CLEANSING OF THE SANCTUARY

SATURDAY, 19TH AUGUST, 2023.

Author: PASTOR DR. SAMUEL AYORINDE

TOPIC:  CLEANSING OF THE SANCTUARY

MEMORIZE: “For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.” Hebrews 9:24. 

SCRIPTURE READING: Leviticus 16:16 - 19.

“So he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions, for all their sins; and so he shall do for the tabernacle of meeting which remains among them in the midst of their uncleanness. 17 "There shall be no man in the tabernacle of meeting when he goes in to make atonement in the Holy Place, until he comes out, that he may make atonement for himself, for his household, and for all the assembly of Israel. 18 "And he shall go out to the altar that is before the LORD, and make atonement for it, and shall take some of the blood of the bull and some of the blood of the goat, and put it on the horns of the altar all around. 19 "Then he shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times, cleanse it, and consecrate it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.”

EXPOSITION:

The earthly sanctuary was symbolically cleansed once a year of the sins transferred to it. Leviticus 16:17, 30. The high priest made atonement for the holy place and for all Israel. Leviticus 23:27, 29. This annual day of atonement (the judgment day) was God’s last call to repentance. Matthew 27:50, 51. The services of the earthly sanctuary came to an end at the death of Christ. “For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.” Hebrews 9:24. 

When the priest had come out from the sprinkling the blood of the bullock before the mercy-seat, he shall kill the goat which was the sin-offering for the people (Le 16:15) and go the third time into the holy of holies, to sprinkle the blood of the goat, as he had done that of the bullock; and thus he was to make atonement for the holy place (Le 16:16); that is, whereas the people by their sins had provoked God to take away those tokens of his favourable presence with them, and rendered even that holy place unfit to be the habitation of the holy God, atonement was hereby made for sin, that God, being reconciled to them, might continue with them. 

He must then do the same for the outward part of the tabernacle that he had done for the inner room, by sprinkling the blood of the bullock first, and then that of the goat, without the veil, where the table and incense altar stood, eight times each as before. The reason intimated is because the tabernacle remained among them in the midst of their uncleanness, Le 16:16.  God would hereby show them how much their hearts needed to be purified, when even the tabernacle, only by standing in the midst of such an impure and sinful people, needed this expiation; and also that even their devotions and religious performances had much amiss in them, for which it was necessary that atonement should be made. During this solemnity, none of the inferior priests must come into the tabernacle (Le 16:17), but, by standing without, must own themselves unworthy and unfit to minister there, because their follies, and defects, and manifold impurities in their ministry, had made this expiation of the tabernacle necessary. 

Christ, the High Priest, entered the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary to cleanse it. the hour of judgment began for all of God’s people, from Adam and Eve to the living in our day, who were now to be judged. (see “Daniel 8 and 9). It opened to view a complete system of truth, connected and harmonious, showing that God’s hand had directed the great advent Movement, and revealing present duty as it brought to light the position and work of His people.”

KEY POINT: Jesus Christ is our High Priest and Sanctifier. Trust Him for His cleansing power to be at work in you.

DAILY BIBLE READING IN A YEAR –  Jeremiah 43 – 46.

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ANCHOR OF LIFE is the daily devotional guide written by PASTOR DR. SAMUEL AYORINDE, General Overseer, Anchor of Life & Redemption Ministry Int’l. It is an extraction of God’s word designed to draw the sincere seekers closer to God on a daily basis through an insightful exposition and analysis of God’s Word. Read, Meditate, Pray and Share this message to others. For prayers, Counseling and further enquiries, call or whatsapp +2347032993319; +2348056130469. Or Email: anchoroflifeministry@gmail.com