Leviticus 16:20-34
The goat shall bear all their iniquities on itself to a remote area, and he shall let the goat go free in the wilderness. – Leviticus 16:22
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The Tabernacle consisted of three sections. In the outer courtyard were the altar of burnt offerings for sacrifices and the bronze basin for washing. All worshippers offering the sacrifices were allowed in the courtyard. The second section was within the Tent, behind curtains, called The Holy Place. The table of the bread of the Presence, the seven-branched golden lamp stand , and the altar of incense were placed there. Only the priests were allowed in this place. Then came the Most Holy Place or the Holy of Holies, the innermost sanctuary in the Tabernacle. This was where the ark of the covenant and the mercy seat, which was the cover for the ark , were placed. A thick veil divided the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. Only once a year on the 10th day of the 7th month, only one person, the High Priest, could enter the Most Holy Place, where God’s glory dwelt.
The High Priest would take off his bejeweled priestly garments, wash himself by immersing himself in water, and put on humble yet holy linen clothes for the occasion. The people were also to observe this holy day by afflicting themselves, which means they fasted. They also rested from all work as a way of identifying with the repentance made on their behalf. This was their yearly reminder of how sinful, how unworthy of approaching God they were.
When Jesus, who is our High Priest and at the same time the once-and-for-all sacrificial lamb who atoned for the sins of the world, breathed his last on the cross, the gospels record that the curtain in front of the Most Holy Place tore. This was no work of man, because this curtain of thick material and formidable height was torn from top to bottom (Matt 27:51). This signified the removal of barrier between God and man, not because God’s holy standards have been lowered but because Jesus had satisfied the conditions of man’s ritual purity through his death and the shedding of his blood. Now those who were washed clean by his blood could freely be in God’s presence anytime, anywhere.
This is why when we enter into the worship hall or sanctuary every Sunday, there is no need for any ritual to guarantee our safety in God’s presence because we are covered in Christ’s blood-righteousness and have been given access to God’s throne of grace. We come boldly because of what Jesus has done.
But how often have we taken that access for granted? We don’t prepare ourselves properly. Instead of coming awake and ready to meet with God, we often come tired and rushed, having stayed up late the night before doing who-knows-what. We often don’t come dressed correctly, and I don’t mean our physical attire, although this does reflect our heart attitude at times. But the clothes of humility are the proper dress code for a worshipper, not pride, boasting, or even forced compliance. We often aren’t resting from our work, so distracted by the demands of the world constantly buzzing on our handphones that we can’t even concentrate for the 1.5 hours that the worship service lasts. Instead of fasting and practicing self-discipline and serving in selfless ways, we often say, it’s the weekend and I deserve to treat myself to these luxuries.
Reflection:
Let’s look back at the how we came to church last Sunday. Compared to the solemn way the Israelites came before God, and considering the price Jesus paid to allow us free access to the Father, is there anything the Lord is convicting us of in the way we treat the privilege of coming and being in his presence?
Prayer:
Dear God, forgive me for the nonchalant and careless way I come into your presence whether it is in at daily quiet times with you or on Sunday when we come to worship with your people. Help me to have a healthy reverence for you even as you assure me of the gift of salvation bought by the precious blood of Jesus, for I humbly pray his precious name. Amen.
Clink to read
The Tabernacle consisted of three sections. In the outer courtyard were the altar of burnt offerings for sacrifices and the bronze basin for washing. All worshippers offering the sacrifices were allowed in the courtyard. The second section was within the Tent, behind curtains, called The Holy Place. The table of the bread of the Presence, the seven-branched golden lamp stand , and the altar of incense were placed there. Only the priests were allowed in this place. Then came the Most Holy Place or the Holy of Holies, the innermost sanctuary in the Tabernacle. This was where the ark of the covenant and the mercy seat, which was the cover for the ark , were placed. A thick veil divided the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. Only once a year on the 10th day of the 7th month, only one person, the High Priest, could enter the Most Holy Place, where God’s glory dwelt.
The High Priest would take off his bejeweled priestly garments, wash himself by immersing himself in water, and put on humble yet holy linen clothes for the occasion. The people were also to observe this holy day by afflicting themselves, which means they fasted. They also rested from all work as a way of identifying with the repentance made on their behalf. This was their yearly reminder of how sinful, how unworthy of approaching God they were.
When Jesus, who is our High Priest and at the same time the once-and-for-all sacrificial lamb who atoned for the sins of the world, breathed his last on the cross, the gospels record that the curtain in front of the Most Holy Place tore. This was no work of man, because this curtain of thick material and formidable height was torn from top to bottom (Matt 27:51). This signified the removal of barrier between God and man, not because God’s holy standards have been lowered but because Jesus had satisfied the conditions of man’s ritual purity through his death and the shedding of his blood. Now those who were washed clean by his blood could freely be in God’s presence anytime, anywhere.
This is why when we enter into the worship hall or sanctuary every Sunday, there is no need for any ritual to guarantee our safety in God’s presence because we are covered in Christ’s blood-righteousness and have been given access to God’s throne of grace. We come boldly because of what Jesus has done.
But how often have we taken that access for granted? We don’t prepare ourselves properly. Instead of coming awake and ready to meet with God, we often come tired and rushed, having stayed up late the night before doing who-knows-what. We often don’t come dressed correctly, and I don’t mean our physical attire, although this does reflect our heart attitude at times. But the clothes of humility are the proper dress code for a worshipper, not pride, boasting, or even forced compliance. We often aren’t resting from our work, so distracted by the demands of the world constantly buzzing on our handphones that we can’t even concentrate for the 1.5 hours that the worship service lasts. Instead of fasting and practicing self-discipline and serving in selfless ways, we often say, it’s the weekend and I deserve to treat myself to these luxuries.
Reflection:
Let’s look back at the how we came to church last Sunday. Compared to the solemn way the Israelites came before God, and considering the price Jesus paid to allow us free access to the Father, is there anything the Lord is convicting us of in the way we treat the privilege of coming and being in his presence?
Prayer:
Dear God, forgive me for the nonchalant and careless way I come into your presence whether it is in at daily quiet times with you or on Sunday when we come to worship with your people. Help me to have a healthy reverence for you even as you assure me of the gift of salvation bought by the precious blood of Jesus, for I humbly pray his precious name. Amen.