#199 Exodus 27: 1-8 Altar

“Build an altar of acacia wood, three cubits[a] high; it is to be square, five cubits long and five cubits wide.[b] 2 Make a horn at each of the four corners, so that the horns and the altar are of one piece, and overlay the altar with bronze.3 Make all its utensils of bronze—its pots to remove the ashes, and its shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks and fire pans. 4 Make a grating for it, a bronze network, and make a bronze ring at each of the four corners of the network.5 Put it under the ledge of the altar so that it is halfway up the altar. 6 Make poles of acacia wood for the altar and overlay them with bronze. 7 The poles are to be inserted into the rings so they will be on two sides of the altar when it is carried. 8 Make the altar hollow, out of boards. It is to be made just as you were shown on the mountain. Exodus 27:1-8 NIV

8 verses and yet the more I delve into it, the deeper the root extends. It is a painting on the mind of the person, life and ministry of Christ in reverse. Here in the court yard He is the altar, the wood is covered in bronze so not to be consumed. Christ is covered in both the righteousness and the power of God as He incurs the all consuming wrath of God. It is in Christ that we have an altar fit for not mere ceremonial or religious offering, but that our lives and bodies become this tabernacle in Him. Outside of Christ we have no right in God, invoking His name, and the praises of our lips become vane. He said, "No one comes to the Father but through me." So without Christ, our lips pray to another God, not the Creator of the universe, and our righteousness becomes based upon our own perceived merits or comparisons to others. Yet the scripture stands, that, "there is none righteous, no, not one." 

We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. 12 So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. 13 Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. 14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. Hebrews 13: 10-16 ESV