Good Morning.
Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Command Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the law of the burnt offering: The burnt offering shall be on the hearth upon the altar all night until morning, and the fire of the altar shall be kept burning on it.” (Leviticus 6:8-9)
As I alluded to in the previous devotion, the laws and instructions given in this section of Scripture, though speaking of offerings already addressed, nevertheless, distinguish between what the individual was to do when bringing an offering and what the priest was to do. Moreover, the priests were also to make certain that a burnt offering was continually burning upon the altar, day and night. This perpetual offering, in Hebrew known as תמיד tamid, was placed upon the altar on behalf of the entire community. One was placed upon the altar to burn all day and another placed upon the altar to burn all night.
Consequently, the nation at large was represented through the priest’s service and the burnt offering that was continually before God. Not only that, because of what the burnt offering represented — complete and total surrender to God — it also spoke of the mandate given by God to His people. That mandate was and is to live sacrificially in service to God and our fellow man, and thus be a נר תמיד ner tamid, — a perpetual light to the nations and witnesses of the one true God.
In the New Testament we are told, in one way or another time again, that to love God “with all the heart … and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices” (Mark 12:32-33). In this way, we demonstrate to the world that we have answered the call, we have submitted our lives to His service and are willing to be the light for others as God gives us the understanding to walk in His light. This call is not just for one day a week; it is a call that requires we walk in it everyday and all day, from now until the day He calls us home. That is our mandate as priests of the Most High God and thus let us be about our Father’s business and continually “offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Yeshua the Messiah” (1 Peter 2:5).
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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