Day 312
Ezekiel 18:1-19:14; Hebrews 9:1-10; Psalm 106:32-48; Proverbs 27:10
Covenant. Tabernacle. Atonement.
Today’s passage from Hebrews is from the section of the letter that describes how the New Covenant is greater than the Old Covenant. Chapter 8: the High Priest; Chapter 9: the Tabernacle; the second half of chapter 9: the Blood of Christ; and the first half of Chapter 10: Christ’s sacrifice. It is important that we understand the Old Covenant and the law, and the New Covenant and Jesus Christ fulfilling the law.
The description of the Temple in today’s reading is an excellent synopsis of the tabernacle instructions found in Exodus 25-30. God is revealed to Israel by the Law at Sinai, from which they learned what God was like and how God expected them to live. The law is important to us because it exposes us to our sin and God’s standards of living.
The only access to God was through the High Priest who would sacrifice and offer animal blood in atonement for his sins and the sins of the people. The way is not yet opened; this arrangement cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper. Only Christ’s Blood of the New Covenant makes the way for full access to God.
lmighty God, pour upon us the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid. Purify our conscience, by your presence, so that your Son Jesus Christ, may find in us a place prepared for Himself, and that through faith in His blood of the new covenant, we may have access to you and the way of eternal life. Amen.
The Rev. James Brzezinski
The Church of the Holy Faith
Santa Fe, NM