Topical Bible: Drink offering: Idolaters often Used Blood For

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In the context of biblical worship and sacrificial practices, the drink offering holds significant importance. Within the Hebrew Scriptures, the drink offering, or "nesek" in Hebrew, is a libation typically consisting of wine poured out in worship to God. This act symbolized the dedication and complete surrender of the worshiper to the Lord, complementing other offerings such as burnt offerings and grain offerings.

Biblical Foundation

The drink offering is first mentioned in Genesis 35:14, where Jacob sets up a pillar in the place where God had spoken to him and pours out a drink offering on it. The practice is further detailed in the Mosaic Law, where it is prescribed as part of the regular sacrificial system. Numbers 15:5 states, "With the burnt offering or sacrifice of each lamb, prepare a quarter hin of wine as a drink offering." This indicates that the drink offering was an integral part of the sacrificial rites, symbolizing joy and thanksgiving to God.

Contrast with Idolatrous Practices

While the drink offering in Israelite worship was a means of honoring the one true God, idolatrous practices often perverted this ritual. Idolaters frequently used blood in their libations, a practice that was strictly forbidden in Israelite worship. Leviticus 17:10-12 explicitly prohibits the consumption of blood, stating, "If anyone from the house of Israel or any foreigner living among them eats any blood, I will set My face against that person and cut him off from his people. For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul."

The use of blood in idolatrous drink offerings is condemned in Scripture as an abomination. Psalm 16:4 declares, "The sorrows of those who run after another god will multiply; I will not pour out their libations of blood, nor will I take their names upon my lips." This verse highlights the stark contrast between the pure worship of Yahweh and the corrupt practices of pagan religions.

Theological Significance

The drink offering, when properly understood and practiced, reflects a heart of devotion and gratitude towards God. It is a tangible expression of the worshiper's acknowledgment of God's provision and sovereignty. In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul uses the imagery of a drink offering to describe his own life poured out in service to Christ. In Philippians 2:17 , he writes, "But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you."

This metaphor underscores the ultimate fulfillment of the sacrificial system in the person and work of Jesus Christ, whose blood was poured out for the atonement of humanity's sins. The drink offering, therefore, serves as a precursor to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, who offered Himself as a libation for the redemption of the world.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 16:4
Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Whether a Suitable Cause Can be Assigned for the Ceremonies which ...
... The third kind of sacrifice was called the "peace-offering," which was ... was, first,
in order to prevent idolatry: because idolaters used to drink the blood ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether a suitable cause can.htm

Letter xxix. (AD 395. )
... Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers ... not houses to
eat and to drink in?""things ... called to yield, and by the offering of which ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/letter xxix a d 395.htm

The Private Thoughts and Words of Jesus
... guilty of the offense: I have never met with such idolaters. ... our stead, and give
his life an offering for sin ... that cup which his Father had given him to drink. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/the private thoughts and words.htm

At Jacob's Well
... and Samaritans prevented the woman from offering a kindness ... We may drink, and drink
again, and ever find ... they were intermingled with idolaters, whose religion ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 19 at jacobs well.htm

Solomon's Temple Spiritualized
... and this is the altar of the burnt-offering for Israel ... gospel now is also famous,
if much used by Christ ... the temple, therefore, was a snare to idolaters, and a ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/solomons temple spiritualized.htm

The Second Commandment
... He interprets idolaters to be such as hate him ... for us every bit of bread we cat;
we never drink but in ... is forced; which is paying a tax rather than an offering. ...
/.../watson/the ten commandments/2 2 the second commandment.htm

Scriptures Showing the Sin and Danger of Joining with Wicked and ...
... Resolved, Concerning AssociationsAnd Confederacies With Idolaters, Infidels, Heretics ...
bread of wickedness, and drink the wine ... to trust, and by offering for the ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/section v scriptures showing the.htm

Three Names High on the Muster-Roll
... not break his divine command, or make idolaters of ourselves ... of all is, "Let us eat
and drink, for to ... Make a whole burnt-offering of yourself, my brother, body ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/three names high on the.htm

And ii.
... that height, in a moral sense, is often ascribed to ... source, flowed over all the earth,
offering drink to those ... Although all nations should be idolaters, yet we ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/chap i and ii.htm

Nature of Covenanting.
... And even some who had been idolaters, so soon ... eat throughout the feast seven days,
offering peace-offerings ... hasten after another god: their drink-offerings of ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter i nature of covenanting.htm