October 31 – Hebrews 9:1-5. The Tabernacle.

October 31 – Hebrews 9:1-5. The Tabernacle.

Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. 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. Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, 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. Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.

I am absolutely fascinated with the tabernacle.  It is overwhelming to me that the Israelites were able to construct such an intricate design while they were in the desert after running from Pharaoh’s armies.

God gave Moses a precise pattern for the tabernacle and all of the items that were to be contained within it.  Not only was it a copy of the heavenly sanctuary, but God put the plan together knowing exactly what the Israelites were carrying with them.  He didn’t ask them to go shopping or send them into enemy camps to plunder goods; He gave them a plan based on their inventory and the plan was perfect.

In fact, the only things that were provided outside their common goods were those things placed in the Ark of the Covenant – the jar of manna, the budding staff, and the stone tablets on which the Ten Commandments had been carved.  Those things were set aside as remembrances of God’s work among the people.

Our worship of God isn’t something we can buy or take from someone else; it is simply an offering back to Him of what we have already.  The Holy of Holies … the place where the presence of God is found is already in us.  We don’t have to search far and wide to find it, we no longer have to rip back a curtain to enter; it is always there.

God wants us to worship with what we already have – whether it is broken or not, whether it sounds beautiful or is simply joyful noise, whether we understand the mechanics of it or can only fall on our faces.  We don’t have to practice, or be taught. We don’t have to do anything except bring ourselves into God’s presence.