I learned this earlier today, studying for this morning’s Lesson. A fact about the BLOOD of the animals (whatever type; ox or goat or lamb or dove) offered … was to be handled in slightly different ways!

If the offender was one of the “common people” … just a regular member of society … “The priest shall take of the blood thereof with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar.” Leviticus 4:30 and 34, both verses being identical. The blood is “put” (the verb “nathan” in Hebrew, meaning “given”) on the tip ends (the horns) of the big brass altar at the door of the tabernacle. On the most prominent part of that altar! Then the remainder of the blood is to be poured out at the base of that altar. THIS IS THE ONLY PART OF THE TABERNACLE TO WHICH THAT COMMON MAN HAD ACCESS! THE ONLY PLACE HE COULD WITNESS THIS CRITICAL BLOOD RITUAL!

But if the man was a “priest” (a leader among the Israelites) … his sin being more visible and his access to God being more intimate … “The priest that is anointed shall take of the bullock’s blood, and bring it to the tabernacle of the congregation: and the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before the LORD, before the vail of the sanctuary. And the priest shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the LORD, which is in the tabernacle of the congregation; and shall pour all the blood of the bullock at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.” Leviticus 4:5-7, in this case the blood was clearly taken further into the tabernacle! Sprinkle that blood right before the vail hiding the Ark of the Covenant! And place some of the blood on the horns of the “incense (golden) altar,” within the Holy Place! Then there’s even more … pour the rest of the bullock’s blood at the “front” door of the tabernacle, where the brass altar sits!

Why?

Because the priests are held more responsible (their sins being more egregious, dangerous, influential) that the “average” man! Thus the blood is to be sprinkled and poured and touched … further into the tabernacle, where the priests worked day by day!

Wow!

But again, why?

Because our Holy God demands that blood be the “price” for forgiveness! For remission of sin!

This “blood ritual” is NOT just for man’s sake! It is for God’s Eyes, God’s Satisfaction, primarily so!

The brass altar … a bloody place!

The golden altar … also a bloody place!

Even the curtain (vail) before the Holy of Holies … a bloody place!

And (looking ahead to Leviticus 16) on the Day of Atonement, with the sins of the whole nation being considered … that blood must be taken into the Holy of Holies Itself .. and sprinkled upon and around the very Mercy Seat Itself! (God’s Abode … “between the cherubims.”)

Yet again, why?

To appease God Almighty!

To satisfy His Wrath!

To fulfill the requirements of the Law!

To bring that blood as close to God as one is capable!

By the way, our dear Lord Jesus has taken the Blood (His Blood shed on Calvary) into the Heavenly Temple, depositing it There, before the very Throne (Face) of God!

“By His Own Blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” Hebrews 9:12

Glory!

God sees that precious Blood … on our behalf!

Hebrews 10:19-20 goes so far as to say that the Blood of Jesus there in Heaven constitutes for us a “new and living way” to enter “into the holiest!” And that word “new” means “freshly slain!” Jesus’ Blood in Heaven is NOT old and dried and obsolete! IT IS STILL FRESH AND POWERFUL AND GLISTENING AND ETERNAL!

Amen!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

No wonder we sing about the Blood so very much!

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