The Bronze Altar

The Bronze Altar
Words of Faith 2-8-2023
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2023
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Exodus 27
[1] "Build an altar of acacia wood, three cubits high; it is to be square, five cubits long and five cubits wide. [2] Make a horn at each of the four corners, so that the horns and the altar are of one piece, and overlay the altar with bronze. [3] Make all its utensils of bronze--its pots to remove the ashes, and its shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks and firepans. [4] Make a grating for it, a bronze network, and make a bronze ring at each of the four corners of the network. [5] Put it under the ledge of the altar so that it is halfway up the altar. [6] Make poles of acacia wood for the altar and overlay them with bronze. [7] The poles are to be inserted into the rings so they will be on two sides of the altar when it is carried. [8] Make the altar hollow, out of boards. It is to be made just as you were shown on the mountain.

As the Lord gave instructions about the Tabernacle, he began with the innermost part-- the Ark of the Covenant. The description works outward from there. We learned about the other furnishings close to the Ark. Then we saw how various frames and curtains would separate the inner rooms from outer areas. We now move to the courtyard and its furnishings.
If you were to walk into the Tabernacle, the very first thing you would come to is the altar of burnt offerings. This altar was built with acacia wood and overlaid with bronze. It was 7 1/2 ft. square and 4 1/2 feet high. At each corner, there was a "horn"-- a projection that looked like an animal horn covered with bronze.
This altar was the place of animal sacrifice. The approach up the side of the altar was a ramp. It was considered an affront to God to have steps leading up to this altar. There was a grading of bronze where animal meat was cooked. The altar was hollow so it could be moved but later was filled with small stones suggesting the fire was built on rocks.
Perhaps most important is the location just inside the entrance to the Tabernacle (Exodus 40:29). This location makes it clear that one can approach God only through sacrifice. We cannot approach God if there is sin that has not been atoned for. The first thing a worshiper saw in the Tabernacle was the place of sacrifice for sin that was continually being made.
This is true to this day. One cannot approach God in worship or prayer without atonement for our sin. This is the entrance point to intimacy with God. How do we get that?
Hebrews 10:10-18 tells us. "... We have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all. [11] Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. [12] But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. [13] Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, [14] because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. [15] The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: [16] "This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds." [17] Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more." [18] And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.
Our first step into the presence of the Lord is to surrender to the accomplished work of sacrifice by Jesus on our behalf. We receive and trust His atonement by His blood. We stand righteous before the Lord because of His righteousness.

Father God, I give thanks for the great sacrifice of Jesus. I give thanks for the powerful image of sacrifice that allows me to enter into your presence. I rejoice in the knowledge that I am made clean and whole through the work of Jesus. In Jesus' Name.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2023
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2023 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.