The Temporary Tent And The Eternal Temple

“Now the first covenant, in f act, had regulations for worship and its earthly sanctuary. For a tent was prepared, the outer one, which contained the lampstand, the table, and the presentation of the loaves; this is called the Holy Place. And after the second curtain there was a tent called the holy of holies. It contained the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered entirely with gold. In this ark were the golden urn containing the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. And above the ark were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Now is not the time to speak of these things in detail. So with these things prepared like this, the priests enter continually into the outer tent as they perform their duties. But only the high priest enters once a year into the inner tent, and not without blood that he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance.” Hebrews 9:1-7 NET

The first covenant is a profound representation of the spiritual in both form and substance. Its regulations were not merely rules for rule's sake; they were essential pathways to true holiness and creating a sacred space where God could dwell among His people. If the first covenant had been only about self-improvement for the sake of benefitting self or others, it would have been devoid of spiritual purpose and significance. Yet, this is far from the truth. 

God’s desire has always been for a people who are holy and distinct, set apart for Him, allowing Him to engage actively in their everyday lives. Crucially, the goodness of God, marked by unparalleled purity, cannot coexist with sin or disobedience in His presence, as such actions stand in direct opposition to His character.

The scripture says that a tent, tabernacle (or temporary dwelling structure) was utilized for the temple, which also represents our bodies which in the same vane are also temporary dwelling places or receptacles for God’s presence. There was an outer tent which contained the holy place, this represented our daily interactions with others by engaging in community worship, prayer, and calling on the name of the Lord as a community. This outer area contained the showbread and the golden lampstands, both symbolic of the spiritual presence of God. 

There were also thick curtains separating the different areas of the tent, specifically an inner tent, which was the most holy place or the holy of holies; this space represented the place where God met the high priest. the sacred space where God resides. It contained the golden ark of the covenant on the inside of the Holy of Holies; inside the ark of the covenant was a golden jar containing manna. and there were also the stone tablets of the law that Moses brought down from the mountain. On the outside of the ark, but inside the Holy of Holies, was Aaron’s rod that budded. 

On top of the ark were two golden seraphim kneeling down, facing each other with their wings extended and touching each other. This was considered the footstool of God for visiting His people.

In the sacred space known as the Holy of Holies, the priest was permitted to enter only once a year, and that was only after offering ceremonial blood sacrifices for himself and the people. These sacrifices were meant to cleanse them of sins and acts of disobedience committed in ignorance. 

However, this system proved fundamentally inadequate, as it was designed to provide only temporary atonement for the people's sins. As a result, atonement had to be made repeatedly to meet the stringent demands of the covenant. Under the Old Testament, the journey to becoming a believer in God was not only complex but also demanded a substantial commitment from the believer—a serious dedication that could not be taken lightly.

While the Old Testament system of atonement was undoubtedly beautiful, it was inherently flawed. It served as a mere precursor to the ultimate fulfillment found in Jesus Christ. In His incredible love, Jesus became the definitive "once for all" sacrifice, offering Himself as the Lamb of God to atone for the sins of all humanity. 

When we place our trust and reliance fully on Him, Jesus transforms our hearts; this commitment reflects our believing loyalty to Him. He creates a sacred space within us, establishing His divine rule and reign in our lives. Through Jesus, we are made holy—not through our own efforts, but through His efforts, as a precious gift from God.

Paul powerfully emphasizes that we are the living temple of God. He poses the thought-provoking question, “What agreement does the temple of God have with idols?” He further reassures us with God’s promise: “For we are the temple of the living God, just as God said, ‘I will live in them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people’” (2 Corinthians 6:16 NET). 

The New Testament offers not only superior promises but also unparalleled redemption. It’s vital to recognize that Jesus did all the hard work for us. our most crucial requirement—indeed, the most significant one—is our believing loyalty in Jesus.

Stephen Barnett