Ella 
Read the Daily Bible Verse – Numbers 29:39 To Strengthen Your Spiritual Journey.
The Context of Numbers 29:39 KJV
The Book of Numbers is the fourth book in the Bible. It is filled with laws, instructions, and details about the Israelites’ journey after they left Egypt. One significant part of the Book of Numbers involves the offerings and sacrifices that the Israelites were required to make to God. These offerings were essential aspects of their worship and relationship with God.
Chapter 29 of Numbers is part of the larger section describing the offerings during the various Jewish feasts and festivals. In particular, it provides instructions about the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot), one of the most important Jewish festivals. The Feast of Tabernacles was celebrated to commemorate God’s faithfulness and provision for the Israelites during their 40 years of wandering in the desert. It was a time of thanksgiving, worship, and seeking God’s favor.
In Numbers 29, God gives detailed instructions about the sacrifices to be offered during this feast. The offerings included bulls, rams, lambs, grain (meat) offerings, and drink offerings, as well as peace offerings, which were meant to honor God and seek His forgiveness and blessing. These instructions were designed to ensure that the people offered their best to God in a structured and orderly way.
Numbers 29:39 is the last verse in this chapter, and it summarizes the instructions for the offerings that were to be made during the feasts and festivals. This verse emphasizes that the offerings are to be given to the Lord during these set times, in addition to the vows and freewill offerings the people may have made.
Let us now dive deeper into the specific verse.
Numbers 29:39 (KJV)
“These things ye shall do unto the Lord in your set feasts, beside your vows, and your freewill offerings, for your burnt offerings, and for your meat offerings, and for your drink offerings, and for your peace offerings.”
This verse is part of the closing remarks regarding the offerings that the Israelites were commanded to make during the Feast of Tabernacles. It reinforces the idea that the people were to bring specific offerings as part of their worship, beyond any vows or voluntary offerings they may have made.
Numbers 29:39 Meaning
“These things ye shall do unto the Lord in your set feasts…”
The phrase “set feasts” refers to the established festivals and sacred times that God had commanded the Israelites to observe. These were special occasions set apart for worship, thanksgiving, and fellowship with God. There were several major feasts, including Passover, Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles, which is the focus of this chapter. The people were to set aside time during these feasts to bring offerings and sacrifices to the Lord.
This part of the verse emphasizes that the offerings were not optional or sporadic; they were to be done during the prescribed feast days. This reflects the importance of God’s timeline and order. The feasts were significant moments in the spiritual life of Israel, and bringing these offerings was an essential part of honoring God during these times.
“…beside your vows, and your freewill offerings…”
In addition to the required offerings during the feasts, God makes it clear that the Israelites were to bring offerings beyond those mandated by the feasts. There were two types of offerings mentioned here: vows and freewill offerings.
Vows: A vow was a promise made to God, often in response to a specific need or a desire to express gratitude. For example, if a person prayed for healing or deliverance from danger and God answered their prayer, they might make a vow to bring a specific offering as an act of gratitude. Vows were voluntary but binding; once a person made a vow to God, it was expected that they would fulfill it.
Freewill offerings: These were offerings that were given voluntarily, beyond the requirements of the law or vows. Freewill offerings were acts of worship that came from the heart. They were expressions of devotion, gratitude, and love for God. Freewill offerings were given freely, not because of a law or command, but because the person desired to honor God.
The inclusion of both vows and freewill offerings in this verse highlights the importance of personal devotion and relationship with God. It shows that while God required certain offerings during the set feasts, He also valued the heartfelt, voluntary offerings given in response to His goodness and faithfulness.
“…for your burnt offerings, and for your meat offerings, and for your drink offerings, and for your peace offerings.”
This section of the verse lists four specific types of offerings: burnt offerings, meat offerings, drink offerings, and peace offerings. Each of these had its own significance and purpose:
Burnt offerings: The burnt offering was a symbol of total surrender and commitment to God. The animal was completely consumed by fire on the altar, signifying that the offerer was giving their entire life to God. It was a way of expressing repentance, devotion, and the desire for reconciliation with God.
Meat offerings: Also known as grain offerings, these were typically made of fine flour, oil, and frankincense. The meat offering symbolized gratitude to God for the provision of food and the harvest. It was a way of acknowledging that all blessings come from God.
Drink offerings: These were made by pouring wine onto the altar. The drink offering symbolized the dedication of one’s life and actions to God. It was a way of expressing joy and gratitude to God for His blessings.
Peace offerings: The peace offering was a sacrifice of thanksgiving and fellowship. It symbolized peace with God, where the offerer and God were reconciled. Part of the peace offering was eaten by the offerer and their family, signifying fellowship with God.
Each of these offerings had a unique role in Israel’s worship, and Numbers 29:39 emphasizes that they were all to be brought during the set feasts, along with any voluntary offerings or vows made.
Numbers 29:39 Application in Life
While the specific offerings mentioned in Numbers 29:39 are no longer practiced today, the principles behind them are still relevant for Christians today. Here are several ways that we can apply the message of this verse to our lives:
1. Worship Should Be Done in God’s Timing
God instructed the Israelites to bring their offerings during the “set feasts.” These feasts were part of God’s calendar, and they were moments to come together as a community to worship and honor Him. In the same way, Christians today should set aside time to worship God in community—whether in weekly church services, during holidays, or through personal times of devotion.
God is worthy of our worship at all times, but there is something special about honoring Him during designated moments of worship. Just as the Israelites set aside time for feasts, we should also dedicate specific times for worship.
2. Our Offerings Should Be Voluntary and From the Heart
While Christians are not required to bring animal sacrifices, we are still called to offer our lives and resources to God. Our offerings should not be given out of obligation, but out of love and devotion. The principles of vows and freewill offerings remind us that our offerings should come from a place of gratitude and heartfelt worship.
God desires that we give our time, talents, and treasures willingly and cheerfully. In 2 Corinthians 9:7, Paul writes, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” This principle is consistent with the idea of giving from the heart that is emphasized in Numbers 29:39.
3. Everything We Do Should Be Done for God
The different offerings mentioned in this verse—burnt offerings, meat offerings, drink offerings, and peace offerings—were all acts of worship. These offerings were symbolic of total devotion, gratitude, and peace with God. In our lives, everything we do should be done for God’s glory, whether it’s our work, relationships, or acts of kindness. Colossians 3:23 reminds us, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.”
4. The Importance of Total Surrender to God
The burnt offering, in particular, symbolizes total surrender to God. It was a way of saying, “God, I give You everything.” As Christians, we are called to surrender our lives completely to God. Jesus Himself demonstrated the ultimate act of surrender by laying down His life for us. In response, we are called to give God our all—our thoughts, our actions, our desires, and our possessions.
Romans 12:1 urges believers, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” This echoes the sentiment of the burnt offering in Numbers 29:39.
5. Peace and Reconciliation Through Jesus
The peace offering symbolizes reconciliation and fellowship with God. As Christians, we recognize that Jesus Christ is our ultimate peace offering. Through His sacrifice on the cross, we have been reconciled to God. Today, we are invited to enjoy peace with God through faith in Jesus Christ.
In Ephesians 2:14, Paul writes, “For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us.” Through Jesus, we have peace with God and can experience the fellowship with Him that the peace offering symbolized.
Conclusion
Numbers 29:39 provides a powerful reminder of the importance of worship, obedience, and devotion to God. While the specific offerings mentioned in this verse are no longer required, the underlying principles still apply to our lives today. We are called to worship God in His timing, offer our lives willingly and cheerfully, surrender everything to Him, and enjoy the peace that comes through Jesus Christ.
As we reflect on this verse, let us be reminded of the importance of our relationship with God. Just as the Israelites brought their offerings to God during the feasts, we too should bring our lives as an offering to Him every day.
You Might Be Interested In: