The Priests Must Minister Daily (Ex. 29:38-46)

8/3/2008 9:30 AM

My Worship Time           Focus:  Priests must minister daily

Bible Reading & Meditation               Reference:  Exodus 29:38-46

            Message of the verses:  “38 ¶  "Now this is what you shall offer on the altar: two one year old lambs each day, continuously.  39  "The one lamb you shall offer in the morning and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight; 40  and there shall be one-tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with one-fourth of a hin of beaten oil, and one-fourth of a hin of wine for a drink offering with one lamb.  41  "The other lamb you shall offer at twilight, and shall offer with it the same grain offering and the same drink offering as in the morning, for a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to the LORD.  42  "It shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the doorway of the tent of meeting before the LORD, where I will meet with you, to speak to you there.  43  "I will meet there with the sons of Israel, and it shall be consecrated by My glory.  44  "I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar; I will also consecrate Aaron and his sons to minister as priests to Me.  45  "I will dwell among the sons of Israel and will be their God.  46  "They shall know that I am the LORD their God who brought them out of the land of Egypt, that I might dwell among them; I am the LORD their God.”

            This section speaks of a number of sacrifices that were to be offered to the Lord on a daily basis.  There was to be a lamb offered in the morning and also at twilight, along with a meal and drink offering.  These offerings were not for the priest to partake of as part of their meals, but they were totally given to the Lord.

            Warren Wiersbe points out that the flour and wine represented the peoples work in the fields and vineyards.  The drink offering that was poured out on the altar was a picture of their lives poured out in His service.  Paul speaks of this in two places in the NT:  “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.  “But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all.”  (2Tim. 4:6 & Philippians 2:17)  Both of these passages Paul was speaking of his death and I believe Paul was stating that not only has his work on earth about over, but also that He had done a good job in his service to the Lord and his death would represent a drink offering to the Lord.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  As a NT priest I too am to speak to the Lord in the morning and also in the evening, which is a good way to open and close my day.  I am to be a living sacrifice to the Lord as Paul wrote of in Romans 12:1-2.  Being a sacrifice is not always a pleasant thing to do, especially when times are hard, however being a living sacrifice can teach me contentment and bring joy to my heart.

My Steps of Faith for Today:

1. Put on my Spiritual armor.  (The belt of truth, the breastplate or righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of faith, the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, and remember to pray).
2. Offer myself as a living sacrifice in service of my King today.
3. Ask the Lord to guide my paths today and to keep me safe.
4. Seek to learn contentment as I go through times of trouble.

Memory verses for the week:                      Exodus 20:1-5

1. Then God spoke all 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 earth beneath or in the water under the earth.
5. 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 the fourth generations of those who hate Me.

8/3/2008 10:02 AM