The altar holds a significant place in biblical worship and religious practice, serving as a sacred site for sacrifices, offerings, and communion with God. The instructions for constructing and using altars are detailed primarily in the Old Testament, reflecting the importance of proper worship and obedience to divine commands.

Construction of the Altar

The initial instructions for building an altar are found in the Book of Exodus. After the Israelites' exodus from Egypt, God provided Moses with specific guidelines for constructing the altar as part of the Tabernacle, the portable sanctuary used during their wilderness journey. In Exodus 27:1-2 , God commands, "You are to construct the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long and five cubits wide—the altar is to be square—and three cubits high. Make a horn at each of the four corners, so that the horns are of one piece with the altar, and overlay it with bronze."

The altar was to be made of acacia wood, a durable and resilient material, and overlaid with bronze, signifying strength and endurance. The horns on the altar's corners symbolized power and salvation, often used in biblical times as a place of refuge (1 Kings 1:50).

Types of Altars

There were primarily two types of altars described in the Old Testament: the Altar of Burnt Offering and the Altar of Incense.

1. Altar of Burnt Offering: This altar, also known as the Brazen Altar, was located in the courtyard of the Tabernacle. It was used for animal sacrifices, which were central to the atonement rituals and worship practices of the Israelites. Leviticus 1:9 states, "The priest is to burn all of it on the altar as a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the LORD."

2. Altar of Incense: Situated inside the Tabernacle, before the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, the Altar of Incense was used for burning incense, symbolizing the prayers of the people ascending to God. Exodus 30:1 instructs, "You are also to make an altar of acacia wood for the burning of incense."

Purpose and Significance

The altar served as a focal point for worship and sacrifice, representing the covenant relationship between God and His people. It was a place where sin was atoned for through the shedding of blood, prefiguring the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Hebrews 9:22 underscores this, stating, "According to the law, in fact, nearly everything must be purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness."

The altar also symbolized God's presence among His people. In Exodus 20:24 , God promises, "In every place where I cause My name to be remembered, I will come to you and bless you." This assurance highlights the altar as a place of divine encounter and blessing.

Regulations and Rituals

The use of the altar was governed by strict regulations to ensure that worship was conducted in a manner pleasing to God. Leviticus 6:12-13 emphasizes the perpetual nature of the altar's fire: "The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out. Every morning the priest is to add wood to the fire, arrange the burnt offering on it, and burn the fat portions of the peace offerings on it. The fire must be kept burning on the altar continually; it must not go out."

These instructions underscore the importance of continual devotion and the unceasing nature of worship and intercession before God.

New Testament Fulfillment

In the New Testament, the concept of the altar is fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is both the High Priest and the perfect sacrifice, rendering the Old Testament sacrificial system obsolete. Hebrews 13:10 states, "We have an altar from which those who serve at the tabernacle have no right to eat." This verse points to the spiritual altar of the New Covenant, where believers partake in the benefits of Christ's sacrifice through faith.

The instructions for the altar, therefore, serve as a profound reminder of God's holiness, the seriousness of sin, and the necessity of atonement, ultimately pointing to the redemptive work of Christ.