By Shirley Rosemarie Evans
8 “Have the people of Israel build me a holy sanctuary so I can live among them.
17 “Then make the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement—from pure gold. It must be 45 inches long and 27 inches wide.18 Then make two cherubim from hammered gold, and place them on the two ends of the atonement cover. 19 Mold the cherubim on each end of the atonement cover, making it all of one piece of gold. 20 The cherubim will face each other and look down on the atonement cover. With their wings spread above it, they will protect it. 21 Place inside the Ark the stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, which I will give to you. Then put the atonement cover on top of the Ark. 22 I will meet with you there and talk to you from above the atonement cover between the gold cherubim that hover over the Ark of the Covenant. From there I will give you my commands for the people of Israel.
Exodus 25:8, 17-22 (NLT)
God gives His people instructions to build him a holy sanctuary so He would be able to live among them. A Holy God needed a Holy place to dwell. He then gives very specific instructions as to the precise furniture and ornaments that would be contained in His sanctuary. Do you not just love how specific our God is. He leaves no room for doubt as to what is required. All must be made according to His instructions. And every detail is designed to depict the person of our God. Perfect, without defect, glorious.
But let us pause for a moment and consider the word holy. The Meriam – Webster definition is “exalted or worthy of complete devotion as one perfect in goodness and righteousness.” And “Devoted entirely to deity or the work of the deity a holy temple, holy prophets.” So a Holy God who is worthy of all our adoration, and who is perfectly good all of the time needed a place devoted entirely to worship of Him. God said He would meet them hovering above the ark of the covenant, at the place of atonement with the law in the ark. God recognised Israel’s inability to keep the law and He covered their shortcomings with Himself. Just as in the New Testament Christ covered the sin of all mankind with His perfect sacrifice.
Just as God desired a Holy Sanctuary for His presence to dwell with His people Israel, under the new covenant, made possible by Christ’s atoning sacrifice we together have become a holy temple/sanctuary. Ephesians 2:21,22 says “We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by His Spirit.” The Spirit of the living God takes up residence in the hearts of the believers. It’s the Spirit that does the sanctifying work teaching, leading, counselling and equipping us to live lives that exhibit the indwelling presence of the living God. May we so live that others will see the light of His presence and be drawn to Him.
Ask – Look afresh at the specific instructions for the sanctuary and consider the implications of each part.
Seek – Do you live your life in continual awareness that you host the presence of the living God in the person of His Holy Spirit?
Knock – Recommit yourself afresh today to the sanctifying work of the Spirit in your life.
(Upper Photo by Duncan Kidd on Unsplash)
(Inner Photo by Kaushik Panchal on Unsplash)
