Browse Bible Study Resources

Daily Devotions

Ezekiel

Ezekiel 
Day 
Day 431

"For the burnt offering"

Text: Ezekiel 40:42

THE ANCIENT SACRIFICIAL SYSTEM

The Lord was the One who gave to Israel a significant religious system that involved the making of sacrifices. These were powerful symbols pointing to the ultimate sacrifice that the Messiah, the Lord Jesus would make to redeem mankind.

“There was a chamber and its entrance by the gateposts of the gateway, where they washed the burnt offering. In the vestibule of the gateway were two tables on this side and two tables on that side, on which to slay the burnt offering, the sin offering, and the trespass offering. At the outer side of the vestibule, as one goes up to the entrance of the northern gateway, were two tables; and on the other side of the vestibule of the gateway were two tables. Four tables were on this side and four tables on that side, by the side of the gateway, eight tables on which they slaughtered the sacrifices. There were also four tables of hewn stone for the burnt offering, one cubit and a half long, one cubit and a half wide, and one cubit high; on these they laid the instruments with which they slaughtered the burnt offering and the sacrifice. Inside were hooks, a handbreadth wide, fastened all around; and the flesh of the sacrifices was on the tables.”
Ezekiel 40:38-43

1. A special chamber to prepare the sacrifices.

a) The burnt offering.

b) The sin offering.

c) The trespass (guilt) offering.

2. The provision of things inside and outside the vestibule.

a) Sufficient tables were provided.

b) They were for the slaying of the sacrificial animals.

3. Hewn stone tables and flesh hooks.

a) They were made for the burnt offering.

b) The hooks were for hanging of the animals that were slain.

4. Why was the sacrificial system established in the first place?

a) The offerings were meant to teach significant lessons.

b) When the Lord Jesus became the perfect sacrifice at Mount Calvary, the old sacrificial system was abolished.

5. Why was this sacrificial system reintroduced?

a) The sacrifices in themselves have no particular efficacious value.

b) But they offer deep symbolic lessons.

i) They may be seen as a Memorial for the Messiah’s Death on the Cross.

ii) The sacrifices made would end up as a community event.

iii) Worshippers would be able to partake of the offerings given to the Lord (except the burnt offering which is totally consumed by fire) and thus there would be meaningful fellowship among the brethren.