Chapter IX

Verse 1. “Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary covenant.”

When Israel followed these ordinances and lived in the fear of God, it went well, both with the priests and with the people; but if they broke the laws, it went worse with them than it would have if they had been as the Gentiles without the law.

Verses 2-3. “For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary; and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All.”

The earthly sanctuary was a pattern of the heavenly. For God had said to Moses, “See to it that you make them according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.” Ex. 25:40.

“Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: ‘Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering. From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart you shall take My offering.’” Ex. 25:1-2.

The sanctuary was built by free-will offerings according to how each man’s heart moved him. This is a picture of the heavenly sanctuary, which is built up according to the perfect law of liberty. Jas. 1:22-25. Each person builds according to the attitude of his heart. Jesus has gone ahead with a perfect attitude of mind, and now we are exhorted to have the same mind that was in Him. Phil. 2:5; 3:15. In this way, the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. Eph. 2:21-22. God has made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are in the earth. Eph. 1:9-10.

If we want to have an inheritance and a part in the heavenly sanctuary, then we must do as the Lord commanded Moses: “And this is the offering which you shall take from them: gold, silver, and bronze; blue, purple, and scarlet thread, fine linen, and goats’ hair; ram skins dyed red, badger skins, and acacia wood; oil for the light, and spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense; onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate. And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it.” Ex. 25:3-9.

Now we have come face to face with reality. Everything in the new covenant is to be built up according to the promptings and the will of God, first individually (personally) and then collectively (together with the others).

There are abundant opportunities to offer the most precious things one possesses: gold, silver and bronze; then wool, linen, ram skins, badger skins, oil, spices, precious stones, etc. The spirit of stinginess is driven out of the Lord’s building by force, and instead the spirit of sacrifice permeates everything.

Every person who has a heart for it can now offer his life, and thus everything that he possesses. In return, he will receive an inheritance in the heavenly sanctuary, which God, not man, has raised up. Eph. 1:11. Without this, you will not receive any inheritance at all.

Behind the Second Veil. Who enters in there? Our heavenly High Priest, Jesus Christ, has entered in. He has become a minister of the sanctuary for us. Have we followed Him in there or do we still stand outside gazing at the veil? Perhaps this is why God’s Word is neither believed, nor understood, nor comprehended. Have we followed Him in there?

There we have a golden altar for the burning of incense, which was made from the free-will offerings of Israel. The spices that are used to produce a pleasing fragrance before the Lord are also free-will offerings. The fire that the Lord lets fall on the altar is the evidence that He is perfectly well pleased. In such an atmosphere, Christ and His elect carry out their priestly ministry.

The Ark of the Covenant was overlaid with gold, and in it was the golden pot containing the manna. The ark of the covenant in the heavenly places is the body of Christ. He is the bread that came down from heaven to give life to the world. With this bread we can grow up in every way into Him who is the Head of the church.

The Rod of Aaron which budded. In any dispute among the children of Israel regarding rank, seats, priestly service, doctrines, etc., there is an eternal decree that says that the one who has Aaron’s budding rod will prevail. The person whose life flourishes so that it buds, blossoms and bears ripe almonds, has followed the Master to the place where the rod buds. Num. 17:7-11. God’s promptings and His will lead to wisdom and to the scepter. That is why it is folly to strive against the truth. It is the same as fighting against Christ Himself.

The Tables of the Covenant. Here we have the judicial wisdom of the Spirit by which all earthly judges should establish their decisions if they want to pass righteous judgments.

Here books are written that the world cannot contain. They are contained in the Spirit, for in Christ’s body are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Col. 2:3. By meditating on the laws in these books, we can be blessed. Ps. 1:2-3. He who does this shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf shall not wither, and whatever he does shall prosper.

In the days of His flesh, Jesus deposited all His gold, silver, precious stones, and much more into this heavenly bank to receive all this glory in return. That is why He can say to His followers, “Buy from Me!!! Follow Me!!!”

“Then you will lay your gold in the dust, and the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks. Yes, the Almighty will be your gold and your precious silver . . . .”1

Verse 5. “And above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.”

The cherubim of glory were to be a hammered2 work of gold. Ex. 25:18. This signifies the glory and power of Christ, in that He watches over what is in the ark. “Driven” work is a reference to Christ in the days of His flesh, because He was driven3 by the Holy Spirit.

“And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, of all things which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel.” Ex. 25:22.

The cherubim symbolize God’s watchfulness over us. God placed cherubim in Eden to guard the way to the tree of life. But now in these last days God speaks to us by His Son. He speaks from the mercy seat between the two cherubim. His words contain the spirit of the tablets of the law, the power and leadership of Aaron’s rod, and the heavenly nourishment of the manna. These are words worth listening to!

Everything in the sanctuary was a free-will offering from the children of Israel. Ex. 35:5, 22.

“They came, both men and women, as many as had a willing heart, and brought earrings and nose rings, rings and necklaces, all jewelry of gold, that is, every man who made an offering of gold to the Lord.” Verse 22.

“And all the women whose hearts stirred with wisdom spun yarn of goats’ hairs.” Verse 26. The Lord gave Bezaleel of the tribe of Judah wisdom, understanding and ability for all kinds of craftsmanship in order to make designs worked in gold, silver, and bronze, etc. To teach the others, God gave him Aholiab of the tribe of Dan. He was filled with skill to perform every work of engraving, designing and embroidering.

The skill to perform every work and all of the things that were needed for the sanctuary had to be sacrificed. God had given it, and He wanted it to be given back as a free-will offering. In this way Israel gained a share in the sanctuary, which was a shadow of the heavenly.

The question now is how much of a part do we have in the heavenly sanctuary where all the contents consist of “driven” work? Do we permit God’s Spirit to drive us? Can He work in us both, to will and to do?