Monday, May 21, 2007
The Brazen Altar
(There are powerpoint files that go with each message available through contacting me)
The Brazen Altar was the first article of furniture to be approached after passing through the Gate of the Outer Court. It was hollow and box-1 constructed out of Acacia Boards which were overlaid on both sides by brass (bronze). It measured 5 cubits on each side and 3 cubits in height. A brazen mesh grate was suspended in it 1" cubits from both top and bottom. Attached to this grate were 4 rings which protruded through the boards to hold the staves by which the Levites carried it from camp to camp.
Lev. 9:22 indicates that the Altar was raised up a little and speaks of God's hill of sacrifice - Golgotha. The Brazen Altar, which speaks of Christ in His Redemptive work on Calvary was inside the Gate which speaks of Christ the Way. The Brazen Altar blocked any further progress until its demands had been completely satisfied. There could be no worship, fellowship, illumination or contact with God's Shekinah glory until sin had been specifically dealt with at this gruesome altar. We are unable to proceed into God's presence until a right foundation has been laid -
THE BRAZEN ALTAR (Exo.27:1-8) Foreshadows Christ’s sacrificial death for us on the cross
Exodus 27:1-8 "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.
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.
Acacia Wood Brass
The Lord Jesus Christ has paid it all for us on the Cross
Acacia wood –the humanity of Christ. the desert tree which, because of its indestructability speaks of the incorruptible humanity of Christ.
Bronze – judgment. The boards of Shittim (acacia) wood were overlaid with brass (bronze). The brass is symbolic of judgement.
God said that if they disobeyed the heavens would be as brass. Duet. 28:1-3. Samson was bound with fetters of brass. Judges 16:21. The brass is particularly typical of the Cross as an instrument of the judgement of God against sin. He who knew no sin was made sin for us. 2 Cor. 5:21. He was the incorruptible acacia wood overlaid with the brass of our sin and judgement.
Four horns
The Four horns were for tying the sacrifice down to the altar. Ps. 118:27. The Lord is God and has given us light. Bind the festival sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.
Though Christ went willingly to the Cross He was held there by the Judicial authority of God. The whole of His offering was to God and not to sin, Satan or the law. Jesus was held to the Cross by 4 nails. He was held there by love.
The four equal sides, representing the four points of the compass, speak of the provision of salvation for all who will receive it, through Christ's sacrifice.
4 Horns - speak of power to the uttermost part of the earth.The horns point to the four intermediate points of the compass. SE, NE, SW, NW and with the 4 sides of the altar cover the entire earth'. They were sprinkled with blood and speak to us of the gospel with blood and speak to us of the gospel which is the "power of God" to all who will believe.
Grate ½ way
The Fire was down in the midst of the Altar, not on top, - speaking of the fact that sin is not outward but inward. The dealings of God against our sin are inward also - reaching the heart and motives. Christ suffered at man's hands initially but for the last 3 hours He suffered at the hands of God. It was not His physical sufferings only which made Him the Redeemer but the burning in His bones. Ps. 102:3, 31:10.
Lev 6:13 The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out.
The fire at the altar was to continue burning day and night (Lev.6:12-13) – Calvary’s cross and Christ’s sacrifice is open to us all the time.
. The fire was never to go out. This speaks of the sacrifice of Jesus being forever efficacious and available.
The ashes
1. Pans. - removing the ashes to the outside of the Camp.
2. Shovels. for getting the ashes out of the Altar.
3. Basins. for receiving the blood of the sacrifices.
4. Flesh-hooks. - for arranging the sacrifices in place upon the Altar.
Heb 9:13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
The ashes speak of two things.
(a) The finished work of Christ at the Cross. He submitted Himself to the judgement of God against our sin till no more could be demanded. He said on the Cross "It is finished". when Isaiah was confronted with his uncleaness his lips were cleansed with a coal or ash from the altar. The ashes were used for the sprinkling of the unclean. Heb. 9:13. A proper appropriation of the finished work of redemption is essential to our on going relationship with the Lord.
(b) When the ashes were carried out of the camp to a clean place it was a soleum funeral procession. This typifies the burial if Christ in a new tomb wherein never man was laid before. Luke.23:53, Lev.6:10-11.
5 Offerings Made At The Brazen Altar
. Various types of sacrifices were performed at the Brazen Altar. The main ones being listed in Lev. 1 - 9.
(a) The Burnt offering either a bullock, a sheep, a goat or birds such as turtle doves or pigeons.
(b) Meat Offering - Flour, oil and frankincense, baked in a pan.
(c) The Peace offering - a male or female of the herd.
(d) The Sin offering. (through ignorance of the commandment) - a young bullock for a priest, or the whole congregation, or a male kid of the goats for a ruler of the people, or a female goat for one of the common people.
(e) The Trespass offerings - either a female lamb or kid or 2 turtle doves - used mainly for cleansing from defilement.
(f) Consecration Offerings - at the ordination of a priest or High Priest.
(g) The Day of Atonement - once a year.
The Sin offering. Lev.4:1-5:13
The Trespass / guilt offering. Lev. 5:14-6:7
Heb 9:22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
The Cross paves the way for us to be accepted by God – Burnt Offering (Lev.1; 6:9-13)
The Cross empowers us to offer our lives to God in worship and service as a fragrant offering - Meal / Grain Offering (Lev.2; 6:14-22)
The cross enables us to enjoy sweet fellowship with God - Peace / Fellowship Offering (Lev.3; 7:11-21, 29-34)
5 OFFERINGS
Trespass / Guilt Offering – In Christ our trespasses are forgiven.
Sin Offering – In Christ the power of sin is broken.
Burnt Offering – In Christ, God the Father accepts us.
Meal / Grain Offering – In Christ, we have a perfect sacrifice.
Peace / Fellowship Offering – In Christ we have fellowship with God.
The Brazen Altar was the first article of furniture to be approached after passing through the Gate of the Outer Court. It was hollow and box-1 constructed out of Acacia Boards which were overlaid on both sides by brass (bronze). It measured 5 cubits on each side and 3 cubits in height. A brazen mesh grate was suspended in it 1" cubits from both top and bottom. Attached to this grate were 4 rings which protruded through the boards to hold the staves by which the Levites carried it from camp to camp.
Lev. 9:22 indicates that the Altar was raised up a little and speaks of God's hill of sacrifice - Golgotha. The Brazen Altar, which speaks of Christ in His Redemptive work on Calvary was inside the Gate which speaks of Christ the Way. The Brazen Altar blocked any further progress until its demands had been completely satisfied. There could be no worship, fellowship, illumination or contact with God's Shekinah glory until sin had been specifically dealt with at this gruesome altar. We are unable to proceed into God's presence until a right foundation has been laid -
THE BRAZEN ALTAR (Exo.27:1-8) Foreshadows Christ’s sacrificial death for us on the cross
Exodus 27:1-8 "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.
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.
Acacia Wood Brass
The Lord Jesus Christ has paid it all for us on the Cross
Acacia wood –the humanity of Christ. the desert tree which, because of its indestructability speaks of the incorruptible humanity of Christ.
Bronze – judgment. The boards of Shittim (acacia) wood were overlaid with brass (bronze). The brass is symbolic of judgement.
God said that if they disobeyed the heavens would be as brass. Duet. 28:1-3. Samson was bound with fetters of brass. Judges 16:21. The brass is particularly typical of the Cross as an instrument of the judgement of God against sin. He who knew no sin was made sin for us. 2 Cor. 5:21. He was the incorruptible acacia wood overlaid with the brass of our sin and judgement.
Four horns
The Four horns were for tying the sacrifice down to the altar. Ps. 118:27. The Lord is God and has given us light. Bind the festival sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.
Though Christ went willingly to the Cross He was held there by the Judicial authority of God. The whole of His offering was to God and not to sin, Satan or the law. Jesus was held to the Cross by 4 nails. He was held there by love.
The four equal sides, representing the four points of the compass, speak of the provision of salvation for all who will receive it, through Christ's sacrifice.
4 Horns - speak of power to the uttermost part of the earth.The horns point to the four intermediate points of the compass. SE, NE, SW, NW and with the 4 sides of the altar cover the entire earth'. They were sprinkled with blood and speak to us of the gospel with blood and speak to us of the gospel which is the "power of God" to all who will believe.
Grate ½ way
The Fire was down in the midst of the Altar, not on top, - speaking of the fact that sin is not outward but inward. The dealings of God against our sin are inward also - reaching the heart and motives. Christ suffered at man's hands initially but for the last 3 hours He suffered at the hands of God. It was not His physical sufferings only which made Him the Redeemer but the burning in His bones. Ps. 102:3, 31:10.
Lev 6:13 The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out.
The fire at the altar was to continue burning day and night (Lev.6:12-13) – Calvary’s cross and Christ’s sacrifice is open to us all the time.
. The fire was never to go out. This speaks of the sacrifice of Jesus being forever efficacious and available.
The ashes
1. Pans. - removing the ashes to the outside of the Camp.
2. Shovels. for getting the ashes out of the Altar.
3. Basins. for receiving the blood of the sacrifices.
4. Flesh-hooks. - for arranging the sacrifices in place upon the Altar.
Heb 9:13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
The ashes speak of two things.
(a) The finished work of Christ at the Cross. He submitted Himself to the judgement of God against our sin till no more could be demanded. He said on the Cross "It is finished". when Isaiah was confronted with his uncleaness his lips were cleansed with a coal or ash from the altar. The ashes were used for the sprinkling of the unclean. Heb. 9:13. A proper appropriation of the finished work of redemption is essential to our on going relationship with the Lord.
(b) When the ashes were carried out of the camp to a clean place it was a soleum funeral procession. This typifies the burial if Christ in a new tomb wherein never man was laid before. Luke.23:53, Lev.6:10-11.
5 Offerings Made At The Brazen Altar
. Various types of sacrifices were performed at the Brazen Altar. The main ones being listed in Lev. 1 - 9.
(a) The Burnt offering either a bullock, a sheep, a goat or birds such as turtle doves or pigeons.
(b) Meat Offering - Flour, oil and frankincense, baked in a pan.
(c) The Peace offering - a male or female of the herd.
(d) The Sin offering. (through ignorance of the commandment) - a young bullock for a priest, or the whole congregation, or a male kid of the goats for a ruler of the people, or a female goat for one of the common people.
(e) The Trespass offerings - either a female lamb or kid or 2 turtle doves - used mainly for cleansing from defilement.
(f) Consecration Offerings - at the ordination of a priest or High Priest.
(g) The Day of Atonement - once a year.
The Sin offering. Lev.4:1-5:13
The Trespass / guilt offering. Lev. 5:14-6:7
Heb 9:22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
The Cross paves the way for us to be accepted by God – Burnt Offering (Lev.1; 6:9-13)
The Cross empowers us to offer our lives to God in worship and service as a fragrant offering - Meal / Grain Offering (Lev.2; 6:14-22)
The cross enables us to enjoy sweet fellowship with God - Peace / Fellowship Offering (Lev.3; 7:11-21, 29-34)
5 OFFERINGS
Trespass / Guilt Offering – In Christ our trespasses are forgiven.
Sin Offering – In Christ the power of sin is broken.
Burnt Offering – In Christ, God the Father accepts us.
Meal / Grain Offering – In Christ, we have a perfect sacrifice.
Peace / Fellowship Offering – In Christ we have fellowship with God.
# posted by Groseys messages @ 3:19 PM 
