SEALED within the Ark of the Covenant as testimony of the LORD on Sinai — the TEN WORDS –– written in Exodus and Deuteronomy as you know, but also referenced in Leviticus.
The Office of Priest – כָּהַן
“So the priest who is anointed and ordained to ministerH3547 asH3547 aH3547 priestH3547 in his father’s place shall make atonement:
he shall thus put on the linen garments, the holy garments, and make atonement for the holy sanctuary,
and he shall make atonement for the tent of meeting
Who would know more about the Altar of Sacrifice than the Priest appointed to the atonementfor all worshipers of the LORD?
The LORD established certain laws of holiness for the priests in addition to the Commandments of the LORD for His chosen people.
“Then you shall bring the bull near before the tent of meeting, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the bull. “You shall slaughter the bull before Yahweh at the doorway of the tent of meeting.
“For seven days you shall make atonement for the altar and set it apart as holy; then the altar shall be most holy, and whatever touches the altar shall be holy.
כָּפַר kâphar, kaw-far’; a primitive root; to cover (specifically with bitumen);
Bitumen, also known as mineral tar, is derived from the partial distillation of crude petroleum. - source
figuratively, to expiate or condone, to placate or cancel:—appease, make (an atonement, cleanse, disannul, forgive, be merciful, pacify, pardon, purge (away), put off, (make) reconcile(-liation).
‘For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement by the [soul] life.’
Picture it: a Priest standing between the HOLINESS of God and the Altar upon which your sins have been covered with blood of the sacrifice and the remains burned beyond recognition.
“According to all that I am going to show you, as the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furniture, just so you shall make it.
A brief look at the LORD's instructions for building the Tabernacle (LIST from the CSB should help us visualize it in contemporary terms and measurements.)
8 “They are to make a sanctuary for me so that I may dwell among them.
10 “They are to make an ark of acacia wood, forty-five inches long, twenty-seven inches wide, and twenty-seven inches high.
Overlay it with pure gold; overlay it both inside and out. Also make a gold molding all around it. 12 Cast four gold rings for it..
14 Insert the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark in order to carry the ark with them.
14 Insert the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark in order to carry the ark with them.
17 Make a mercy seat of pure gold, forty-five inches long and twenty-seven inches wide.
18 Make two cherubim of gold; make them of hammered work at the two ends of the mercy seat.
21 Set the mercy seat on top of the ark and put the tablets of the testimony that I will give you into the ark. 22 I will meet with you there above the mercy seat, between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the testimony; I will speak with you from there about all that I command you regarding the Israelites.
IT IS A MOST HOLY PLACE OF THE MOST HIGH!
Table for the Ark of the Covenant
23 “You are to construct a table of acacia wood, thirty-six inches long, eighteen inches wide, and twenty-seven inches high.
31 “Youa are to make a lampstand out of pure, hammered gold.. 37“Make its seven lamps,and set them up so that they illuminate the area in front of it.
26:1 “You are to construct the tabernacle itself with ten curtains.. 2 Each curtain should be forty-two feet long and six feet wide;
7 “You are to make curtains of goat hair for a tent over the tabernacle; make eleven of these curtains. 8 Each curtain should be forty-five feet long and six feet wide.
15 “You are to make upright supports of acacia wood for the tabernacle. Each support is to be fifteen feet long and twenty-seven inches wide.
31 “You are to make a curtain .. bring the ark of the testimony there behind the curtain, so the curtain will make a separation for you between the holy place and the most holy place.
34 Put the mercy seat on the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.
35 Place the table outside the curtain.. 36 “For the entrance to the tent you are to make a screen…
Exodus 27:1 You are to construct the altar of acacia wood. The altar must be square, 7 1/2 feet long, and 7 1/2 feet wide; it must be 4 1/2 feet high. 2 Make horns for it on its four corners..
9 “You are to make the courtyard for the tabernacle. Make hangings for.. the courtyard out of finely spun linen, 150 feet long.. 12 For the width of the courtyard, make hangings 75 feet long,, 14 make hangings 22 1/2 feet long for [each] side of the gate,
16 The gate of the courtyard is to have a 30-foot screen
18 The courtyard is to be 150 feet long, 75 feet wide at each end, and 7 1/2 feet high..
21 In the tent of meeting outside the curtain that is in front of the testimony, Aaron and his sons are to tend the lamp from evening until morning before the Lord.
In addition to these for the place of worship, Exodus provides instructions related to worship and the Priests, followed by a book with more detail.
Leviticus – Prescription for Perfect Worship, Priestly Requirements
Speak to the whole congregation of Israel and tell them:
Observe the progressive path of worship established between the people worshiping the Lord our God from beyond the tent of meeting, to the altar of sacrifice, into the more holy hidden places and before the Ark of the Covenant, the Mercy Seat and the Very Presence of the LORD — and again, atonement from the LORD via the Priest to the tent of meeting.
No man should know the significance of the sacrifice — and atonement — more than the Priest.
Think about his separation of holiness from the everyday people as you view the priests preparing for worship. Let’s look at a few of the requirements from their prescriptive handbook.
True worship requires priests set apart in holiness
And Moses did as the LORD commanded him; and the assembly was gathered together unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation…
And Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was therein, and sanctified them.
Leviticus 8:4,10 KJV
And he brought the people’s offering, and took the goat, which was the sin offering for the people, and slew it, and offered it for sin, as the first.
Leviticus 9:15 KJV
True worship requires people set apart in purity
“When a case of serious skin disease may have developed on a person, he is to be brought to the priest.
Leviticus 13:9 CSB
True worship requires propitiation in blood
Now the LORD spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered profane fire before the LORD, and died; and the LORD said to Moses: “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at just any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark, lest he die; for I will appear in the cloud above the mercy seat.
“Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering, which is for the people, bring its blood inside the veil, do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat and before the mercy seat.
When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said,
“Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.
And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent…
When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered.
“But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall enter the ark.. Genesis 6
“I establish My covenant with you; and all flesh shall never again be cut off by the water of the flood, neither shall there again be a flood to destroy the earth.” – Genesis 9
IMAGINE the historical NOAH preaching to a corrupt church about this ADVENT of the Last Days when JESUS will return to judge creation with fire and fellow sinners sitting right beside you at this year’s Christmas program.
The chosen Before Christ
A PERSONAL interaction between the Creator and Living God of timeless eternity and a created son of Adam and NOAH.
Art thou greater than our father Abraham, who died? and the prophets died; whom dost thou make thyself?’
Jesus said to them,
‘Verily, verily, I say to you, Before Abraham’s coming — I am;’
excerpt from Gospel of John 8: Young’s Literal Translation (YLT)
AFTER this unique time of ABRAHAM Before Christ,
Judah (and Israel) had yet to be conquered, named, lost, regained and renamed over centuries of the chosensons of Abraham.
Chosen for Covenant and Curse
FROM the LAW of Moses for the generations of the LORD's chosen; administered by Levite priests (sons of Jacob, Isaac and Abraham:
If, however, you fail to obey Me and to carry out all these commandments, and if you reject My statutes, despise My ordinances, and neglect to carry out all My commandments, and so break My covenant, then this is what I will do to you: … Those who hate you will rule over you, and you will flee when no one pursues you.
18 And if after all this you will not obey Me, I will proceed to punish you sevenfold for your sins. 19 I will break down your stubborn pride…
And YES,
(You know some of the long history of God’s chosen)
it gets worse from here even BEFORE Christ.
YET could the LORD’s prophesy apply even to US?
Our sin and disobedience continue into these Common Evangelical post-Christian times — (notably by some adopted in Christ Jesus).
The Advent of Defeat
You shall make no covenant with them nor show mercy to them.
Nor shall you make marriages with them. You shall not give your daughter to their son, nor take their daughter for your son. “For they will turn your sons away from following Me, to serve other gods; so the anger of the LORD will be aroused against you and destroy you suddenly.
But if your heart turns away and you do not listen.. – Deuteronomy 30:17a
Then Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD, to serve him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.” – Joshua 24:22
Therefore the LORD said to Solomon, “Because you have done this, and have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant. Nevertheless I will not do it in your days, for the sake of your father David; I will tear it out of the hand of your son. – 1 Kings 11:11-12 NKJV
But King Solomon loved many foreign women.. from the nations of whom the LORD had said to the children of Israel, “You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love.
.. his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the LORD his God, as was the heart of his father David.
All this took place a millennium BEFORE the Common Era centered around the very incarnation of JESUS CHRIST.
Failed Kings Before Christ
Saul, as most of us know, failed in disobedience to the Lord’s word through His Prophet Samuel.
Even David was a failed king, but he repented of his sin before the Lord and publically in sight of Israel.
To name just one king of Israel or Judah who did evil in the sight of the Lord, Ahab (and Jezebel) come to mind due to their zeal to destroy God’s Prophet Elijah.
Now Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him.
Then he set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal, which he had built in Samaria.
In this traditional Advent season of these last days we anticipate more than simply celebrating Christmas in the year of our Lord (A.D.) 2024.
For the similarities of centuries of evil times Before Christ bring to mind our own disobedience to God’s will.
Ourincarnate redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God and Son of Man: And NOW celebrate Him in a manger, though our Savior was sacrificed on a Cross for repentant sinners – sinners who love babies and good gifts, even while we fear DEATH and judgment.
SO what does Advent mean to YOU? And how will YOU evangelize Christ our Lord in these brief days before our ever-popular CHRISTmascelebration?
The Council of Jerusalem has come to a decision. They will write an epistle of instruction to the gentile churches.
Let's focus for a moment on a HOT TOPIC of A.D. 50 on which future missions of the apostles hinged.
(HOW will JEWS worship with other CULTURES?)
Church leaders ANSWERED with an EPISTLE from their Council in Jerusalem.
ἐπιστολή – a written message: — epistle, letter
So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:G1992
Acts of the Apostles 15:30, King James Version
WHAT DO WE DO WHEN AS SOON AS WE MAKE AN IMPORTANT DECISION IMPACTING EVERYONE?
We send out an epistle or letter or message or broadcast.
AND like any council with authority this council of Church leaders in Jerusalem go back to their followers personally as well. These apostles of the gospel will also send their epistle or letter of instruction with other trusted messengers to churches they cannot encourage personally.
We're getting a little ahead of today's work of the Jerusalem Council, but I thought it important to DEFINE our term and impact of today's meeting of the Apostles in Jerusalem.
Christians familiar with traditional readings of Scripture from the King James Version recognize an introduction like:
“A reading from the Epistle of Paul to the Romans.”
The cover letter pictured is an actual parchment of Romans 1:1-7
Acts of the Apostles 15:30 [above] reads ‘epistle‘ in the KJV.
But most Bibles simply translate it ‘letter.’
You may have seen a similar epistle in Acts 9 where Luke records a previous ‘official letter’ also sent with Paul (aka at that time Saul of Tarsus) from Jerusalem.
But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. – Acts of the Apostles 9:1-2 ESV
Christians familiar with the epistles or letters of the New Testament(after Acts) see epistlesaddressed to an individual church, i.e. Corinth, Ephesus, where these letters were also circulated to churches throughout and beyond those regions.
However this important earlier letter from the Council at Jerusalem was sent to as many churches as possible. And the Apostles gathered in Jerusalem specifically address Gentiles as participants and members.
SO It could have, but was not, named:
The Epistle of the Council of Jerusalem,
TO the Church at Antioch Syria (where it is to be sent) OR due to apostles sent out into all the world:
‘TO the churches of the Gentile Nations.’
Leaders of the Christians in Antioch had requested clarification from the Apostles and leaders of the church in Jerusalem. Most Hellenist or Greek church members were Gentiles rather than Jews of the Diaspora.
.. we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.
Acts 15:19b-20 ESV
Don’t cause trouble. Do not annoy. Do not harass.
You get the idea; this is what Saul of Tarsus had planned to do in Damascus with the authority of the Jewish Council to persecute the converted.
transitively, a. to turn tothe worship of the true God,
b. to cause to return, to bring back; figuratively, to the love and obedience of God ..
Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God [theos] from among the Gentiles ἔθνος [ethnos].
YES, God chose the Jews
BUT why would we want to keep those Gentiles whom the Lord our God has drawn through Christ?
AND WHY add requirements which would hinder Gentiles from turning to God?
SO James adjudicates the matter also addressing the concerns of the Jews.
EXCEPT these practices of Jewish Law
Here, James adds a requirement for the Gentiles but it is NOT circumcision.
abstain from
the things polluted by idols
sexual immorality
what has been strangled
[from] blood
21 For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”
James .. To the twelve tribes dispersed abroad. Greetings.
A Map [above] shows first century Jewish cities of the Roman Empire to which James refers in an epistle he authored most likely during Paul’s first missionary journey just prior to the Council at Jerusalem.
As you can see, much more communication will be required to cover so many Hellenist cities with Jewish and Christian worshipers.
Acts 15:20 King James Version — But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
Scriptural (Old Testament) Reasons for James’ exceptions
– Gen 35:2; Exo 20:3-5,23; Exo 34:15,16; Num 25:2; Psa 106:37-39; Eze 20:30,31;
“Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: Will you defile yourselves after the manner of your fathers and go whoring after their detestable things? When you present your gifts and offer up your children in fire, you defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. And shall I *be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will not *be inquired of by you.
adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals etc.
sexual intercourse with close relatives; Lev. 18
sexual intercourse with a divorced man or woman; Mk. 10:11-12
metaph. the worship of idols
of the defilement of idolatry, as incurred by eating the sacrifices offered to idols
The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of *whoredoms and children of *whoredoms: for the land hath committed great *whoredom, departing from the LORD.
Hosea 1:2 KJV note: *Lexicon :: Strong’s H2183 – zᵊnûnîm from Lexicon :: Strong’s H2181 – zānâ – A primitive root [highly-fed and therefore wanton]
Things Strangled – πνικτός pniktós, pnik-tos’
from G4155; throttled, i.e. (neuter concretely) an animal choked to death (not bled):—strangled.
καὶ τοῦ αἵματος - "from what has been strangled, and from blood." - ESV is best understood in the context of Leviticus, Book of the Priests, which provides some detail about Sacrifices to God, which Christ became by His own Blood, the flesh of our Lord Jesus pierced for our transgressions.
10 “If any one of the house of Israel or of the strangers who sojourn among them eats any blood, I will set my face against that person who eats blood and will cut him off from among his people.
For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.
12 Therefore I have said to the people of Israel, No person among you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger who sojourns among you eat blood.
13 “Any one also of the people of Israel, or of the strangers who sojourn among them, who takes in hunting any beast or bird that may be eaten shall pour out its blood and cover it with earth.
For the life of every creature is its blood: its blood is its life. Therefore I have said to the people of Israel, You shall not eat the blood of any creature, for the life of every creature is its blood. Whoever eats it shall be cut off.
22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas…
To Be Continued…
.. with the text of their Epistle authorizing apostles for another mission to the Gentiles.
