“The end of a thing is better than its beginning; the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit” (Eccl 7:8).
Exodus 29 not only gives us details for the start of the priests’ service by consecration, but also vital steps in the work’s continuation. “This is what you shall offer on the altar: two lambs of the first year, day by day continually. One lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight” (v 38). Here are words from the Great Hallel, “From the rising of the sun to its going down the Lord’s name is to be praised” (Ps 113:3). But no, twelve hours wasn’t enough to send worship heavenward. The previous verse extends it by saying, “Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore!” (v 2). Remember that this tabernacle scene is a picture of heaven, and there’s no night there! Perhaps Frances Ridley Havergal was considering this when she penned: “Take my life, and let it be Consecrated, Lord, to Thee; Take my moments and my days, Let them flow in ceaseless praise.” God’s ear is open in the night watches too, and so He “gives songs in the night” (Job 35:10). But there were additions to the lambs offered: “one-tenth of an ephah of flour mixed with one-fourth of a hin of pressed oil, and one-fourth of a hin of wine as a drink offering” (Ex 29:40). One-tenth of an ephah? Here’s a clue. “An omer is one-tenth of an ephah” (16:36). Does that help? It does when we read, “Let every man gather [manna] according to each one’s need, one omer for each person” (v 16). That represents what the Lord said to pray for—“our daily bread” (Mt 6:11). The rest of the recipe? The psalmist writes: the Lord gives “wine that makes glad the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread which strengthens man’s heart” (Ps 104:15). Gladness from God, radiance from the Spirit, and daily strength from Christ.