Hebrews 9:7-10
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.
I find it interesting that Paul relates here to the second tabernacle. Here was only one tabernacle in Old Testament times. Or should I say that God instructed them to build one tabernacle. Within that tabernacle were three distinct areas. There was a common place, where all the people brought their sacrifices to the priest and they offered those sacrifice upon the altar, washing in between offerings in the laver. Hen there was the holy place, which was behind a veil. His is where the priests ministered daily to the Lord by keeping the candles lit, renewing the shewbread on the table, and offering incense on the table of incense. Last of all there was the Holy of Holies, which was not only behind a veil but had a roof over it as well. His is where the Ark of the Covenant was kept, which was regarded as the very presence of God. It is the Holy of Holies that Paul is referring to here as the second tabernacle.
A tabernacle is defined as a fixed or movable habitation. It was considered a dwelling place for God. He Cloud by day and the fire by night appeared over the Holy of Holies when the people of God were stationary, and moved to the front of the masses when the people were moving. Hat is because the Ark was always at the front of the people, carried with gold poles that were put through gold eyelets on the side of the Ark of the Covenant. Since the Ark represented the very presence of God, it could not be touched. We all remember the story of the man who touched the Ark when it was being brought back from the camp of the Philistines in 2 Samuel 6. That is because the Ark was the holiest of all things, and would be defiled by anyone touching it. The Ark was the very prewe3nce of God amidst the people. The dwelling place, or tabernacle for the Ark was the Holy of Holies, which Paul calls the second tabernacle here.
In Leviticus 16 God established the Day of Atonement. It was the tenth day of the seventh month, and it was a special day. No one was allowed to work, and all the people were to be in an attitude of repentance. On this day, the High Priest alone would bath himself completely, put on the linen garments of the High Priest, and make a special offering. His offering consisted of a bull and two goats. The bull was offered as a sin offering for all the people on the altar, and some of the blood was sprinkled on the Ark of the Covenant. He then separated the goats, and one goat was let go. It was the scapegoat, and signified the sins of Israel leaving the camp. The other goat was offered on the altar, but this time the High priest would take the blood into the Holy of Holies and offer the blood directly on the mercy city atop the Ark of the Covenant. While this offering is taking place, there was to be absolutely no one else in any part of the whole tabernacle. Only the high priest. Only once a year. This was the offering that was made for the sins of all the people to have those sins forgiven by God. All known and unknown sins. All sins of omission and sins of conscience. All sins. It was the most special day on the Jewish calendar., the tenth day of the seventh month. I urge you to go back and read about it. Leviticus 16!
All of this was done because there was no other way that the sins of the people could be atoned for, and even this day could not make the perfect, because even the one offering the sacrifice upon the mercy seta was not perfect. The priest had to sacrifice for himself also, because he was a sinner. All were sinners. They were using sacrifices that God intended, but even God knew that these types of sacrifices could not clear their conscience. God knew that sin would still come back again and again and again. he blood of bulls and goats, sheep and doves, would suffice for the journey through the wilderness and the appointed time, but it was not a ritual that would make a person perfect.
I find the ark most fascinating, and the items that were in it even more fascinating. Inside the ark was some manna, the rod of Aaron that budded, and the tables of the law, the Ten Commandments. These represent God’s provision, God/s power and the word of God. Manna, when left for more than a day, just plain stunk. It was not made to last more than a day. Aaron’s rod was but a dead stick of wood, but it budded on command. The Ten Commandments had to be heavy and burdensome to carry. But they were in the Ark, preserved for all time. However, they were covered by the mercy seat. They were covered by the mercy of God. The law, the power and the provision are all under the mercy of God. We must remember this when presenting the Gospel. Whether we use the law, the power or the provision of God in our witness, we must be sure it is all done under the umbrella of mercy. His mercy is protected by the angels, represented by the Cherubim that sit upon the Ark with their wing outstretched. God covers all things with mercy, and we should be sure to have mercy on all others, Christian or not.
Are you showing mercy everywhere you go, but making sure the law is also covered with your witness? Are you praying for healing and seeing those prayers answered because you called on God to have mercy on them? Are you helping people out and providing for their needs, both physical and emotional, while showing mercy to them. It’s all about mercy, my friend. It’s all about mercy.