The Holy of Holies

Exodus 25:8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.

Hebrews 9:2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the showbread; which is called the sanctuary.

3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;

4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;

5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.

6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.

7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:

8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:

9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;

10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

12 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.

13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:

14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

21 And having an high priest over the house of God;

22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

MEMORY VERSE: And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony. —Exodus 25:22a

CENTRAL THOUGHT: God’s pattern for the construction of the tabernacle pointed forward to His plan for atonement and forgiveness of sins, followed by sanctification and entrance into the Most Holy place—the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

WORD DEFINITIONS

Exodus 25:8 “Sanctuary”: a consecrated, hallowed, sacred place.

Hebrews 9:5 “Cherubims”: two golden figures of living creatures with two wings; they were fastened to the lid of the ark of the covenant in the Holy of holies (both in the sacred tabernacle and in Solomon’s temple) in such a manner that their faces were turned toward each other and down toward the lid, which they overshadowed with their expanded wings. Between these figures God was regarded as having fixed his dwelling-place.—Thayer’s Greek Lexicon.

Hebrews 9:9 “Figure”: a parable; a comparison; a symbol. Hebrews 9:10 “Reformation”: the times of the Messiah.

LESSON BACKGROUND

Only a brief explanation of the Old Testament tabernacle and its symbolism will be possible in this short lesson, but it is a subject worthy of much personal study and time. One can plainly see, in pattern and example, how the experience of full salvation is typified by the components of this building.

The tabernacle was divided into two rooms: The Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. There were two veils, one before the doorway to each room, with each having an altar, one before the first veil and the other before the second veil. There were also two applications of blood; one on the first, or brazen altar, and another on the second, or golden altar.

In the Most Holy Place was the ark, covered by the mercy seat, attached to which were golden cherubim, their wings overshadowing the mercy seat. Inside the ark were the stone tables of the ten commandments, the golden bowl which held manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded.

The Most Holy Place was where God came to dwell. It was completely dark there, lighted only by the Shekinah glory of His presence. The people were never to enter; only the high priest entered once a year on the Day of Atonement, and then, only with blood to make intercession and atonement for the people. He represented our High priest, Jesus Christ, and just as he entered the presence of God in that literal tabernacle, Christ actually entered heaven itself, to intercede for us.

At Christ’s death on the cross, the veil barring entrance to the Most Holy Place ripped down the middle from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51). The book of Hebrews explains that the way into the holiest place is now made possible by the blood of Christ, and believers are encouraged to enter boldly, having been washed by Jesus’ blood and cleansed by the laver of His Word.

—Sis. Angela Gellenbeck

DISCUSSION:

1. Scriptural Proof: Which Scripture shows the tabernacle to be a symbol of something that came later?
2. God’s Desire: What was God really wanting when He designed the sanctuary?
3. The Veil Removed: What is the significance of the torn veil?
4. The Two Altars: What might be represented by the brazen altar and the golden altar?

COMMENTS AND APPLICATION

“There in that sacred place the redeemed soul dwells in close communion with God. No veil now is needed to bar him from the presence of the infinitely Holy One, because he is cleansed from the last remains of sin and is pure ‘as he is pure.’ He ‘dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High,’ he abides ‘under the shadow of the Almighty.’ And under his golden ‘wings shalt thou trust.’ There, as on the stone tables, the law of God is perfectly written in the hearts of the sanctified by the restoration of the moral nature to primitive holiness. There their souls are satisfied with the hidden manna. And there the Shekinah light of the glory of God is their constant portion. In this heavenly condition they abide in God and God in them. And this blessed experience is the rightful heritage of all God’s people.”

—From Shadows of Good Things by R. R. Byrum, 1922.

REFLECTIONS

“. . .When the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.” — Acts 3:19

As I lay on the couch in the quiet darkness with the family all in bed, I was reflecting on the message we had heard earlier that evening during our revival. I gazed upward and saw a pitcher tilted and flowing out of it was something glistening and sparkling. It was coming into my head and flowing through my entire being. Joy and praise filled me. It kept flowing and I came to the place that I felt my body could handle no more. The pitcher then disappeared. I learned from this experience that our mortal bodies are not equipped to receive the fullness of God’s glory; they will need to be changed.

Looking back, I believe the Lord was preparing me for difficulty, because great difficulty came. I have also noticed others’ testimonies containing special revelations were many times in preparation for difficulty.

I am very grateful that through the blood of Christ, the Lord can pour into our hearts and spirits a fulfilling measure to meet our need.

—Bro. Bob Wilson