We have just completed a series on “The Tabernacle in the Wilderness” in which the spiritual underpinnings of the Tabernacle and the Priesthood were covered. The majesty, the beauty, the order, the connection made with the presence of an almighty God, the sheer sacredness of it all…but how do we get from there to here?

And there is even more—the sacrifices and the feasts of the Old Testament round out the picture of a loving God guiding His misguided children (then and now) back to Him to realize a completeness they can never achieve on their own.

As I ponder these things, I understand there is a bridge that connects the tabernacle, the priesthood, the sacrifices and the feasts with a life in Christ today...that bridge is holiness. So, before we continue to an in-depth study of the sacrifices and feasts, we must stop awhile and ponder the meaning and significance of holiness.

To understand holiness, we need to understand more of who God is and what His character is like. We need to really understand that God is not like us...He is holy. Isaiah 6:3, “...Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts...” There is a huge gap between God and us and it is not bridgeable from our side—it is bridged only from the Holy God side.

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Three young people needlessly and tragically perished this past Wednesday as they were swept over Vernal Falls in California’s Yosemite National Park. They plunged 317 feet to their deaths because they ignored warning signs and crossed a barricade to pose for photographs. They refused to pay attention and disregarded the apparent and imminent danger.

God also has set boundaries for man to distinguish between right and wrong, truth and lies, light and dark, death and life. In Proverbs 22:28, He admonishes us to “not move the ancient boundary which your fathers have set.” All too often, there is a disregard and disobedience to God’s word resulting in eternal death and separation from a life with God. However, there does not have to be tragedy beyond God’s boundaries, for He declares, “‘Come now, and let us reason together,’ says the LORD, ‘Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool. If you consent and obey, you will eat the best of the land; But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.’ Truly, the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” (Isaiah 1:18-20)

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(Summation of the role of the High Priest in Jesus and today is found in Hebrews 8:1-2 and 6-8, Hebrews 9:2-15 and 24-28.)

The garments of the High Priest were specially selected by God to be symbolic of the character of Christ and thus the example we are to follow and live out in our lives as the High Priests of today.

The white trousers were worn underneath all of the garments symbolizing the purity we are to have underneath all we do. It also portrayed the sense of modesty and decency we should possess in worshipping God in holiness.

The tunic (coat) was worn under the other garments. It was also white, denoting the purity required in the priesthood and the purity we must still exhibit.

The sash was only worn on the Day of Atonement which denoted a girding of the loins ... a strengthening of the body portion where life is produced and eventually developed.

The blue tunic (robe) was a seamless garment depicting the timelessness of God – no beginning, no end. And on the bottom of the tunic were bells, symbolizing the ringing out of the good news of the gospel. In between the bells were sewn pomegranates of yarn. The pomegranates symbolized the fruitfulness of Jesus and acted as a “pad” that prevented discord from the bells clashing with each other. (Hmmm … maybe the churches of today should review that one!)

The turban was made of fine linen covering the head as the symbol of holiness and righteousness. The covering of the head signified subjection. Jesus, our Head, was always in subjection to His Father, always submitting to His will and not His own – the example we must follow.

The Sacred Diadem was placed on the turban on the forehead. The inscription on this plate was “Holy to the Lord”. Do we live today as if that sign were plastered on our foreheads?

We are the High Priests of today. We do not wear the physically evident garments of the priesthood of old. But we should be wearing the spiritual garments of the new covenant with our lives manifesting the meaning of each and every article of clothing each and every day.

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(See 2 Kings 21 and 2 Chronicles 33)

Manasseh was the 14th king of Judah, the son of Hezekiah. He reigned for 55 years and had the dubious legacy of being Judah’s most wicked king.

He was aggressive in the restoration of idolatry and idolatrous practices which his godly father, Hezekiah, had destroyed. He practiced divination, witchcraft, and he worshiped the sun, moon and the stars. Those who resisted his rule were killed. He even sacrificed his son (perhaps sons) to Molech, an Ammonite god. Some believe that he gave the command to have Isaiah sawn in two.

In light of these acts, it would be likely to believe that Manasseh’s enemies would welcome his demise and death. However, Manasseh humbled himself greatly and entreated (plead earnestly) the Lord while distressed in Babylonian captivity. God was moved by his entreaty and restored him to his kingdom in Jerusalem.

Here we have a powerful example of God’s great mercy, compassion and grace to forgive and save the most vile and wicked. Look in the mirror for another example of God’s grace and mercy: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

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Additional Audio: Personal testimony from the heart of Pastor Mark Parsons.

(Scriptural References: Hebrews 8:1-2, 6-8; Hebrews 9:2-15, 24-28; the Old Testament Scriptures outlined in the previous section)

Even the garments the priests wore were a description of the character of Christ. Because they were depicting His holiness, God commanded that the material, even the texture as well as the workmanship, were to be the very best and most excellent of its kind. There was to be fine linen, pure gold, precious stones, costly ointment, skilled workmanship and wise hearts in it all.

The garments of the priest were the ephod (breastplate) with gem stones, the white linen trousers, the white linen coat with sash, the blue tunic with pomegranates and bells on them and a head covering. Each and every piece, including each of the 12 gem stones had specific meaning, still applicable today. It is far too lengthy to recount them all in this summary, but each item is covered in the audio portion of this series.

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It appears that those who are quick to forgive others realize that they themselves have been forgiven much by our gracious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  (See Luke 7:36-50.)

Paul speaks of forbearance and forgiveness in Colossians 3:12-14, “So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; Bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.”

The KJV uses the expression, “forbearing with one another,” meaning to “put up with, endure, and suffer.”   However, we are not to forbear with contempt or disgust but with a heart of compassion being quick to forgive.

God was certainly patient with Israel and put up with them for forty years in the wilderness journey (see Acts 13:18). The whole time He was exhibiting His godly and holy forbearance with a disobedient and rebellious nation.

Ask Jesus to enable you to be more forbearing and forgiving, and strive to practice these virtues daily.

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(Scriptures on the details of the Tabernacle in the Wilderness can be found in Exodus Chapters 24-27 and 36-40; Scriptures on the details of the Priesthood can be found in Exodus Chapters 28-31)

God wanted His nation of Israel to be a nation of priests in order to share His glory and His blessings with the unbelieving nations that surrounded them. For Israel to become a holy people to magnify a holy God, God had to establish a holy priesthood.

Today, we must learn from this because God still wants His priests (us) to minister to the world as that holy and royal priesthood. We must be faithful to God and follow His lead exactly, just as the priests were required to back then. This is so that we may not fall away into idolatry (our “idea” of whom God is and what He wants). But rather that we proclaim the praises of Him Who called them out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9).

The priests of old had certain basic requirements that were to be met, as well as certain restrictions that kept them from serving as priests. None of that has changed and, as you will see in the attached Study Guide, the requirements and restrictions of the old priesthood still hold true for us today. For the Old Testament priests, it was a physical realm of responsibility; for the New Testament priests (us), it is a spiritual realm of responsibility. All praise be to our mighty God!

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In reading the account of Mary and Martha, we learn a lot from Martha's teachable spirit. I'm afraid I tend to be more like Martha sometimes, thinking I have value because I am productive. But I have learned along the way that I have value simply because I belong to Christ. It's not so much what I do, it's who I am in Him!

We also have some choices to make when we are corrected, rebuked, or chastened. We can receive it or we can refuse it. The Scriptures tell us to correct, rebuke and chasten one another - so what's our response to all this? Usually - rebellion ... "Don't tell me what to do!" Even if we don't say it out loud to the person correcting us, it is in our hearts and swimming around in our heads. We practically blow up holding back the anger at being chastened; an anger that is ready to explode out of our mouths (and, sadly, sometimes does).

Read the Mary and Martha story in Luke 10:38-42 ... that was some correction Martha received! It doesn't go on to tell us what her response to Jesus was at that time, but we see her transformation into an obedient and worshipful woman in John 11:1-44 and John 12:1-11 ... a transformation we all need.

Scriptures for today's lesson:
Luke 10:38-42
John 11:1-44
John 12:1-11
2 Chronicles 24:19
Nehemiah 9:30
2 Timothy 3:7
James 1:22
Proverbs 3:12
Psalm 119:67-68
Hebrews 12:11
Psalm 51:1-17

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