THAT WAS THEN…
Opening Prayer
Father, speak to me through your Word. Give me greater vision for ways that I can reflect the love of Jesus with those around me.
Read HEBREWS 9:1–10
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
Worship in the Earthly Tabernacle
9 Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. 2 A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand and the table with its consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. 3 Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, 4 which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. 5 Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.
6 When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. 7 But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. 8 The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning. 9 This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. 10 They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order.
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
‘In Christ alone my hope is found, he is my light, my strength, my song…’* Worship the Lord for all he means to you.The tone in which these verses are written reminds me (somewhat) of a salesperson explaining to a customer about the previous model of their product—before launching into their sales pitch for the vastly superior new model (tomorrow!). The author of Hebrews (about whom scholars speculate, but arrive at no definite conclusions) had a thorough knowledge of the old covenant tabernacle: its construction, its contents, and its repetitive sacrifices. Its portable design came from the Lord himself, so that in their wanderings, the Israelites would have the presence of God with them at all times (see Exodus 25:8).
However, the writer was very clear about the ultimate inadequacy of all that. Jeremiah prophesied about what was to come—a new covenant of mind and heart, with God known by all (Jeremiah 31:33, 34). The tabernacle was never intended to be permanent; it was a picture, or a shadow, of what was to come, and only sufficed until then. And perhaps most importantly, it could never accomplish the deeper work that the sacrifice of Christ enables (v. 9)
Apply
For some people, faith can be very much God-focused—which is of course not a bad thing! But salvation and forgiveness are found only in and through Jesus.
Closing prayer
Lord God, I lift up those I know who are without faith in Jesus, who do not know his love and the forgiveness he brings. Holy Spirit, speak to them and show them the hope found in the gospel.
*’In Christ alone my hope is found’, Keith Getty and Stuart Townend © 2002, Thankyou Music
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