Sunday February 21, 2021
Bring the Wood With You
A significant feature of the sacrificial system of the Old Testament was that the fire upon the altar was kept constantly burning: it was never allowed to die out. Every morning the priest laid fresh wood upon the fire before he presented the morning burnt-offering to God. The wood was obviously essential if the fire was to be maintained, but the law made no further allusion to it. No information was given regarding the persons responsible for the supply, what kind of wood was to be brought, or the when to bring a replenishment of the supply. (See WORD WISDOM for a deeper study of altar)
Yet year after year, wood was brought and the fire never went out. But eventually, the Temple was destroyed and the need for wood was no longer a necessity. But in the reformation time of Ezra and Nehemiah and the rebuilding of the Temple, once again there was a need for wood. This time though, the priests, Levites and people pledged themselves to decide by casting lots when each of their families should bring an offering of wood to burn upon the altar “as it is written in the law.”
We cast lots among the priests, the Levites, and the people, for bringing the wood offering into the house of our God, according to our fathers’ houses, at the appointed times year by year, to burn on the altar of the Lord our God as it is written in the Law. (Neh.10:34)
Two important things had happened between the time of Moses and Nehemiah. First, the bringing of wood was now elevated to be called an offering and secondly, it was evidently the responsibility of every household and none was exempt. For a certain period of the year (determined by lots), a household had to provide an adequate supply of fuel for the altar.
Nehemiah himself evidently regarded this matter as of such importance, that in his plea for God to remember the good he had accomplished in his ministry, he mentioned his arrangement for the provision of the wood-offering as an crucial part of his “resume.”
Thus I cleansed them of everything pagan. I also assigned duties to the priests and the Levites, each to his service, and to bringing the wood offering and the firstfruits at appointed times. Remember me, O my God, for good! (Neh.13:31).
The great historian, Josephus, elevates the wood-offering yet again, this time calling it a feast! It went from just a mention in Moses’ time to an offering in Nehemiah’s time, to a feast for all Israelites! He describes the practice (War 2.425):
On the next day (14th of Av) which was the Feast of Wood-carrying, on which it was a custom for everyone to bring chopped wood to the altar so that fuel for the fire might never fail (it continues always without being extinguished).
So what does this mean for us? What “wood” should we be bringing? Everything we do for God is a piece of wood…tithing, praying, serving, praising, fellowshipping, reading His Word, or witnessing…all are as kindling on the fire. Now, you can’t use someone else’s wood to keep your fire going. And no one can you use your wood for themselves. Each one is to bring his own wood to keep the fire of God burning.
You see, God started the fire in our hearts, but it is our responsibility to keep that fire going. God started the fire on His altar.
And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of meeting, and came out and blessed the people. Then the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people, and fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. When all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces. (Lev.9:23-24)
Without the wood, there could be no fire! Our whole lives should be a sacrifice to God…everything the Christian is and has must be laid upon the altar. I don’t want my life to be like flame on the end of a match, but like a roaring blaze. It takes effort to keep burning with holy fire, but the results are well worth it. In fact, Luke declares tremendous blessing when Jesus comes and finds the fire burning.
Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has. But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more. “I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! (Lk.12:43-49)
Amen! It’s time to bring the wood!
