“For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.” Hebrews 9:24
Dear Ones:
After Israel was delivered from Egypt, and while the nation was in the wilderness before entering into the promised land, the Lord gave to her “…an example and shadow of heavenly things.” (Heb. 8:5) He instructed Moses to build what would be called a Tabernacle, or “Tent of Meeting.” The structure and contents of it, were to be made from the “pattern” that the Lord would provide. The author of the epistle to the Hebrews would even speak of these things that related to the tabernacle, and what transpired there, to be “patterns of things in the heavens.” (9:23) Why?
In the New Testament, the Lord Jesus would often use parables, examples and stories in real life, to illustrate spiritual principles and realities. The Tabernacle, as well as the Temple, were designed to be parables to illustrate spiritual truth, with regard to the approach to, and worship of God. However, the fact must not be lost sight of concerning the ultimate purpose of each of these structures. Though the Lord Jesus would later clarify what true worship was, and that this worship was not restricted by the place where one worships, yet, He would make so very clear that His House, His tabernacle, Tent of Meeting, was to be just that, a place where man comes aside to worship God in God’s way, with the certainty of being able to meet God, and commune with Him. The importance of this worship, and the means by which it is to be practiced, is revealed in the life of Cain as opposed to Abel in the book of Genesis. Cain purposely defied God, denying God’s means and way of worship, that on the basis of a sacrifice. The sacrifice, even at that time, referred to the ultimate sacrifice of the Son of God on Calvary. Cain would NOT come God’s way, and thus, sin would crouch as a lion at the door, and would eventually destroy him. Abel, though he would be slain by his proud and rebellious brother, would know true communion with God, for he would worship according to God’s way. In the wilderness, God put the tabernacle in the midst of Israel, not only to remind them of the centrality of worship, but also of the manner in which worship is to be practiced in truth. It must be said that several things occurred at the tabernacle in the wilderness, one of which was the revelation of the glory of God, as Moses communed with God. The second was the understood fact that, since the worship of God was based on the covenant promises of God concerning His commitment to the sinner to meet him, IF he would come God’s way, there was great reward. Again, the author of the letter to the Hebrews is very clear when he writes, that “…he who comes to God, must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” (11:6) Any seeking soul in the congregation of Israel, could go to the tabernacle to seek God, and with certainty find Him, because God promised, having entered into a covenant relationship with Israel.
It would be during the reign of King David, that the idea and conviction would come to David, to build a house for the Lord’s name, where the Ark of the Covenant would be placed. Addressing his son, Solomon, David said: “…the Lord hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary.” (1 Chronicles 28:10) There is revealed in this verse the very essence and purpose of both the tabernacle in the wilderness, and the temple in Jerusalem. Jesus Christ would enter “…a greater and more perfect tabernacle,” a heavenly one, with His own blood, into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. (9:11,12) By this “new and living way,” by the blood of Jesus Himself, the believer is to boldly enter into the holiest of all, worshipping God with certainty.
Dear Father, Make us believing, true worshippers of Thee. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad