It was a tireless, time intensive and exhausting thing to do - all these sacrifices - but it was required to 'draw near' to ADONAI nonetheless...YET always merely 'being accepted from afar, and (only) able to come as close as the outer altar' (thank you Derek Leman).
How might that impact us in this day and age? First, we should realize that the 'sacrificial system' is still very alive and well today in our churches. Albeit, a little different look...As in, continuing to 'bring all these meaningless sacrifices' that we believe appeases The God of Universe - (fill in the blank as the Spirit convicts)
So, The One Spotless Sacrifice was already given on our behalf -once and for all - ...and our 'temple worship' today is to 'present ourselves as a living sacrifice' (Romans 12:1) remembering what ADONAI spoke through the prophets Hosea & Micah (for OT/NT times & still speaks!):
Hosea 6:6 - NAS – "For I delight in **chesed** (look it up) rather than sacrifice, And in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings"
Hosea 6:6 - BHS – כִּ֛י חֶ֥סֶד חָפַ֖צְתִּי וְלֹא־זָ֑בַח וְדַ֥עַת אֱלֹהִ֖ים מֵעֹלֹֽות׃
"Micah 6:8 - NAS – "He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?"
Micah 6:8 - BHS – הִגִּ֥יד לְךָ֛ אָדָ֖ם מַה־טֹּ֑וב וּמָֽה־יְהוָ֞ה דֹּורֵ֣שׁ מִמְּךָ֗ כִּ֣י אִם־עֲשֹׂ֤ות מִשְׁפָּט֙ וְאַ֣הֲבַת חֶ֔סֶד וְהַצְנֵ֥עַ לֶ֖כֶת עִם־אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃ פ
It's much easier to bring 'a bunch of stuff' to The Altar than it is to present ourselves upon The Altar. It's all meaningless and unattainable - our works, agendas, ideas, platforms, fronts - if it's not brought BY THE SPIRIT of The Messiah's CHESED. It's meaningless and powerless for you, as well as for those in your midst...
Wow, these Torah Portions. If you take the time to read them, THEY actually reads YOU.
ADONAI Eloheinu (LORD, our God) strengthen us as You've empowered us in Yeshua's Name
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