We see in the Old Testament that worship had some of the same practices of today and some of the practices were different practices. Music was always a part of the worship services along with singing, but giving of sacrifices by holy priests do not happen in Christian or Jewish services today. But, we will look at how they worshipped in the temple or tabernacle because it will give us an appreciation of how in our worship we can enter into the presence of God without a high priest coming before God to sacrifice animals for us to become holy enough for His presence.
A look at the first tabernacle and worship recorded in the Word of God, we see Moses on Mt Sinai, where God is giving him the law and the Ten Commandments. We see in Exodus 25: 2 God telling Moses to build a sanctuary so He could dwell among His people. Isn’t that beautiful, God the Creator of the universe wanted a place to dwell among His people. In chapter 26-27 begins the account of how the tabernacle should be built. Then chapters 28 and 29 gives information on the priests’ garments and how they have to be consecrated to go into the Most Holy Place. Reading further in Exodus, chapters 35-39, we see that the tabernacle was built according to God’s expectation. This tabernacle was transient, it moved with the children of Israel through the wilderness.
Let’s take a closer look at chapter 29, we see that the Aaron and his sons were to be the priests, and were to be the ones that offered up sacrifices to God for the people. It explains exactly how they were to prepare the sacrifice and what to do with then once prepared. Several sacrifices and offerings were to be done on a regularly example, there was a continual burnt offering (v. 42-43).
The high priests were the ones that would make the sin offerings to God for the people turning away from Him. We see this throughout the Old Testament. These priests were the only ones that could go into the Most Holy Place where the Ark of the Covenant with the Mercy seat were stored. In the Most Holy Place the priest after being consecrated could and enter into God’s presence and speak with Him, and God would speak with them. If protocol was not followed, it could mean the death of the preists. This was a big part of worship to God.
Now let’s look at Hebrews where the high priest and the tabernacle are discussed. Look at Hebrews 5
1.For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men things in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2. He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray since he himself is also subject to weakness. 3. Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself to offer sacrifices for sins. 4. And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was.
Now let’s go back to chapter 4 of Hebrews verses 14-16
14. Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold our confession.15. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in the time of need.
We see that Jesus is our High Priest and that we can go to the throne of grace when we need help. Now in chapter 8 after talking about the priesthood it states
- Now, this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,2. a Minister of the sanctuary and of the tabernacle which the Lord erected and not man.
It continues to talk of Jesus being a heavenly priest and not of this earth. In chapter 9 we see that the sanctuary or tabernacle is discussed. It compares the earthly sanctuary with the heavenly sanctuary. Verses 1-10 deals with the tabernacle of the Old Testament and beginning in verse 11 it begins to speak about the heavenly sanctuary and how Christ offered Himself to God without spot(sinless), .. and then 13 –For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of the heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
Jesus gave Himself as a sacrifice so we could live before God without being sin conscience -and full of guilt. We are cleansed by the Lamb of God and take on His rightousness. We can be filled with the spirit.
Now let’s go to I Corinthians 3: 16 Do you know that ye are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
I Corinthians 6:19 Or, do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20. For you were brought at a price, therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Now when we see John 4:24 when Jesus says “God is Spirit and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth, we can understand that we worship Him through the Lord Jesus who is the truth, and because of what He did for us through giving of Himself as the ultimate sacrifice, we have the Spirit of God within us, so now we can worship Him in Spirit.
