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 40:3,5,8,
"Place the ark of the covenant law in it and shield the ark with the curtain... Place the gold altar of incense in front of the ark of the covenant law and put the curtain at the entrance to the tabernacle... Set up the courtyard around it and put the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard."
There were three curtains providing access in the tabernacle. When the Lord gave Moses instructions on setting up the tabernacle for the first time, he did so from his point of perspective. He began with instructions starting with where his presence would reside and then worked outward. In the most holy place the ark of the covenant with its mercy seat was to be placed and then a curtain shielding it or separating it from the front of the tabernacle.
From there, he told Moses to place the golden lampstand, the altar of incense and the table for showbread in the remaining area in front of the veil that hid the ark and mercy seat. At the entrance of the tabernacle, another curtain was to be set in place to shield the tabernacle itself from the courtyard.
From there, he told Moses to place the bronze altar and the basin in the courtyard in front of the tabernacle. The courtyard was made of a system of curtains and frames that sat on bases and there was to be another separating curtain on the east end of the courtyard, at the front to enclose the tabernacle with its courtyard.
God describes it from the inside out. We would naturally describe it from the outside in. First you go into the courtyard through its separating curtain, next, for the priests, you go into the tabernacle itself through its separating curtain, and finally, for the high priest, and then only once a year (on the Day of Atonement), you go into the most holy place through its separating curtain, where the Lord maintained his presence.
Three separating curtains had to be entered to bring one from the environment of sinful mankind into the presence of God, and then, only by God's invitation for certain ones in God's prescribed way. Our holy and righteous God maintains a distance from lost and fallen mankind!
Today we can all approach God's throne through the blood of Jesus Christ. The writer of Hebrews speaks of a new way. "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. No longer does God restrict mankind from his presence as depicted by the separating curtains, but through Jesus Christ as our mediator with God, all are welcome!
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.
"Place the ark of the covenant law in it and shield the ark with the curtain... Place the gold altar of incense in front of the ark of the covenant law and put the curtain at the entrance to the tabernacle... Set up the courtyard around it and put the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard."
There were three curtains providing access in the tabernacle. When the Lord gave Moses instructions on setting up the tabernacle for the first time, he did so from his point of perspective. He began with instructions starting with where his presence would reside and then worked outward. In the most holy place the ark of the covenant with its mercy seat was to be placed and then a curtain shielding it or separating it from the front of the tabernacle.
From there, he told Moses to place the golden lampstand, the altar of incense and the table for showbread in the remaining area in front of the veil that hid the ark and mercy seat. At the entrance of the tabernacle, another curtain was to be set in place to shield the tabernacle itself from the courtyard.
From there, he told Moses to place the bronze altar and the basin in the courtyard in front of the tabernacle. The courtyard was made of a system of curtains and frames that sat on bases and there was to be another separating curtain on the east end of the courtyard, at the front to enclose the tabernacle with its courtyard.
God describes it from the inside out. We would naturally describe it from the outside in. First you go into the courtyard through its separating curtain, next, for the priests, you go into the tabernacle itself through its separating curtain, and finally, for the high priest, and then only once a year (on the Day of Atonement), you go into the most holy place through its separating curtain, where the Lord maintained his presence.
Three separating curtains had to be entered to bring one from the environment of sinful mankind into the presence of God, and then, only by God's invitation for certain ones in God's prescribed way. Our holy and righteous God maintains a distance from lost and fallen mankind!
Today we can all approach God's throne through the blood of Jesus Christ. The writer of Hebrews speaks of a new way. "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. No longer does God restrict mankind from his presence as depicted by the separating curtains, but through Jesus Christ as our mediator with God, all are welcome!
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.
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