Schoolmaster to Christ
NUMBERS CHAPTERS 28 & 29
Schoolmaster to Christ
NUMBERS CHAPTERS 28 & 29
Scripture Reading: Numbers 28 & 29 (KJV)
These two chapters should be read together; they form a distinct section of Numbers – a section filled with interest and instruction. The second verse of chapter 28 gives us a condensed statement of the contents of the entire section. "And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, My offering, and my bread for my sacrifices made by fire, for a sweet savour unto me, shall ye observe to offer unto me in their due season."
In these words we are furnished with a key to unlock this portion of the Book of Numbers. It is a portion that is distinct and simple: "My offering" "My bread" "My sacrifices," "A sweet savour unto Me." Without much effort, we learn that the leading thought is Christ to God. It is not so much Christ meeting our need (though surely He does), as Christ feeding and delighting the heart of God. It is God's bread, a truly wonderful expression; one we seldom think of or understand. Sadly, we are prone to look at Christ merely as the procuring cause of our salvation, the One through Whom we are forgiven and saved from hell, the channel through which all blessing flows to us. Yes, blessed be His Name forever, He is all this. He is the Author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him. He bore our sins in His own body; on the tree He died, the just for the unjust, to bring us to God. He saves us from our sins – from their present power and from their future consequences.
All this is true; consequently, the sin offering is introduced throughout these two chapters (See Num. 28:15, 22, 30; 29:5, 11, 16, 19, 22, 25, 28, 31, 34, 38). Thirteen times the sin offering of atonement is mentioned; and yet, it is true and obvious that sin or atonement for sin is not the great prominent subject. There is no mention of it in the above quoted verse, although that verse plainly gives a summary of the contents of the two chapters. In fact, there is no allusion to it until the fifteenth verse.
The sin offering is essential because man is in question, and man is a sinner. Without introducing the atoning death of Christ as the necessary foundation, it would be impossible to treat the subject of man's approach to God, his worship, or his communion. The mystery of Christ's precious sacrifice will be the wellspring of our souls throughout the everlasting ages.
Shall one be deemed Socinian in thought by asserting that there is something in Christ and His precious death beyond the bearing of our sins and the meeting of our necessities? We trust not. Can anyone read Numbers 28 and 29 and not see this? Consider this simple fact: There are seventy-one verses in this entire section; and out of these, thirteen allude to the sin offering, and the remaining fifty-eight are occupied with sweet savor offerings.
In other words, the special theme here is God's delight in Christ. Morning and evening, day by day, week after week, from one new moon to another, from the opening to the close of the year, it is Christ in His fragrance and preciousness to God. True, thanks be to God and to Jesus Christ His Son, our sin is atoned for, judged, and forever put away, our trespasses forgiven and guilt cancelled. But above and beyond this, the heart of God is fed, refreshed, and delighted by Christ. What was the morning and evening lamb? Was it a sin offering or a burnt offering? Hear the reply in God's own words: "And thou shalt say unto them, This is the offering made by fire which ye shall offer unto the Lord; two lambs of the first year without spot day by day, for a continual burnt offering. The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning, and the other lamb shalt thou offer at even; and a tenth part of an ephah of flour for a meat offering, mingled with the fourth part of an hin [a unit of liquid measure used by the ancient Hebrews, equal to about five liters] of beaten oil. It is a continual burnt offering, which was ordained in Mount Sinai, for a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the Lord" (emphasis added).
Again; what were the two lambs for the Sabbath, a sin offering or a burnt offering? "This is the burnt offering of every Sabbath." It was to be double, because the Sabbath was a type of the rest that remained for God's people, when there will be a two fold appreciation of Christ. But the character of the offering is plain. It was Christ to God. This is the special point in the burnt offering. The sin offering is Christ to us. In the sin offering, it is a question of the hatefulness of sin; in the burnt offering, it is a question of the preciousness and excellence of Christ.
In a word, throughout the entire range of feasts the leading idea is Christ as a sweet savor – at the beginnings of their months (v 11); in the feast of the Passover and unleavened bread (vv. 16-25); in the feast of firstfruits (vv. 26-31); in the feast of trumpets (Num. 29:1-6); and in the feast of tabernacles (vv. 7-38). It is evident to the most cursory reader that the sin offering is never lacking; but the sweet savor offerings get the prominent place. Can anyone read this remarkable portion of Scripture and not observe the contrast between the place of the sin offering and the burnt offering? The former is only spoken of as "one kid of the goats," whereas the latter comes before us in the form of "fourteen lambs," "thirteen bullocks" and such like. Such is the large place that the sweet savor offerings get in this Scripture.
Why dwell on this? Why insist on it? Simply to show the true character of the worship God looks for, and in which He delights. God delights in Christ; and it should be our constant aim to present to God that in which He delights. Christ should always be the material of our worship; and, in proportion as the Spirit of God leads us, He will be. However, in this age, the tone is low and the spirit dull and heavy, both in the assembly and in the closet. We are too much occupied with self instead of with Christ; and, instead of being able to do His own proper work, i.e., showing the things of Christ to us, the Holy Spirit is obliged to occupy us with ourselves in self-judgment, because our ways are not right.
All this should be deplored. It demands our serious attention as assemblies and as individuals – in our public reunions and private devotions. Why is the tone of our public meetings frequently so low? Why such feebleness, such barrenness, such wandering? Why are the hymns and prayers so off the mark? Why is there so little that truly deserves the name of worship? Why is there such restlessness and aimless activity? Why is there so little in our midst that refreshes the heart of God; so little that He can really speak of as "His bread, for His sacrifices made by fire, for a sweet savor unto him"? In this age, we are occupied with self and its surroundings, with our wants, weakness, trials and difficulties; and we leave God without the bread of His sacrifice. We actually rob Him of His due, that which His loving heart desires.
Should we ignore our trials, difficulties, and wants? No; but we should commit them to God. He tells us to cast all our care on Him, in the sweet and tranquillizing assurance that He cares. He invites us to cast our burdens on Him, in the assurance that He can and will sustain us. Is it not enough that He is mindful? When we assemble in His presence, should we not be sufficiently at leisure from self, so that we are able to present God something besides our own things? He has provided for us. Through the sacrifice of His beloved Son, Jesus Christ, He has made everything right for us. Our sins and sorrows have all been divinely met. And most surely we cannot suppose that such things are the food of God's sacrifice. Blessed be His name, He has made them His care; but they cannot be said to be His food.
Should we not think of these things in reference to both the assembly and the closet? The same remarks apply to both. Should we not cultivate a condition of soul that would enable us to present God with that He is pleased to call, "His bread?" The truth is we desperately need more habitual occupation of heart with Christ as a sweet savor to God. It is not that we should value the sin offering less; but let us remember that there is something more in our precious Lord Jesus Christ than the pardon of our sins and the salvation of our souls. What do the burnt offering, the meat offering, and the drink offering suggest? Christ as a sweet savor – Christ the food of God's offering; the joy of His heart. It is one and the same Christ – the One Who was made a curse for us is also a sweet savor to God? Surely, every Christian accepts this. But are we not prone to confine our thoughts of Christ to what He did for us, to the virtual exclusion of what He is to God? It is this we have to mourn over and judge; this we must seek to correct, and a careful study of Numbers 28 and 29 will, no doubt, prove an excellent corrective. May God, by His Spirit, use it to this end.
Having already offered thoughts on what God has given to us in the way of light on the sacrifices and feasts, we will not dwell on them here. Reviewing chapters 1-8 and chapter 33 of Leviticus may offer additional help regarding the subjects contained in these two chapters of Numbers.
