Daily Devotion in Hebrews 9

Artwork from a 1611 KJV

Daily Nugget:
In Hebrews 9, Paul continued to address the worship the Hebrews were familiar with before their salvation. Although that chapter continues about the priesthood, he also delved into examining the tabernacle.Tabernacle

The tabernacle was the first “church” the Jews built. When Moses was on the mountain with God and received the ten commandments, he also received instructions from God on how to make the mobile center for reverencing God. The tent was only 45 feet long and 15 feet wide, but the structure and furnishings pictured a future change in the way of worshiping. It pictured Christ.

Paul made it clear that this early place of worship was a glimpse of future things. At least six times, the preacher used terminology indicating that even their forefathers were taught that their tabernacle worship was only temporary and illustrated another worship that would one day come. Paul used words such as “signifying” (Hebrews 9:8), “was not yet made manifest,” “figure” (Hebrews 9:9), ”greater and more perfect tabernacle” (Hebrews 9:11), “patterns” (Hebrews 9:23), and “figures” (Hebrews 9:24).

All this effort God made to show early followers of Him what would come one day was to prepare them for the perfect “tabernacle” and “Priest.” Yet, with all the symbolism, pictures, and types, many did not recognize Jesus when He came.

To this day, many still do not recognize the fulfillment of God’s many promises. Some trust priesthood, ornate places of “worship,” traditions, and many practices that were only for a short, temporary time and certainly not for today.

A perfect way to worship God is available. Still, too many would worship the way they feel is right rather than accept the way God now demands. They will miss all God has planned for them because they did not grasp that Christ did it all for them!

Today’s Thought: 
“Move from the shadow (symbols) to the substance (the Son).”  — Author Unknown

Words to Understand:
Carnal: desires of the body
Censer: a container for burning incense
Cherubims: creatures mentioned throughout the Bible.  Ezekiel 25 describes them as having four faces or heads and having wings.
Divers: different; more than one
Heifer: A young cow
Manna: small, round bread rained from Heaven to feed the Jews when they first left Egypt
Sanctuary: In this chapter it is referring to the largest part of the tabernacle, and not the Holiest of Holies.
Shewbread: loaves of bread the tabernacle priest  places on the table to be offered to the Lord
Transgressions: violations of God’s laws

Today’s Reading:
Hebrews 9
1 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.
2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.
3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;
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;
5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak
particularly.
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.
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.
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.