
Other altars in the Bible:-
a) Abel's Gen.4:1-5.
b) Noah's Gen.8:18-20.
c) Abraham and Isaac - Gen. 22:1-14.
We now have an Altar which is Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
Heb.13:10.
2. THE POSITION.
The first piece of furniture encountered upon entering the
gate of the outer court. Once the gate of repentance has
been entered, the sacrifice of blood and the Altar (Calvary)
is unavoidable and unmistakable. There is no approach to the
presence of God except by way of the Altar. Jn.14:6.
This Altar was so large that every other piece of furniture
could fit inside it. Every experience and doctrine of the
Bible is wrapped up in Calvary. It is a finished work. As
we progress in God, our first love for Calvary should not
diminish, but rather increase and be rekindled. We are not
to glory in things but only in the Cross of Calvary - Jesus
is to be magnified with every step we take towards maturity.
Gal.6:14; 1 Cor.1:18; Amos 5:5-6
3. THE DESIGN. Ex.27:1-8.
V.l. "shittim wood".
Speaks of the humanity of Christ and the believer.
- comes from the Sinai Desert - a picture of us coming
from the wilderness of sin to be shaped into a place of
sacrifice and dedication.
- never grows straight but is gnarled and twisted - before
we come to Christ, we are knotted and twisted because of
sin. But when God takes over He trims us up for use.
Isa.53:2.
- the wood is hard, close-grained and not easy to shape -
we are sometimes difficult to shape up and be conformed
to His Will.
- in spite of it's crookedness it has a fine, beautiful
grain which is revealed after it has been processed - so
in us there is a beauty, but only after proceasing.
"5 cubits long, 5 cubits broad".
5 is the number of grace and atonement - 5 wounds of Christ.
Ex.13:18 - 5 in a rank coming out of Egypt.
Gen.7:24 - Noah's Ark floated 5 months.
Rev.6:9 - 5th seal - martyrs sitting under the Altar.
"3 cubits high".
3 is the number of the Godhead. Heb.9:14 - all the Godhead
revealed in the Atonement.
3 languages inscribed on the Cross.
3 Feasts of Israel.
3 compartments in the Tabernacle.
The only way to enter into the fullness of God is through the
Cross.
"The Altar shall be 4 square".
Rev. 21: 16 - the eternal city 4 square - speaks of eternity.
One other piece of furniture 4 square - the Altar of Incense -
praise and worship.
Therefore throughout eternity our theme song is going to be
"worthy is the Lamb that was slain". Our ministry of praise and
worship should always be centred around the sacrifice of Calvary.
"4 horns".
Horns speak of power. liab.3:4.
Rom.1:16 - "Gospel of Christ ... power of God unto salvation". 1
Cor. 1:18, Rev. 5:6.
The 4 horns are pointing to the 4 corners of the earth - the
message of the Brazen Altar is to go into all the world.
Matt.24:14.
Lev.8:15 - horns smeared with blood "to make reconciliation", 2
Cor.5:18.
"His horns shall be of the same".
Horns made of Shittim Wood - the only way the gospel can reach the
4 corners of the earth is with our lives smeared and covered with
the blood of Jesus.
V.4. "grate of network".
A protective covering on the outside of the Altar from the animals
as they were tied to the horns of the Altar, Psa.118:27 - often
God will tie us to the Altar, he place of sacrifice with cords of
love. Hos.11:4; Rom. 2:4.
Acts 9:5 - the Apostle Paul "kicked against the pricks" until God
drew him to the place of the Altar.
"4 brazen rings".
These 4 rings enabled the Altar to be carried. The 4 Gospels
carry the full message of the Cross and the sacrifice that was
placed upon it.
V.6. "staves".
Two staves to carry the Altar.
(a) Two aspects of the Cross.
(i) Death (ii) Resurrection.
- if one is removed there is an imbalance and the Altar
cannot be carried. We need both of these truths if the
Gospel is to be effective. 1 Cor. 15:3-4.
(b) Portable - staves enabled the Altar to be moved - as we
walk with God our sacrifice and surrender is progressive
- we are never to become stationary in our sacrifice and
dedication to Him.
V. 8. "Hollow".
No top or bottom - it was open to Heaven and Earth. The sacrifice
of Calvary, reconciles Heaven and Earth - Jesus was suspended
between Earth and Heaven - a mediator between God and man.