Eze. 43:13-27: Is there blood and salt in worship?
Eze. 43:13-27: Is there blood and salt in worship?
The most important thing we Christians must consider on this earth is worship. Only when worship is alive can individuals, families, and the church thrive. In the vision Ezekiel saw, God spoke of the rules for worship and how to offer sacrifices in the temple. It mentions burnt offerings, sin offerings, and thank offerings (peace offerings). It shows blood and salt being sprinkled on the sacrifices on the altar. This passage shows how sacrifices (worship) must be offered to God so that He may be pleased with them.
1. Offer a blameless offering (22, 23, 25)
Ezekiel offered a blameless male goat as a sin offering every day from the second to the eighth day, following the same procedure as the bull on the first day (22). The fact that human sin is a stumbling block between God and humanity shows how much more devout and holy we must live. Fortunately, Jesus Christ became our sin offering and purified us. The sacrifices (worship) offered to God must be without blemish. Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers provide detailed instructions. Lev. 1:3, 4:3: "If your burnt offering is from the herd, offer a male without blemish. Offer a young bull without blemish to the Lord as a sin offering."
Today's text, verses 22, 23, and 25, states: "Offer a male goat without blemish as a sin offering...offer a young bull without blemish and a ram without blemish...make sure they are without blemish..." The text repeatedly states that the sin offering must be without blemish. The sacrifices offered to God must absolutely not have any blemishes. They are not acceptable (Lev. 22:25, God declares that anyone with a blemish is cursed; Malachi 1:14). This is because these sacrifices foreshadow Jesus Christ, who is without blemish or spot, and will accomplish our salvation. Today, we are told that the time, service, and offering we offer must all be holy and pure, without any blemish. May we all offer these blemish-free, holy, and pure offerings, time, and hearts that God delights in.
2. Sprinkle the Blood (18, 20)
"18.Then he said to me, 'Son of man, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: 'These are the regulations for the altar on the day it is made: You are to offer a burnt offering on it and sprinkle its blood: ... Take a young bull for a sin offering. 20.Then you shall take some of its blood and put it on the four horns of the altar, on the four corners of the ledge, and on its four sides. You shall make atonement for it and purify it." He purified all parts of the altar with the blood of the animal (20). He put the blood on the four horns of the altar, on the four corners of the ledge, and on its four sides. When Moses appointed Aaron as a priest, he applied blood to the parts of his body furthest from the center: his right ear, the thumb of his right hand, and the big toe of his right foot. He sprinkled or applied it to various parts of the altar, purifying them.
Why is the blood to be sprinkled or applied? It has a significant meaning. Blood is the source of life and the basis for the forgiveness of sins. Lev.17:11 says, "For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for sin by the life of the blood." Heb.9:22 says, "And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin."
The life of all living things lies in blood. Sinners could seek forgiveness for their sins and atone for their lives moment by moment through the blood of an animal. Slaughtering the animal chosen for sacrifice and shedding its blood symbolized the sacrificer's own death due to sin. Without the shedding of blood, the sacrifice could not be complete. Before we can approach God, our sins must be covered. The Old Testament sacrifices were a ransom for the sinner's life and the only way to purification and reconciliation. Even now, we foresee the coming of Jesus Christ, the source, and His shedding of His blood and death on the cross. 1Peter1:18-19, "...you were redeemed...with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish or spot." Jesus also said at the Last Supper, "For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins" (Mt.26:28). Is this shedding of Jesus' blood present in our worship today? Are we grateful and moved in our hearts for Jesus' shedding of His blood for our sins? Are we thankful that Jesus Christ shed His blood and died on the cross for us sinners? If so, we no longer need to offer blood sacrifices; we offer ourselves as living sacrifices by relying solely on the blood of Christ. Hallelujah!
3. Sprinkle Salt on them(24)
Ceremonial offerings were offered with "salt" added to purify the altar(24). Salt was a symbol of covenant in the Old Testament(Lev.2:13). At the time, people signed a covenant by eating salt together. At the time, salt symbolized eternity. v.24, "Then present it before the Lord, and the priest shall season it with salt and offer it as a burnt offering to the Lord."
A burnt offering is a sacrifice offered entirely by fire. God commands that we season it with salt before offering it. Originally, salt was not sprinkled on burnt offerings. Salt was used in grain offerings and incense. Lev.2:13, "Salt all your grain offerings. Do not omit the salt of the covenant of your God from your grain offerings. With all your offerings you shall offer salt."
In the ancient Near East, salt was used to signify covenants and pledge allegiance.
Num.18:19, the salt covenant signifies eternity. "All the holy offerings that the children of Israel present to the Lord, I give to you and your sons and daughters with you as a perpetual quota. It is a covenant of salt forever before the Lord, for you and your descendants after you."
2 Chro.13:5: "Do you not know that the Lord, the God of Israel, has given the kingdom of Israel to David and his sons forever by a covenant of salt?" (See Ezra 4:14) The "covenant of salt" emphasizes God's faithfulness and steadfastness, that He will never break His promise. It means that God will not break His promise to forgive anyone who offers a sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins.
This means that our worship and our faith must remain unchanging. We must keep our promises to God, whether material or time, until the day we go to heaven.
Mt.5:13: "You are the salt of the earth." This signifies an unchanging, flavorful quality. We believers must protect the world from corruption and add meaning to life.
Now God has promised to accept sacrifices with joy. Verse 27: “When all these days are completed, on the eighth day and the next day, the priests will offer your burnt offerings and your thank offerings on the altar, and I will accept you,” declares the Lord God. At the end of this service, worshippers could offer a peace offering (thank offering) and participate in it. The peace offering, which signifies fellowship with God, signifies that sinners who have concealed their sins can now have fellowship with God. 1 John 1:7: “And truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.”
Now, we all have received forgiveness of sins through the precious blood of Jesus. We are accepted as children of God. Jesus died for us, and through that precious blood, we have been saved and can finally ascend to heaven. No other sacrifice was sufficient to pay the price for sin. Only Jesus Christ can open the gates of heaven and lead us into it. Amen. How thankful we are! We, the saints, must always have a thankful heart when serving and worshiping God. Always be joyful. Pray without ceasing. Be thankful in all circumstances. Truly, God will never accept an ungrateful life or worship. May we all be blessed as God's people, living with gratitude, faith, love, and obedience.
Prayer: God, who delights in worship, thank you for allowing us to come to the place of worship where we meet you, relying on the sacrifice and blood of the spotless Jesus. Sometimes, because of our weakness, we fail to keep the law. Thank you, Lord, who knows our weakness, for giving us Jesus, the horn of salvation. Thank you for allowing us to rely on the blood of Jesus, which forgives all our sins. When we fail because of our weakness, misstep before you, and sin, we stand before your cross and ask for forgiveness based on the blood you shed for us. Thank you for your grace and love that cleanses us again. Even if we sin because of our weakness, please repent, rely on your blood, hold on to your horn, receive forgiveness of sins, and help us to be restored in our relationship with you. Please accept our worship and grant us daily victory through the divine grace of heaven. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
