Altar

Call to Prayer

Title: Altar

By: Dauda Victoria

Date: 05.02.2025

Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: ‘Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.    (Genesis 8:20-21 NIV)

An altar is usually a raised structure or place on which sacrifices are offered or incense is burned in worship. The word “altar” comes from the Latin word “ALTARIUM”, meaning “high“, and also the Latin “ADOLERE”, which means “to ritually burn or sacrifice”. In the scriptures, the altar is prominent and is known as “God’s Table”, a sacred place for sacrifices and gifts offered unto God. It is a place to draw spiritual and supernatural strength. Altars are found in shrines, temples, churches, etc., and are used for different purposes. An altar is also known as a platform, altarpiece, altar table, and shrine. The Altar of God is called the Altar of “Burnt Offering” as we see in Exodus 30:28:

“And the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the laver and its base.” (Exodus 30:28.  NKJV)

This verse is part of the instructions God gave Moses regarding the construction of the Tabernacle, a portable place of worship for the Israelites.

From the opening Bible verse of today, we can see that the power of the altar is for those who prepare to have an encounter with God and to deepen their covenant and relationship with God like Noah did. In response, God made a covenant with Noah, promising never to curse the ground again because of humanity’s sin, and never to destroy all living creatures again.

PRAYERS POINT:

Let’s thank God for His word. Let’s pray that only the altar of God will be exalted and raised in our lives and homes.