THE BRAZEN ALTAR

SERIES: THE TABERNACLE

TEXT: EXODUS 27:1-8; EXODUS 38:1-7

PREACHER:  REV. DR. WILLY MUTISO.

The word altar means to “Lift up.” We are immediately reminded of Him who said, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men unto me-John 12:32.

Also “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the son of man be lifted up-John 3:14.

Jesus Christ was “Lifted up” on the cross of calvary. The cross was an altar of sacrifice. Let us learn:-

1. THE MATERIALS OF THE BRAZEN ALTAR

• The altar was made of wood covered with brass.
• It is quite strange for an altar to be made of wood, when the fire was to burn continually up on it.
• Remember the tabernacle was not Moses’ idea for he build it “According to the pattern shown to Him on the Mount.”
• The wood in the altar was not consumed by the fire because it was covered-coated with brass.
• Oxygen is necessary to combustion. The two materials spoke of His two fold nature (God and man).
• His body did not see corruption in the grave because there was no sin in Him.
• The element that makes people die and decay is the element of sin-Heb. 4:15.

Psalm 16:10; Acts 2:27; Luke 17:1-35.

1. THE SIZE AND SHAPE OF THE BRAZEN ALTAR.

• The altar was a square 7.5ft x 7.5ft, its height was 4.5ft.
• The altar was the largest piece of furniture of all the tabernacle.
• It was large enough to hold any other piece in the tabernacle.
• This showed the importance of the altar.
• This shows the fact that all blessings flow from the death of Jesus Christ on the cross.
• The cross of Jesus Christ is the source of all blessings and power of God-Rev. 5:9, “And they sang a new song saying, Worthy art thou to take the book and break its seals, for thou wast slain and didn’t purchase for God with thy blood men from enemy, tribe and tongue and people and nation.”
• The four sides of the brazen altar represent North, South, East and West, the gospel is universal. It is to everyone in the entire world.
• The four sides also represent the four truths connected with His sacrifice:-

1. Atonement-propitiation.

1. THE NAMES OF THE BRAZEN ALTAR.

• The brazen altar had three different names.
• It was called the “Altar”-This speaks of His importance.
• It was called the “Brazen altar”-It was the place of judgement.
• It was called the “Alter by the gate”-It was the first thing that met the eyes upon entering the gate-Exodus 40:29.
• So then we have DECISION at the gate, and acceptance at the altar.
• Jesus Christ on calvary as the sacrifice for sin, is the first step toward God.
• We must come to God through the only door –Jesus Christ.
• We must approach God through Jesus Christ the sacrifice for sin on the altar of the cross.

1. THE BLOOD, THE ASHES AND THE FIRE OF THE ALTAR.

• The blood was carefully sprinkled upon the altar-Leviticus 1:11.
• The blood could also be poured out at the bottom-Lev. 4:7 depending on the particular offering.
• The blood was carefully used for, “the life was in the blood.”
• The blood spoke of Him, His life’s blood was poured out on calvary.
• The ashes were carefully preserved, and carried outside the camp to clean spot-Lev. 6:11 where they were used in the sprinkling of the unclean-Numbers 19:9.
• The fire.
• It came from before the Lord-Lev. 9:24.
• It just leaped from the glory of God.
• The fire was never allowed to go out-Lev. 6:13.
• There are many lessons connected with fire.

1. Fire is a terrible element-it spoke of judgement for sin and pointed to the one who was to bear the judgement of God’s wrath in the sinner’s place.
2. It was never allowed to go out, showing that God was always ready to accept the sinners sacrifice. It also showed that man could approach God day and night, the fire was always there.

• There had to be a continual offering for sin until the real sacrifice for sin Jesus Christ our Lord-Heb. 10:1-12.

1. THE STAVES AND THE HORNS.

• The altar had two staves, one on either side by which it was carried.
• Both had to be used in order that it be carried properly.
• We have two-fold truth to carry to the lost world.
• The message that Paul took to Corinth, namely “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures” that He was buried.
• He rose again the third day according to the scriptures-1^st 15:3-4.
• Anything less than this is not the gospel-1^st 2:2, “For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
• The horns-horns are scriptural symbols for power and authority-Daniel 7:8.
• Daniel, in his vision described a person as a little horn that became a mighty ruler-Dan. 8:9.
• The horns of the altar were made from acacia wood and overlaid with brass (bronze), meaning judgement.
• Adonijah caught hold of the horns of the altar-1^st Kings 1:51.
• Joab fled unto the tabernacle of the Lord and caught hold on the horns of the altar.
• Psalm 118:27, “The Lord is God and He has given us light, bind the festival with cords to the horns of the altar.”
• There were four horns-four is the number of a world system.
• Acacia wood speaks of the humanity of Jesus Christ but also that mankind is judged.
• The complete power of mankind is under the judgement at the altar of calvary-Isaiah 53:6.

1. WARNING.

• There was but one altar of sacrifice-JESUS CHRIST.
• There was no other approach to God save the altar.
• Beware of false altars, they abound on every hand today.
• One day God sent an unnamed prophet to pronounce a curse upon the false altar erected by Jeroboam in Bethel-1^st Kings 13:1-5.
• There is but one altar of sacrifice. It is the place where He, Himself pogoed our sins-Heb. 1:3.
• The altar must be respected-2^nd 6:3-8; 1^st Chron. 13:7-11.

CONCLUSION

• Better do it God’s or the price will be paid.
• Uzzah was sincere-He did God a favor by steadying the ark-but he died.
• There is a way that seems right unto man but the end thereof is death.