Sunday
Morning Bible Study
September
9, 2018
Announce
Baptism:
What is baptism all about?
Baptism is a step of obedience we take after we’ve decided to follow Jesus.
Some of you were baptized when you were babies, and though we appreciate
your parents’ desire for you to get connected to God, the Bible teaches that
baptism is for believers, not babies.
It will not save you – you are saved by trusting in Jesus.
It will not change your life – your life is changed by following Jesus.
It will make a statement – you can invite your family and friends and let
them see that you are going to follow Jesus.
Baptism is an outward expression of what God has already done in your life.
Introduction
We don’t know for sure who wrote the book of Hebrews, but we do have a
pretty good idea of who it was written to.
Hebrews was written to Jewish believers.
The author expects the
readers to be well acquainted with Levitical worship and sacrifice.
He will constantly quote the Old Testament in a way that expects that the
reader understands what he’s talking about.
We also know that these believers were encountering very strong
persecution.
Times were so bad that some were beginning to wonder if they shouldn’t quit
following Jesus.
We will see three elements woven throughout this letter to the Hebrews.
1. Both Testaments
Even though the Old Testament has become “obsolete” (Heb. 8:13), the entire
book of Hebrews is built upon the clear foundation of the Old Testament.
(Hebrews 8:13 NKJV)
In
that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what
is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
You aren’t going to understand Hebrews, or even the New Testament correctly
unless you learn the Old Testament.
2. Jesus is superior
He’s superior to angels, Moses, and the Torah.
He’s superior to the Levitical priests and their sacrifices.
3. Don’t quit
The ultimate goal of the book is to encourage those who are struggling with
difficult times, and help them to endure.
(Hebrews 9:1–5
NKJV) —1 Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of
divine service and the earthly sanctuary. 2 For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was
the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary; 3 and behind
the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All,
4 which had
the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold,
in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded,
and the tablets of the covenant; 5 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy
seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.
Our writer didn’t want to take time to go into detail about the things of
the Tabernacle.
His readers were Jewish, and they understood these things.
Most of us aren’t Jewish, and so even though we won’t do an exhaustive
study of these things, we will take a little bit of time to make sure you are
up to speed on the general sense of these things.
9:1-5 The Tabernacle
:1 Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine
service and the earthly sanctuary.
:1 the first covenant had ordinances of divine service
The Law of Moses had things very carefully laid out as to how God was to be
worshipped.
first covenant – The Law of Moses
ordinances - dikaioma -
that which has been deemed right so as to have force of law
Adding “-ma” on the end of a word makes it a “work of …”
Spiritual gifts are charisma, or
“works of grace”.
This is a work of “righteousness”
The church has divine ordinances as well, and we are celebrating two of
them today – communion and baptism.
divine service - latreia -
service; to perform sacred services
This is related to the word we talked about last week when we talked about
“ministry”.
This is the priestly service performed in the Tabernacle and Temple.
The Old Covenant came with a prescribed way to worship God.
Our praise and prayer are parts of our “divine service” to God.
:1 and the earthly sanctuary
sanctuary - hagios – holy,
set apart for God
A “sanctuary” is a “holy place” set apart for God’s use.
earthly - kosmikos - of or
belonging to the world; earthly
The old covenant had a holy place on earth to conduct worship.
Moses was told to build a place of worship called the “Tabernacle” here on
earth that was to be a “model” of heaven.
:2 For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was
the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary;
:2 a tabernacle was prepared
prepared – kataskeuazo –
to furnish, equip, prepare, make ready
tabernacle - skene – tent
This is the tent that Moses set up in the wilderness.
The entire tent was 45 feet long, 15 feet wide, and was divided into two
sections.
The first section was 30x15 feet, the second section was 15x15 feet.
The tabernacle had walls made of gold covered wooden planks, and then the
entire structure was covered with several layers of cloth.
What’s that mean?
At the end of every “Bones” TV show, there’s a quick line from the
producer…
As we work our way through the Tabernacle, we will stop and ask that
question.
Lesson
It’s about Jesus
Many authors will simply say that it’s all about Jesus. They will point to the Tabernacle and each
item in it and say it’s a picture of Jesus.
You certainly can’t go wrong with that.
John wrote,
(John
1:14 NKJV) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His
glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and
truth.
The word translated “dwelt” is literally “tabernacle” or,
“set up a tent”.
He came to earth and dwelt inside a fleshly “tent”.
Lesson
It’s about worship
Some commentaries that will take every piece of the Tabernacle and connect
it to Jesus.
John wrote that Jesus “tabernacled” among us (John 1:14).
I will assume you’ll see Jesus in each thing and we will look at other
issues as well.
The word in vs. 1 for “divine service” (latreia)
is the word we saw last week about our worship of God.
The Tabernacle was meant to teach men how to approach and give worship to
God.
The outer courtyard involves sacrifice and washing. You can’t even get to the tent without these
elements.
When we deal with our sins, we find that Jesus has paid
the price, and He washes us clean.
Worship starts with cleansing your heart.
:2 the first part … the
sanctuary
sanctuary - hagios – holy
The Tabernacle of Moses had two rooms in it.
This first room a priest would enter was called “the Holy Place”, here
called the “sanctuary”. The second room was the “Holy of Holies.
Any priest, not just the High Priest, could take a turn at performing the
“service” or “worship” inside this first room.
Twice a day a priest would enter to work with the lamp.
In the morning he would put out the light, clean the lamp, trim the wick,
and refill it with fresh oil.
In the evening he would relight the lamp.
Twice a day a priest would burn incense on the golden altar and offer up
the prayers of the people, doing this at the same time as he works with the
lamp.
Once a week a priest would replace the old showbread with fresh.
:2 the lampstand
lampstand - luchnia - a
lamp stand
This is the Menorah.
The lampstand was fashioned from a single piece of gold with a central stem
with six branches coming from it, making seven lights.
The Jewish Hanukkah menorah has nine branches.
Moses was given instructions about building the lampstand while he was on
Mount Sinai. (Ex. 25:31-40)
(Exodus 25:31–40
NKJV) —31 “You shall also make a lampstand of pure gold; the lampstand shall
be of hammered work. Its shaft, its branches, its bowls, its ornamental
knobs, and flowers shall be of one piece. 32 And six branches shall come out of
its sides: three branches of the lampstand out of one side, and three branches
of the lampstand out of the other side. 33 Three bowls shall be made like almond blossoms on one
branch, with an ornamental knob and a flower, and three bowls
made like almond blossoms on the other branch, with an ornamental
knob and a flower—and so for the six branches that come out of the lampstand. 34 On the
lampstand itself four bowls shall be made like almond blossoms, each
with its ornamental knob and flower. 35 And there shall be a knob
under the first two branches of the same, a knob under the second
two branches of the same, and a knob under the third two branches of the
same, according to the six branches that extend from the lampstand. 36 Their knobs
and their branches shall be of one piece; all of it shall be one
hammered piece of pure gold. 37 You shall make seven lamps for it, and they shall arrange its lamps
so that they give light in front of it. 38 And its wick-trimmers and their trays shall be of pure gold.
39 It shall be
made of a talent of pure gold, with all these utensils. 40 And see to
it that you make them according to the pattern which was shown you on
the mountain.
What’s that mean?
What does the lampstand represent?
Lesson
God is light
Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12)
(John 8:12 NKJV) Then Jesus
spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me
shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
The Holy Spirit
When John saw his vision of heaven…
(Revelation
4:5 NKJV) And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices.
Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven
Spirits of God.
We think this “seven Spirits” is a reference to the Holy
Spirit.
Lesson
Be a light
Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12), and these “lamps” are also
related to the Holy Spirit (Rev. 4:5)
I can’t help but think it we’re in this too.
Jesus told His disciples:
(Matthew
5:14–16 NKJV) —14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill
cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a
lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your
light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your
Father in heaven.
Maybe the act of worship, coming into God’s “Holy Place” is where we get
our oil lamps cleaned, where we get refilled with the Spirit, and can go out
and burn brightly in the world.
:2 the table, and the showbread
table - trapeza - a table
This was a small wooden table overlaid with gold had a simple purpose, to
hold the bread.
The table was made of wood, overlaid with gold. It was 3 feet long, 1 1/2
feet wide, and 1 1/2 feet high.
showbread - prothesis - a
setting forth of a thing, placing of it in view
The Hebrew text of Exodus 25:30 calls this Lechem HaPanim, or, “bread of the Presence”. This was bread placed in God’s presence.
(Exodus 25:30 NKJV)
And
you shall set the showbread on the table before Me always.
The bread consisted of twelve thick loaves of freshly baked bread placed on
the table every Sabbath.
There were twelve loaves for the twelve tribes of Israel.
When the new loaves were placed on the table, the old loaves were taken
away and eaten by the priests.
(Exodus 25:23–30
NKJV) —23 “You shall also make a table of acacia wood; two cubits shall be
its length, a cubit its width, and a cubit and a half its height. 24 And you
shall overlay it with pure gold, and make a molding of gold all around. 25 You shall
make for it a frame of a handbreadth all around, and you shall make a gold
molding for the frame all around. 26 And you shall make for it four rings of gold, and put the rings on
the four corners that are at its four legs. 27 The rings
shall be close to the frame, as holders for the poles to bear the table. 28 And you
shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table
may be carried with them. 29 You shall make its dishes, its pans, its pitchers, and its bowls
for pouring. You shall make them of pure gold. 30 And you shall set the showbread on
the table before Me always.
What’s that mean?
Lesson
Jesus is the Bread
After all, He was the one that said,
(John 6:48–51 NKJV)
—48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 This is the
bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the
living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will
live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give
for the life of the world.”
When we share in communion, the bread is supposed to
remind us that His body was broken, and that when we receive Jesus we have
eternal life.
Lesson
Satisfaction
Yes, Jesus is the Bread of Life (John 6:48-51), and we even connect with
that during communion as we remember the symbolism of His body in the elements.
Yet in the Tabernacle, there were twelve loaves, as if there was a loaf for
every tribe of Israel.
After the bread sat before God’s presence all week, it was then eaten by
the priests.
(John 6:35 NKJV) And Jesus
said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger,
and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
This is an important lesson for Christians to grasp.
Mick Jagger sang…
Video: Satisfaction
Isn’t it funny we scream for the guy who doesn’t know satisfaction?
Jesus can satisfy your deepest longing.
Some of us get into trouble because we start thinking that
we need other things to take away that deep inner spiritual hunger.
Some turn to self-medicate through drugs or alcohol,
hoping to numb the pain.
Others turn to every kind of sexual experience, hoping to
find fulfillment.
Others look to money, cars, or clothes, or the latest
gadget to satisfy.
Maturity comes beloved when you find Jesus satisfying your inner hunger.
You’ll find this in the bread of His presence.
:3 and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called
the Holiest of All,
:3 behind the second veil
behind – meta – with
accusative (here) it means “after, or behind”
veil - katapetasma - a
veil spread out, a curtain
There were two “curtains” that served as doorways in the Tabernacle.
The first curtain was the doorway into the first room, the “Holy Place”.
The second curtain separated the “Holy Place” from the “Holy of Holies”.
:3 which is called the Holiest of All
Literally, “holy of holies”
:4 which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all
sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna,
Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant;
:4 which had the golden censer
censer - thumiasterion - a
utensil for burning incense; an altar of incense
This was the golden “altar of incense”. (Exodus 30)
It was 1 ½ feet long by 1 ½ feet wide, and 3 feet high. It was made of
wood, overlaid with gold.
Its purpose was to burn incense as a symbol of prayer.
Incense rises before God like our prayers before His throne.
Moses was told to place this golden altar in front of the curtain (Ex. 30),
but our writer describes it as being “behind” the curtain because the smoke of
the incense wafts its way past the curtain.
(Exodus 30:1–6
NKJV) —1 “You shall make an altar to burn incense on; you shall make it of
acacia wood. 2 A cubit shall
be its length and a cubit its width—it shall be square—and two cubits shall
be its height. Its horns shall be of one piece with it. 3 And you
shall overlay its top, its sides all around, and its horns with pure gold; and
you shall make for it a molding of gold all around. 4 Two gold
rings you shall make for it, under the molding on both its sides. You shall
place them on its two sides, and they will be holders for the poles with
which to bear it. 5 You shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with
gold. 6 And you
shall put it before the veil that is before the ark of the Testimony,
before the mercy seat that is over the Testimony, where I will meet with
you.
What’s that mean?
What does this altar of incense represent?
Lesson
Jesus prays
One of His jobs in heaven is to pray for us.
(Hebrews 7:25 NKJV)
Therefore
He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him,
since He always lives to make intercession for them.
Lesson
He hears
Jesus is our chief prayer warrior (Heb. 7:25), but we too are priests and
we ought to be praying.
Your prayers reach heaven.
(Revelation 8:3–4
NKJV) —3 Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the
altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the
prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the
smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from
the angel’s hand.
Don’t think that your prayers aren’t going anywhere.
They ascend into God’s presence.
(Psalm
116:1 NKJV) I love the Lord,
because He has heard My voice and my supplications.
:4 the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold
ark - kibotos - a wooden
chest or box
covenant – diatheke – a
disposition, arrangement, a testament or will; a covenant
overlaid – perikalupto –
to cover all around, to cover up, cover over
Perfect passive participle
on all sides – pantothen –
from all sides, from every quarter
Don’t make more of the word “ark” than you should. It simply means a “box”. Like a file box.
This file box was made out of wood and covered with gold.
We talked last week about the Old “Covenant”, the “Old Testament”, which
was the Law of Moses.
Inside this box is the “covenant”, the stone tablets with the Ten
Commandments.
Our writer is describing the days of Moses and the Tabernacle, when the Ark
was kept in the Holy of Holies.
You can trace the location of the Ark throughout ancient Jewish history,
from the days of the judges, King David, and then Solomon put it in his Temple.
Since somewhere before the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians, the Ark of
the Covenant went missing.
In the 1940s an archaeologist found it…
Ok. Just kidding.
We’ll talk about the Ark’s “meaning” in a minute.
:4 in which were the golden pot that had the manna
There was more in the “box” than just the Ten Commandments.
pot – stamnos – pot, jar
The Israelites had been delivered from slavery in Egypt, just crossed the
Red Sea, and in Exodus 16 they ran out of food.
When they complained, God responded by sending this mysterious “stuff”
called manna every morning.
(Exodus 16:31 NKJV)
And
the house of Israel called its name Manna. And it was like white
coriander seed, and the taste of it was like wafers made with
honey.
“Manna” means “what is it??”
The people were to go out early every morning, and they would find the
stuff all around their camp. They were
to collect as much as they needed for that day, then bring it back, cook it,
and eat it.
If the people tried to keep the excess overnight, it bred worms and got
stinky.
It was only good for one day.
On the day before the Sabbath, the people were told to collect two days’
worth, and this time the extra food didn’t go bad. When the people obeyed God and rested on the
Sabbath, their needs were met.
God told Moses to keep a half gallon of the stuff in the Ark as a reminder.
(Ex. 16:33)
(Exodus 16:33 NKJV)
And
Moses said to Aaron, “Take a pot and put an omer of manna in it, and lay it up
before the Lord, to be kept for
your generations.”
An “omer” is about two quarts. Think of a half-gallon milk carton filled
with this “manna”.
What’s that mean?
Lesson
God meets needs
It was all an amazing lesson of how God provides for our physical needs.
Jesus taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread”.
When we come into God’s presence, we are reminded that God provides just
what we need.
Paul wrote,
(Philippians 4:19
NKJV) And my God shall supply all your need according to His
riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
God doesn’t promise to supply all your “wants” or all your
“lusts”. He promises to supply for your
needs.
:4 Aaron’s rod that budded
that budded - blastano - to sprout, bud, put forth new
leaves; to produce
In Numbers 17, a man named Korah got a group of guys together and they
decided they didn’t like the idea that God had picked Aaron to be the High
Priest.
They thought they could do as good as Aaron did.
One of the things God did to settle the argument was to have each man
provide a rod (like a walking stick) with his name on it, and they would put
all the rods before God’s presence overnight.
The next day, something amazing had happened to Aaron’s rod.
(Numbers 17:8 NKJV)
Now
it came to pass on the next day that Moses went into the tabernacle of witness,
and behold, the rod of Aaron, of the house of Levi, had sprouted and put forth
buds, had produced blossoms and yielded ripe almonds.
It was God’s way of saying that He had picked Aaron to be the High Priest.
Aaron’s rod was put with the Ark as a reminder of that day.
What’s that mean?
Lesson
God picks your calling
The world wants to tell us that we can be whatever we want to be as long as
we believe in ourselves and try our best.
The Bible teaches that God is the one who gives us gifts, abilities, and
ministries.
We will do our best when we learn to find out what God has called us to do.
We will know we’re in the right place when we bear fruit in what we do (or,
produce nuts!)
By Solomon’s day, the pot of manna and the rod of Aaron were apparently
missing. (1Ki. 8:9)
(1 Kings 8:9 NKJV) Nothing was
in the ark except the two tablets 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 and the tablets of the covenant
tablets - plax - a flat
thing, broad tablet, plane, level surface (as of the sea)
Moses was the first one to download something from the cloud onto a tablet.
These were the stone tablets that Moses had brought down from the mountain
with the Ten Commandments on them.
:5 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of
these things we cannot now speak in detail.
in detail - meros - a
part; one of the constituent parts of a whole; any particular, in regard to
this, in this respect
:5 above it were the cherubim of glory
cherubim - cheroubim -
cherubim, angelic beings
Molded as one piece on the lid of the Ark were two angelic beings that
faced towards each other, wings stretched forward and touching each other.
These fellows are called by different names. Isaiah saw God’s throne…
(Isaiah 6:2 NKJV) Above it
stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two
he covered his feet, and with two he flew.
:5 overshadowing the mercy seat
overshadowing - kataskiazo -
to overshadow, cover with shade
mercy seat – hilasterion –
mercy seat; place of propitiation
It’s based on the word hileos,
which is one of the words that means “mercy”.
It’s where you would receive forgiveness and mercy.
We’ll see that this is where blood from a sacrifice was sprinkled, and
forgiveness was granted.
In the Old Testament it translates the Hebrew word kophar, which means to “cover” or “wash away”. The blood of sacrifice was to give the
picture of “covering” our sins, it “washes them away”.
We find mercy through the sacrifice.
God’s throne is a place of mercy, a place covered with angels.
What’s that mean?
Lesson
God’s Throne
This is God’s Throne
The Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat form a model of God’s throne.
God is seated on a throne established by His covenant, His Word, His ways.
God keeps His Word. He’s all about
“Truth”.
He’s serious that we understand Him for who He says He is.
God’s throne is a place of mercy.
He wants to forgive your sins.
He wants to wash away your sins.
And yes, it’s also a picture of Jesus.
(John 1:14 NKJV) And the Word
became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the
only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Let’s review and see if you can recognize the things we’ve talked about.
Lesson
Get to God
The lessons of Tabernacle worship are all about getting to the main
destination – God.
And you can’t get there without Jesus.
We don’t come to church just to hang out with people (though that’s very
important)
We don’t come to church just to learn stuff.
We come to church to meet with God.
It was in the Holy of Holies where God met with man.
(Exodus 25:22 NKJV)
And
there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy
seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the
Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the
children of Israel.