Celebrating GodGod's People Offer Praise
Live in the light of God (Isaiah 2:5) David Dances Before the ArkHebrews 9:1-10
The MessageA Visible Parable9 1-5 That first plan contained directions for worship and a specially designed place of worship. A large outer tent was set up. The lampstand, the table, and “the bread of presence” were placed in it. This was called “the Holy Place.” Then a curtain was stretched, and behind it, a smaller, inside tent set up. This was called “the Holy of Holies.” In it were placed the gold incense altar and the gold-covered ark of the covenant containing the gold urn of manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, the covenant tablets, and the angel-wing-shadowed mercy seat. But we don’t have time to comment on these now. 6-10 After this was set up, the priests went about their duties in the large tent. Only the high priest entered the smaller, inside tent, and then only once a year, offering a blood sacrifice for his own sins and the people’s accumulated sins. This was the Holy Spirit’s way of showing with a visible parable that as long as the large tent stands, people can’t just walk in on God. Under this system, the gifts and sacrifices can’t really get to the heart of the matter, can’t assuage the conscience of the people, but are limited to matters of ritual and behavior. It’s essentially a temporary arrangement until a complete overhaul could be made.
For Reflection
To see God face to face would result in the death of the viewer. Even the accidental touch of the ark Uzzah discovered would result in immediate demise. When the ark was placed in the temple, it occupied a sacred holy place. It was isolated from the people of God by two tents. Only the High Priest could enter the inner tent once a year to make sacrificial offerings to God. God maintained God's distance from his people, never to be seen, speaking only through chosen prophets. Such a system is limited to vicarious interaction and could not directly soothe the souls of the people. PrayPray and wonder at the face-to-face relationship that was established through the blood sacrifice of Jesus. Find new joy in the midst of troubles by talking with God and realizing God's healing presence.
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