The Sanctuary Study Pt. 8

If there was one lesson above all others which the 40-day Covenant taught, it was that man is unable to keep his promises, or to do what God commands, no matter how sincere his intentions. Centuries later, Jeremiah the prophet would express it in these words - "0 Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." (Jeremiah 23:10) However, there was a way, and that way, the way of God, was in the sanctuary. (Ps. 77:13)
We talked yesterday about breaking promises to God. We can barely keep promises to each other, how often has someone asked you to keep something a secret, to promise and then you turn around and whisper it to someone *you* trust not to tell anyone? It's human nature we say and it a way...it is. Even in matters of life and death sometimes it's hard to keep promises. Not believing God, well, we want to say that's horrible, how could they. I've said it myself how could they when they had the advantage of so many miracles to witness? Yet, we do it all the time, we don't believe God and it is a matter of life and death for us too.
No one will be able to say they didn't know or have a chance and that's a scary prospect for those who want to be able to use that excuse. It's going to be even harder on those who believe they know God, are following Him and they are told they aren't known by Him.
We are told things! Do we listen to them?! Do we follow them?
Only Jesus can save us, and it's so true that God's way is in the sanctuary. It's the sanctuary that reveals Jesus fully.
Let's continue with our sanctuary study using William Grotheers Thought Papers to help us, but most important by using our Bibles.
The Covenants and the Sanctuaries -- Light from the Throne -- (Continued)
A Microcosm of the Reality -- The experience at Sinai reflected the experience of the human race. When God placed Adam and Eve in the Garden, He said to them - "Of every tree in the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." (Gen. 2:16-17)
It was a commanded covenant. It was obey and live; disobey and die.
There was no mercy revealed.
Our first parents chose to disobey, and had not One stepped in, as did Moses, they would have died.
A promise was given. (Gen. 3:15) In fulfilling this promise, Jesus, the Surety of a better covenant, suffered in reality what Moses offered to suffer.
Jesus experienced the meaning of having one's name blotted out, when from the darkened, clouded skies that hung mercifully about Calvary, He cried - "My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?"
Adam's transgression necessitated another covenant.
With a second Adam, God entered into a covenant. He would deal with humanity again, in and through Jesus.
Paul wrote that "we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Rom. 5:1) The ancient prophet declared that "the counsel of peace shall be between the Two of Them." (Zech. 6:13, Heb.)
This Mediator between God and man ministers in the Heavenly Sanctuary, which is the sanctuary of the New Covenant
A Continual Service -- Before a single act of work had been performed on the sanctuary - it was merely in blueprint stage - God gave instruction concerning the morning and evening sacrifice.
The revelation of all other sacrifices - including the, sin offerings - did not come till after the sanctuary was completed and erected. The only thing that preceded the instruction for the morning-evening sacrifices was the provision for the priesthood.
Concerning this continual burnt offering, God commanded:
This is that which thou shalt offer upon the altar; two lambs of the first year day by day continually. The one lamb thou shalt offer in the morning; and the other lamb thou shalt offer in the evening ... This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord: where I will meet you, to speak there unto thee. And there will I meet with the children of Israel and [Israel (margin)] shall be sanctified by my glory. (Ex.. 29:38-39; 42-43)
Before instruction was given as to how sin could be confessed and forgiven, provision was made to continually cover Israel.
Even as the morning and evening sacrifices of a lamb formed the foundation of the whole typical system, so Christ was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world and on Him the whole redemptive process rests.
While we were yet in sin, Christ died for us. It must also be realized that this was a covering for a covenant people. Those outside of Israel could only realize this blessing, when, they too, joined "themselves to the Lord" and took "hold of [His] covenant." (Isa. 56:6)
{56:6} Also the sons of the stranger, that jointhemselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the nameof the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth thesabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant
The place of meeting between God and His people, and where God would converse with Moses is defined as "the entrance of the tabernacle of the congregation."
Thus the meeting which would bring "sanctification" to Israel was focused on the first apartment of the sanctuary.
It was not the Shekinah glory of the Most Holy Place which Israel needed, but the glory of the revelation for which the symbols of the first apartment stood.
When Christ came, the glory He revealed was the fullness of grace and truth. (John 1:14)
{1:14} And the Word was made flesh, anddwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as ofthe only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth
It was this truth that sanctifies. (John 17:17)
{17:17} Sanctify themthrough thy truth: thy word is truth.
Only once each year was Israel to appear before God' in the Most Holy Place, and then only through a representative.
Grace and truth were revealed at the Altar and at the entrance of the tabernacle the first apartment.
The Erecting of the Sanctuary -- One year following the Exodus, the sanctuary was ready for erection.This became the responsibility of Moses in the first month of the second year "on the first day of the month." (Ex. 40:17) When all things were in order, Moses annointed "the tabernacle, and all that is therein." He also annointed "the altar of burnt offering" as well as "the laver" at the base of the altar. (Ex. 40:9-11) Thus Moses entered into the Most Holy Place before any services were performed by Aaron, the high priest. (40:20-21)
Further, Moses set the bread in order on the Table of Shewbread; he lit the lamps of the Golden Candlesticks; he burnt incense upon the Golden Altar before the veil. Then upon the Altar of Burnt Offering, he offered sacrirfice. All of this was done before Aaron entered into his priestly ministry. (40:22-32)
The final act was the erecting of the curtain about the court and tabernacle. (40:33) Then the text reads -- "So Moses finished the work." "The glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle" and from that time on the priestly ministry began. Immediately from the tabernacle, the Lord, in conversation with Moses, started the instructions concerning the sacrifices and offerings to be performed by priests and people. (Lev. 1:1-2)
The significance of these typical acts dare not be overlooked.
God had told Moses that He would raise up a "Prophet" from the midst of Israel "like unto thee" and in His mouth would be the words of God. (Deut. 18:15, 18)
Thus Jesus Christ, that "Prophet," when He too, had "finished" His work (John 19:30) would go into "the true tabernacle which the Lord pitched" (Heb. 8:2) and "anoint" the Holy Places of Heaven prior to the beginning of His service as the great High Priest after the Order of Melchisedec.
All during His earthly ministry, Jesus was revealing what He would do and be. He lit the lamps. He was "that true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." (John 1:9) He declared Himself to be "the light of the world." (John 8:12) He was the true "candle of Israel." (II Sam. 21:17, Heb)
He provided the bread for the table of the Lord. He said, "I am the living bread." (John 6:51) The symbolic bread of the communion service represents His body which He gave for the life of man.
He provided in that sacrifice,' the "incense" to be offered with the prayers of the saints on the Golden Altar before the throne. (Eph. 5:2; Dan. 9:24; Rev. 8:3)
Combining in Himself not only the typical role of Moses, but also He is an High Priest ministering according to "the example and shadow" of the Aaronic priesthood.
Yet much more, He is a Priest-King after the Order of Melchisedec.
The prophet declared that in building "the temple of the Lord," He would "be a priest upon His throne." (Zech. 6:12-13)
This throne, Paul tells us, is "the throne of grace" from whence we obtain "mercy and find grace ... in time of need." (Heb. 4:14-16)
It is the ministry of the light and bread of Heaven in answer to the prayers of the saints made acceptable through the meritorious righteousness of the High Priest which meets the need. It is the ministry of the First Apartment, and there on "the Throne of Grace", Jesus and the Father have joined together. "The counsel of peace shall be between them Both." (Zech. 6:13)
It must not be forgotten that when the ministry moves to the second apartment, mankind faces the Throne of Judgment (Dan. 7:9-10), as preparation is made for Christ to take His "throne of glory." (Matt. 25:31; Rev. 11:15-17)
The sanctuary in type and shadow reveals how we can face the throne of judgment, and be included in the kingdom of glory.
We all need to know this don't we? We all need the revealation from the sanctuary that shows how we can face the throne and be included in heaven's glory.
All of us need this.
We study, we learn, we live, we pray and may God's great mercy bless us through the sacrifice of His only Son now and forever, with the Holy Spirit continuing to guide us in all things.
Amen.