[New podcast and blog – link below]

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“But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance” (Hebrews 9:7).

Bill Leslie described the high and holy reverence that was shown for God in a special part of the Jerusalem Temple called the Holy of Holies.

As the name suggests, it was considered to be the holiest place. Many people thought it was the actual location of God’s residence while on earth.

Because it was so holy, only the priests were allowed near. And only one priest could enter it once a year—the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur. 

But since no one else was allowed to enter, what would happen if the priest who was inside died when making sacrifice to God? 

To solve the problem, the priest would have a rope tied around his ankle before he entered. That way if anything happened to him (including death), he could be dragged out.*

Today, worship is a bit different. Christians don’t use the ancient sacrificial system anymore because Christ himself was the full and final sacrifice (see Hebrews 10:10). As Christians, we also know that God’s throne is in heaven (Psalm 103:19), but that he also personally dwells within his people; each one of us has become his temple (1 Corinthians 6:19).

Even though some aspects of our worship have changed, what I appreciate about this story from the Holy of Holies is that it reminds us of reverence. 

I’m not knocking pajama days in the office, hats in school, or even pastors foregoing robes (I put aside my robe and clerical collar years ago). I’m simply encouraging us in a spirit of reverence when we worship God.

Without him we have nothing; with him we have everything.

When we worship God on Sunday, regardless of what we wear or what kind of space we’re in, let’s honour the Lord with a reverent heart.

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Notes:

–NEW PODCAST AND BLOG: 10 UNPOPULAR THINGS JESUS SAID. This is Part 2 of 2. What I’ve discovered is that you can learn a lot about where you need to grow by being honest about what you tend to avoid.  Click here.
–*Philip Yancey, What’s So Amazing about Grace? (Zondervan: 2002), 150.
–The Up Devotional is published 5 days a week (Monday-Friday) and returns on July 22, 2024.
–Bible quotes are from the NIV.