Author: Bp. Justin Elwell

Sharing snippets of life with those who happen by. Husband, father, bishop, scholar, hiker, and homesteader. Attempting to build a natural bridge between today and ancient faith-style living. If you didn’t enjoy today’s post, stop back, there’s always something new tomorrow.

The Perpetual Fire

On By Bp. Justin ElwellIn Applied Theology, InspirationLeave a comment

The beginning chapters of Leviticus, with their instruction regarding the presentation and preparation of sacrifice, are the details for the ministry at the Brazen Altar introduced in Exodus 27. The purpose of the Altar was to be a place of sacrifice – meaning “to draw near.” While the structural details for the building of the Altar are important, we learn of a detail in this portion that is of equal importance – the fire. 

 

“The Lord said to Moses, ‘Give this order to Aaron and his sons: This is the law for the burnt offering. It is what goes up on its firewood upon the altar all night long, until morning; in this way the fire of the altar will be kept burning.’” (Lev. 6:8-10).

 The fire on the Brazen Altar was ignited by fire that came from the presence of the Lord (Lev. 9:24). This fire, as we read above, was to be kept burning continuously, as it was an 

אֵשׁ תָּמִיד, “a perpetual fire.” Priests had to continuall stir the coal on the Altar and clean the ash to ensure that the sacrifice was being consumed, and the coals remained hot. This necessitated that at least one priest had to stand watch at the Altar during the night – a time when he would naturally desire to sleep.

 This continuous process at the Brazen Altar reveals an important aspect in the life of faith, the necessity for a continual tending to the flame that draws us close to who we are to be in the Lord. 

 The apostle Paul draws on the imagery of the Brazen Altar, its sacrifice and perpetual fire when he writes, “I beseech ye therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Ro. 12:1). David Stern captures the essence of this picture in the Complete Jewish Bible translation of Romans 12:1, “I exhort you, therefore, brothers, in view of God’s mercies, to offer yourselves as a sacrifice, living and set apart to God. This will please him; it is the logical “Temple worship” for you.” 

 This tending to the flame of the sacrifice today takes a different appearance than two thousand years ago. As a living sacrifice, disciples of Yeshua/Jesus must tend to the flame by avoiding the temptations in life that so easily ensnare us (Heb. 12:1; similar to cleaning the ash away from the coals); thereby walking worthily of our calling (Eph. 4:1); leading to continual prayer (1 Thess. 5:17); studying the Word of God (2 Tim. 2:15); and worshipping the Lord (Heb. 13:15) in communion with other brethren (Heb. 10:25).

 The above referenced practices are increasingly incorporated into the daily lives of the disciple, each one an aspect of drawing near to the God of our salvation, by daily dying to self in the light of His glorious abiding presence. As the flames of the renewed life grow stronger, we are gradually confronted by the reality that it is not we who keep the fire burning; but rather, the presence of the Holy Spirit in us, who is “a consuming fire” (Deut. 4:24; cf. Acts 2:3; Heb. 12:29), that inspires and leads us on in the life of faith to the glory of the covenant Lord alone.   

 Maranatha. Shalom. 

What Will it Cost?

On By Bp. Justin ElwellIn Applied Theology, Inspiration, UncategorizedLeave a comment

How does one approach the Lord God? The answer to this question is the subject of the Book of Leviticus. At first glance, Leviticus seems to deal entirely with subject matters lost with the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in 70 AD, if not earlier by the sacrifice of Messiah. While the types and shadows of Leviticus may no longer be literally normative for messianic living, the primary subject matter of Leviticus is, namely: holiness.  

 

“The Lord called to Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting. He said, ‘Speak to the children of Israel; say to them, ‘When any of you brings an offering to the Lord, you may bring your animal offering either from the herd or from the flock’” (Lev. 1:1-2).

 The word, application, and practice of holiness, and “holy” for that matter, is often confused with legalistic or self-righteous behaviors. Holy, however, simply means to be set-apart, or special, in relation to something else. The Book of Leviticus reveals many “holy” things and persons set-apart to the Lord, and many others that cause separation from the Lord. 

 Holy belongs to the language of relationship – as it designates something of importance to its owner that is not for common usage. In the Book of Exodus, we considered the redemption (buying back) of the children of Israel by the covenant Lord. The act of redemption created a unique relationship between the Lord God and this people-group called Israel. To move still deeper into the language of holy, something is holy by its chosen status. Israel was a unique people-group in the world, as it was chosen, and therefore holy unto the Lord. 

 The apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “In the Messiah he chose us in love before the creation of the universe to be holy and without defect in his presence” (Eph. 1:4). Paul is writing to a largely gentile audience emphasizing their new condition as “chosen” and “holy,” a status equal to that of covenant Israel, something inconceivable apart from the revelation of Messiah. Along with the language of election in the Body of Messiah, Paul includes sacrificial language – “without defect.” This is the language of sacrifice, specifically that of drawing near to the Lord, as we read in Leviticus 1:1-8.

 Sacrifice in the Torah was the way of drawing near to God, being reconciled with Him and dedicating oneself to his purpose. Sacrifice was a means of approaching the Lord by demonstrating trust in His covenant promises; as the offering had to be precious, costly, and a diminishing of the worshipper’s life. It was a means of humbling self in the presence of the Living God. Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, reveals this from the language of Leviticus 1:2, “When any of you brings an offering to the Lord…” which he rightly translated as, “If any man brings an offering of you to the Lord.” The sacrifice was intended to be you. In Christ, His choosing of you, as part of the Body of Messiah, naturally causes one to be diminished or humbled. Consider these verses:

 “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time” (1 Pet. 5:6). 

 “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up” (James 4:10). 

 “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love” (Eph. 4:2). 

 “For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Lk. 14:11). 

 The burnt offering, described in Leviticus 1:1-8, is understood to be the sacrifice that “draws close” and “raises up.” This sacrifice, which is completely consumed, is the source of Paul’s admonition to the Roman congregations to be “living sacrifices” unto the Lord. It is the giving of our life to him; which then allows us to be used as servants of love, mercy and compassion to the world around us, as we read, “He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Mic. 6:8); and as the author of Hebrews explains, “But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Heb. 13:16). 

 In the New Covenant life, the sacrifice, humbling, of the faithful becomes perfect when we share in the death of Christ – the once for all sacrifice for sin – share in His resurrected life and receive His imputed righteousness by faith – and therein, live a life set-apart (holy) for His purpose. This, then, is holiness – a life in communion with the covenant Lord through His Son, Yeshua/Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit.  

 As Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “Salvation is free, but discipleship will cost you your life.”

 Maranatha. Shalom.