Numbers 28 (CEV)
Regular Daily Sacrifices
1The LORD told Moses 2to say to the people of Israel:
Offer sacrifices to me at the appointed times of worship, so that I will smell the smoke and be pleased.
3Each day offer two rams a year old as sacrifices to please me. The animals must have nothing wrong with them; 4one will be sacrificed in the morning, and the other in the evening. 5Along with each of them, two pounds of your finest flour mixed with a quart of olive oil must be offered as a grain sacrifice. 6This sacrifice to please me was first offered on Mount Sinai. 7Finally, along with each of these two sacrifices, a quart of wine must be poured on the altar as a drink offering. 8The second ram will be sacrificed that evening, along with the other offerings, just like the one sacrificed that morning. The smell of the smoke from these sacrifices will please me.
We should be like the Psalmist and seek the Lord in the morning: My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up. (Psalm 5:3) But to You I have cried out, O Lord, and in the morning my prayer comes before You. (Psalm 88:13)
We should be like the Psalmist and seek the Lord in the evening: When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches. (Psalm 63:6) Let my prayer be set before You as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. (Psalm 141:2)
We should be like the Psalmist and seek the Lord all the time: Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice. (Psalm 55:17)
–David Guzik
Reflection:
Every day the Israelites offered to the Lord 2 rams, 4 pounds of flour, 2 quarts of olive oil and 2 quarts of wine. Day after day after day.
What of material value do you offer the Lord every day? Would it change your spiritual life if daily you were to give such a generous material expression?
The Sacrifice on the Sabbath
“Sabbath Candles” by Canadian painter Fiona Collins
The LORD said:
9-10On the Sabbath, in addition to the regular daily sacrifices, you must sacrifice two rams a year old to please me. These rams must have nothing wrong with them, and they will be sacrificed with a drink offering and four pounds of your finest flour mixed with olive oil.
The Sacrifices on the First Day of the Month
The LORD said:
11On the first day of each month, bring to the altar two bulls, one full-grown ram, and seven rams a year old that have nothing wrong with them. Then offer these as sacrifices to please me. 12Six pounds of your finest flour mixed with olive oil must be offered with each bull as a grain sacrifice. Four pounds of flour mixed with oil must be offered with the ram, 13and two pounds of flour mixed with oil must be offered with each of the young rams. The smell of the smoke from these sacrifices will please me. 14-15Offer two quarts of wine as a drink offering with each bull, one and a half quarts with the ram, and one quart with each of the young rams.
Finally, you must offer a goat as a sacrifice for sin. These sacrifices are to be offered on the first day of each month, in addition to the regular daily sacrifices.
The LORD said:
The Sacrifices during Passover and the Festival of Thin Bread
16Celebrate Passover in honor of me on the fourteenth day of the first month of each year. 17The following day will begin the Festival of Thin Bread, which will last for a week. During this time you must honor me by eating bread made without yeast. 18On the first day of this festival, you must rest from your work and come together for worship. 19Bring to the altar two bulls, one full-grown ram, and seven rams a year old that have nothing wrong with them. And then offer these as sacrifices to please me. 20Six pounds of your finest flour mixed with olive oil must be offered with each bull as a grain sacrifice. Four pounds of flour mixed with oil must be offered with the ram, 21and two pounds of flour mixed with oil must be offered with each of the young rams. 22Also offer a goat as a sacrifice for the sins of the people. 23-24All of these are to be offered in addition to the regular daily sacrifices, and the smoke from them will please me. 25Then on the last day of the festival, you must once again rest from work and come together for worship.
The LORD said:
The Sacrifices during the Harvest Festival
The Feast of Weeks celebrates harvest. The book of Ruth is often read in synagogues during this festival, since it describes the wheat harvest season.
26On the first day of the Harvest Festival, you must rest from your work, come together for worship, and bring a sacrifice of new grain. 27Offer two young bulls, one full-grown ram, and seven rams a year old as sacrifices to please me. 28Six pounds of your finest flour mixed with olive oil must be offered with each bull as a grain sacrifice. Four pounds of flour mixed with oil must be offered with the ram, 29and two pounds of flour mixed with oil must be offered with each of the young rams. 30Also offer a goat as a sacrifice for sin. 31The animals must have nothing wrong with them and are to be sacrificed along with the regular daily sacrifices.
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Music:
HERE the song “The Heart of Worship” gets to the point — Jesus.
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Contemporary English Version (CEV) Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society
DWELLING in the Word 
