Topical Bible: Anointing in Consecration: Altars of

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In the biblical tradition, anointing serves as a significant ritual act, symbolizing sanctification, dedication, and the impartation of divine favor. The anointing of altars, in particular, holds a profound place within the consecratory practices of ancient Israel, marking these sacred structures as holy and set apart for the worship of Yahweh.

Biblical Foundation

The practice of anointing altars is rooted in the instructions given by God to Moses concerning the consecration of the Tabernacle and its furnishings. In Exodus 30:26-29, God commands Moses to anoint the Tabernacle and everything within it, including the altar, with a specially prepared holy anointing oil: "With it you are to anoint the Tent of Meeting, the Ark of the Testimony, the table and all its utensils, the lampstand and its utensils, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the basin with its stand. You are to consecrate them so that they will be most holy; whatever touches them will be holy" .

This act of anointing signifies the altar's transition from a common object to a sacred one, dedicated exclusively to the service and worship of God. The anointing oil, composed of specific ingredients as detailed in Exodus 30:23-25, was not merely a physical substance but a symbol of the Holy Spirit's presence and the divine approval of the altar's use in sacrificial offerings.

Symbolism and Significance

The anointing of altars underscores several theological themes central to the worship practices of Israel. Firstly, it emphasizes the holiness required in approaching God. The altar, as the focal point of sacrificial worship, needed to be sanctified to ensure that the offerings presented upon it were acceptable to God. This sanctification process reflects the broader biblical principle that God is holy and those who approach Him must do so with reverence and purity.

Secondly, the anointing of altars serves as a reminder of God's covenantal relationship with His people. By consecrating the altar, the Israelites acknowledged their dependence on God's grace and their commitment to uphold His commandments. The altar, thus, becomes a tangible representation of the divine-human relationship, where God meets His people and accepts their worship.

Historical and Theological Context

Throughout Israel's history, the anointing of altars continued to be a significant ritual, particularly during times of religious reform or renewal. For instance, in 2 Chronicles 29:18, during the reign of King Hezekiah, the priests and Levites consecrated the altar as part of the temple's purification and restoration: "Then they went in to King Hezekiah and said, 'We have cleansed the whole temple of the LORD, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the table of the showbread and all its utensils'" .

Theologically, the anointing of altars points to the ultimate fulfillment of sacrificial worship in the person and work of Jesus Christ. As the perfect and final sacrifice, Christ's atoning work on the cross renders the need for continual animal sacrifices obsolete. However, the principles of consecration and holiness remain vital for Christian worship, as believers are called to present themselves as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God (Romans 12:1).

Conclusion

The anointing of altars in biblical consecration practices highlights the importance of holiness, dedication, and divine presence in worship. It serves as a powerful reminder of the sacredness of approaching God and the covenantal relationship between the Creator and His people. Through the anointing, altars are transformed into holy spaces where God meets His people, foreshadowing the ultimate sacrifice of Christ and the call for believers to live consecrated lives.

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Exodus 30:26-28
And you shall anoint the tabernacle of the congregation therewith, and the ark of the testimony,
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Exodus 40:10
And you shall anoint the altar of the burnt offering, and all his vessels, and sanctify the altar: and it shall be an altar most holy.
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Leviticus 8:11
And he sprinkled thereof on the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all his vessels, both the laver and his foot, to sanctify them.
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Numbers 7:1
And it came to pass on the day that Moses had fully set up the tabernacle, and had anointed it, and sanctified it, and all the instruments thereof, both the altar and all the vessels thereof, and had anointed them, and sanctified them;
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Library

Whether this Sacrament Ought to be Celebrated in a House and with ...
... a sacrifice of praise to God." Hence the consecration of the ... It has seemed pleasing
for the altars to be consecrated not merely with the anointing of chrism ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether this sacrament ought to 2.htm

Princely Service.
... right place, and let there be the anointing of the ... GHOST, received by faith, as well
as consecration to Him ... the table and the candlestick, the altars and the ...
/.../taylor/separation and service/part iii princely service.htm

Introductory Notice to the Early Liturgies.
... Noah and Abraham, who reared their altars everywhere, as ... and they were completed
by the anointing of David ... The Oblation; 6. Prayer of Consecration; 7. Prayers ...
/.../various/early liturgies/introductory notice to the early.htm

Against the Arians, and Concerning Himself.
... "Altars beloved" as Holy Scripture saith, but "now defiled ... the future; nor only so,
but also anointing Kings and ... bear to be deprived of my consecration; One Lord ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/oration xxxiii against the arians.htm

The Puritan Innovations
... The manual acts accompanying the words of Consecration in the ... to the destruction
of stone altars [106] and the ... viz., the trine immersion, the anointing with oil ...
/.../studies in the book of common prayer/chapter ii the puritan innovations.htm

The Political Constitution of Egypt
... flat upon the ground, and sometimes two little obelisks or two altars, hollowed
at ... perfumers who prepared the scented oils and pomades for the anointing of his ...
/.../chapter ithe political constitution of.htm

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ...
... the anointing of Saul (1 Samuel 9:16; x.1 ... to have borne a resemblance to the altars
of the ... his homage, and had granted him that religious consecration which had ...
/.../chapter iitiglath-pileser iii and the.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 6. <. ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm