WORSHIP AND DEDICATION Lesson 3 for the 17th of October, 2009

OFFERING FOR THE SANCTUARY Each leader offered an ox, and a cart was offered every two leaders. MERARITES GERSHONITES They received four carts and eight oxen to transport the frames, the crossbars, the posts and the bases of the Sanctuary. They received two carts and four oxen to transport the curtains and the coverings of the Sanctuary, along with their ropes. They received neither carts nor oxen, because they transported the furniture of the Sanctuary on their shoulders. KOHATITES

OFFERING FOR THE SANCTUARY God took care of His people and He wanted to make the work of the Levite easier, so He gave them means of transport to move the Sanctuary (covered carts and oxen) Those carts and oxen were holy because they were received as an offering. They could be used for holy work. We must be careful of how we use anything dedicated or devoted to God. We mustn’t use dedicated things for common use. Why did they have to offer carts and oxen in order to transport the sanctuary?

Offerings for the altar of burnt offering dedication THE OUTER COURT Offerings for the altar of burnt offering dedication Each leader brought: A 3.3 lb weight silver plate full of flour mixed with oil. A 1.76 lb weight silver bowl full of flour mixed with oil. A 0.24 lb weight golden dish filled with incense. For a burnt offering: 1 young bull, 1 ram and 1 male lamb a year old. For a sin offering: 1 male goat. For the sacrifice of peace offerings: 2 oxen, 5 rams, 5 male goats and 5 male lambs a year old.

Offerings for the altar of burnt offering dedication THE OUTER COURT Offerings for the altar of burnt offering dedication Each tribe (both big and small ones) offered the same. We are equal in the eyes of God. The altar represented the sacrifice of Christ, the only way to salvation for every sinner.

Jesus, intercessor for our prayers Jesus, the light of the world THE HOLY PLACE Jesus, the bread of life Jesus, intercessor for our prayers Jesus, the light of the world

THE HOLY PLACE Its branches were adorned with “cups” in almonds shape, with “buds” (or capitals with pomegranate shape, according to some scholars), and “blossoms”. Each one of the lamps in the lampstand was checked every night and every morning. There was, at least, one lamp burning every time. According to the illustration of the lampstand on Titus’ arch and to what Josephus says (Antiques iii, 6.7), the “lampstand” consisted of a central column. Three pairs of branches rose from that column and reached the same level. There are no dimensions of the lampstand, but it was made of solid gold.

THE LAMPSTAND, SYMBOL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT THE HOLY PLACE THE LAMPSTAND, SYMBOL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT “These seven are the eyes [spirits] of the Lord, which range throughout the earth” (Zechariah, 4: 10 & Revelation, 5: 6) The lampstand illuminated during day and night. God is the light which stands with us during day and night, lighting from heaven to the Earth. The almond tree is the first tree to flower and it is called “watcher”. The almond flowers that supported the lamps teach us how the Holy Spirit watches for us. The pomegranates that adorned the lampstand’s branches were an only fruit, but with many fruits inside. The same way, the fruit of the Holy Spirit is only one, but it appears in many different ways. (Galatians, 5: 22-23)

Jesus, our mediator in the Investigative Judgement. THE MOST HOLY PLACE The throne of God. Jesus, our mediator in the Investigative Judgement.

THE MOST HOLY PLACE The ark of the Testimony was a 1.10 m. (3.61 ft) long, 70 cm. (2.3 ft) wide and 70 cm. (2.3 ft) high box. It was covered in pure gold inside, with a golden rim around it. The “Testimony” (the two Law stone tablets, written by God’s finger) Its lid was called “the mercy seat”. It has two golden cherubs carved with hammer, being one piece with the mercy seat. Each cherub covered its body with a wing and touched the other cherub wing with the other. They faced each other and looked towards the mercy seat, where the presence of God (“Shekinah”) appeared.

THE MOST HOLY PLACE God got in touch with Moses in the Most Holy Place, through the “Shekinah”. We can reach His throne –through Jesus Christ─ to talk to God and to hear His voice. “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water” Hebrews, 10: 19-22

DEDICATION OF THE SERVANTS OF THE SANCTUARY After dedicating the utensils, they dedicated the people who would help in using those objects. DEDICATION OF THE SERVANTS OF THE SANCTUARY

DEDICATION OF THE SERVANTS OF THE SANCTUARY The Levites were dedicated for the work in the Sanctuary in this way: They shaved their whole bodies. They washed themselves and their clothes. They gave a young bull and an offering of fine flour mixed with oil. Aaron added a second young bull. The Israelites laid their hands on them, dedicating them to God, before the Sanctuary. Levites laid their hands on the heads of the bulls and they were offered as sacrifice, one as sin offering and the other as burnt offering. Aaron presented the Levites as an offering from the Israelites before God, dedicating them to divine service.

DEDICATION OF THE SERVANTS OF THE SANCTUARY “They are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to me. I have taken them as my own in place of the firstborn, the first male offspring from every Israelite woman… and I have given the Levites as gifts to Aaron and his sons to do the work at the Tent of Meeting on behalf of the Israelites and to make atonement for them so that no plague will strike the Israelites when they go near the sanctuary.” Numbers, 8: 16, 19 Levites were a living offering. They made reconciliation for the people, they helped in protecting the sons of Israel from the divine anger they would suffer if they would ever get close to the sanctuary. Nowadays, we dedicate the people responsible for the physical and spiritual preservation of the church through lying on of hands: pastors, elders and deacons.

PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE Offering for the sanctuary We must dedicate our goods to God’s service. The outer court Let’s gaze at the meaning of the cross everyday. The Holy Place Let’s reflect the light of the Holy Spirit, who dwells within us. The Most Holy Place Let’s talk to God and listen to Him. Dedication of the Levites Our life must be completely dedicated to God.