Camping with God
The book of Hebrews was written to a community of Jews. While we don’t know exactly where this community was, it was written around AD 67, just before the destruction of the temple. Christians were facing immense persecution. In this group of Hebrews, there were likely 3 groups; those who received the message of the messiah and believed – who had a change of heart as a result; those who received the message and believed it, but did not take it to heart – they were not transformed. And then there were those who received the message and did not believe.
The author is encouraging those who believe in a time of persecution and exhorting those who do not believe to have a change in heart. To bolster his argument throughout the book of Hebrews, he draws a comparison between the old Jewish covenants and the new life we have in the covenant with Christ. In this sermon, we are taught about the better sanctuary that comes with the new covenant and how we as Christians need to let go of our old ways of doing things.
Scripture Reading
Hebrews 9: 1-10 ESV Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness. For a tent was prepared, the first section, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence. It is called the Holy Place. Behind the second curtain was a second section called the Most Holy Place, having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron's staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant. Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. These preparations having thus been made, the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing (which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.
Bible Study Questions
We know that the temple was still standing at the time of the writing of this letter. Why then does the author discuss the instructions for the tent (tabernacle), rather than the temple in this letter? (Hebrews 9:1-10)
Who / what was the lampstand in the Holy place symbolic of? (John 8:12)
Why is the second room in the tabernacle known as the Holy of Holies? (Leviticus 16:2)
What duties can you think of that the priests would conduct on a daily basis? (Numbers 18:1-8)
All the works of the priest could not cleanse the sins of what? (Hebrews9:9)
How do you think we are similar to the Israelites and their ways of worshipping in those days? (Ephesians 2:8)
How can we ensure we worship according to the new covenant? (Matthew 11:28-30)
Prayer
Father, thank you for your immaculate word, profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. Help us to relate to the Israelites in this scripture and identify our own weaknesses and sin. Make our sins a burden unbearable to us and make it clear to us that no matter what we do, we cannot cleanse ourselves on the inside. While we’re in this state, help us to turn to you for a transformation of our hearts, our minds, and our souls so that we may find rest. Thank you Father for your immense sacrifice and I pray that as we go into the world this week, you may make the significance of your love for us abundantly clear.
Worship
Man of sorrows, Lamb of God
By His own betrayed
The sin of man and wrath of God
Has been on Jesus laid
Silent as He stood accused
Beaten, mocked, and scorned
Bowing to the Father's will
He took a crown of thorns
Oh, that rugged cross, my salvation
Where Your love poured out over me
Now my soul cries out, "Hallelujah"
"Praise and honour unto Thee"
Sent of heaven God's own Son
To purchase and redeem
And reconcile the very ones
Who nailed Him to that tree
Now my debt is paid
It is paid in full
By the precious blood
That my Jesus spilled
Now the curse of sin
Has no hold on me
Whom the Son sets free
Oh, is free indeed
See the stone is rolled away
Behold the empty tomb
Hallelujah, God be praised
He's risen from the grave
Oh, that rugged cross my salvation
Where Your love poured out over me
Now my soul cries out, "Hallelujah"
"Praise and honour unto Thee"
Service
Do you know anyone who is going great works, but has not received the change of heart that only comes from Christ? Do you think there is a way they could benefit from having a personal relationship with our Lord and Savior? We all know people like this and our first service is to love them and let our love be the testimony to Christ’s glory. And whilst we are loving them, we must continually pray that our Father will introduce Himself to them while showing us at the same time how to love them.