“Fire shall be kept burning continually on the altar; it is not to go out.” Leviticus 6:13
In Today’s Reading, God finishes with the Law regarding the various Offerings. At the end of Chapter 7 we read, “This is the law of the burnt offering, the grain offering, the sin offering and the guilt offering, and the ordination offering and the sacrifice of peace offerings”. In Today’s Verse we read part of the “how” that would all be accomplished; the “Fire shall be kept burning continually on the altar; it is not to go out.” It was “always” to be ready to accommodate God’s People as they dealt with their Sins and their need to Worship.
This Altar was where God’s People had access to Him at all times; where they confessed their Sin; where an animal’s life was sacrificed instead of their own; where forgiveness of sin was conveyed; where gifts of thanksgiving were made. It was Central to their Worship. They were not to have “their own” altar; they were to only use “this one”! Absent is the Concept of “I can worship God wherever I am”. It was restricted to the location of the Tabernacle. It necessitated God’s appointed Priests that would make the Offering for them. God’s People, though physically capable of performing the Ceremony were not the ones that were to do it. A Mediator was appointed for that.
Once again, as we take time to consider these things we are struck by the Parallels in the New Covenant. For the Christian today, the Cross is that Altar, Jesus is the Sacrifice, as well as the Priest, and Access to God is ALWAYS available! What is required? That we “See and Understand” our Sin, which is WHY knowledge of God’s Word is so important. That we are willing to Confess and Forsake our Sin when we come before a Holy and Righteous God. And, that we truly believe Jesus is the Lamb of God, who came to “take away the Sin of the world”! The result is Forgiveness with God and Thanksgiving of heart!