Introduction
In Exodus 29:40-46, we find the first mention of the drink offering and to make a drink offering one-tenth of an ephah was to be used, which is about seven pints or about three and a half litres, a hin is about a gallon and a half, or a little over five and a half litres, Exodus 29:40.
The drink offering was poured out upon an existing offering, Exodus 29:41 / Genesis 35:14 / Numbers 28:7-10 / Numbers 28:14-15 / Numbers 28:24 / Numbers 28:31. The grain offering, Exodus 29:41, didn’t involve the taking of a life, instead, it was made up of the finest flour, Genesis 4:3 / Genesis 3:10 / Judges 3:15-18, oil, and incense.
For the generations to come this burnt offering is to be made regularly at the entrance to the tent of meeting, before the LORD because He will meet the priests and speak to them, Exodus 29:42. Often a blood sacrifice was accompanied by both a meal offering and a drink offering.
Because the drink offering is ‘poured out’ upon the existing offering, there is a thought of ‘wasting’ or ‘being wasted’, Matthew 26:6-8. In Genesis 35:14, Jacob pours out a drink offering to signify he is giving his life back to God, consecrating himself for the house of God, ‘Beth-El’. Likewise, Aaron and his sons have just been consecrated, giving their lives for the tabernacle service, so that God may have a dwelling place, Exodus 29:43-45.
Notice they will know that He is the LORD their God who brought them out of Egypt, Exodus 29:46, and notice the reminder from God where He declares, ‘I am the Lord their God’, Exodus 29:46 / Exodus 3:14 / Exodus 6:3.
The ceremonial laws that came with Israel’s covenant with God were to be a continual reminder to Israel that God was the one who delivered them out of Egypt.
For this to be valid there is a need, morning, and evening, for daily offerings, including a lamb for a burnt offering, a meal offering and a drink offering. Twice daily, there is renewed consecration in the tabernacle by the priests.
The drink offering was to be offered along with the firstfruits offering, Leviticus 23:9-14, during the festival of weeks, Leviticus 23:15-22, and the festival of Tabernacles, Leviticus 23:33-44.
Meyrick, in his commentary, says the following, concerning the drink offering.
‘Leviticus 23:13, and Leviticus 23:18 / Leviticus 23:37, are the only mention of a drink-offering in Leviticus.’
Faith In Christ
This is a picture for us in our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul spoke of himself being ‘poured out as a drink offering’ on the sacrifice and priestly service of the faith of the saints in Philippi. Philippians 2:17, as he contemplated the possibility of soon having his life ended on account of the Gospel.
Although it wasn’t possible that the blood of bulls and goats would bring forgiveness of sins, Hebrews 10:1-4, all these sacrifices prepared Israel for the final sacrifice for sin in Jesus Christ.
The fact that the sacrificing was performed daily, meant that their entire lives were consecrated to God, Romans 12:1. And in obedience through the sacrifices, God dwelt in them, as He does today through the Holy Spirit.
