Hebrews 9:1-5: The Earthly Tabernacle
2023-03-03
Hebrews 9:1
The first covenant, the covenant with the Hebrews at Sinai, had a sacrificial system and a location where all this service took place. Before this system was given, altars were made of earth or unhewn stone. Nobody could ascend to an altar. They were very plain so it would not be mistaken for the real pattern in heaven. Consider Exodus 20:22-26. Once you carve the stone, it becomes a graven image. “Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth” (Exodus 20:3-4). If you ascend to an altar, it becomes like the Tower of Babel. We do not climb up to God. He comes down to us. Jesus went down before anybody would ever go up.
In the wilderness, the Lord prescribed a very particular system on how to commune with Him. This was called the tabernacle. Read the study about the tabernacle layout here.
Hebrews 9:2
The first partition of the tabernacle, the holy place, was called the sanctuary. Three elements of this initial partition are mentioned here: the candlestick, the table, and the shewbread. Follow the links for the studies on those.
Hebrews 9:3-5
The second partition was called the “Holiest of all,” or the most holy. This was because the LORD would meet with His people here. The golden censer, which was used in the most holy place once a year, the ark of the covenant, and the mercy seat are three elements that are mentioned here. The ark contained the tables of the Law which were written with the finger of God, the pot of manna, and the budded rod of Aaron.
While Paul said, “of which we cannot now speak particularly,” perhaps some of the following will shed some light on their significance. Read the studies on the golden censer, the ark of the covenant, and the mercy seat by following the links.