Highlights In Today's Reading:
Tabernacle completed and erected; furnishings arranged; consecration of Aaron and his sons; the glory of the Lord filling the Tabernacle.
Verses for Today:
He took and put the Testimony into the Ark, and set the staves on the Ark, and put the Mercy Seat above upon the Ark (Ex. 40:20).The Holy of Holies was the place of the presence of God. It was also where God met with the high priest on behalf of His people (25:22; Heb. 9).
The only piece of furniture within the Holy of Holies was the Ark of the Testimony. Its solid gold lid was called the Mercy Seat and was symbolic of the pure and perfect covering for sin from the judgment of a perfect Law. And He (Jesus) is the propitiation (atonement, satisfaction) for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world (I John 2:2). Included in the items inside this ark were the two tables of testimony —the tablets of stone with the Ten Commandments written by the finger of God which he gave to Moses on Mount Sinai (Ex. 31:18).
The cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the Mercy Seat with their wings . . . toward the Mercy Seat shall the faces of the cherubims be (Ex. 25:20). The Holy Spirit inspired the Apostle Peter to write of the Gospel . . . which things the angels desire to look into (I Pet. 1:12). Below the Mercy Seat was the Law. We too should desire to look daily into the Word of God, for whoso looketh into the perfect Law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer,but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed (James 1:25).
Only one man — the high priest (a type of Christ) — could enter the Holy of Holies. Once a year on the Day of Atonement, he sprinkled the blood of the sacrificed animal on the Mercy Seat seven times (Lev. 6:14) — symbolic of the perfect and complete atonement for sin which was to come. Not until atonement for sin had been made was the high priest qualified to stand before God to receive instruction and guidance for the nation.
Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption for us (Heb. 9:12).
The Holy Law revealed how all mankind was guilty of sin and deserved death (Rom. 3:19-20; 6:23). But, Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law, being made a curse for us (Gal. 3:13).
Thought for Today:
A vital qualification of a servant of God is a willingness to yield to God's revealed will through His Word.
Christ Portrayed:
By Aaron as the high priest (Ex. 40:13). Christ being come an High Priest. . . . to appear in the presence of God for us (Heb. 9:7-24).
Word Studies:
40:3 the Testimony =the Ten Commandments; cover the Ark with the vail = hang a curtain to separate the Most Holy Place; 40:7 Laver = large basin or bowl used for washing the hands and feet; 40:10 sanctify = consecrate to God; 40:11 his foot = its stand; 40:20 staves =poles with which to carry; 40:24 over against =pposite.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for International Broadcasts sponsored by Dr. John A. Hash • Government Officials: Rep. Larry Kissell (NC) and Rep. C.A. "Dutch" Ruppersberger (MD) • Country: Tunisia (10 million) in North Africa • Major languages: Arabic and French • Islamic state — no open ministry for Christ is permitted; strict surveillance of all Christian activities • 99+% Muslim; .3% Christian • Prayer Suggestion: Don't try to impress others with your prayers; pray about whatever is on your heart (Matt. 6:7-8).
Optional Reading: Mark 3
Memory Verse for the Week: Exodus 20:2-4