The drink offering, also known as a libation, is a significant component of the sacrificial system outlined in the Old Testament. It is a liquid offering, typically of wine, poured out in worship to God. The drink offering is often mentioned in conjunction with other sacrifices, serving as a complement to burnt offerings, grain offerings, and peace offerings. This practice underscores the comprehensive nature of worship and devotion in ancient Israel.

Biblical Foundation

The drink offering is first introduced in the context of the Mosaic Law. In Exodus 29:40-41 , God instructs Moses regarding the daily offerings: "With the first lamb, offer a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with a quarter hin of oil from pressed olives, and a quarter hin of wine as a drink offering. Offer the second lamb at twilight with the same grain offering and drink offering as in the morning. It is a pleasing aroma, an offering made by fire to the LORD."

Accompaniment to Sacrifices

1. Burnt Offerings: The drink offering frequently accompanies burnt offerings, which are wholly consumed by fire as a symbol of complete dedication to God. Numbers 28:7 states, "And the drink offering with it shall be a quarter hin of wine for each lamb. Pour out the drink offering to the LORD in the sanctuary."

2. Grain Offerings: The drink offering is also paired with grain offerings, which consist of fine flour, oil, and frankincense. These offerings represent the fruit of human labor and are a tribute to God's provision. In Leviticus 23:13 , the instructions for the Feast of Weeks include, "together with its grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, an offering made by fire to the LORD, a pleasing aroma, and its drink offering of a quarter hin of wine."

3. Peace Offerings: The drink offering complements peace offerings, which symbolize fellowship and communion with God. In Numbers 15:8-10 , the law prescribes, "When you prepare a young bull as a burnt offering or sacrifice to fulfill a vow or as a peace offering to the LORD, present with the bull a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with half a hin of olive oil. Also present half a hin of wine as a drink offering. It is an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the LORD."

Symbolism and Significance

The drink offering symbolizes the outpouring of one's life and resources in devotion to God. It represents the joy and abundance of life dedicated to divine service. The act of pouring out wine signifies the worshiper's willingness to offer their best to God, acknowledging His sovereignty and grace.

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul uses the imagery of a drink offering to describe his own life of service and sacrifice. In Philippians 2:17 , he writes, "But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you." This metaphor highlights the continuity of sacrificial devotion from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant, where believers are called to offer themselves as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1).

Conclusion

The drink offering, as part of the sacrificial system, enriches the understanding of worship in the biblical narrative. It emphasizes the holistic nature of devotion, where offerings of substance and spirit are intertwined in the worship of God. Through the drink offering, the faithful express their gratitude, commitment, and recognition of God's provision and presence in their lives.Exodus 29:40
And with the one lamb a tenth deal of flour mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil; and the fourth part of an hin of wine for a drink offering.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Leviticus 23:13
And the meat offering thereof shall be two tenth deals of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering made by fire to the LORD for a sweet smell: and the drink offering thereof shall be of wine, the fourth part of an hin.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Purification of the virgin and the Presentation in the Temple
... Altar; as if for them specially the sacrifices were laid on the Altar of Burnt-offering;
as if ... expression of joy symbolised in the drink-offering, and the ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter vii the purification of.htm

The Annunciation of St. John the Baptist
... chant of the Psalms of praise, accompanied with joyous sound of music, as the
drink-offering was poured ... The pieces of the sacrifices had been ranged in ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter iii the annunciation of.htm

Acts XXI
... Let no man, therefore, judge you in food or in drink, or in ... above, that James and
the brethren in Jerusalem regarded the offering of sacrifices as at least ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts xxi.htm

The Consecration of Joy
... of rams and lambs for the burnt offering was doubled ... the feast proper, by the number
of sacrifices offered on it ... let him come unto Me, and drink.' What increased ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the consecration of joy.htm

Ancestors of the Blessed virgin
... usual to Jerusalem for the feast and offering sacrifices, but as ... While the
incense-offering was being consumed I saw ... eat and a luminous liquid to drink from ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/i ancestors of the blessed.htm

Of the Purifications.
... of pollution, the law appointed the offering two lambs ... appointed for them, they perform
their sacrifices, the priests ... and gave it her to drink; whereupon the ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 11 of the purifications.htm

The Second Helvetic Confession, AD 1566.
... return intimately acquainted with Zwingli, accompanied him to ... of the same spiritual
food and drink. ... as in the Jewish dispensation, offering sacrifices for the ...
/.../ 55 the second helvetic.htm

The Wordless Book
... I seem to taste it in my meat and drink; and when I ... Thou delightest not in burnt
offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 57 1911/the wordless book.htm

His Past Work.
... In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sins Thou hadst no ... the world), we are sanctified
through the offering of the ... did His will, yea, His meat and drink was to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gaebelein/the work of christ/i his past work.htm

To those who had not Attended the Assembly.
... go into the house of God without sacrifices, much more ... by our brethren: for this
sacrifice and offering is better ... him, if he thirst give him drink;" [758] "a ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chrysostom/on the priesthood/to those who had not.htm

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