Psalm 84:1-2 says, "How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God." The dwelling place and the courts of the Lord refer to the Tabernacle, where the people go to worship God. It is the place that God had chosen where his presence dwelt in the midst of His people, Israel. During the time of Moses, God led the nation of Israel from Egypt to the desert in Mount Sanai. It was in Mount Sanai that God directed Moses to build a Tabernacle or a Tent of Meeting where He could dwell in the midst of His people. In the courtyard of the Tabernacle, there is an altar where the priests sacrifice the animals for the forgiveness of sin, and so it is mostly burning. After the altar, there is a water laver where the priests wash their hands and feet before going into the Holy Place. Only the priests can enter the Holy Place where the Menorah, table of shewbread, and the altar of incense are located. At the end of the Holy Place, there is a thick curtain that separates the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. The Holy of Holies is where the very presence of God dwells; only the high priest can enter the Holy of Holies once a year to sprinkle the blood of an animal for the forgiveness of the sins of the entire nation of Israel. Click here to learn more about the Tabernacle.
When the Psalmist described how lovely the dwelling place or the Tabernacle is, he expressed his deep longing to be in God's presence. It is only the place where he could deal with his sins before God and be forgiven. It might have been a glorious scene to see the very presence of God dwelling in the midst of His people. They could feel a sense of belonging and protection from God. According to the book of Exodus, this is where Moses spoke with God to get instructions and guidance. Today, we don't have the Tabernacle because we don't need it anymore because our Lord Jesus Christ allowed us to enter into the very presence of God. God is now dwelling in us as we became the temple of the Holy Spirit when we genuinely believed in Jesus as our Lord and Savior. This week in our devotion, we will talk about the Tabernacle and how it progressed today.
The God of Heaven, who created us in His own image, chose to dwell with His people because He wanted to redeem us from our sins and bring us back to His very presence. Let us be reminded today that God loves each and every one of us, no matter what we are going through. We are loved by our Heavenly Father.
Questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully, meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you.) What is a Tabernacle? What is the significance or importance of the Tabernacle to the people of Israel during the time of Moses? What is God teaching me personally through today's devotion?
Take a moment to write down all your worries today. Then, lift them up to God in prayer, surrendering them to His will and trusting in His guidance.
Prayer:
Dear Father in Heaven, thank you for teaching me today about your dwelling place with your people in Mount Sanai. Thank you for choosing to come into this world to reach down to me and save me through your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank you for your sacrificial love to save me. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
コメント