The Staves

And thou shalt make staves for the altar, staves of shittim wood, and overlay. them’ with brass. And the staves shall be put into the rings, and the staves shall be upon the two sides of the altar, to bear it.) The staves adapted the brazen altar to the wilderness condition of God’s people, so that the altar accompanied them in all their journeyings.
Wherever the camp pitched, the altar rested; wherever the court was enclosed, the altar was placed within at the entrance; wherever the tent of the congregation was set up, the altar stood at the door.
The daily sacrifice on the altar of burnt offering, was the standing link of communion between God and his people typically. So that the taking away of the daily sacrifice was a national calamity.
The fire was always burning in this altar, and never permitted to go out. The victim always consuming on it by day and by night, and the sweet savor of it was always ascending. Thus the ground of communion was at all times prepared, and the way of communion at all times open. On this perpetual burnt offering the other especial sacrifices (as on the Sabbaths, new moons, &c.) were burnt, and the sin and trespass offerings presented as the occasion required. Even so now, though our God is a consuming fire (and the apprehension of this is ever to be kept alive in our hearts, and never to be forgotten), the sacrifice of Jesus has met, and forever satisfies, all the demands of holiness and justice on our behalf. On this account, “ if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse ‘us from all unrighteousness.”
The ground of communion has been made good, the way of access is ever open, the fragrance of the sacrifice of Jesus is ever before God. So that wherever we are, and whatever our circumstances, communion with God may be maintained unbroken, and our walk down here may be an Enoch walk—a walk with God.