Ezekiel 43:18
And he said unto me, Son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD; These are the ordinances of the altar in the day when they shall make it, to offer burnt offerings thereon, and to sprinkle blood thereon.
Original Language Analysis
Historical Context
The altar was worship's centerpiece—where sacrifice occurred, atonement was made, and God met His people. Solomon's bronze altar was massive: 20 cubits square, 10 cubits high (2 Chronicles 4:1). Detailed regulations governed altar construction (Exodus 27:1-8, 38:1-7) and use (Leviticus 1-7). The 'day when they shall make it' indicates consecration ceremonies (Exodus 29:36-37, Leviticus 8:11). Burnt offerings involved complete consumption of the animal, symbolizing total devotion. Blood sprinkling effected ritual cleansing and atonement (Leviticus 17:11). Post-exilic altar construction followed these patterns (Ezra 3:2-6). Christ fulfilled all sacrificial typology—His once-for-all offering (Hebrews 9:26-28) makes animal sacrifices obsolete. Yet the principle remains: approach God through prescribed means (Christ alone), not human alternatives.
Questions for Reflection
- Do you worship according to Scripture's ordinances or cultural preferences and personal feelings?
- How seriously do you view Christ's altar (the cross) as the exclusive means of approaching God?
- What does beginning correctly ('in the day when they shall make it') teach about establishing right worship patterns from the start?
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Analysis & Commentary
God commands: 'Son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD; These are the ordinances of the altar in the day when they shall make it, to offer burnt offerings thereon, and to sprinkle blood thereon.' The altar's ordinances regulate sacrifice, emphasizing that worship follows divine prescription, not human innovation. The Hebrew חֻקּוֹת (chuqqot, 'ordinances') are divine statutes, unchangeable standards. The burnt offering (עֹלָה, olah) signifies complete consecration; blood sprinkling (זָרַק, zaraq) effects atonement. 'In the day when they shall make it' indicates these regulations apply from the altar's first use—proper worship starts correctly, not evolves into correctness. Reformed theology emphasizes the regulative principle: worship according to Scripture alone. The altar points to Christ's cross—the one sufficient sacrifice (Hebrews 10:10-14).