What other biblical instances show God accepting offerings outside the temple? A Courtyard Filled with Sacrifice 1 Kings 8:64 records Solomon dedicating the court in front of the new temple because “the bronze altar before the LORD was too small.” Even with the magnificent house just finished, God welcomed offerings in the open courtyard. That opens the door to trace moments when the LORD gladly received sacrifices apart from the Jerusalem altar. Before a Temple Even Existed • Abel – “The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering.” (Genesis 4:4) • Noah – “Then Noah built an altar to the LORD… The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma.” (Genesis 8:20-21) • Abraham – Altars at Shechem, Bethel, Hebron, and Moriah (Genesis 12:7-8; 13:18; 22:9-13). Each time God spoke approval or renewed covenant promises. • Isaac – “He built an altar there and called on the name of the LORD.” (Genesis 26:25) • Jacob – Bethel after the ladder vision (Genesis 35:1-7). God reiterated His covenant. Tabernacle Days—Yet Still Mobile Altars • Moses at Rephidim – “Moses built an altar and named it ‘The LORD Is My Banner.’” (Exodus 17:15) • Mount Sinai – “Moses built an altar at the foot of the mountain.” (Exodus 24:4-8) • Joshua on Mount Ebal – “Joshua built an altar to the LORD… as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded.” (Joshua 8:30-31) Scripture adds that burnt and peace offerings were accepted there. Judge-Era Altars the LORD Honored • Gideon – “Then Gideon built an altar there to the LORD and called it ‘The LORD Is Peace.’” (Judges 6:24) Fire from heaven consumed the meat and bread (v. 21). • Manoah & his wife (Samson’s parents) – “When the flame went up from the altar toward heaven, the Angel of the LORD ascended in the flame.” (Judges 13:19-20) A divine endorsement. Early Monarchy Moments • Samuel at Mizpah – “Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD… and the LORD answered him.” (1 Samuel 7:9) • David on Araunah’s threshing floor – “David built an altar to the LORD there and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. Then the LORD answered prayer on behalf of the land.” (2 Samuel 24:25) • Solomon at Gibeon, before the temple was built – “Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.” (1 Kings 3:4) God appeared to him that night, granting wisdom. A Mountaintop Showdown • Elijah on Carmel – “Fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the dust.” (1 Kings 18:36-39) The people cried, “The LORD, He is God!”—clear divine acceptance far from Jerusalem. After Temple Destruction and During Return • Exiles’ first act – “They built the altar of the God of Israel to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written… though the foundation of the LORD’s temple had not yet been laid.” (Ezra 3:2-3) Fear of surrounding nations didn’t stop worship; God protected and the work advanced. The Ultimate Sacrifice Outside the City Hebrews reminds us Christ “suffered outside the gate” (Hebrews 13:11-12), fulfilling every shadow of altar and offering. The place did not diminish the offering; His obedience perfected it. Key Takeaways • God’s presence is not confined to stone walls; obedient hearts and faith-filled sacrifice matter most. • Every accepted out-of-temple offering prefigured the freedom believers now enjoy to “offer your bodies as living sacrifices” (Romans 12:1). • Solomon’s crowded courtyard in 1 Kings 8:64 stands in a long line of moments where location bowed to revelation—when God met His people wherever they built an altar in faith. |
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