The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Exodus 27:9a,
"Make a courtyard for the tabernacle."
"Make a courtyard for the tabernacle."
The courtyard would be the place where the Israelites could come to worship the Lord with their offerings and sacrifices. It is here they came to worship him.
As Moses received these instructions from the Lord on Mt. Sinai, the people were not allowed to approach the mountain. A distance was required by our holy and righteous God between himself and sinful mankind. During an initial meeting between Moses and the Lord, the Lord told Moses, "Go down and bring Aaron up with you. But the priests and the people must not force their way through to come up to the Lord, or he will break out against them." Exodus 19:24.
However, with the establishment of the tabernacle and worship that was to be performed there, a meeting place would be set up between the Lord and his people, a "point of contact": the Lord's presence within the most holy place and the people that would come to the courtyard.
Due to the sinful condition of mankind and the resulting estrangement following the fall, mankind lost the ability to approach the presence of God. In Moses' first encounter with God, when God called out to Moses from the burning bush, God told him as he approached, "Do not come any closer... Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground." Exodus 3:5. Moses had hidden his face because he was afraid to look at God.
However, since Jesus Christ, we now have the ability to approach God in a much better way than coming to the courtyard of the tabernacle. Through Jesus Christ, the Son of God, we can come into God's presence. He is our great Mediator! "For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people." 1 Timothy 2:5. Because of Jesus Christ, we can approach God in a way not previously available, "In him [Jesus Christ] and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence." Ephesians 3:12.
As a result of this, the writer of Hebrews tells us, "Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:16.
As Moses received these instructions from the Lord on Mt. Sinai, the people were not allowed to approach the mountain. A distance was required by our holy and righteous God between himself and sinful mankind. During an initial meeting between Moses and the Lord, the Lord told Moses, "Go down and bring Aaron up with you. But the priests and the people must not force their way through to come up to the Lord, or he will break out against them." Exodus 19:24.
However, with the establishment of the tabernacle and worship that was to be performed there, a meeting place would be set up between the Lord and his people, a "point of contact": the Lord's presence within the most holy place and the people that would come to the courtyard.
Due to the sinful condition of mankind and the resulting estrangement following the fall, mankind lost the ability to approach the presence of God. In Moses' first encounter with God, when God called out to Moses from the burning bush, God told him as he approached, "Do not come any closer... Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground." Exodus 3:5. Moses had hidden his face because he was afraid to look at God.
However, since Jesus Christ, we now have the ability to approach God in a much better way than coming to the courtyard of the tabernacle. Through Jesus Christ, the Son of God, we can come into God's presence. He is our great Mediator! "For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people." 1 Timothy 2:5. Because of Jesus Christ, we can approach God in a way not previously available, "In him [Jesus Christ] and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence." Ephesians 3:12.
As a result of this, the writer of Hebrews tells us, "Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:16.
How wonderful is that?!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know. A blog with all my posts can be found here: http://worshipfortoday.blogspot.com/
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know. A blog with all my posts can be found here: http://worshipfortoday.blogspot.com/
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