Holy Place~

May 13, 2020- Debbie Graham

Holy Place

Focus Verses

Leviticus 16 begins: “Now the LORD spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered profane fire before the LORD, and died; and the LORD said to Moses: ‘Tell Aaron your brother not to come at just any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark, lest he die; for I will appear in the cloud above the mercy seat’” (vs 1-2).

The passage goes on to describe in great detail how Aaron was to approach the Holy Place, what to bring, what to wear, how to wear it, etc.  He would first make atonement for himself and for his house, then make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions, concerning all their sins.  We read in verse 30, “For on that day the priest shall make atonement for you, to cleanse you, that you may be clean from all your sins before the Lord.”  

We read about the curtain in the Holy Place in Exodus 33:31-33, “Make a curtain of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen, with cherubim woven into it by a skilled worker. Hang it with gold hooks on four posts of acacia wood overlaid with gold and standing on four silver bases. Hang the curtain from the clasps and place the ark of the covenant law behind the curtain. The curtain will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.”  The Ark of the Covenant was behind this curtain and was a place where God and man (the High Priest) could meet.  

I am certain that all of us are thankful that the way Aaron was told to approach the Holy Place is not the way we approach God today.  We still come before Him with reverence, and respect His holiness, but can do this any and all of the time.  It says in Matthew 27 that upon Jesus’ last breath “the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (vs. 51a).  Friends, that means the curtain is no longer separating us from access to the Most Holy Place!  We can approach our most Holy God directly.  Hebrews 4:16 says: “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”  And 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  No priest is necessary to make atonement for us.  Jesus Christ, pure and unblemished… spotless, took all of our uncleanness upon Himself and became our atonement… once for all!  

The Lord continues to speak to Moses in chapter 18 about His statutes and tells him to speak to the people of Israel that He is the Lord, and they shall not do as they did in the land of Egypt or Canaan.  They are not to walk in their statutes, but to follow His rules.  This chapter is specifically speaking to sexual relationships within family, and with same sex.  Overall, it speaks about following the Lord’s rules, and what He has set out as right and pure.  

It can be so easy to want to go back and do what we once did or follow the path of those who seem to be successful in their ways.  The Lord is clear.  We should not make ourselves unclean by practicing things outside of His statues.  The law is not unimportant, as Paul tells us in Romans 7, without the law we would not know sin.  Let us recognize the law, pay attention to our sin, and approach His throne with boldness and confidence.

Prayer

Father God, thank You for the atonement for my sins through the shed blood of Your perfect lamb, Jesus.  Thank You that You welcome me coming to You anytime.  Help me to always keep Your statutes and not look to something that looks appealing or easier.  Thank You that when I stray, I can come boldly to Your throne of grace and obtain Your mercy in my time of need.  Help me to never forget the sacrifice You made for me.  In Jesus Name, Amen