Portion Vayakhel: Exodus 35:1-38:20
The Holy of Holies
In this most inner place it is dark. No light invades the darkness, not even the light of the menorah. The only light or shining is the revelation of God, the ark of covenant. The ark symbolizes Yeshua, the “kapporet” (atonement covering, or mercy seat) stands for the atonement wrung by the Messiah.
In this most inner place it is dark. No light invades the darkness, not even the light of the menorah. The only light or shining is the revelation of God, the ark of covenant. The ark symbolizes Yeshua, the “kapporet” (atonement covering, or mercy seat) stands for the atonement wrung by the Messiah.
The Ark
…is like Yeshua who dwells inside each of us. The ark was made of gold-covered wood. We could see this as Yeshua’s humanity (the wood) and divinity (the gold).
The “Kapporet”: Atonement Cover or Mercy Seat
The atonement cover made of pure gold was the lid of the ark, on which the two cherubs hovered. It was the place of God’s Shekhina (dwelling) and of His divine atonement. – There is no other place than that place of divine dwelling where mercy can be found. When we are under the covering of Yeshua who atoned for our sins, we receive His mercy...and grace.
Hebrews 4: 16
16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
As believers in Yeshua we know that He, our High priest, tore the curtain to the Holy of Holies for us. Having accepted His atonement for us on the cross, being cleansed and renewed by His Word, we can enter in, trusting in the faithfulness of our High priest.
Grace is for those who sinned. The grace of God gives us what we don’t deserve and we can boldly approach God’s presence, based not on our works or righteousness, but on the work of redemption wrought by the Messiah.
The cherubs point their faces towards the atonement cover. The look on the broken heart and show mercy. God is glad to see us, sinners, forgives our sins, heals us and opens our prison doors into freedom.
The Lord’s eyes look on us. They are eyes of grace. It reminds us of the Aaronic blessing: The Lord let His face shine upon you and grant you peace. Peace is the outcome of grace. When God looks at us with grace we are covered, sheltered, in peace. The Lord’s eyes are upon us, His love, mercy and presence flows into our lives. Yeshua said: I will be with you until the end. Take and drink of the living water I give you. In Him we can find everything we need. There He reveals His presence to us, at the throne of mercy, where the wings meet the glory of the LORD. That’s the place of revelation, that’s where we meet Yeshua.
Hebrews 10:19-22
19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
Now we can approach the Holy of Holies, because Yeshua set an end to the cycle of sin.
In Acts 7:48-50 we read:
48 “However, the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says:
49 “‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.
What kind of house will you build for me? says the Lord. Or where will my resting place be?
50 Has not my hand made all these things?’
Nevertheless, through the sons of Israel God built a dwelling place for Himself and chose to be “I am will be their Lord”, dwelling among the sons of Israel, in their center.
Exodus 25:20-22
20 The cherubim are to have their wings spread upward, overshadowing the cover with them. The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the cover. 21 Place the cover on top of the ark and put in the ark the tablets of the covenant law that I will give you. 22 There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the covenant law, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites.
During the time of the Jewish temple, the Gentiles were not allowed to enter the inner court. A separation wall separated them from the people of Israel. Because in the cross Yeshua destroyed this wall of separation and enmity, all of humankind can now approach God.
Ephesians 2:19-22
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
Hearing the Good News leads to faith in the Good News, and that leads us to the Word of God. So in a way like the Israelites we enter the gate (faith), wash ourselves in the Word of God, thus renewing our mind and come to know the perfect will of God. We can then keep our emotions on a straight path through prayer, thanksgiving and worship, all of which brings us into His Shekhina (presence), where God can and will reveal Himself to us.
Hebrews 4: 16
16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
As believers in Yeshua we know that He, our High priest, tore the curtain to the Holy of Holies for us. Having accepted His atonement for us on the cross, being cleansed and renewed by His Word, we can enter in, trusting in the faithfulness of our High priest.
Grace is for those who sinned. The grace of God gives us what we don’t deserve and we can boldly approach God’s presence, based not on our works or righteousness, but on the work of redemption wrought by the Messiah.
The cherubs point their faces towards the atonement cover. The look on the broken heart and show mercy. God is glad to see us, sinners, forgives our sins, heals us and opens our prison doors into freedom.
The Lord’s eyes look on us. They are eyes of grace. It reminds us of the Aaronic blessing: The Lord let His face shine upon you and grant you peace. Peace is the outcome of grace. When God looks at us with grace we are covered, sheltered, in peace. The Lord’s eyes are upon us, His love, mercy and presence flows into our lives. Yeshua said: I will be with you until the end. Take and drink of the living water I give you. In Him we can find everything we need. There He reveals His presence to us, at the throne of mercy, where the wings meet the glory of the LORD. That’s the place of revelation, that’s where we meet Yeshua.
Hebrews 10:19-22
19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
Now we can approach the Holy of Holies, because Yeshua set an end to the cycle of sin.
In Acts 7:48-50 we read:
48 “However, the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says:
49 “‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.
What kind of house will you build for me? says the Lord. Or where will my resting place be?
50 Has not my hand made all these things?’
Nevertheless, through the sons of Israel God built a dwelling place for Himself and chose to be “I am will be their Lord”, dwelling among the sons of Israel, in their center.
Exodus 25:20-22
20 The cherubim are to have their wings spread upward, overshadowing the cover with them. The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the cover. 21 Place the cover on top of the ark and put in the ark the tablets of the covenant law that I will give you. 22 There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the covenant law, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites.
During the time of the Jewish temple, the Gentiles were not allowed to enter the inner court. A separation wall separated them from the people of Israel. Because in the cross Yeshua destroyed this wall of separation and enmity, all of humankind can now approach God.
Ephesians 2:19-22
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
Hearing the Good News leads to faith in the Good News, and that leads us to the Word of God. So in a way like the Israelites we enter the gate (faith), wash ourselves in the Word of God, thus renewing our mind and come to know the perfect will of God. We can then keep our emotions on a straight path through prayer, thanksgiving and worship, all of which brings us into His Shekhina (presence), where God can and will reveal Himself to us.