Numbers 28:7
And the drink offering thereof shall be the fourth part of an hin for the one lamb: in the holy place shalt thou cause the strong wine to be poured unto the LORD for a drink offering.
Numbers 28:7
This verse specifies the drink offering to accompany the lamb: “the fourth part of an hin” of strong wine, poured in the holy place. The drink offering, poured alongside the sacrifice, completes the liturgical act with its own symbolic resonance. Wine, in biblical imagery, often represents joy, blessing, and the fruit of human labor. In the tabernacle context, this beverage offering was a sign of gratitude for God’s provision and a covenantal expression of fellowship with God. The ritual’s location “in the holy place” signals reverence and proximity to God’s presence, reinforcing that worship is an intimate encounter with the divine. The pairing with the morning and evening lambs and the meat offering creates a holistic worship package: sacrifice, gratitude, and renewal poured out before God.
The drink offering complements the burnt and grain offerings, illustrating the fullness of worship: life’s gifts presented to God with joy and devotion. It speaks to the communal dimensions of faith—shared meals, shared blessings, shared responsibility in worship. symbolically, wine points forward to the messianic banquet and the joy of eternal fellowship with God. The verse invites reflection on how our own “drinks” of life—joy, generosity, and celebration—are offerings to God when used in thanksgiving and as acts of worship. It echoes biblical themes of God as the giver of every good gift.
Consider how you celebrate and share life’s blessings with gratitude toward God. Your “drink offering” could be acts of hospitality, sharing a meal with someone in need, or offering encouragement that lifts another’s spirits. In family life, designate times for shared meals as sacred moments of connection and thanks. In the workplace, celebrate team successes with acknowledgment of God’s provision, avoiding boastful or purely self-promoting encouragement. The key is turning ordinary moments into sacramental acts—expressing joy in God’s gifts, while stewarding them wisely and for the good of others.
Cross-References: Psalm 16:5-11; Isaiah 55:1; Luke 22:17-20; Philippians 2:17; Hebrews 9:14