Exodus 29:38 - Meaning and Application

In this passage we have the daily service God appointed. A lamb was to be offered on the altar every morning and another every evening, each with a grain offering, both burned as a regular burnt offering for all their generations (Exodus 29:38-41). Whether or not there were other sacrifices, these were always to be offered at public expense for the good and comfort of all Israel. They were meant to make atonement, that is, to cover daily sins, and to thank God for daily mercies. This was part of what each day required.

When Antiochus took away this daily sacrifice for so many evenings and mornings, it became one of the great troubles of the church, as Daniel foretold (Daniel 8:11). This daily offering pointed ahead to Christ’s continual intercession, his ongoing work of praying for his people based on the one sacrifice he offered for sin. He offered himself once for all, yet that one offering remains powerful and effective every day for the continual cleansing of his church. This also teaches us to bring God the spiritual sacrifices of prayer and praise every day, morning and evening, in humble dependence on him and thankful remembrance of what we owe him. Our daily prayers should be seen as some of our most necessary duties and sweetest comforts. No matter what else we have to do, this must not be left out, either in the morning or at night. Prayer time should be kept as faithfully as mealtime. The daily sacrifices were like the daily meals in God’s house, and they were always attended by bread and wine. People starve their own souls when they do not keep steady access to the throne of grace, the place where God welcomes prayer.

God also made great and precious promises of his favor to Israel, and of the signs of his special presence with them, while they kept up his worship among them. He speaks as one pleased with the daily sacrifice, for before he goes on to other commands, he interrupts the instructions with these promises. Constant faithfulness in religion brings the comfort of religion. He promises, first, that he would keep communion with them, not only meeting Moses and speaking with him, but meeting the children of Israel too, to accept the daily sacrifices offered for them (Exodus 29:43). God will not fail to meet those who carefully and sincerely attend on him in the worship he has appointed.

He also promises to own his own institutions, the tabernacle, the altar, and the priesthood (Exodus 29:43-44). He would take possession of what had been set apart for him. What is dedicated to God’s glory will be honored by his glory. If we do our part, God will do his. He will mark out and fit for himself what is sincerely given to him. He further promises to live among them as the God of his covenant, and to give them sure and comforting signs of his special favor and presence (Exodus 29:45-46): "I will dwell among the children of Israel." Where God sets up the tabernacle of his ordinances, he himself will dwell. "I am with you always" (Matthew 28:20). Those who remain in God’s house will have God remain with them. "I will be their God," and they will know that I am. Those are truly happy who belong to God in covenant and have a clear, comforting sense of that belonging. If we have that, we have enough, and nothing more is needed to make us truly blessed.