Where Is the Sacrifice?

“God is the Lord, and He has given us light; bind the sacrifice [at the solemn feast] with cords to the horns of the altar.” Ps. 118:27.

Israel had to bring many different kinds of sacrifices. There was the sin offering, which they constantly had to bring because of their trespasses. Lev. 4. There were also free-will offerings. There were offerings of thanksgiving that the people brought when God had helped them. Quite often they established this special day as a fixed holiday from year to year on which they brought a great many offerings to the Lord.

Now the sacrifice has been brought once for all since the Son gave His life as a ransom for us. Matt. 20:28. Nevertheless, we hear no less about sacrificing in the new covenant. We are to present our bodies as an acceptable sacrifice to God. Rom. 12:1. We are also to be built up into a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Pet. 2:5. My self-life has to be sacrificed so that my life with God can grow in and through me.

There is also something in the new covenant that we can call a sin offering—an absolute necessity if we are to be saved. If a person has stolen some money from someone, it is not sufficient for him to pray to God for forgiveness on the basis of Jesus’ sacrifice. He has to pay back that money. We must bring that as a sacrifice; yet that isn’t the most difficult part; it touches the person’s honor to confess something like that. His honor must also be sacrificed. Then he will have peace with a good conscience. It is not sufficient to pray to God for forgiveness if I have hurt someone by speaking evil about him behind his back. I must also put matters right with the person I have hurt. This applies to all areas. If I am to have victory over anger, then I must be a sacrifice. I cannot consider what is best for myself, but I must consider what is best for the others. If I am to have victory over anxiety, then greed and vanity has to be brought into death. We can call all this a sin offering that must be brought if we are to have peace with God and a good conscience. These sacrifices are not difficult to find. Yet there are many people who, because of their unrepentant hearts, find it difficult to agree to do it. And if there is something outstanding between them and a brother or sister, they have a difficult time finding what needs to be sacrificed so that their relationship can be on a good footing again. If they are discouraged, envious, or suffer on account of suspicion, it is difficult for them to find the sacrifices that can give them rest and peace. Hearts become humble and repentant when there is revival; then people find the sin offerings, and they have peace and joy. But what about the sacrifices at solemn feasts and the free-will offerings?

“So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’” Luke 17:10.

The servant had to do whatever he was duty bound to do in order to receive his wages and a place where he could reside. In other words, he didn’t do anything more than what served for his own good. This also applies to us when we bring an offering for sin. It is for our own good, and as such we must say about ourselves that we are unprofitable servants. We must reach out to others if we are to be profitable servants; in other words, we must see to it that it can go well with the others after things have been brought into order in our own lives. It is wonderful that I am saved and live an overcoming life, but I become profitable if I can help others to that same life. This is when we need to bring a free-will offering. Now it is no longer my personal need that constrains me to go further, but the others’ needs. Who can find these sacrifices? Here we need revival. When God lets the light shine for us, then there is a solemn feast; then many sacrifices are brought.

“I will wash my hands in innocence; so I will go about Your altar, O Lord . . . .” Ps. 26:6-7. The clean vessels were useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. 2 Tim. 2:20-21. Those who are pure are zealous for good works. Tit. 2:14. Such people are always there when something needs to be done. They do not think: “There are so many people so it doesn’t really matter if I am there.” They are ready with their sin offerings, and there is a solemn feast in their hearts. God opens up the gates of righteousness for them, and they do not shrink back. They go through those gates and start working. They do not ask, “Is this really necessary?” They bring their sacrifices of praise with songs of rejoicing. Murmuring, doubt, and dissatisfaction do not accompany their sacrifices, because for them it is a solemn feast.

May God let there be light for us so that there can always be a solemn feast when we bring our sacrifices.