A cursory reading of the first five books of the Old Testament, especially the second through to the fifth book, shows a great deal of specificity; things were well spelled out and clearly stated.
Another strand of thought that stands out is the place of sacrifices and offerings; all kinds of prescriptions and requirements pertaining to various types of ordinances. Priesthood was a life centered around sacrifices.
The average reader will gladly skip those books, saying in his heart “after all, all is fulfilled in Christ”. And he would be right. The sacrifice systems, generally speaking, foreshadowed Christ and found fulfillment in Him.
However, is there something else that can be found therein? Is there something else that we can learn about God from the sacrifice systems?
A particular sacrifice comes to mind.
[38] Now this is that which thou shalt offer upon the altar; two lambs of the first year day by day continually.
[39] The one lamb thou shalt offer in the morning; and the other lamb thou shalt offer at even:
Exodus 29:38-39 (KJV)
We have here the origins of what was later institutionalized as the Morning and the Evening Sacrifices, with the Evening Sacrifice being the more common of both. So we shall look closely at it.
The Evening sacrifice has, over the years, evolved from the days to the tent of meeting, through the Tabernacle, the temple, and even New Testament life.
In the days of the Tent and Tabernacle, the evening sacrifice was essentially the offering of the Lamb as prescribed in the Law of God. This was one of those sacrifices that were supposed to be daily, which in and of itself, had nothing to do with the ‘offerers’ but with the ’offered’.
This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD: where I will meet you, to speak there unto thee.
Exodus 29:42 (KJV)
Over time, even as the actual sacrifices faded into the background, the purpose of the sacrifices unfolded:
And to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at even;
1 Chronicles 23:30 (KJV)
So now we see that the Morning and Evening Sacrifice were meant to institutionalise a life and a culture of Thanksgiving and Praise offered up to God in the morning and the evening.
Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
Psalms 141:2 (KJV)
Furthermore, this sacrifice also revealed a heart of prayer and sacrificial worship, wherein the believer offers himself in surrender to God as the sacrifice in his prayer and worship engagements.
By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
Hebrews 13:15 (KJV)
In the New Testament, we see this thread also represented. It is becomes clear that God desires that we continually offer unto Him the sacrifice of Thanksgiving premised on the offering of our lives as a living sacrifice.
The prescription is twice daily because God wants us to engage with Him at the beginning and the end of our day, not as an obligation, but as a delight – and continually so, because He desires that it becomes a constituent of the fabric of our lives and the Christian expression.
It ought to be our way of life.
This is the evening (or maybe the morning); can you take a moment to offer unto God the Sacrifice of Thanksgiving, the fruit of your lips?
In Plain Sight 
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