Serving at the Altar

Serving at the Altar

“For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated [served] at the altar.” Heb. 7:12-13.

There was a complete change of the priesthood and the law when Jesus came. If God-fearing priests served at the altar in the old covenant according to the laws that were ordained for the worship service, then Jesus served even more at the altar according to the laws of the Spirit of life.

God has always followed along very carefully with what is happening at the altar, because there people’s minds are revealed. God maintained fellowship with His priests and Israel by sending His fire upon the altar if the sacrifices were pure and everything was done according to the precepts of the law. However, many of them kept back the best animals and came with some that were lame and blind—but then they met God’s wrath.

The Lord said to Aaron: “Therefore you and your sons with you shall attend to your priesthood for everything at the altar and behind the veil; and you shall serve.” Num. 18:7.

This ministry was a type of the hidden ministry we have at the altar behind the veil according to the laws of the Spirit of life. All of us have a hidden life and a manifest life, a hidden ministry and an open ministry. If we are not acceptable to God in the hidden ministry, we are not acceptable to Him in the open ministry either. To the angel of the church in Sardis it was said, “I have not found your works perfect before God.” His inner life had been quenched in the midst of having many works and a name of being alive.

All the priests of the new covenant have come near by the blood of Christ and are called to serve at the altar behind the veil. If we are faithful in this hidden ministry, we will also hear God’s voice speak to us, and as a royal priesthood we can then proclaim the virtues of Him who called us from darkness into His marvelous light. 1 Pet. 2:9. Then this marvelous light will always burn in the temple of our heart and will keep our spiritual eye bright.

“We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.” Heb. 13:10. Those who serve the tabernacle are sanctified by Jesus’ blood. Their sins have been forgiven, and they can be very active in serving God. They are in the camp; however, Jesus was crucified outside the camp. Outside the camp the altar is raised in God’s sanctuary. There we will have to bear reproach, but we will also experience life and glory. Those who are outside the camp do not have a continuing city here, but they seek the one to come. V. 14. They are crucified with Christ; they no longer live for themselves, but Christ lives in them. They are satisfied at the altar just as Jesus was. In John 4:32-34, Jesus said that He had food to eat of which they did not know. His food was to do the will of Him who had sent Him and to finish His work. We are also strengthened by this food in our inner man to do our work with joy.

“Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” Blessed are all those who are divinely assured of this, because then life becomes rich and interesting. The Spirit that dwelt in Jesus when He cleansed the temple in His zeal also wants to have a pure temple in our days. This same Spirit wants to dwell in us. He takes from the Father and gives to us; He leads us and constrains us. He fights against all kinds of tendencies of the flesh and brings them to the altar’s fire. He will raise us up and unite us with Christ at His coming. Rom. 8:11.

In the Holy of Holies there was a golden altar for burning incense, and from this altar in the sanctuary of our heart must arise sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving, even while we are being sacrificed. This is what Paul did in his sacrificial ministry, for himself and for the others. “Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.” Phil. 2:17-18. Such an altar ministry is acceptable to God. Not a single sigh against the others must ascend from this altar.

Nevertheless, in this ministry we will have the devil as our opposer, and he will mobilize all his might in his battle against such people. Therefore it is very significant what we read about the souls of the saints that were found under the altar. Rev. 6:9. They were slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. They were told that they should rest a little while longer until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed. V. 11.

They all fell at their post by the altar. However, that is the very place that God’s eyes watch carefully. Jesus stood up, and all of heaven was prepared to receive Stephen when he collapsed under a hail of stones by the altar, praying and giving thanks in the midst of his enemies.

God speaks at the altar of the heart, and that is where genuine thanksgiving and joy are born. David desired to go about the Lord’s altar that he might proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving and tell of all His wondrous works. We also will be able to proclaim many wondrous works if we keep the fire on the altar burning.

“Oh, send out Your light and Your truth! Let them lead me; let them bring me to Your holy hill and to Your tabernacle. Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy; and on the harp I will praise You, O God, my God.” Ps. 43:3-4. It is by the altar that we meet the God of our exceeding joy. Only there can He be glad and rejoice over us and with us!

“Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young—even Your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.” Ps. 84:3.

Yes, let us find rest by the altar of the Lord where it is safe and good to dwell. Let us faithfully serve at the altar in the hidden; then God will see to it that our life and our ministry will be a blessing outwardly.

God is not pleased when we sacrifice one thing or another to Him if we have not given ourselves fully and completely to Him, just as they had done in Macedonia. 2 Cor. 8:1-5. Therefore Paul exhorts us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God; and this is to be our spiritual service. Rom. 12:1.

Jesus offered Himself without spot to God through the eternal Spirit. Heb. 9:14.

The place of sacrifice is outside the camp. There we are rejected by men, but precious before God. 1 Pet. 2:4. This exhortation is addressed to those who are outside the camp: “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” Heb. 13:15.