Before Glory

This is the year of the open door, Psalm 24, and Psalm 84. The purpose of the open gate in Psalm 24 is to let the King of Glory enter. I want to learn about this open gate and God's glory, but God has been highlighting something else.

Before Solomon’s temple, the ark was separated from the tabernacle and altar (1 Samuel 4). The main focus was on the return of the ark, but let's take a look at biblical altars.

The first altar mentioned in the Bible is the one Noah built after the flood (Genesis 8). Immediately after Noah sacrificed on the altar, God made a covenant with mankind and the animals. God pledged to never again destroy the earth with a flood and as a sign of this promise we were given the rainbow. 

The next notable altars are Abram’s. First he built an altar when God appeared to him and promised the land of Cannon (Genesis 12). Abram built another altar when he and Lot separated, and God reaffirmed this promise.

When Abram asked God how he would know he would take possession of the land, God promised Abram a son and made a covenant pledging the land to Abram’s descendants (Genesis 15).

Despite this covenant, Abram then commited the sin of doubt, and slept with Hagar (Genesis 16). In the next chapter, God made a personal covenant with Abram and changed his name. The divine promise was that Abraham would be the father of many nations. God's requirement for this covenant was not the typical sacrifice on a physical altar but that of  circumcision. Along with the circumcision came a new name for Abraham's wife, and the first time God articulated that Sara would actually give birth to the child of promise. 

Abraham went on to lie to King Abimelek but later made a treaty with him; and had to send Ismael and Hagar away before he came to his most difficult altar in Genesis 22. 

We can get caught up in the humanity of this storyline but according to God's words, this test was to make sure Abraham feared God. Again Abraham was promised blessings and land. God also alluded that the Messiah, the ultimate sacrifice, would come from Abraham's bloodline because he did not withhold his only son (of promise).

Moses' tabernacle actually had two altars. The altar of sacrifice was outside and the altar of incense was inside. Coals were taken from the altar of sacrifice to keep the altar of incense burning. As these relics symbolize Christ, the altar of sacrifice is the crucified Christ; and the altar of incense is the interceding Christ. Both altars had four corners and the altar of incense had a golden crown at the top.

Later, Solomon built the temple in Jerusalem, at the same sight where Abraham offered Isaac; and finally reunited the ark and altar. At the temple dedication, after Solomon prayed, “Fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and sacrifice, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.”

First sacrifice, then covenant, and finally Glory. We would mismanage the Glory without the fear of the Lord. Even in our sin, God redirects according to his covenant as displayed in Abraham's life.

I believe the Lord wants to give us the golden crown of the altar of incense but it starts at the altar of sacrifice.  The gold crown is for boldness in the things of God, not the world. We can boldly ask for insight for the purpose of prayer, not for our personal gain. We are to be low maintenance as living sacrifices for the things of this world, while boldly going into the throne room in service to the King.

Are you someone who connects the importance of sacrifice and the fear of the Lord to the presence, power, and blessings of God? What might you need to lay on the altar? The altar is a chance to prove or display your complete surrender to the Lord.