Bible Study: Altars in the Bible
Introduction:
Altars played a significant role in the worship and religious practices of the Old Testament. They served as places of sacrifice, prayer, and communion with God. This study examines the different types of altars mentioned in the Bible, their purpose, and their symbolic significance.
Key Themes:
• Worship and Sacrifice: Altars were primarily built for offering sacrifices to God, expressing worship, atonement, and thanksgiving.
• Communion with God: Altars served as a point of contact between God and humanity, a place where people could seek His presence and receive His blessings.
• Remembrance and Memorial: Some altars were built as memorials of God's faithfulness and acts of deliverance.
• Symbolic Significance: Altars represent the concept of approaching God and offering something to Him.
• Types of Altars: The Bible mentions different kinds of altars, each with its specific purpose and design.
Key Passages and Examples:
1. Altars Built for Worship:
• Genesis 8:20: "Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar."
◦ Noah's altar after the flood was an act of gratitude and worship to God for deliverance.
• Genesis 12:7: "Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, 'To your offspring I will give this land.' So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him."
◦ Abram built altars as he journeyed through Canaan, marking places where God had revealed Himself.
• Genesis 22:9: Abraham building the altar to sacrifice Isaac. This shows obedience and dedication to God.
• Exodus 17:15: "And Moses built an altar and called the name of it, The Lord Is My Banner,"
◦ This altar was a memorial of God's victory over the Amalekites.
• Other examples: Genesis 13:18, 26:25, 33:20, 35:7
2. Building of Altars:
• Exodus 20:24: "An altar of earth you shall make for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen. In every place where I cause my name to be remembered I will come to you and bless you."
◦ God gave specific instructions for building altars, emphasizing simplicity and reverence.
• Deuteronomy 27:5: Instructions to build an altar of uncut stones on Mount Ebal.
• Joshua 8:31: Joshua built an altar of uncut stones on Mount Ebal, following Moses's instructions.
• Ezekiel 43:13: Describes the dimensions of the altar in Ezekiel's vision of the restored temple.
3. Altar of Burnt Offering:
• Exodus 27:1: "You shall make the altar of acacia wood, square, five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high."
◦ This altar, located in the courtyard of the tabernacle, was used for offering burnt offerings.
• Exodus 29:36: Describes the daily offering on the altar of burnt offering.
• 1 Kings 8:64: Solomon consecrates the altar of burnt offering.
• This altar was the primary place for animal sacrifice, and was placed outside of the holy place.
4. Altar of Incense:
• Exodus 30:1: "You shall make an altar to burn incense on; of acacia wood shall you make it."
◦ This altar, located in the holy place of the tabernacle, was used for burning incense.
• Leviticus 4:7: Describes the priest placing blood on the altar of incense.
• 1 Kings 6:22: Describes the golden altar of incense in Solomon's temple.
• This altar symbolized prayer and worship ascending to God.
Spiritual Principles:
• Access to God: Altars represent the means by which humans can approach God.
• Sacrifice and Atonement: Animal sacrifices on the altar of burnt offering symbolized atonement for sin.
• Prayer and Intercession: The altar of incense symbolized prayer and intercession, ascending to God like fragrant incense.
• Dedication and Consecration: Building an altar was an act of dedication and consecration to God.
• God's Presence: Altars marked places where God revealed His presence and interacted with His people.
• Jesus as the ultimate altar: In the new testament, Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice, and therefore the ultimate altar. Hebrews 13:10 speaks of an altar that Christians have.
Practical Application:
• Cultivate a Heart of Worship: Approach God with reverence and gratitude, recognizing His holiness.
• Offer Spiritual Sacrifices: Offer spiritual sacrifices of praise, prayer, and service to God.
• Seek God's Presence: Create "altars" of prayer and devotion in your own life, seeking God's presence and guidance.
• Remember God's Faithfulness: Reflect on God's faithfulness and build "memorials" of His goodness in your heart.
• Understand the ultimate sacrifice: Understand that Jesus Christ, became the ultimate sacrifice, therefore animal sacrifice is no longer needed.
