"One Year Bible" Old Testament History Passage
Leviticus 15:1-16:28
"And the Lord said to Moses: "Tell Aaron your brother not come at just any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark, lest he die, for I will appear in the cloud above the mercy seat." Leviticus 16:2 (NKJV)
Wow! This is a surprising warning. It is a warning to NOT get too close to God. This is quite a change from the admonition we usually hear -- which is "Draw near! Come closer! Press into God's presence!"
We New Testament believers are encouraged to come into the Holy Place boldly and with confidence (Heb. 10:19-22). But, we need to remember a little history here. We can only come boldly because of what Jesus has done for us. In the Old Testament, such casual and perhaps frivolous entry into the Holy Place could result in your death!
The context of Lev. 16 is the deaths of Nabad and Abihu in chapter 10. Elsewhere in the Bible, we find stories of individuals who were zapped dead because of some violation of the awesome presence of God. One time God spoke to Israel saying, "I will not go up in your midst, let I consume you on the way" (Ex. 33:3). Only Moses' intense intercession persuaded God to not withdraw His presence.
What would happen to our worship services today if there was the possibility of being knocked dead by the awesome presence of God. Please don't get me wrong. I am truly thankful for the mercy and grace of God that has allowed us direct access to the Holy Place. However, perhaps we've lost something here. We've lost the respect, the awe, the heart-stopping magnificence of being allowed direct access to the presence of a dangerous God. We are to LOVE Him intensely. But we are also to FEAR Him for His incredibly majesty.
He says to us, "I will appear to you in the cloud above the mercy seat."
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