Topical Bible: The Daily Sacrifice: Acceptable Prayer

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The concept of the daily sacrifice in the Old Testament is deeply intertwined with the practice of prayer, serving as a symbol of continual devotion and communication with God. The daily sacrifice, or "tamid," was a regular offering made in the morning and evening at the Tabernacle and later at the Temple in Jerusalem. This practice is detailed in Exodus 29:38-42 and Numbers 28:1-8, where the Israelites were commanded to offer two lambs a day, one in the morning and one at twilight, as a perpetual burnt offering.

In the New Testament, the idea of sacrifice transitions from the physical offerings of animals to the spiritual offerings of prayer and worship. Hebrews 13:15 states, "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess His name." This verse highlights the shift from the Old Covenant's physical sacrifices to the New Covenant's spiritual sacrifices, emphasizing prayer and praise as the new form of daily sacrifice.

Prayer, as an acceptable sacrifice, is a central theme throughout Scripture. The Psalms frequently depict prayer as a form of sacrifice pleasing to God. Psalm 141:2 says, "May my prayer be set before You like incense, my uplifted hands like the evening offering." This imagery connects prayer with the incense and offerings of the Temple, suggesting that sincere prayer is as pleasing to God as the sacrifices once made on the altar.

The New Testament further underscores the importance of prayer as a daily sacrifice. In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 , Paul exhorts believers to "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." This call to constant prayer reflects the perpetual nature of the daily sacrifices, encouraging believers to maintain a continual line of communication with God.

The teachings of Jesus also emphasize the significance of prayer. In Matthew 6:9-13 , Jesus provides the Lord's Prayer as a model for how believers should pray, highlighting the importance of daily dependence on God for provision, forgiveness, and guidance. This prayer encapsulates the essence of daily sacrifice, as it is meant to be a regular part of a believer's life, reflecting a heart of submission and trust in God.

Moreover, the early church exemplified the practice of prayer as a daily sacrifice. Acts 2:42 describes the early Christians as devoted to "the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." This devotion to prayer was a hallmark of their faith, demonstrating their commitment to God and to one another.

In summary, the daily sacrifice in the form of acceptable prayer is a vital aspect of the believer's spiritual life. It represents a continual offering of oneself to God, characterized by praise, thanksgiving, and supplication. As the physical sacrifices of the Old Testament pointed to a deeper spiritual reality, so too does the practice of prayer serve as a daily reminder of our dependence on and relationship with the Almighty.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 141:2
Let my prayer be set forth before you as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

What a Sacrifice Is, and what are the Species of Sacrifice.
... that the Gentiles might be offerings acceptable to God ... adversaries everywhere perversely
apply the name sacrifice to the ... They cite also the daily sacrifice (cf ...
/.../melanchthon/the apology of the augsburg confession/part 30 what a sacrifice.htm

The Altar of Incense
... odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing ... This altar shows us
where prayer stands in ... court, whereon was offered the daily sacrifice for the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the altar of incense.htm

Treatise iv. On the Lord's Prayer.
... in that he is bidden to entreat daily for his ... an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice
acceptable, well pleasing ... And in discharging the duties of prayer, we find ...
/.../cyprian/the treatises of cyprian/treatise iv on the lords.htm

The Copies of Things in the Heavens
... the life of true communion, there should be daily seasons of ... by which we are taught
that acceptable prayer follows on reconciliation by sacrifice, and leads ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the copies of things in.htm

Daily Thoughts,
... April 28. Self-Sacrifice. April 29. Help from our Blessed Dead. ... July 18. A Faith
for Daily Life. July 19. ... August 9. Acceptable Sacrifices. August 10. Chivalry. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/daily thoughts /

Of Prayer --A Perpetual Exercise of Faith. The Daily Benefits ...
... will not prevent him from asking for daily bread ... The only prayer acceptable to God
is that which springs (if I ... that he is delighted as with a sacrifice of sweet ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 20 of prayera perpetual.htm

Twenty Second Sunday after Trinity Paul's Thanks and Prayers for ...
... Secondly, his desire and prayer to God is for ... kind of thanksgiving and sacrifices
are acceptable to God ... be the constant service and daily sacrifice of Christians ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol iii/twenty second sunday after trinity.htm

The Acceptable Sacrifice;
... living, and thrown upon the care of Divine Providence for daily food. ... hearts of all
who shall peruse it, is the desire and prayer of. ... THE ACCEPTABLE SACRIFICE; ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the acceptable sacrifice.htm

Psalm cxxxvii. 4
... in God's temple on earth, were presenting also their daily and acceptable sacrifice,
the sacrifice ... in it is not offered, the living sacrifice of ourselves ...
/.../arnold/the christian life/lecture xxix psalm cxxxvii 4.htm

Of Internal Prayer in General, and Principally of Internal ...
... and books of piety; they do often (if not daily) celebrate the most holy Sacrifice;
they nave ... heart and affections on God, which are only acceptable to Him ...
/.../chapter iii of internal prayer.htm