THE HOLY OF HOLIES.
Exo_25:10-22; Num_7:89; Hebrews 9.
There were three divisions in the Tabernacle. The "court," the "holy place," and the "holy of holies," perhaps corresponding to the body, soul, and spirit. In the innermost of all the God of glory dwells. The holy of holies was but a small apartment, 15 feet every way, a perfect cube. What condescension for the God of Heaven to manifest His presence in such a lowly place. God, who dwells in the high and holy place, dwells also with him who is of a humble spirit (Isa_57:15).
Why was it called the "holy of holies?" Because it was the abode of Him who is the "holiest of all." The presence of God makes holy. The secret of all holiness is the indwelling of the holy One. It is not so much an attainment as a possession, not so much a rising up as a bowing down. All holiness is in God. We are holy just in proportion as we are filled with the holy One. Be filled with the Spirit, and Christ the holy One shall dwell in your heart by faith (Eph_3:16-17).
The way into the holiest was only by the blood. There is no holiness possible to man but through the blood of Jesus. The priest approached this sacred place but once a year, not without blood, with shoeless feet, and clothed in white linen robes. Here that voice was ever heard saying, "Put off thy shoes from thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground" (Exo_3:5). Looking for holiness is a solemn and awful search. It is seeking to live in the light and presence of Him who tryeth the heart and who cannot look upon sin. It implies the concentration of all our desires into one purpose, to glorify Him (Psa_27:4). We don’t know that the priest ever uttered an audible word within the vail. The nearer we come to God the more we are inclined "to keep silence before Him." The holy of holies is the true place of worship. May His presence ever be so real to us that when we do bow to worship we shall realise in deed and in truth that we fall down before Him.
Why did the high priest never refer to what he saw within the vail? There are spiritual experiences which are not to be talked about. Eye blinding visions and heart melting manifestations that are unspeakable. Paul was caught up to the third Heaven (holy of holies), and heard unspeakable words which it is impossible for a man to utter (2Co_12:1-4). These are some of the secret soul-satisfying evidences Christians have, that the wisdom of the world knows nothing about. A meat to eat that they knew not of. But remember, only in the holy of holies shall it be seen. "In the secret of Thy Tabernacle, O Lord, hide Thou me!"
I. The Ark and the Mercy-Seat. The furniture of the most holy place was very scant. There is no need for much else where God Himself is. Having Him, we have all things and abound. The ark and the golden censer alone had their place inside the vail. The ark with its mercy-seat lid, covering a law that had been broken, representing the finished work of Christ. The ever-present censer (unless on the great day of atonement) suggesting continual intercession before God.
It is most interesting to notice that the ark was the first vessel God instructed Moses to make. In revealing this way of salvation God began with that which was nearest to Himself. This ladder came down from Heaven. It was a way made from within. How could it be otherwise if man is to be saved by grace? The first step toward redemption is a divine one. As it has been "God first" for us, so it should be "God first" in us. There are two ways of looking at the great salvation accomplished for us through Christ Jesus. Looked at from within we see the sovereign grace of God coming out to man, seeking him in spite of all his sin and guilt. Looked at from without we see man’s great responsibility.
II. The Materials of the Ark. It was made of "shittim wood, overlaid with gold within and without." Once more the double character of the Lord Jesus as the way to God is before us. The wood telling us of His human nature, the gold of His divine. Here humanity in the Person of Christ is glorified both within and without. As a Man God was glorified in His inward thoughts and in His outward acts alike. The wood of itself is of little worth, but the gold gave value and preciousness to it. Here all the worth of the gold is imputed to the wood It was one ark. Precious thought, all the value and power of divinity is in Christ our Lord as the Son of Man. He is risen now in the form of Man, yet possessing all the preciousness and power of Almighty God. Within the vail He is the glorified Man, both within and without. No wonder Peter calls His blood "precious." The life is in the blood. All the value of the eternal God was in the Blood of Jesus. The divinity of Christ gives infinite efficacy to the blood of Christ. The Unitarian delusion has not a spot for the sole of its foot in the types of the Tabernacle. Every vessel is a condemnation of such a Christ-dishonouring creed. The wood in the ark within was the same as the wood in the altar without (shittim), proclaiming the truth that the Jesus who suffered on the Cross without is the very same Jesus who is glorified on the throne within. God has highly exalted Him who became obedient unto death.
III. The Position of the Ark. As you already know the ark rested in the holy of holies. Christ, "who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God," is now in the presence of the living God serving Him (Heb_9:14). God’s high estimate of Jesus is seen in His finding rest in the presence of God.
The ark was the centre of the camp of Israel. God was in the midst of her. Jesus Christ His Son was, and is, in the midst of all God’s plans and purposes. By Him God made all things; "without Him was not anything made that was made" (Joh_1:1-3). Through Him God made the world; through Him God also redeemed it; in all things He has the pre-eminence. Let us give Christ the high place God gives Him, the Centre of all. May He be in the centre of our hearts, our purposes, and lives! This is His true place. "If any man open the door I will come in" (Rev_3:20). All the other vessels were valueless without this one. They all prepared the way to this, they were but steps leading up to fellowship with God here at the mercy-seat. We are saved and sanctified that we might be made meet to serve and worship.
IV. The Contents of the Ark. There were three things in the ark. The tables of the law, the pot of manna, and the rod that budded. The contents of the ark represent what Christ has secured in behalf of His people, an inheritance for the saints. Let us look at them-
1. The Tables of the Law. The law is holy, just, and good. It represents the holy and righteous demands of a just God. It was given at the hands of Moses to a people who clamoured for a written declaration of His will, and who said, "All that the Lord hath spoken we will do" (Exo_19:8). And while the law was being received they danced around a golden calf. The law was broken and judgment incurred. When man failed at first God did not give him a law but a promise (Gen_3:15). He knew that man could never be saved through law-keeping. "By the deeds of the law shall no man be justified" (Rom_3:20). By the law is the knowledge of sin, not the forgiveness of sin. By works man is a great failure. But now, since man has failed, grace comes in. God tells Moses to shut up the law in the ark. The ark literally kept the law. The lid or golden mercy-seat covered it, and hid it in the heart of the ark. "The law was given by Moses, but grace came by Jesus Christ" (Joh_1:17). Christ as the ark of God could say, "Thy law have I hid in My heart, I delight to do Thy will, O my God." The holy broken law was shut up in Him. He kept it. He still keeps it. It was magnified in Him. Now it is taken out of the way as an obstacle in the way of men’s salvation, "Nailing it to His Cross" (Col_2:14). The law finds a peaceful resting-place in Him who is all glorious, both within and without. It is perfectly kept here. God Himself guards it and rests satisfied on Him who covers it. Now grace reigns in righteousness.
2. The Pot of Manna. The children of Israel fed on manna during the forty years of their wanderings. A golden pot of manna was deposited in the ark as a memorial. This was bread hidden in the ark, "hidden manna" (Rev_2:17). There is in Christ a secret soul-satisfying power. He is the Living Bread which came down from Heaven. The hidden bread can only be enjoyed by those who understand and appreciate a covered law. But perhaps the "hidden manna" in the ark, in which the God of glory rested, had also a heavenly aspect. Had it not a voice for God? The Lord Jesus Christ is also the "Bread of God," soul-satisfying food for the heart of His heavenly Father. The hidden law speaks of a justice that has been satisfied, the hidden manna of a satisfied heart-"This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Mat_3:17).
3. The Rod that Budded (Heb_9:4). The story of the rods is found in Numbers 17. The dead stick, representing Aaron, was made to bud and blossom, and bear fruit while it stood before God. The rod, then, signifies one chosen of God, One called to resurrection and life, One who was dead, but is alive again. In the ark was the rod that budded; in Christ is life for the dead. In the covered law we see His obedience; in the manna His body broken for us in death; in the rod His resurrection. The first is Christ, the Way; the second is Christ, the Truth; the third is Christ, the Life. "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life" (Joh_14:6).
V. The Lid of the Ark. This was a slab of solid gold which completely covered the ark. There was no wood in the lid, but it rested on shittim wood, overlaid with gold. Here we have the pure grace of God resting on Him who is both human and divine. Grace came by Jesus Christ. The great and wondrous thought here is, that this lid, while covering the ark, formed at the same time a mercy-seat for God. Carefully observe that this lid is called a "seat," the mercy-seat of God. We cannot think of a seat without associating with it the idea of rest. This was a resting-place for God. The only seat in this house of God was occupied by Himself. How refreshing it is to our hearts to know that God does find a place of rest in the finished work of His own dear Son. There is no other place where the weary soul of man can find rest from sin, but where God has found it, in the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Mat_11:28). Notice further that this seat was called the mercy-seat, the place where mercy sat. Mercy sat here because there the broken law was covered. Mercy reigns in Christ because in Him justice is fully satisfied. This was to Israel the "Throne of Grace." Here God rested to bestow His favour upon those who approached Him by the way of shed blood (Heb_10:19). "Seeing then that we have a great High Priest that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us therefore come boldly into the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Heb_4:14-16).
VI. The Grown of the Ark. Although we cannot all see eye to eye in our interpretation of the things which belong to the Tabernacle, yet I think we all agree that every whit speaketh of His glory. If every pin and cord has a tongue we may expect that the "crowns" will cry aloud. The crown of the ark was a rim of ornamental workmanship. It was a crown of glory. He who was despised and rejected among men is now "crowned with glory and honour" in the presence of God. But while the crown speaks of honour it also speaks of power and security. This golden rim, or crown, would prevent the lid of the ark from moving out of its place. It is of great importance that the mercy-seat should not be disturbed. The law can only minister death. If the covering is removed then grace is hindered, and judgment leaps forth. The fact that Christ is crowned with honour in Heaven as our Kinsman Redeemer is a double assurance that grace will save. As long as He sits before the Father mercy shall thus be enthroned. The time will come when He shall rise up. Then the lid will be lifted from the ark, the throne of mercy removed. The day of grace will then be gone. This is a solemn thought; do not trifle with the grace of God. "Behold, now is the accepted time." We have a forecast of this awful truth in 1 Samuel 6. The men of Bethshemish lifted the lid of the ark, and fifty thousand three score and ten men perished. They cried, "Who can stand before this Holy Lord God?" The answer is: none when the mercy-seat is removed. Despise the atoning and law-covering work of Jesus Christ, and you expose yourself to the vengeance of a broken law. "No man cometh unto the Father but by Me" (Joh_14:6).
VII. The Staves of the Ark. Concerning these shafts by which the ark was carried it was said, "They shall not be taken out." The staves abiding in the ark may teach us that the ministry was to be continuous. The efficacy of the ark was ever the same in behalf of the people. This also is precious to the believing heart. We may, and do, often come far short of walking worthy of such grace. We fail to take full advantage of our high privileges, and often stumble. But the throne of mercy remains the same toward us. The staves are ever in, always ready to help in time of need. Almighty grace is always within the reach of human need.
VIII. The Purpose of the Mercy-Seat. It was the only meeting place between God and man. "There will I meet with you" (Exo_25:22). Thank God there is a meeting place. God rested on the mercy-seat waiting to meet with man, there God is in Christ reconciling the world to Himself. There, in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Sacrifice and Mediator, will you meet with God in mercy. Here is a God ready to pardon. Will you meet Him now at a throne of grace, or afterwards at a throne of judgment? (Rom_3:24-25).
Autor: James Smith