an altar

April 7, 2022

An altar (Heb 13:10)

“We have an altar

From which

Those who officiate

In the tent

Have no right

To eat.”

Ἔχομεν θυσιαστήριον ἐξ οὗ φαγεῖν οὐκ ἔχουσιν ἐξουσίαν οἱ τῇ σκηνῇ λατρεύοντες.

This author said, “We have (Ἔχομεν) an altar (θυσιαστήριον) from which (ἐξ οὗ) those who officiate in the tent (οἱ τῇ σκηνῇ λατρεύοντες) have no right (οὐκ ἔχουσιν ἐξουσίαν) to eat (φαγεῖν).”  This author indicated that the Jewish Christians now had a heavenly altar that was the one-time sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.  However, those who had officiated at the sacrifices in the Mosaic tents or the Temple sacrifices have no right to partake or eat at this heavenly altar.  Without the acceptance of Jesus Christ, they were excluded from the heavenly altar.  Should you exclude anyone from the heavenly altar?

August 2, 2016

Yahweh in control of Egypt (Isa 19:19-19:22)

“On that day,

There will be an altar to Yahweh

In the center of the land of Egypt.

There will be a pillar to Yahweh

At its border.

It will be a sign.

It will be a witness

To Yahweh of hosts

In the land of Egypt.

When they cry to Yahweh

Because of oppressors,

He will send them a savior.

He will defend them.

He will deliver them.

Yahweh will make himself known

To the Egyptians.

The Egyptians will know Yahweh.

On that day,

They will worship with sacrifice.

They will worship with burnt offering.

They will make vows to Yahweh.

They will perform them.

Yahweh will strike Egypt,

Striking and healing.

They will return to Yahweh.

He will listen to their supplications.

He will heal them.”

On that special day, the Egyptians will convert to Yahweh. They will build an altar to Yahweh in the center of Egypt, much like another Jerusalem. There will even be a pillar to Yahweh at the borders of Egypt. This would indicate and witness that Egypt was under the protection of Yahweh. If they had any oppressors, all that they had to do was to cry out to Yahweh for help. Then he would send a savior to them in order to defend and deliver them. They were also going to be the people of Yahweh as the Egyptians would worship with sacrifices and burnt offerings to Yahweh. They would make vows and perform them for Yahweh. Yahweh would listen to them and heal them. He even would forgive them like the Israelites. Thus we have a new people of Yahweh in Egypt. How different this is from the idea of a few remnant Israelites in Jerusalem.

April 5, 2016

Building of the Temple (Wis 9:8-9:8)

“You have given a command

To build a temple

On your holy mountain.

You have given a command

To build an altar

In the city of your habitation.

This will be a copy

Of the holy tent

That you prepared from the beginning.”

God commanded Solomon to build a temple on his holy mountain (ὄρει ἁγίῳ σου). He was to build an altar in his city of Jerusalem. This was to be a copy of the holy tent that existed from the beginning at the time of the Exodus story, chapters 25-40.