Topical Bible: The Daily Sacrifice: Secured God's Presence and Favour

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The concept of the Daily Sacrifice, also known as the "continual burnt offering," holds a significant place in the religious life of ancient Israel as prescribed in the Mosaic Law. This practice was central to maintaining the covenant relationship between God and His people, symbolizing the perpetual worship and devotion required to secure God's presence and favor.

Biblical Foundation

The Daily Sacrifice is first detailed in the Book of Exodus, where God commands Moses regarding the offerings to be made on behalf of the Israelites. Exodus 29:38-42 states: "Now this is what you are to offer regularly on the altar: two lambs a year old, each day, continually. Offer one lamb in the morning and the other at twilight. With the first lamb, offer a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with a quarter hin of oil from pressed olives, and a drink offering of a quarter hin of wine. You are to offer the second lamb at twilight with the same grain offering and drink offering as in the morning. It is a pleasing aroma, an offering made by fire to the LORD. For the generations to come, this burnt offering is to be made regularly at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting before the LORD. There I will meet you and speak with you."

Purpose and Significance

The Daily Sacrifice served multiple purposes within the Israelite community. Primarily, it was an act of obedience to God's command, reflecting the people's continual need for atonement and reconciliation with God. The regularity of the sacrifice—morning and evening—emphasized the constancy of worship and the perpetual nature of God's covenant with Israel.

Moreover, the Daily Sacrifice was a means of securing God's presence among His people. As stated in Exodus 29:43-46 , "There I will meet with the Israelites, and the place will be consecrated by My glory. So I will consecrate the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and I will consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve Me as priests. Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God. And they will know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, so that I might dwell among them. I am the LORD their God."

Theological Implications

Theologically, the Daily Sacrifice underscores the holiness of God and the necessity of atonement for sin. It prefigures the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who, as the Lamb of God, offered Himself once for all (Hebrews 10:10). The continual nature of the sacrifice points to the enduring need for redemption and the sustaining grace of God.

The Daily Sacrifice also highlights the role of the priesthood in mediating between God and His people. The priests, through their daily duties, facilitated the people's access to God, maintaining the sanctity of the worship space and ensuring the community's adherence to divine ordinances.

Historical Context

Historically, the practice of the Daily Sacrifice was central to the worship life of the Tabernacle and later the Temple in Jerusalem. It was a daily reminder of God's provision and the people's dependence on His mercy. The cessation of the Daily Sacrifice, particularly during times of national crisis or foreign occupation, was seen as a profound spiritual loss, as it symbolized a disruption in the covenant relationship with God.

Prophetic and Eschatological Dimensions

Prophetically, the Daily Sacrifice is mentioned in the context of eschatological events. In the Book of Daniel, the cessation of the Daily Sacrifice is associated with the abomination of desolation (Daniel 11:31, 12:11), indicating a time of great tribulation and spiritual conflict. This has been interpreted by some as a foreshadowing of future events leading to the end times.

In summary, the Daily Sacrifice was a vital component of Israel's worship, serving as a continual reminder of God's holiness, the need for atonement, and the assurance of His presence and favor. Through this practice, the Israelites expressed their devotion and reliance on God, maintaining the covenant relationship that defined their identity as His chosen people.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Exodus 29:43,44
And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by my glory.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Acceptable Sacrifice;
... upon the care of Divine Providence for daily food ... that it is better than sacrifices,
than all sacrifice. ... in danger of being cast out of God's presence, and that ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the acceptable sacrifice.htm

Thirtieth Lesson. An Holy Priesthood;'
... full subjective personal experience as a divine life is secured. ... knew that when he
presented a sacrifice according to ... OF THE SPIRIT, coming down daily from Thee ...
/.../with christ in the school of prayer/thirtieth lesson an holy priesthood.htm

Of the True Church. Duty of Cultivating Unity with Her, as the ...
... God, in accommodation to our infirmity, has added such helps, and secured the effectual ...
Nor in vain in the Law did God ordain a daily sacrifice for sins ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 1 of the true.htm

Christ a Complete Saviour:
... than the heavens; who needeth not daily, as those ... continually before God, as gifts
and sacrifice valuable for ... as respecting our being already secured from guilt ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/christ a complete saviour .htm

With the Entry of Angela's Great Picture "The Coming of Christ" ...
... closely packed, and when Leigh had secured it for ... true, valuable and necessary to
daily living," and ... These floral offerings meant much sacrifice on the part ...
/.../corelli/the master-christian/xxxviii with the entry of.htm

Christ the End of the Law
... and evening a lamb died to tell of daily need of ... be approached: we must come by the
way of sacrifice or not ... The law's stability also has been secured by Christ ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 22 1876/christ the end of the.htm

The 'education Question' in Trinidad
... They see and hear more harm daily than we could ... a sound education, I trust, will
be secured to Protestants ... scruples are not wounded, a sacrifice of preferences ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter xiv the education question.htm

The Puritan Innovations
... the changes he desired Were not secured by the ... through the public ministration of
daily service the ... Altar," which was the correlative of sacrifice, was erased ...
/.../studies in the book of common prayer/chapter ii the puritan innovations.htm

The Law Given, not to Retain a People for Itself, but to Keep ...
... the good of society, its peace being secured by a ... from Christ, who, by his eternal
sacrifice once offered, had abolished those daily sacrifices, which ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 7 the law given.htm

Covenanting According to the Purposes of God.
... as one brought up with him; and I was daily his delight ... gate." "By him therefore
let us offer the sacrifice of praise ... of the grace of Him who hath secured it to ...
/.../the ordinance of covenanting/chapter viii covenanting according to.htm