Sunday Night Bible Study Hebrews 9:3-28 May 22, 1994 Hebrews 9:3-28 Intro: We are reading a letter written to Jewish believers. People who understand the intricacies of the Old Testament Law and sacrificial system. 3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; :3 the second veil ... Holiest of all There was a curtain separating the two rooms in the tabernacle. The second, inner room was the Holy of Holies. It measured 15 feet by 15 feet. 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; :4 the golden censer (Ex.30) This was the "altar of incense". (Exodus 30) It was 1 1/2 feet long by 1 1/2 feet wide, and 3 feet high. It was made of wood, overlayed with gold. It was solely for the purpose of burning incense upon. What does this represent? We don't have to do any guessing about this one! Incense represents the prayers of the saints before God. Re 8:3-4 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer [it] with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, [which came] with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand. Practical Use: Ex 30:7-9 And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it. 8 And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations. 9 Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt sacrifice, nor meat offering; neither shall ye pour drink offering thereon. Morning and evening, perpetual: God wants His people praying continually. I think He wants more than just morning devotions. No Strange Incense: Only praying the way God wants you to. No "Hare Krishna" prayers. The Incense: Exodus 30 34 And the LORD said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; [these] sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like [weight]: 35 And thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure [and] holy: 36 And thou shalt beat [some] of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation, where I will meet with thee: it shall be unto you most holy. 37 And [as for] the perfume which thou shalt make, ye shall not make to yourselves according to the composition thereof: it shall be unto thee holy for the LORD. 38 Whosoever shall make like unto that, to smell thereto, shall even be cut off from his people. Lesson: A perfume: Prayer is beautiful and sweet to God. Correct prayer is a sweet smell to the Lord. A formula: Pray the way God teaches We don't have to cook up our own ways of praying. We don't have to look at the Buddhist monks and try to copy them to learn how to pray. We only have to look to what God has already given us. How does Jesus teach us to pray? Matthew 6 5. And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites [are]: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen [do]: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. 9. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as [it is] in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. How much do our prayers reflect Jesus' model? 1) Don't draw attention to yourself (vs.5-6) 2) Don't use vain repetition (vs.7-8) 3) Don't rely on lots of words (vs.7) 4) Address the Father (vs.9) 5) Worship God (vs.9 & 13) 6) Pray for Lord's coming (vs.10) 7) Pray for God's will (vs.10) 8) Pray for your daily needs (vs.11) 9) Pray with/for forgiveness (vs.12) 10) Pray about temptations (vs.13) :4 the ark of the covenant All an ark is is just a box. This one was 6 3/4 feet long, 2 1/4 feet wide, and 2 1/4 feet high (Ex.25:10) It was made of wood, overlayed in gold. This is the same as the one made famous by "Indiana Jones". In essence, all it was was kind of a file box, a safe-deposit box. It was the box that God's throne was built over. The lid was God's throne. In a sense, the ark is the foundation for God's throne. What is in the Ark becomes the foundation of God's government over the people. :4 the golden pot that had manna (Ex.16) When the people came out of Egypt, they didn't have enough food to live on in the wilderness. God provided "bread from heaven" for them to eat. (Exodus 16) Every day they would go out of the camp in the morning and collect fresh manna. They couldn't store it up for a few days, it would go bad. But on every Friday, they could store up for two days, so that on the Sabbath, they could rest. In fact, the manna stopped on Saturdays too. They were told to put some in a pot to remember how God had provided. Lessons: 1) God's provision. God wants us to remember that He will provide for us. It might just be for today, but He'll still take care of us. 2) Daily with Jesus. The bread is again a kind of picture of Jesus, in that God would send provision from heaven for the people's needs. Joh 6:32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. We can see a kind of picture of daily devotional time with the Lord. You need to "go out" and collect it. Kind of like getting alone, in a quiet place to spend with God. You need to prepare it. Don't just read the Word and let it go in one eye and out the other. Think about it, meditate on it, study it. You can't really collect enough for two days at a time. You can't really live on yesterday's Quiet Times, it gets old and wormy. You need fresh time with the Lord each day. :4 Aaron's rod that budded (Num.16) At one point, there was a challenge to Aaron's authority to be the high priest. Others wanted to be priests too. (Num.16) God told them to all pick out sticks and put them in the tabernacle overnight. God would "choose straws" and show them His pick. The next morning, Aaron's rod not only had sprouted leaves, but blossoms and even ripe almonds, fruit! Lesson: Fruit proves God's call. We can see a proof of God's calling in your life will be the fruit that comes out of your life and ministry. If you feel called to be an evangelist, then people will be coming to the Lord through you! God told them to keep the rod in the ark as proof that Aaron had been called by God. Missing in Action! By Solomon's time, the pot of manna and Aaron's rod were missing. 1Ki 8:9 [There was] nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made [a covenant] with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt. :4 the tables of the covenant These were the two stone tablets that contained the Ten Commandments. This was actually the second set of tablets, the first were destroyed by Moses when he saw how the people had gone into idolatry while he was up on the mountain with God (Ex.32:19) Remember that the Ark was in a way the "foundation" of God's throne. It was these ten commandments that formed the basis of God's relationship with man through the Mosaic Covenant. This is why they are stored in the ark. Ps 97:1 The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad [thereof]. 2 Clouds and darkness [are] round about him: righteousness and judgment [are] the habitation of his throne. The word "habitation" is literally, "foundation" (as in the song!). The Ten commandments are all about righteousness and judgment. 5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly. :5 the cherubims of glory Cherubim are a type of angelic beings. Let's look at one description of them. Do you picture in your mind little, cute, cupids? Eze 10:20 This [is] the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river of Chebar; and I knew that they [were] the cherubims. Ezekiel 1:4-14. And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness [was] about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire. 5 Also out of the midst thereof [came] the likeness of four living creatures. And this [was] their appearance; they had the likeness of a man. 6 And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings. 7 And their feet [were] straight feet; and the sole of their feet [was] like the sole of a calf's foot: and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass. 8 And [they had] the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings. 9 Their wings [were] joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward. 10 As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle. 11 Thus [were] their faces: and their wings [were] stretched upward; two [wings] of every one [were] joined one to another, and two covered their bodies. 12 And they went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; [and] they turned not when they went. 13 As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance [was] like burning coals of fire, [and] like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. 14 And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning. We also see these creatures in Isaiah 6, Ezekiel 10, and in Revelation 4,5. These beings seem to be exclusively associated with God's Throne. :5 shadowing the mercyseat In the tabernacle, the angels were attached to the lid of the ark, facing each other, heads down, wings outstretched forward, touching each other. It was there at the mercy seat that God would meet with His people. Ex 25:22 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, of all [things] which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel. This was the model of God's throne in heaven. Lessons: 1. Others are present You are not alone Even in God's presence, there are angels present, all around. Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Heb 13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. 2. God's throne is an awesome place Often when one of the prophets had a vision of God's throne and saw the angels and all, they would fall on their face. These angels in the throne room aren't just little sweet baby-faced cherubs. If we aren't experiencing a sense of AWE before God, we need to ask God to open our spiritual eyes a little wider. 3. God's throne is a place of MERCY God's throne is not a place where we are going to receive condemnation and rejection, but instead comfort, understanding, and MERCY. I'm glad that God's throne isn't called the "Damnation Seat". Hebrews 4 14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast [our] profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. :5 of which we cannot now speak particularly The writer couldn't take the time to go into detail, the readers already understood. We are going a bit into detail because we don't all have the kind of basic understanding that I think we need. 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? 15. And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions [that were] under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. 16 For where a testament [is], there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a testament [is] of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. 18 Whereupon neither the first [testament] was dedicated without blood. 19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, 20 Saying, This [is] the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. :20 This is the blood Quoting Moses: Ex 24:8 And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled [it] on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words. But look at what Jesus said: Mt 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. 22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. :22 almost all things are by the law purged with blood There is one bloodless sin offering Le 5:11-13 But if he be not able to bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, then he that sinned shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering; he shall put no oil upon it, neither shall he put [any] frankincense thereon: for it [is] a sin offering. 12 Then shall he bring it to the priest, and the priest shall take his handful of it, [even] a memorial thereof, and burn [it] on the altar, according to the offerings made by fire unto the LORD: it [is] a sin offering. 13 And the priest shall make an atonement for him as touching his sin that he hath sinned in one of these, and it shall be forgiven him: and [the remnant] shall be the priest's, as a meat offering. 23. [It was] therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, [which are] the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: 25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; 26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. :27 it is appointed unto men once to die This is a good Bible verse to use with those who are dabbling in reincarnation. Can a man die and then be born back in another body? No! You die, then comes judgment. :28 unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time Look - eagerly wait apekdechomai 1) assiduously and patiently waiting for 2Ti 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.