SCRIPTURE: Numbers 28
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” [Mark 1:35]
Jesus models the spirit of these sacrifices by starting His day first thing with God.
These sacrifices — offered at the beginning and end of the day, every seventh day, the first day of every month, the annual remembrance of Israel’s new beginnings (Passover) and the annual celebration of the first crops –- highlight how life begins (and ends) with the Lord.
He is the first, He is the source, He is the beginning.
The humble, submissive heart recognizes this, and lives accordingly.
Starting each day, each activity, each celebration, each event, with prayer – or better, with expressed dependence on the Lord – reveals the humble, submissive heart.
Sometimes it’s hard to fathom why so much bloodshed.
“Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.” [1 Samuel 15:22]
And yet here we read that these sacrifices are an aroma pleasing to God [Numbers 28:2].
Actually, Samuel’s words reveal that the ‘aroma’ is not the burning flesh and blood, but the obedient, submissive heart behind them.
These sacrifices are a disciplined reminder of our absolute dependence on the Lord, above all else.
Muslims have their own intense discipline of prayer that remind them of their dependence on Allah: Prayer is performed five times a day: at dawn, noon, in the afternoon, at sunset, and nightfall.
It is obligatory for all Muslims once they have reached puberty.
Compare this to our own lax or lacking prayer habits.
While we have been set free from the “law” of prescribed prayers, this freedom does not release us from our need for prayer, or for humble, submissive, obedient hearts.
What should motivate us is love, gratitude and wonder.
I think about the sinful woman who anoints Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume and tears, while the Pharisee host did not even offer the customary water.
Jesus observes that her actions reveal deep love and gratitude [Luke 7:39-47].
Which raises the question, what do our expressions of prayer and reveal about our own love and gratitude?
God instituted these sacrifices to make a point, and to teach a lifestyle – one of humility, love, gratitude and dependence.
Have I gotten the point?
PRAYER:
Lord, You do not want blood, You want my heart. At the beginning of every day, and throughout my whole life – may I seek You first!
Once again the people are reminded about their worship practices. Generations come and go and the people need a reminder once again how to serve the Lord their God.
Daily sacrifices remind me of my need to put God first. Today God Is First as He is every day. My worship of Him must be daily, and highlighted throughout with the Sabbath, Monthly and Special sacrifices. All these sacrifices were pleasing to the Lord, but it focussed the peoples attention on God. This is how you worship me. This is how you show that you love me. God wants our whole being. He is our All in all and He desires all.
This is the way, walk in it. Serve me the Lord again tells His people. And so today, as in every day, I must place God first, serve Him wholeheartedly. Each day I need to renew my talks with God as He leads me and guides me through a new day with new beginnings.
May my heart always be turned unto ‘Home.’
Lead me, guide me along the way,
For if you lead me I cannot stray.
Lord let me walk each day with Thee.
Lead me, oh Lord lead me.
I am lost if you take your hand from me,
I am blind without Thy light to see.
Lord just always to me thy servant be,
Lead me, oh Lord lead me.