Numbers 28:9–10

Again, what were the two lambs for the Sabbath — a sin offering or a burnt offering? "This is the burnt offering of every Sabbath." It was to be double. The reason is that the Sabbath was a picture of the rest that remains for God's people, when there will be a twofold appreciation of Christ. But the character of the offering is as plain as possible. It was Christ toward God. This is the special point in the burnt offering. The sin offering is Christ toward us. In the sin offering the question is the hatefulness of sin. In the burnt offering the question is the preciousness and excellency of Christ.

Made of fine flour, whether dry or cooked, it pictured the Lord as a man. Mixed with oil, and presented with frankincense whenever frankincense was used, it spoke of His conception by the Holy Spirit and of His life on earth, being a sweet savour to God.

This clearly goes on to the rest of God, of which the sabbath is always the well-known figure. When it comes, the only difference will be that the testimony to the value of Christ will be more widely spread and fuller… But when the sabbath dawns on the earth, the true sabbath of Jehovah in all its meaning, there will be a public witness of it all over the world that cannot be mistaken. This seems referred to in the doubling of the lamb. It is the idea of the rest of God set against the time of working that comes before it… "So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God." The time of the true rest is not yet come. Notice, it does not mean the rest we have got for our souls by faith. Instead, it is the rest of glory for the people of God and for the world, when there will be this widespread testimony.

These two ordinances, then, of the daily and the Sabbath offering, fall into one section. Together they give us the perpetual offering — in picture, the abiding preciousness of Christ for time and for eternity. Eternity only confirms and underlines what every day of time has witnessed to before.

No matter how many sacrifices were offered on this altar, following the detailed instructions in the book of Leviticus, the daily morning and evening burnt offering was never to be left out. God appointed special sacrifices for the Sabbath and for the other feasts. But these were never to replace or exclude "the continual burnt offering."

The Lord cites from the law itself another witness. The priests did not stop sacrificing on the sabbath. The law even increased the morning and evening sacrifices on that day (Num. 28:9-10). Man's sin was the reason these sacrifices were needed, but so was the grace of God that provided for the sin. This whole sacrificial system was much older than the law. It was the constant, though veiled, witness of the grace running through all earlier ages… Before it, wherever there was conflict, the "sign" of the legal covenant gave way, as here.

Again, what were the two lambs for the Sabbath — a sin offering or a burnt offering? "This is the burnt offering of every Sabbath." It was to be double, because the Sabbath was a picture of the rest that remains for God's people. In that rest there will be a twofold appreciation of Christ. But the character of the offering is as plain as possible. It was Christ presented to God. That is the special point in the burnt offering. The sin offering is Christ toward us. With the sin offering, the question is the hatefulness of sin; with the burnt offering, the question is the preciousness and excellence of Christ.

There are seventy-one verses in the entire section; and, out of these, thirteen allude to the sin offering, and the remaining fifty-eight are occupied with sweet savour offerings.

There is the sweet savour of Christ rising continually, in which God regards His people on the earth… This goes on to the rest of God, of which the sabbath is always the well-known figure. When it comes, the only difference will be that the testimony to the value of Christ will be wider and fuller… Christianity has brought it out in its very depths. But it is a thing known only to the believer on the one hand, and to God on the other. But the true sabbath of the Lord will dawn on the earth in all its meaning. Then there will be a public witness of it all over the world that cannot be mistaken. This seems referred to in the doubling of the lamb.

The Sabbath speaks of the eternal rest of God, and in that day our appreciation of the sacrifice of Christ will not diminish, but increase.

There was a clear command never to let the fire of the altar go out. It was a lasting rule for the children of Israel. The book of Leviticus gives detailed instructions for many other sacrifices on this altar. However many of them were offered, the daily morning and evening burnt offering was never to be left out… Special sacrifices were appointed for the Sabbath and for the other feasts. But these were never to replace or exclude "the continual burnt offering."

Numbers 15:4, 6, 9 shows that meal offerings had to go with offerings by fire (compare Numbers 28:5). This fact shows that Christ's sacrifice would not have been possible without His perfect life on earth. The two belonged together, and the same was true of the continual morning and evening burnt offering.

Under the law drink offerings were not to be offered alone… They had to go with the sweet-savour offerings (Numbers 15:1-13), above all with the burnt offering and the meal offering that came with it. They were never to go with the sin or trespass offerings. There could be no joy for God in Christ's sufferings when He was made sin on the cross… But there is always joy for God in the complete obedience of Christ, obedient even to death, in doing the will of God.

All this shows the Christian reader the true character of the worship God looks for, and in which He delights. God delights in Christ; and it should be our constant aim to present to God that in which He delights. Christ should always be what our worship is made of… Sadly, it is often otherwise with us… We are taken up with ourselves instead of with Christ.