Numbers 29:23-28: a reflection

23“‘On the fourth day ten bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defect; 24their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance; 25and one male goat for a sin offering; in addition to the continual burnt offering, its meal offering, and its drink offering. 26“‘On the fifth day: nine bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defect; 27and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance, 28and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, and its meal offering, and its drink offering.

In the instructions for the great festival, offerings were prescribed for each day, and a phrase repeats through them: these were to be brought in addition to the continual burnt offering. Alongside all the special offerings of the feast, the regular, daily, continual offering was to be maintained; the special did not replace the ordinary, but was added to it. The steady, daily devotion continued beneath even the great occasions.

Notice the place of the continual offering: it went on beneath the special ones. The festival days had their own special, abundant offerings; but these were offered in addition to, not instead of, the regular daily offering that continued every day. The special occasions did not interrupt or replace the steady, ordinary devotion; the continual offering was maintained alongside them, the daily faithfulness underlying even the great feasts.

That is a pattern worth applying to our own devotion. We have our special spiritual occasions, the times of heightened worship, the memorable experiences, the feast days of the soul; and these are good. But they are not meant to replace the steady, daily, ordinary devotion, the continual offering of a faithful walk with God day by day. It is easy to prize the special highs and neglect the ordinary faithfulness; but the continual offering underlies the feasts. Do not let special spiritual experiences replace steady, daily devotion. Beneath the occasional highs, maintain the continual offering: the ordinary, faithful, daily walk with God that underlies everything else. The special is added to the continual, not a substitute for it; keep up your daily devotion, and let the feasts be added to a steady, faithful walk.

Lord, in the festival offerings, a phrase repeats: these were brought in addition to the continual burnt offering; the special offerings of the feast did not replace the regular daily one, but were added to it, the steady devotion continuing beneath even the great occasions. Apply that pattern to my own devotion. I have my special spiritual occasions, the times of heightened worship, the memorable experiences, the feast days of the soul, and these are good. But help me see that they are not meant to replace the steady, daily, ordinary devotion, the continual offering of a faithful walk with you day by day. It is easy for me to prize the special highs and neglect the ordinary faithfulness. Keep me from letting special experiences replace steady, daily devotion. Beneath the occasional highs, help me maintain the continual offering: the ordinary, faithful, daily walk with you that underlies everything else. Let the feasts be added to a steady, faithful walk, not a substitute for it.