Drink Offering (Lev. 15:1-13)

8/18/2008 10:39 AM

My Worship Time           Focus:  The drink offering

Bible Reading & Meditation     Reference:  Numbers 15:1-13

            Message of the verses:  “1 ¶  Now the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2  "Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘When you enter the land where you are to live, which I am giving you, 3  then make an offering by fire to the LORD, a burnt offering or a sacrifice to fulfill a special vow, or as a freewill offering or in your appointed times, to make a soothing aroma to the LORD, from the herd or from the flock.  4  ‘The one who presents his offering shall present to the LORD a grain offering of one-tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with one-fourth of a hin of oil,

5  and you shall prepare wine for the drink offering, one-fourth of a hin, with the burnt offering or for the sacrifice, for each lamb.  6  ‘Or for a ram you shall prepare as a grain offering two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with one-third of a hin of oil; 7  and for the drink offering you shall offer one-third of a hin of wine as a soothing aroma to the LORD.  8  ‘When you prepare a bull as a burnt offering or a sacrifice, to fulfill a special vow, or for peace offerings to the LORD, 9  then you shall offer with the bull a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with one-half a hin of oil; 10  and you shall offer as the drink offering one-half a hin of wine as an offering by fire, as a soothing aroma to the LORD.  11  ‘Thus it shall be done for each ox, or for each ram, or for each of the male lambs, or of the goats.  12  ‘According to the number that you prepare, so you shall do for everyone according to their number.  13  ‘All who are native shall do these things in this manner, in presenting an offering by fire, as a soothing aroma to the LORD.”

            The drink offering is explained more fully in the book of Numbers and that is why Dr. Wiersbe has moved to the book of Numbers at this time.

            The drink offering was presented with an animal sacrifice along with the grain offering and it was about one quart of wine but could be up to two quarts of wine depending on the sacrifice.  The drink offering was poured out onto the altar and it was a pleasant aroma to the Lord when it was offered to Him. 

            “The burnt offering, the meal or grain offering, and the drink offering all represented dedication to God and commitment to Him and His work.  The pouring out of the wine was a symbol of life being poured out in dedication to God.  On the cross Jesus was ‘poured out like water’ (Ps. 22:14) and ‘poured out His life unto death’ (Isa. 53:12 NIV).” 

            There are other examples of this in the NT as Paul wrote to the Philippians that he was poured out like a drink offering on their behalf and when he wrote his 2^nd letter to Timothy which, was very near the end of his life, he also mentioned that he was being poured out like a drink offering.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I am not sure if what I am about to write is accurate, but because the drink offering and the meal or grain offering was to be presented to the Lord each time an offering from an animal from the flock or herd was given, which was a blood offering it seems to me that each time this offering from the flock or herd which was a blood offering was given that the person was to dedicate themselves to the Lord.  Romans 12:1-2 certainly comes to mind when thinking about these offerings.  “1 ¶  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

My Steps of Faith for Today: 

1. Romans 12:1-2
2. Ephesians 6:10-18
3. Proverbs 3:5-6
4. Philippians 4:11

Memory verses for the week:                      Review of Exodus 20:1-6

1. Then the Lord spoke these words, saying,
2. I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
3. You shall have no other gods before Me.
4. You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.
5. You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children on the third and forth generation of those who hate me,
6. but showing loving kindness to thousands, to those who love me and keep my commandments.

8/18/2008 11:07 AM