A required drink offering was required for several of the sacrifices that were made. This offering was made of strong wine (Nu 28:7). It was not to be diluted, which speaks of the purity and perfection of the offering, as well as of its preciousness (costlier than what was normally drank). All of it was poured out onto the sacrifice. Wine is a symbol of joy for both man and God (Jd 9:13; Ps 104:15). It was to be instituted only after they dwelt in the Promised Land (Nu 15:1) – because only then would they have vineyards to obtain the grapes to make wine. It was only offered with the “sweet savor” offerings (Nu 15:1-16): i.e., burnt offering, meal offering, and peace offering. It was not used with a sin offering or guilt offering because God has no joy in our sin.

The drink offering was instituted as a symbol of completion and pointed to a future completion. This was done by God who takes joy in doing this for us. Matthew said this about Jesus: “And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Mt 26:27).

Christ’s blood was a drink offering, meaning it was a completion of something which had been started earlier. His death was the completion of what the sacrifices in Leviticus pointed toward—i.e., the payment for mankind’s sin. Even in the New Testament it is a symbol of joy and completion and the initiation of new beginnings: “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfector of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hb 12:2). The cross wasn’t the joy but what he endured to get to the joy, i.e., being with us forever. This offering therefore represents the joy of our restoration.

So, you see, God was intimately involved with us coming to him. After all, it was all his idea to restore us to himself. Us coming back to him gives him great joy. When we’re forgiven of our sin, what happens to that sin? Join me next time for that discussion.

____________

Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

In our last post, we talked about the drink offering, how it was instituted, and how it was used in the various types of sacrifices mentioned in Leviticus. This time, we will talk more about this interesting type of offering.

In Leviticus, we see this offering pointed toward God’s completion of what these sacrifices in Leviticus pointed toward. Matthew, in the New Testament, tells us, “And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Mt 26:27). Christ’s blood was a drink offering, meaning it was a completion of something which had been started earlier. His death was the completion of what the sacrifices in Leviticus pointed toward—i.e., the payment for mankind’s sin.

There is another interesting application for the drink offering. It was utilized in the fulfillment of a Nazarite vow (Nu 6:1-21). A Nazarite was a man or woman who separated themselves for a period of time from certain food and drink (did not drink wine or eat grapes), from dead bodies (even family members), and did not cut their hair. During this time of separation, they were considered holy to the Lord. When their vow was over, they brought their burnt offering, meal offering, peace offering, and drink offering to the tabernacle. His/her hair was shaved and offered with the peace offering. The shoulder of the peace offering and the cakes of the meal offering were waved before the Lord. Then, and only then, could the individual drink wine again.

This aspect of separation unto the Lord is also taught to us in the New Testament. God calls us to be separate: “…we are the temple of the living God; as God said, ‘I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore, go out from their midst, and be separate from them,’ says the Lord, ‘and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me,’ says the Lord Almighty” (2Co 6:16-18). The separation is to be from all earthly joy (the fruit of the vine), from sin and the result of sin (dead bodies), and is to last for our entire life here upon earth. The allowing of the hair to grow uncut speaks of subjection to the Lord (c.f. 1 Cor.11:2-16); thus, we are to be separated unto God. This again points to completion: after the period of separate, fellowship is restored.

The drink offering was also used in most feasts Israel held, as it was used whenever burnt, meal, and/or peace offerings were made (Nu 29). In Lv 23, three feats were called out specifically: First Fruit, Pentecost (Shavuot), Tabernacles (Sukkot). Each of these feasts pointed to a fulfillment or a completion of what God would do in Israel’s future.

Here is a table that shows how all the offerings were used in relation to each other and in relation to the various types of sacrifices and feasts:

As we have seen, all these sacrifices point to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the feasts point to future fulfillments of what Christ has done for us or will do for us in our future. While the following adage is simplistic, it is really true: The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed; the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed. It is a testament to the continuity of the Bible and how it is a very dynamic book and not just a collection of stories. Isn’t our God marvelous?!

____________

Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

The drink offering is not one of the offerings mentioned in the first seven chapters of Leviticus where the other offerings are provided. It is mentioned in the twenty-eighth chapter of Numbers where God specified which offerings God required to be offered to him. This gives us the first clue as to what this offering is about. Lv 1-7 is about these offerings from man’s viewpoint. Nu 28 is about these offerings from God’s viewpoint. This offering must represent something from God’s perspective.

First, let’s go over some of the characteristics of this offering. It was made of strong wine (Nu 28:7). It was not to be diluted, which speaks of the purity and perfection of the offering, as well as of its preciousness (costlier than what was normally drank). All of it was poured out on the sacrifice: lamb (1/4 hin: ~2 pt); ram (1/3 hin: ~2½ pt); bull (1/2 hin: ~3¾ pt). From scripture, we find that wine is a symbol of joy for both man and God (Jd 9:13; Ps 104:15). It was to be instituted only after they dwelt in the Promised Land (Nu 15:1), and it was only offered with the “sweet savor” offerings (Nu 15:1-16): burnt offering, meal offering, peace offering. It was not used with a sin offering or guilt offering

Yet, this is not the first mention of the drink offering. It is first mentioned in relation to Jacob after his name was changed to Israel (Gn 35:14). When Jacob first left home and came to Bethel (Luz), he vowed: “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.” It is believed that Jacob’s life is prophetic of the time period called Jacob’s Trouble: Jacob had trials and turmoil, but God brought him back to his home, and to Bethel, in peace with Laban (his father-in-law), peace with Esau (his brother), and peace with God. This would seem to represent and symbolize the Millennium, or the Messiah’s future earthly kingdom here on earth. It was only after the completion did the drink offering get made.

Therefore, the drink offering deals with completion. It shows God’s joy for providing for the completion needed to reconcile mankind back to Himself:

Burnt offering – reconciliation of man’s sinful state – God provided

Meal (Grain) offering – our worship of Christ’s sinless life – God provided

Peace offering – our fellowship with God through Christ – God provided

Drink offering – representing the joy of God in providing for us

It was instituted only after God completed their journey into their Promised Land.

Their journey is a symbol of sanctification. The Israelites entering their Promised Land is a symbol of us one day entering the Messiah’s Millennial Kingdom (i.e., Christ’s 1000-year reign on the earth once he returns).

The drink offering was instituted as a symbol of completion and pointed to a future completion. This was done by God who takes joy in doing this for us.

Next time, we will look further at the drink offering and further at its symbolism. Stay tuned!

____________

Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens