The Most Holy Place
Exodus 26
In this chapter, God gives very specific, detailed instructions on the building of the tabernacle. The tabernacle would serve as a portable place of worship while the people traveled in the desert toward the promised land. Once the Jews entered the land, they would then build a temple to the Lord. But in the wilderness, the tabernacle would be the place of worship.
Notice what vs. 33-34 says, “And you shall hang the veil from the clasps, and bring the ark of the testimony in there within the veil. And the veil shall separate for you the Holy Place from the Most Holy. You shall put the mercy seat on the ark of the testimony in the Most Holy Place.”
The ark of the testimony (also known as the ark of the covenant) contained the tablets of the Law and was to be placed in the tabernacle in the Most Holy Place. Only the high priests would be able to stand in the presence of the ark, and only once a year to atone for sin. This ark was meant to symbolize the presence of the Lord. That is why it was placed “in the Most Holy Place.”
I want us to notice two very important aspects to the instructions God gave. The first is a veil that would separate the people from the ark. No one but the high priests once a year could go past the veil into the Most Holy Place. The second thing to notice is that “the mercy seat” was to be placed on top of the ark. On top of this lid is where God was supposed to be seated. And from here He would dispense mercy each year when the blood of the atonement would be sprinkled on it.
The veil and the mercy seat are incredible symbols pointing to the gospel. Thousands of years later, when Jesus had died for the sins of the world, it says in Matthew 27:51 “And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.” Why was this significant? It meant that anyone, because of the shed blood of Jesus, could enter into the Most Holy Place. The veil was no longer needed. God ripped it apart!
We could never stand in the presence of a holy God based on our own merit. It’s only possible through the Savior’s sacrifice. As the song “The Holy of Holies,” by Daniel Warner, puts it, “Within this greater temple, built by the Son of God, we’ve found a full salvation, and entered through the blood. Here on the mercy seat, beneath the cherubim, we dwell in love complete, and heaven’s glory hymn.”
Salvation is a result of God’s mercy made possible through the sprinkled blood of Jesus. What a fitting name that the judgments of the Law are concealed by the mercy seat. As Paul put it in Romans 8:1: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Thank You Lord for Your mercy. Thank You for tearing the veil in two.
Exodus 26
In this chapter, God gives very specific, detailed instructions on the building of the tabernacle. The tabernacle would serve as a portable place of worship while the people traveled in the desert toward the promised land. Once the Jews entered the land, they would then build a temple to the Lord. But in the wilderness, the tabernacle would be the place of worship.
Notice what vs. 33-34 says, “And you shall hang the veil from the clasps, and bring the ark of the testimony in there within the veil. And the veil shall separate for you the Holy Place from the Most Holy. You shall put the mercy seat on the ark of the testimony in the Most Holy Place.”
The ark of the testimony (also known as the ark of the covenant) contained the tablets of the Law and was to be placed in the tabernacle in the Most Holy Place. Only the high priests would be able to stand in the presence of the ark, and only once a year to atone for sin. This ark was meant to symbolize the presence of the Lord. That is why it was placed “in the Most Holy Place.”
I want us to notice two very important aspects to the instructions God gave. The first is a veil that would separate the people from the ark. No one but the high priests once a year could go past the veil into the Most Holy Place. The second thing to notice is that “the mercy seat” was to be placed on top of the ark. On top of this lid is where God was supposed to be seated. And from here He would dispense mercy each year when the blood of the atonement would be sprinkled on it.
The veil and the mercy seat are incredible symbols pointing to the gospel. Thousands of years later, when Jesus had died for the sins of the world, it says in Matthew 27:51 “And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.” Why was this significant? It meant that anyone, because of the shed blood of Jesus, could enter into the Most Holy Place. The veil was no longer needed. God ripped it apart!
We could never stand in the presence of a holy God based on our own merit. It’s only possible through the Savior’s sacrifice. As the song “The Holy of Holies,” by Daniel Warner, puts it, “Within this greater temple, built by the Son of God, we’ve found a full salvation, and entered through the blood. Here on the mercy seat, beneath the cherubim, we dwell in love complete, and heaven’s glory hymn.”
Salvation is a result of God’s mercy made possible through the sprinkled blood of Jesus. What a fitting name that the judgments of the Law are concealed by the mercy seat. As Paul put it in Romans 8:1: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Thank You Lord for Your mercy. Thank You for tearing the veil in two.
Posted in Journey of Hope