Week 6

Welcome to Week 6! Everyone still with us? Anyone gleaning any new understandings?

Topics of Interest

* Keep in mind the 3 annual Feasts: Feast of Unleavened Bread, Feast of Harvest (also called Feast of Weeks or Firstfruits), and Feast of Ingathering (also called Tabernacles). We will look at these, and others, in about two weeks.

* God shows that He still desires to dwell with us, to be His people, and for Him to be our God: "For the cloud of the LORD was above the tabernacle by day, and fire was over it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys."


Point to consider:

This week's reading includes the construction of the tabernacle. While it can be a tedious read, if one looks closely and studies, one can see God's very specific details for its design hold many symbolic representations of our Lord. We'll look at just one aspect of the tabernacle in this entry.

Please post any representations that you know or discover.

The physical layout of the tabernacle separated the outer courtyard from "the world" by its walls. The Holy Place was then separated from the courtyard. The inner chamber, called the Holy of Holies, was then separated from the Holy Place by a veil. Inside the Holy of Holies was placed the ark of the covenant. The lid of the ark was fashioned into the mercy seat, and this was where the presence of God would descend. The general layout of the tabernacle was later continued into the building of the temple.

Only the high priest, once ritualistically cleansed (representing righteous perfection), was permitted to enter the Holy of Holies. If he failed to be cleansed and entered the presence of God, the priest would die. Inside the Holy of Holies, the high priest interceded for the sins of the people for before God.

We recently read of the Passover in which the lamb was slaughtered and its blood protected the people from the wrath and retribution of God, and they were led out of Egypt (Egypt is used symbolically of evil in many passages). God ordained that this feast would be celebrated yearly so as to become part of life and a constant reminder of His salvation. Unknown to them, it was a picture of things to come: Jesus was the Lamb of God sacrificed for our sins (John 1:29). Crucified on Passover in Jerusalem, it is by His blood we are saved.

When Jesus was crucified, the veil in the temple separating the Holy of Holies was torn from top to bottom by God's miraculous power the moment Jesus died. This symbolizes two things: 1) no more sacrifices were required because Jesus' sacrifice was sufficient once and for all, and 2) no longer was the high priest alone able to enter the presence of God, but God's people can directly approach Him at any time.

Jesus had said "No one comes to the father but by Me." In this, He wasn't referring to His position as our high priest, but of His righteous perfection imparted to us by His blood that cleanses us. This is not a symbolic ritualistic cleansing, but a supernatural cleansing. In Him alone, we are cleansed and able to approach the Father.

The order of priesthood of the tabernacle and temple were of the order of Aaron and they served only as priests. Jesus became our high priest as prophesied in the Psalm (Psalm 110) after the order of Melchizedek, who was simultaneously a king and priest of the Most High God (which you'll remember for our recent reading of Abraham's life).

Jesus, Lord of lords and King of kings, reigns from Heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father, acting on our behalf as our high priest to intercede for the sins of His people who are cleansed and made righteous by His blood. (Romans 8:34)

Praise be to God!