Because of time and distance from historic events, we tend to sanitize our interpretation of what happened. The massive sacrifices that took place in the Old Testament are such events. They were a bloody mess.
During the temple dedication, Solomon had 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep sacrificed over a period of seven days. The average cow contains 10.3 gallons of blood. A single sheep is 1.11 gallons. Combining the volume of blood spilled during the ceremony, it totaled 359,200 gallons. In modern terms that is the amount of blood needed to fill 18 average in-ground swimming pools.
Imagine if you were one of the priests wielding their blade having to slit the throats of so many animals. The pumping jugular veins spewing out blood like a garden hose coupled with the sounds of the dying animals made for a very violent event. You would literally be wading ankle-deep in blood Your priestly garments would be saturated with the sacrifice.
The rapidity of the required sacrifices didn’t afford much time to clean up as you went about your duties. As the blood spilled on the ground, the flies would arrive to lay their eggs. In the next 8-12 hours the maggots would appear.
Do you get the picture? It was a shocking mess. The metallic smell of blood filled the air as the animals bellowed in the throes of death and the priests sloshed through the blood being handed yet another sharpened knife from their attendants who kept the blades humanely sharp.
This image provides a new understanding of Romans 10:4, “For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” A single drop of Jesus’ blood accomplished what all the sacrifices across all of time could not.
Lord, we are so thankful we have been redeemed by your blood. No power on Earth or in the heavens can withstand the power of your sacrifice.
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Garris Elkins
Featured Image by Anna from Pixabay
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