Sunday, November 18, 2012

When God stopped the Service

Read 1 Kings 8.

The construction of the Temple and its surrounding areas were completed.  The furnishings had all been put in their position.  However, the most important part, The Holy of Holies, the place for the Ark of the Covenant, remained empty. Solomon and the Levites understood what care was needed to transport the Ark and what this would mean once the priests set it inside the Temple.

As David discovered, death could be the result of failing to follow God's clear instructions.  The Ark was to be moved on poles, carried by the priests.  It contained the two tablets God gave to Moses (the Law).  Then, the visible presence of God, like a cloud, filled the Temple.  The LORD stopped the celebration so they would simply stand in awe of His presence.

The wings of the cherubim spread out over the precious box.  Once a year, the High Priest (and only the High Priest) was allowed in that sacred spot.  Representing the nation, on the Day of Atonement, he would go in and sprinkle sacrificial blood on top of the Ark.  Therefore, when God looked down at the demands of the law, He saw them through the shed blood of the atoning sacrifice.

Hebrews 9:22b-"...and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins."  When Jesus shed His blood on the cross is was the full and final payment for the sin of the world.  "For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf (Hebrews 9:24)."  "...he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself (Hebrews 9:26b)."

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