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The Worship

The Worship
  1. Perpetual Service. In an important sense the worship of the Hebrews was incessant. At the inauguration of the tabernacle service by the consecration of Aaron and his sons ( Exodus 40:1-38 ; Leviticus 8:1-36 ), fire fell from heaven upon the altar of burnt sacrifices ( Leviticus 9:1-24 ), and they were commanded to keep it burning continually ( Leviticus 6:12 Leviticus 6:13 ). They were also required to keep the golden lamps in the holy place burning continually ( Leviticus 24:1-3 ) and the showbread was "set in order before the Lord continually" ( Leviticus 24:5-9 ).

  2. Elements of the Service. The continual service was characterized by,
    1. sacrifice,
    2. bread,
    3. life!

  3. Daily Sacrifices. They were commanded to offer upon the brazen altar two lambs, one in the morning, and the other in the evening, continually. With each lamb, they offered flour, oil and wine ( Exodus 29:38-43 ; Numbers 28:1-8 ). The offerings were doubled on the Sabbath day ( Numbers 28:9 Numbers 28:10 ).

  4. Irregular Offerings. The class of offerings embraced all individual sacrifices, chiefly comprehended under five classifications, and the people were at liberty to present them whenever necessity demanded it:
    1. The burnt offering was an animal sacrifice and was wholly consumed upon the brazen altar ( Leviticus 1:1-17 );
    2. the meat offering was bloodless and part of it was burnt, and the remainder was consumed by Aaron and his sons ( Leviticus 2:1-16 );
    3. the peace offering consisted of an animal, part of which was burnt on the altar, the remainder being eaten by the priests and the worshipper ( Leviticus 3:1-17 ; Leviticus 7:11-38 );
    4. the sin offering consisted of an animal, part of which was consumed upon the altar of burnt offerings and the remainder burnt without the camp ( Leviticus 4:1-35 );
    5. the trespass offering consisted of an animal and the presentation was similar to that of the sin offering ( Leviticus 7:1-7 ). It was distinguished from all other offerings by the restitution that the worshipper was required to make ( Leviticus 5:1-19 ; Leviticus 6:1-7 ; Leviticus 7:1-7 ).

  5. Requirements of Sacrifices.
    1. The irregular sacrifices were characterized by offerings for sin, consumption by fire, reformation of life, peace, voluntary gifts to the Lord.
    2. They were required to offer animals without blemish ( Leviticus 1:1-3 ; Leviticus 22:17-25 ).
    3. They were required to offer salt with all their sacrifices ( Leviticus 2:13 ).
    4. The blood of the sin offerings for the priests and for the whole congregation was sprinkled seven times before the Lord, before the vail of the sanctuary, and some of it was put upon the altar of incense ( Leviticus 4:1-21 ).
    5. They were prohibited from eating any part of an animal whose blood was carried into the tabernacle ( Leviticus 6:24-30 ).

  6. Periodical Offerings. All the males of the Hebrews were required to appear before the Lord three times a year: at the passover, feast of weeks and feast of tabernacles ( Exodus 23:14-19 ; Leviticus 23:1-44 ), at which time numerous sacrifices were offered ( Numbers 28:16-31 ; Numbers 29:1-40 ).

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