A Dwelling Place (Pt. 2)

"And I will sanctify the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar: I will sanctify also both Aaron and his sons, to minister to me in the priest's office. And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God. And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them: I am the Lord their God." Exodus 29:44-46

One of the subjects most rich with symbols for the New Covenant in the Old Testament is the Tabernacle (i.e., "dwelling place"). 

God's people, the Israelites, had been rescued from Egypt (i.e., sin), and were on their journey toward the promised land. The Ten Commandments had been given, and now God was going to instruct Moses to set up a way in which sinful people could approach a Holy God. 

The first article of furniture you came across upon entering the fenced-in area was the brazen altar. This is where you gave your offering to the priests to be sacrificed and burned. As a "layperson" back then, that was the extent of your involvement with the process! All you could do was acknowledge yourself a sinner, and bring your animal to atone for your sins. The priests took it from there. 

The second article was the bronze laver - a large vessel filled with water. Here the priests would ceremonially cleanse themselves in order to be fit to enter the Holy Place.The Holy Place was constructed of tent poles overlaid with linen and animal skins, and contained three articles of furniture: the lampstand (i.e., menorah), the table of showbread, and the incense altar. The lampstand had seven branches, and  was to be lit continually - using pure olive oil - to illuminate the Holy Place. The table of showbread was to be freshly stocked weekly with unleavened bread as a reminder of the Israelite's flight from Egypt. The altar of incense was thought to contain the prayers of the people. Behind this was a richly embroidered heavy curtain, beyond which lay the Most Holy Place, where the Ark of the Covenant was positioned, containing the Ten Commandments and Aaron's budded rod. This is where the actual Presence of God dwelt. 

Sometimes I think about how awesome it would have been in Holy Place. Quiet and muffled from the thick animal skins; dimly lit with the menorah as the only light; fragrant with fine incense. And the very presence of God on the other side of the curtain! I can well sympathize with David as he wanted to "dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple" (Psalm 27:4). 

The Bible is clear that Jesus has made a way for us to enter the Most Holy Place by his Body and Blood (see Hebrews 10:19-20), and that there is no longer need for the Tabernacle or the sacrificial system. Yet the Tabernacle setup can still teach us about how to approach God. 

First we come to the brazen altar. Here, being delivered from sin (i.e., Egypt), all we can do is lay down our lives as a living sacrifice (see Romans 12:1). But now there is more! Christ has made us priests to our God! (see Revelation 5:9-10). Having cleansed us with the washing of water with the Word  (i.e., the bronze laver, see Ephesians 5:26), we are now fit to enter the Holy Place. 

To our left stands the menorah, or, the sevenfold Holy Spirit (see Revelation 4:5), constantly and lovingly convicting our consciences , refining us, and lighting our path. To the right stands the Table of showbread, containing Christ's life-imparting body. We offer our now-acceptable prayers at the altar of incense, and have boldness to enter the holiest place. 

As I lamented in A Dwelling Place (Pt. 1), how carelessly we treat God's presence! The unlimited access God grants us should thrill our hearts toward a burning love toward our Savior. 

Let us enter boldly into the most holy place, and never take for granted the grace by which we stand, rejoicing in the hope of the glory of God! (Romans 5:1-2)