Traditional Lens Commentary: Exodus 38:1-7

Traditional Lens Reading of Exodus 38:1-7

Tradition-Specific Interpretation

We read Exodus 38:1-7 as a detailed account of the construction of the bronze altar, emphasizing the meticulous obedience to God's commands in the tabernacle's construction. This passage underscores the necessity of atonement for sin, prefiguring the ultimate sacrifice of Christ on the cross. The altar, with its horns and rings, symbolizes the means by which God's people were to approach Him, highlighting the gravity of sin and the need for a substitutionary atonement, which finds its fulfillment in the blood of Christ.

Key Language Decisions

The Hebrew word for 'altar' (מִזְבֵּחַ, mizbeach) carries the connotation of 'sacrifice' or 'slaughter,' reinforcing the focus on atonement and the shedding of blood for forgiveness. The term 'horns' (קַרְנֹת, qarnot) often signifies strength and salvation, pointing to the power of atonement provided through the altar, ultimately fulfilled in Christ. Our tradition emphasizes these terms as essential to understanding the sacrificial system's connection to the gospel.

Where Traditions Diverge

Unlike some traditions that might see the altar as a mere symbol of worship or community gathering, we emphasize its role in substitutionary atonement as central to God's plan for redemption. Certain liberal or progressive readings might downplay the altar's typological connection to Christ's sacrifice, whereas we affirm its essential place in the redemptive-historical narrative pointing directly to the cross.

Pastoral Application

A Traditional Lens pastor would apply this text by reminding the congregation of the seriousness of sin and the necessity of a perfect sacrifice, fulfilled in Christ, for our salvation. We would emphasize the sufficiency and finality of Christ's atoning work, encouraging believers to rest in the assurance of their justification by faith. Congregants should be urged to approach God with reverence and gratitude, recognizing the privilege of access to Him through the blood of Christ. This passage also calls us to faithful obedience, mirroring the Israelites' meticulous construction of the altar according to God's instructions.

Cross-References: Leviticus 9:24; Hebrews 9:22; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Romans 3:25; Hebrews 10:1-10

Doctrinal Connections: substitutionary atonement; justification by faith; the necessity of the blood of Christ; the authority of Scripture; the foreshadowing of Christ in the Old Testament