[QUOTE=Esaias;1442966]According to Exodus and Hebrews, the Old Covenant system of worship was a physical representation of Heavenly realities. Thought I'd start a thread to get people's input on this subject.
There were several components of OC worship: The Tabernacle (later, the Temple); The Priesthood; The Offerings; and The Feasts/Appointed Times/Sabbaths.
Pick one of the areas and share what you know how they teach us about Christ, His Gospel, His Kingdom, His Salvation.[/QUOTE
How bout we start with one from the father of the old covenant?
In the 22nd chapter of Genesis, Abraham’s love and faith are severely tested. God tells him to take his only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, to Mount Moriah, there to offer him as a burnt sacrifice. Boy, wouldn’t Family and Children Services have a field day with that case! As the story goes, Abraham obeys God, but Isaac is spared at the last moment. A ram caught in some bushes takes his place on the altar of sacrifice.
Bible scholars have harvested this story for years, finding its deeper significance. Like Jesus, Isaac’s name was foretold before his birth. Like Jesus; Isaac had a miraculous birth, was a willing sacrifice, and carried the wood of his own demise. This again, is Holy Ghost writing…a life thousands of year’s earlier, painting a portrait of our coming Messiah. Such was the life of Isaac. But there is a little bit more to this story.
The first use of the word “love” in the bible is found here in
Genesis 22:1. Over 2,000 years of human history have passed, before “love” is introduced. And it is introduced, as father Abraham’s feelings for his son Isaac. Furthermore, Father and son ascended this hill of sacrifice together. But the most beautiful part of this story, is that Isaac never comes down from the mountain. I’m sure that in reality; Isaac descended Mount Moriah with his father Abraham. But in the wisdom of God, our Holy Ghost author chooses to omit this fact from the story. So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba. No mention made of Isaac coming down the mountain. More remarkable yet, is that Isaac disappears from the pages of scripture. For the remainder of chapter 22, for all of chapter 23, and for all of chapter 24...for 81 verses of scripture...Isaac is gone. During his absence, his mother Sarah dies (chapter 23), and Isaac misses the funeral. While Isaac is missing, Abraham sends a servant, to find a bride for his son. This servant brings Rebecca many precious gifts…assuring her that these are but the earnest of his great master’s wealth. Finally, the next time we see Isaac, is as he meets his bride at the close of chapter 24.
Poetically, Jesus disappeared in the mount thousands of years later. During His absence, Jerusalem was sacked by Nero in 70 AD. Following His disappearance, His Father sent a servant, to call out a bride for His Son. This servant bears many precious gifts, assuring us that they are but the earnest of our inheritance. Finally, the next time we see Jesus, is as He meets His bride at the edge of the field. On one hand, a family story from antiquity. But a child of God, filled with the Holy Ghost, can see what the author was also trying to show us:
• The death of Jesus Christ
• His three days in the grave
• The resurrection and ascension
• The death of Israel in 70 A.D.
• The work of the comforter
• The gifts of the spirit
• Two thousand years of church history
• The second coming
That’s a lot to pack into three short chapters. Only the Holy Ghost can write like this. 2,000 years of church history, 2,000 years before it takes place, crammed into three chapters in Genesis. This is what sets the scriptures apart. This is, the proof in the pudding.
We’ve scarcely looked at a few examples here. Any child of God, full of the Holy Ghost, can prayerfully study the bible and discover thousands more just like these. The Bible is a living book, because its writer is the very author of life.