“The Lord spoke to Moses after the death of Aaron’s two sons, who died after they entered the Lord’s presence and burned the wrong kind of fire before him. 2 The Lord said to Moses, “Warn your brother, Aaron, not to enter the Most Holy Place behind the inner curtain whenever he chooses; if he does, he will die. For the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement—is there, and I myself am present in the cloud above the atonement cover.” Leviticus 16:1-3 NLT
After 400 years as foreigners, God was leading the Hebrews back to the place of their true inheritance…and after their enslavement, He was very specific about WHO HE IS, WHO HE IS NOT, and the EXACT WAY HE WAS TO BE WORSHIPED. He gave the blueprint of His glory, His dwelling, and the way in which He would commune with Israel. He set in the midst of them a seat of MERCY/ATONEMENT: forgiveness for their sin, their willfulness, their impure thoughts, their selfish ways, their imperfections. Jehovah made sure that the Hebrews would learn Who He Is by assuring this Mercy Seat would be at the center of their lives for their 40 year journey. It traveled in the midst of the 12 tribes; it rested in the midst of their encampments; it was central to their lives; it was where Jehovah/Elohim dwelt amongst them.
The PLACE OF ATONEMENT – the Mercy Seat – covered the ark which contained the Covenant tablets and covering the Mercy Seat in a cloud dwelt the Presence of Jehovah. It was a place of death to all but 1 man, 1 time a year. As Israel’s High Priest, Aaron did not have the freedom to enter the Most Holy Place of his own volition because to approach that seat of mercy out of the prescribed time and manner meant immediate death. This was the holiness of God in person and to presume intimacy with Elohim was catastrophic. Though the Hebrews were brought near to Him through ritual intercession, they were still kept at a distance.
I find it interesting that even though “He spoke face to face with Moses, as a man does his friend,” (Exodus 33:11) the Lord still chose to designate another as High Priest, as an intermediary for the people. Moses was called to be their leader, but not their priest. That would be Aaron’s job, and thereafter, the Levites. Still, years later, One would come in the Order of Melchizedek to be both King AND Priest forever…
We now have a Great High Priest Who also is our leader/King; Who has fulfilled the role of Aaron AND of Moses. He has provided Himself as the atoning sacrifice AND the Mercy Seat covering over us; placing HIMSELF inside of us (the ark of a new and living covenant), where exists a new law that He has written on our hearts…the Law of Love. Through the sacrifice of His perfect Son, Jesus, we are COVERED IN MERCY all our days, BROUGHT NEAR IN TRUE INTIMACY, and SEATED NOW WITH HIM in heavenly places. We are invited now to approach Him in worship at any time. His ATONEMENT is our righteousness, our covering, where we will never face death. Hallelujah!!!
“ Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:19-25
Our ATONEMENT CONFERENCE begins in just 2 weeks (September 23-25). 5 Sessions, 5 Meals together, 2 main speakers, only one day off from work. We hope you’ll join us! The cost is $45. Pre-register now so our prayer team can begin to cover you in prayer.
Shalom,
Diana
Click here to register
*To prepare for the conference, read the Book of Hebrews and watch our School of Jubilee Sessions:
GREAT HIGH PRIEST – Click here
MELCHIZEDEK – Click here
