An altar is a table.

An altar is a table. Let that sink in.

Oxford Dictionary: a table or flat-topped block used as the focus for a religious ritual, especially for making sacrifices or offerings to a deity.

When we see dimensions given for the altars they built in scripture, those are dimensions for a table. Exodus 27: 1, Exodus 38:1, Ezekiel 43:13-17, Exodus 37:25, Ezekiel 43:13, Ezekiel 43:16

Did you always know an altar was a table? If not, how does this change the way you view an altar?

Think of all the things you do at the table:

• You set the table
• You prepare the table
• You commune at the table
• You lay your cards down at the table

Now let’s think about this in terms of sacrifice.

The Hebrew word for altar is mizbeah [;eBzim], from a verbal root meaning “to slaughter.” Greek renders this word as thusiasterion [qusiasthvrion], “a place of sacrifice.”

Follow me with this illustration.

You bring an animal to the table. Bloody. Dead. Slaughtered. You put it on the table. You kneel at the table. And suddenly it appears that this thing that you’re sacrificing is above you. But what appears to be above you is actually now between you and God. It’s above you. But God is above it.

And so you pass this thing up to God, and God then takes it from you.

The altar is important because it is the place where you acknowledge to God that this thing is too big for me, too hard for me, and I can’t conquer it on my own. It’s above me, but it is not above you. God, you are above it. You are Adonai, and I give this thing to you. Please take it.

And this thing you’re offering up to God stinks. It reeks. It’s bloody. It’s a mess. But you know what God says? He says this is sweet to me. He says this smells good to me. He calls it a sweet aroma.