The sacrificial rooms

The sacrificial rooms

Scripture: A room with a doorway was by the portico in each of the inner gateways, where the burnt offerings were washed. In the portico of the gateway were two tables on each side, on which the burnt offerings, sin offerings and guilt offerings were slaughtered. By the outside wall of the portico of the gateway, near the steps at the entrance of the north gateway were two tables, and on the other side of the steps were two tables. So there were four tables on one side of the gateway and four on the other—eight tables in all—on which the sacrifices were slaughtered. There were also four tables of dressed stone for the burnt offerings, each a cubit and a half long, a cubit and a half wide and a cubit high. On them were placed the utensils for slaughtering the burnt offerings and the other sacrifices. And double-pronged hooks, each a handbreadth long, were attached to the wall all around. The tables were for the flesh of the offerings. Ezekiel 40:38-43

Observation: The next thing we see about Ezekiel’s temple is that there are sacrificial rooms where there will be sacrifices. As mentioned before, once Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins, there is no longer any need for the sacrifices of bulls and lambs. These sacrifices of old were to foreshadow the coming perfect sacrifice of our Lord Himself.

As illustrated in the guilt offering, our sin was transferred to our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross so that we might be completely absolved from guilt before God. The fact that the sacrificial rooms had to be passed before entering the holy of holies show that we too cannot enter the presence of God except by the blood of the lamb that purifies us.

It is interesting that sacrificial tables were not mentioned in the description of the other temples, but here we see eight. Hence, we get the impression of multiple sacrifices being done at the same time.

Regarding sacrifices, although we do not offer the sacrifices of old, there are many important sacrifices that we can give God. In Romans 12:1, Paul urges us to present our bodies as living sacrifices to God by being holy and pleasing. Therefore, our holy lifestyle itself is a sacrifice unto God.

In Philippians 4:18, Paul described the gift sent to him from the Philippian church as a fragrant offering and sacrifice pleasing to God. Our gifts of money or goods to missions, to the poor, are also sacrifices unto God.

In Hebrews 13:15, we are called to give a sacrifice of praise to God. Our worship, our songs to God are also sacrifices unto Him. This sacred worship and praise to God is not just in a corporate church setting, but also in our private moments, as the Spirit leads us to declare praise or songs of worship to God.

Application: Thank our Lord Jesus for His great sacrifice for us that washes away our sins and enables us to come before God. Resolve to show our thankfulness and love for God by the sacrifice of a holy life, sacrifice by way of gifts to missions and the poor, and sacrifice of praise and worship to God on a daily basis, from our hearts.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I thank You and praise You for Your perfect sacrifice, for dying on the cross for my sins, that I might be saved, that I might come and be with our Father. Strengthen me O Lord and give me the desire to live life in a holy and pleasing way, as a living sacrifice. Spur my heart to give generously to bless Your work, and let Your praises and worship always be on my lips. In Jesus name, Amen.