Covenant (13) Purpose 3: Solution for Sin

God knew the people could not stop sinning, so he provided the tabernacle sacrifices, so that sin did not affect their ability to relate to him (albeit at a lower level than after the new covenant). For ordinary people, it meant giving a lamb a year: pretty cheap forgiveness. God took the sacrifices as expiation of sin.

This was grace, not works, because the sin far outweighed the value of the sacrifices. God accepted the sacrifices, because they pointed forward to Jesus, ie those with faith in the sacrifices, were trusting Jesus without realizing it.

The animals offered in the sacrifices were not a cost to the people. God made their livestock more productive, and the animals sacrificed represented only a part of the extra production. The people did not have to work to produce the things sacrifices, as God has supplied them to them. This was grace.

The efficacy of the tabernacle sacrifices explain why a person like David were able to have such a wonderful relationship with God and write sssuch beautiful Psalms. David was a serial murderer (he had let his henchman murdere Abner long before he got to Uriah the Hittite). He was also a serial thief. He had dozens of officials whose job it was to steal from his people and enforce their forced labour. The sacrifices dealt with his sin, so he was able to relate to God despite his sin. Many other Israelites could have related to God too, but they were afraid and did not try).