Old Testament: Isaiah 11 & 12
Poetry: Psalm 64
New Testament: Hebrews 9
I worked at a nuclear power plant a few years ago, in its documents department. I rarely had to enter the main part of the plant, which involved passing through radiation detectors on the way out, but I learned about safety procedures, shielding, radiation levels, etc. Different parts of the plant had increased levels of risk and protection connected to them. There was also a limit on individuals’ total allowed lifetime exposure to radiation at the plant, which needed to be tracked. Each day meetings were held to discuss mistakes which had been reported at plants around the country, to gather what could be learned from them. Safety was considered highly important; workers have sometimes died in nuclear plants after what would be viewed as simple errors in other settings.
My experiences at that nuclear plant may affect how I now think about the tabernacle. I recall the fact that people were only scheduled to enter the central reactor chamber for refueling every 18 months, and after long and careful planning. I compare that with the high priest only entering the Holy of Holies one day of the year after carefully preparing his purity for that event. I also remember the account of how Moses’ face would glow after he spent time speaking with God. Moses covered that glow with a veil, trying to put people’s minds at ease. Even before that, when the people said they did not want to hear from God directly anymore, God agreed that was for the best (Exodus 34:29-35; Deuteronomy 5:25-29). No analogy is perfect of course, but I don’t think that God could help being dangerous to humans under the first covenant. God protected the Hebrews by limiting their exposure to direct contact with such pure holiness. They were not fit for returning to a Garden of Eden-type relationship with their creator. They needed separation, division, mediation.
In the first covenant people were to be kept safe by many rules. The Levites and priests were to guide them, teaching them what they needed to know. Everything was wrapped in warnings. But the teachers did not always teach, and the students did not learn well enough. Nations fell. Happily, joyously, a new covenant with better promises came and we now have a mediator who can do more than purify from things done in ignorance (Hebrews 9:7). We have Jesus, who can cleanse the conscience from dead works so that we can serve the living God (v. 9, 14). Our perfecting is not yet complete in this age, but while we look forward to its fulfillment we have reason to eagerly await our Lord Jesus (v. 28). We have been offered something quite different from what was offered to the Hebrews in Moses’ time.
Lord, please let us have a joy that matches the wonder of what you have done for us. Please allow our lives to demonstrate an appreciation for you that is suitable to what you have done. I don’t know what you have in store for tomorrow, but I know that you are a God of wonderful surprises. Even if I will only see the kinds of miracles from you that I have seen before, they justify my praise and exaltation to you. Let me always eagerly await your son, who has done so much in my life. I want to be eager and ready to speak about how wonderful he is. Amen, my Lord!
-Daniel Smead
Reflection Questions
- What does this text tell us about how God values His son? What does it tell us about how God values His creation?
- You may have read or heard the idea that high priests entered the Holy of Holies with a rope tied to their ankle in case they died while inside, so they could be pulled out. This seems to be one of the ‘holy myths’ that develops around the edges of the Bible. The first we find of the story was many hundreds of years after the Temple had been destroyed, with no strong reason to think it was true. The Law specifies what a high priest was to wear, and the story as told would violate those standards. Perhaps it results from someone wanting to build up the dangers of the role, or having asked “what if” questions. Do you think such stories are problems of themselves?
- Do you feel that you eagerly await Jesus? If you do not, what holds you back from feeling that way?
Seek Grow Love 