
Quote for the Day
“…external regulations applying until the time of the new order.”
Today's Prayer
This week pray that God allows those traveling to see clearly His sacrifice in their life, and to give Him the glory for their salvation.
Hebrews 9:1-10
Hebrews 9:1-10 (NIV)1 Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. 2 A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand, the table and the consecrated bread; this was called the . 3 Behind the second curtain was a room called the , 4 which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. 5 Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now. 6 When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. 7 But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. 8 The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing. 9 This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. 10 They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order.
Message
Last week we discussed the old covenant being a shadow of the new and how it would someday be obsolete and disappear. Hebrews chapter nine is a reminder to us of this concept, with an emphasis on the fact that the old covenant had an earthly sanctuary (or tabernacle) to worship in including specific regulations on how to worship and the role of the priest in that worship. God’s desire and plan for man has not changed since creation: a desire by the Creator to have a relationship with the created. God has dealt with His people in the same manner, a manner of continual love, grace, and forgiveness, throughout history. We see in this chapter a reminder of how God hates sin and requires the sacrifice for and the covering of sin by shed blood, innocent blood. At the same time it reminds us that the blood of animals was temporary. God’s plan included a permanent solution, one for which His people were waiting.The tragedy of today is that so many are still focused on the temporary and are unwilling to acknowledge God’s final and permanent solution: His son Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross.