Studies

While Solomon’s Temple was still standing, Jeremiah delivered these words of YHWH: Jer. 7:22, 23 

     For I spoke not to your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices: 

     But this thing commanded I them, saying, “Obey my voice, and I will be your Mighty One, and you will be my people: and walk in all the ways that I have commanded you…” 

He was telling them that when YHWH first brought their ancestors out of Egypt, He did not ask for burnt offerings and slaughtered animals.  

What did He ask for? He asked them to listen and obey. 

Jer. 11:4 

     I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, “Obey my voice, and do them…” 

The first thing YHWH did after bringing them out of Egypt, was to destroy the Egyptian army in the Sea.

He did this so that they would believe in Him. Exo. 14:31 

     And Israel saw that great work which YHWH did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared YHWH and believed YHWH… 

The next thing He did was teach them to trust Him. Exo. 15:22-23, 26 

     And they went for three days in the desert and found no water. And when they came to Marah, they could not drink from the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. 

     …there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he tested them, and said, “If you diligently listen to the voice of YHWH your Mighty One…” 

For the rest of their time in the desert, YHWH fed them bread from heaven to reinforce their reliance on Him for their daily needs. He would provide both kinds of nourishment. Exo. 16:4; Deu. 8:2, 3 

Then YHWH said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you…” 

     He led you these forty years in the desert, to humble you, and to test you, to know what was in your heart… 

     He fed you with manna…that He might make you know that man does not live by bread only, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of YHWH does man live. 

All YHWH wanted was faithfulness. He wanted to bless them with the promises He made with Abraham. Like their ancestor, He needed them to “walk before Him and be whole-hearted” (Gen. 17:1). 

Only when they learned to trust Him as Abraham did would they enter a covenant with Him. Gen 17:7 

     And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your seed after you in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a Mighty One to you and to your seed after you. 

What greater promise is there but that we can be in covenant with the Almighty?  

The Burnt Offering 

The burnt offering could be from young bulls, sheep, goats, turtledoves, or young pigeons. Whether using livestock or birds, the animal was to be brought to the doorway of the Tent of Meeting, in front of the Altar of YHWH. Once slaughtered, the animal’s blood was drained and presented to YHWH. It was then sprinkled on or around the Altar. The carcass was then placed on top of burning wood on the Altar and burnt completely to YHWH. 

When using cattle, the person bringing the offering was to place their hand on the animal’s head while the priest slaughtered it. When using sheep or goats, the animal was to be slaughtered on the north side of the Altar. When using birds, the animal’s head was removed by hand and placed whole on the Altar. 

The Grain Offering 

The grain offering consisted of fine flour, olive oil, frankincense, and salt. The priest would take a portion of this and burn it on the Altar as an offering to YHWH. The remainder would be considered set apart for the priests’ own consumption. This offering could be baked in an oven, on a griddle, or in a frying pan.  

No leaven or honey was to be present in the grain offerings. Salt was required to be used in these offerings. 

The fresh heads/ears of grain or corn of the first harvest were roasted by fire. Olive oil was then poured over it along with frankincense. This was also considered a grain offering. 

The Peace Offering 

The peace offering came from the sheep or goats and could be male or female. The flawless animal was taken to the Altar. While the presenter placed his hand on its head, the priest would slaughter it. The priest would then sprinkle the animal’s blood around the Altar. The animal’s two kidneys, fat, and all the other entrails surrounded in fat were burnt on the Altar as an offering to YHWH. 

The fat and blood of the animal belonged to YHWH. For this reason, His people are to refrain from consuming animal fat or blood. 

The Sin Offering 

The sin offering came from bulls, goats, and female sheep. A bull was used if any of the people mistakenly disobeyed YHWH and the anointed priest sinned because of their guilt. A male goat was used by a ruler who mistakenly sinned against YHWH and later became aware of it. A female goat or a ewe was used by the person who mistakenly disobeyed YHWH and later became aware of it. 

The Messiah, a term used three times in this section (Lev. 4:3, 5, 16), is linked with the unintentional sins of the people. It is the Messiah who takes the sin offering outside the camp (4:12). Cf. Lev. 16:22; Isa. 53:6, 8. 

The Guilt Offering 

The guilt offering came from the female sheep or goats, or from the turtledoves or young pigeons. If the guilty party could not even afford the birds, they could instead bring a small amount of fine flour.  

This sin offering, whether coming from animals or flour, when accompanied by confession, led to YHWH’s forgiveness. Lev. 5:5-13. 

Exo. 40:1-2, 34 

And YHWH spoke to Moses, saying,  

“On the day of the first month, on the first of the month, you shall set up the Dwelling place of the Tent of Meeting…” 

Then a cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of YHWH filled the Dwelling Place.”

Ten months after they arrived at the Sinai wilderness, Moses set up the Dwelling Place (also called the Tabernacle). This would be where the Tent of Meeting would reside for the next four hundred and seventeen years. 

The term Tent of Meeting also called the tabernacle of the congregation, is mentioned 106 times in Scripture. It measured approximately nine feet by thirty feet and was constructed primarily of wooden planks and hand-woven curtains.  

Before this tent was constructed, another tent served the same purpose. 

Exo. 33:7, 9 

And Moses took his tent, and pitched it outside the camp, far outside the camp, and called it the Tent of Meeting. And it came to pass, that everyone who sought YHWH went out to the Tent of Metting, which was outside the camp. 

And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tent, the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door of the Tent, and YHWH spoke with Moses. 

YHWH Himself did not meet with Moses here. Instead, YHWH’s Messiah spoke with Moses “face to face, as friends would speak” (Exo. 33:11 cf. Exo 33:20, 23).  

His Messiah told Moses that He would go before him and proclaim the name of YHWH.  

Exo. 33:19 

And He said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of YHWH before you…” 

The next morning, He descended from heaven and proclaimed the Name.  Exo. 34:5 

And YHWH[’s Messiah] descended in the cloud, stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of YHWH. 

And what did He say? 

YHWH, YHWH, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands [of generations], forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin [of those who love Him] …” Exo. 34:7 cf. Deu. 7:9. 

What does He do next? He makes a covenant with Moses and his people.  

Behold, I make a covenant: before all your people…” Exo. 34:10-13 cf. Jdg. 2:1-3. 

Exo. 30:12, 15, 16 

When you take the sum of the children of Israel according to their numbers, let each one give to YHWH an atonement for his soul… 

This they shall give… half of a shekel shall be an offering to YHWH… to atone for your souls. 

You shall take the silver of the atonements from the children of Israel and use it for the work of the Tent of Meeting… to atone for your souls.” 

A prevailing teaching in Christendom is that atonement can only come from blood. And yet, what is taught here is that this is not the case.  Four times in this passage, it is mentioned that a certain measurement of silver was used to make atonement. 

As Moses was on the mountain receiving the Words of the Almighty, the people below quickly began to deviate from them. They made a golden calf, bowed down to it, offered slaughtered animals to it, and declared it to be the One who delivered them from Egypt. YHWH told Moses to go down to the people for they had “turned quickly from the Way which I have commanded them”. Exo. 32:8. 

Moreover, YHWH told Moses that He would destroy this entire nation and instead build a new nation from him. Moses pleaded with YHWH on their behalf. 32:11-13. 

     “Why should You be angry with the people You have redeemed?” 

     “What will the Egyptians say?”  

     “Remember the promises You made with our fathers.” 

     “You swore to Yourself!” 

YHWH listened to Moses’ prayer and changed His mind about destroying His people. 32:14. We are later told that this would be just one of the many instances in the desert where YHWH would forgive His people. 

Num. 14:11, 13, 19, 20, 22 

And YHWH said unto Moses, “How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be that they refuse to trust in me…” 

And Moses said… “Pardon, I beseech You, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of Your mercy, and as You have forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.” 

And YHWH said, “I have pardoned according to your word…these ten times…” 

Scripture is clear, however, that while atonement can be made for our sins, the guilty do not go unpunished. Exo. 20:5; Deu. 7:10; Exo. 34:7; Num. 14:18; 15:30-31; Heb. 10:26-29. 

Not all of our fathers in the desert were guilty in this way. Two notable men, Caleb and Joshua—representing both kingdoms—were among the faithful remnant. Their hearts were fully set on YHWH. They did not worship the golden calf.

Exo. 29:45-46 

     And I will dwell among the children of Israel and be their Mighty One. 

     And they will know that I am YHWH their Mighty One who brought them out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them… 

David desired to build a permanent structure to house YHWH’s presence. This was not His desire, but He allowed David’s son Solomon to build the Temple for His servant’s sake. 

2 Sa. 7:2, 4-6 

     [David] said unto Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the Mighty One dwells within curtains”. 

     And it came to pass that night, that the word of YHWH came to Nathan, saying, “Go and tell my servant David,  

          ‘Thus, says YHWH, will you build me a house for me to dwell in? 

          Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle… 

          And when your days are fulfilled, and you sleep with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, which will proceed out of your bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. 

          He will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.’” 

It is understood that Nathan’s prophecy here had a dual application. On the one hand, David’s son Solomon fulfilled this Word. 

1 Ki. 8:12, 16, 20 

     Then Solomon said… “Blessed be YHWH the Mighty One of Israel, which spoke with his [prophet] to David my father, and has with his hand fulfilled it, saying,  

          ‘…Since the day that I brought forth my people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build a house, that my name might be therein…’ 

     And YHWH has performed his word that he spoke, and I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as YHWH promised, and have built a house for the name of YHWH the Mighty One of Israel”. 

1 Ch. 28:10 

     “Take heed now; for YHWH has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary…” 

On the other hand, the way this prophecy is worded in 1 Chronicles 17:11, Solomon could not have fulfilled it because he was not “of David’s sons”. Instead, the prophet Zechariah understood that it was a prophecy to be fulfilled by the Messiah, the Branch or Shoot of the stock of Jesse. Zec. 6:12, 13. 

The place of His presence was removed from Solomon’s Temple because of the sins of our fathers.  

According to the prophet Isaiah (66:1-2; 57:15) and David (Psa. 34:18; 51:11, 17), His set-apart place is with those who circumcise their hearts and accept all of His Words.