Advent, day 7. The Altar and the Sacrifice

A quick 21st Century observation of this altar story is: before you can use anything others have used, you usually have to repair it.

It's easy to pass over in the script that Elijah had to first repair the altar of the LORD before he could kill or prepare the sacrifice. The prophets of Baal had a functional altar on that hill, but the LORD's altar had been reduced to ruins. Elijah symbolically continues the pattern for altars established by Joshua when the Israelis crossed the Jordan into the Promised Land. At that time, twelve stones were taken from the middle of the river bed and brought to the new land and a memorial to the LORD was built to remind themselves of the LORD's guidance.

Elijah reminds them that the twelve stones signify the tribes which were delivered from Egypt, the sons of Jacob. He reminds them that Jacob received God's promise when his name was changed to Israel. The promise first arrived in a dream about ladders reaching to heaven years previous to his name change. When that promise came, Jacob's response was a "If God will be with me . . . and watch over me . . .and will give me food . . . and clothes . . . so that I return safely . . .then the LORD will be my God." (Genesis 28:20) Jacob's accepting the promise of blessing was very conditional. His return journey was not that of a sceptical young man, but a man hardened by cheating others and being cheated. This time he spends the night in a wrestling match with God and his name becomes Israel: "wrestles with God." That wilderness-abraded man fathers the men who father the tribes represented by those very stones. A long and meaningful legacy for an altar.

Building an altar with specific requirements (12 stones) take more time than just throwing one together with materials at hand. When you have to do it yourself, you take time to reflect on who you are, what you are doing, and why you are doing it. Elijah, reflecting on his own wrestling with God, had time to ponder this business of being God's mouthpiece--the bringer of unwelcome messages. He surely recalled Samuel's stern words to Saul: "To obey is better than sacrifice . . ." and wondered if this process was going to have any impact. 

Advent, day 7. The Altar and the Sacrifice.

1 Ki 18: 30 They came to him and he repaired the altar of the LORD, which was in ruins . . .

Before a sacrifice is made, an altar must be built:

A solid structure which endures like stone.

It’s premature to kill the lamb and let its blood be spilt

If there’s no place to rest the flesh and bone.

The altar of the Most High God which stood upon this height

Was by the fearful pagan priests destroyed.

They scattered stones maliciously to cover-up the site—

Assuming thus its power would be void.

Now years have passed and once again the Holy takes the hill—

Restore the stones that once Your altar formed!

Alone I work to realign; Your vision to instil,

Return to rightful place each stone out torn.

A sacrifice is just a gift until there is an altar

On which to sanctify the living thing.

I muscle every stone in place, my energy won’t falter,

And search my soul to find my offering.

My heart becomes the altar as I reach a place of rest

Your love will kindle it to flame—I sacrifice the best.