Today's Reading:
Matthew 8:1-13
Exodus 39:1-40:38
Proverbs 18
 |
| Listen to the Bible |
Thoughts and Commentary on Today's Reading:
In the Bible reading from Exodus today, we read about the Sanctuary. Today, I'd like to share with you the spiritual significance of the Holy Place.
The Holy Place
The term “Holy Place” is translated from the Hebrew word (6944)
קדשׁ qôdesh
Qodesh is "a sacred place or
thing; rarely abstractly sanctity: - consecrated (thing), dedicated
(thing), hallowed (thing), holiness, (X most) holy (X day, portion, thing),
saint, sanctuary."
The actual Tabernacle stood in the west half of the courtyard. It was divided into
two compart-ments, or rooms. While the width of the two rooms was the
same, the length of the first room, the holy place, was twice as long as that
of the most holy place. The walls of the central structure were made of
acacia boards overlaid with gold and connected with silver hardware (Exodus
26).
The
Holy Place where the priests set out the bread of the Presence was a room 20
cubits long by 10 cubits wide and 10 cubits in height (30 feet x 15 feet x 15
feet). Its sides were formed by the golden upright frames. The beautiful linen
curtain with its pattern of cherubim could be viewed through the framework in
the front and on the ceiling. There were four golden pillars at the entrance and
in the back of the room was the holy veil behind it was the Ark of the
Covenant. Inside the room every piece of holy furniture was golden. The golden
lampstand was on the left, the table of showbread was on the right, and the
golden altar of incense was in the back of the room, placed before the veil.
The Curtains and Coverings
The
curtains of the Holy Place were blue, purple, scarlet and had gold embroidered
cherubim on them (Exodus 26:1-4)
This
inner covering was covered with goat kids’ skin (white) covering (Exodus 26:7).
And the goat hair curtain was covered with a red dyed ram’s skin layer, covered
with a brown layer of antelope skin (badger’s skin is wrongly translated… It
was a clean animal, as Strong’s points out – an antelope) (Exodus 26:14).
It
is interesting to note that while the sanctuary would have been stunningly
beautiful on the inside, it was very plain on the outside. Simple brown
antelope skin is what the viewer would have seen from the external view. This is like our Saviour. As it says in
Isaiah 53:2 “For He shall grow up before
Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: He hath no form nor
comeliness; and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire
Him.” Yet, inwardly, Yahshua was glorious through
the perfection of His lovely character.
In
the same way, we are to be lovely in character. The externals should be well
cared for and kempt, but the true beauty is inside.
1 Peter 3:3-4 “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.”
Acacia Wood Overlaid with Gold
Acacia wood was a strong, resilient wood that grew up in desert
climates. It could survive the harsh environment because its rood grew very
deep. The tree itself never grew tall. In fact, most acacia trees
only grow to a height of 15-30 feet. This tree was not affected by
disease nor animal infestations because of the strong odor in the fiber of its
wood. Insects would not burrow into it. Therefore, some scholars present
that acacia wood signifies perfect humanity as displayed by Yahshua.
In John 1:14, Yahshua was the Word who became flesh and
"tabernacled" among men. The Tabernacle was also comprised of gold
signifying the divine character of God Himself. Gold is used frequently
in the Old Testament and the New Testament as a building material for God's
house, God's temple (1 Corinthians 3:12; Hebrews 9:4-5; Revelation 1:12,20;
21:15).
John 1:1 says that the Word was with God and the Word was
God. This same "Word" who taber-nacled among men (John 1:14) was
God. He was the uncreated, Eternal, omniscient (all knowing), omnipotent (all
powerful), omnipresent (everywhere present) God come in the flesh to earth. His
humanity was perfect. He was without sin, without blemish, without
"spot," without "wrinkle," and without any negative thing.
Also, this gold overlaid wood points to what Yahshua wants to do
with us. We are to be the perfected humanity overlaid with the pure gold of
God’s Character. This is a symbol of a sealed individual. And the Holy Place
shows us what it takes to be sealed.
Each item of furniture in the Holy Place shows the elements we all need - daily, in order to sustain victorious, spiritual life.
Just inside the holy place on the left
(south) side, stood the golden menorah that had seven candlestick branches (see
Exodus 25:31-40). They were not wax candles as we know them, but lamps
fueled by pure olive oil. The priests trimmed the wicks daily and
refilled the bowls with oil so that the menorah would constantly be a source of
light for the holy place. Yahshua said, "I am the light of the
world" (John 8:12).
He
also said, "Ye are the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14). The
Olive oil in the lamps symbolized the Holy Spirit that illuminates the
church. The lamp is a symbol of the Word, as well (Psalm 119:105).
- Light is truth – thus the lamp stand shows that those who will be sealed will have the light of truth in them.
- The olive oil is the indwelling Holy Spirit – thus the lamp shows that the power source of the sealed individual will be the Holy Spirit.
- The Menorah itself represents Christ the Vine – as we are the branches, we only bear fruit (light) while we abide in Him and He in us.
Matthew 5:14-16 "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven."The Table of Shewbread
Opposite the lamp was the table of
showbread on the north side. It was constructed of acacia wood and
covered with gold (Exodus 25:23-30). On it were kept 12 loaves of
unleavened bread (Leviticus 24:5-9). These loaves were symbolic of Christ,
Who is the Bread of Life (John 6:35). There was also “wine” (grape juice)
representing the Yahshua’s Blood and the necessity for daily claiming it.
On the Table of Shewbread, there were TWELVE loaves of unleavened bread - the number 12 represents God's Governmental perfection.
The number 12 signified the 12 tribes of Israel and 12 apostles of Yahshua who
were to feed God's people with the bread of life - which is also a symbol of
the Bible (Matthew 4:4). It
is the number or factor of all numbers connected with government: whether by
Tribes or Apostles, or in measurements of time, or in things which have to do
with government in the heavens and the earth.
We may personally partake of the spiritual showbread by daily "eating" from the Word of God. Yahshua is the Word of God, made Flesh. But He is also the Living Bread. The Bread is the Word. And it only when we daily eat of the Word of God that we may be nourished - spiritually.
The
altar of incense was located directly across from the door standing against the
ornate veil that separated the holy place from the most holy place. Like
several other items in the sanctuary, it was also made of acacia wood and
covered with gold (Exodus 30:1-3). It was much small than the altar in
the courtyard and contained a brass pot that held hot coals from the brazen
altar of burnt offerings. It was here that the priest burned a very
special blend of incense which filled the sanctuary with a sweet-smelling
cloud, representing the prayers of intercession and confession of the believers
sweetened by the Holy Spirit (Exodus 30:8).
The
Holy Place represents the process of sanctification. This corresponds to
the wilderness wanderings of Israel. The pillar of fire was their
menorah, and the manna was their shewbread. The pillar of cloud was their
cloud of incense.
Sanctification
is the process in the Christian's life of learning to obey. It is made up
of a series of justifications. Each time we sin we ask for forgiveness,
and we are justified again. However, God offers more than forgiveness
when we confess. In 1 John 1:9, He promises us that, "If we confess
our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness."
We may personally experience the incense through prayer. Prayer is breathing - spiritually.
It
is that "cleansing from unrighteousness" that constitutes
sanctification. The key ingredients in our sanctification are a
devotional life in the Word, prayer, and witnessing. The sanctuary's
bread, incense, and lamp represent these elements.
