“Read the directions that were given to Moses to be made known to the children of Israel as God was about to come down upon the mount to speak in their hearing His holy law. What did He command Moses to have the people do? To be ready against the third day; for on the third day, said He, the Lord will come down upon the mount in the sight of all the people. They were to set bounds about the mount. ‘And the Lord said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes’ (Exodus 19:10). That great and mighty God who created the beautiful Eden and everything lovely in it is a God of order, and He wants order and cleanliness with His people. That mighty God directed Moses to tell the people to wash their clothes lest there should be impurity in their clothing and about their persons as they came up before the Lord. And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and they washed their clothes, according to the command of God.”1

As Israel became a nation comissioned to proclaim God’s plan to all nations, a more detailed ceremonial system was instituted. This was the sanctuary service. Every single detail was given to Moses from the pattern of the heavenly sanctuary to be replicated in the sanctuary on Earth. It would be a moveable tabernacle at first, finally changing to a permanent structure. It was beautiful in design, and each little part had significance in symbolizing the work of the Redeemer.

The sanctuary was a symbol of the dwelling place of God. No uncleanness could enter there. No disorder, no chaos, no rebellion, only peace and harmony should be there. Precious woods, metals, fabrics, and gorgeous colors were intricately designed to teach wonderful lessons, the foremost being the exceeding holiness of God.

“And to show how careful [the Israelites] were to be in regard to cleanliness, Moses was to put a laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, ‘and put water there, to wash withal’ (Exodus 40:30). And Moses and Aaron, and Aaron’s sons that ministered before the Lord, were to wash their hands and their feet thereat when they went into the tent of the congregation, and when they went in before the Lord.

“This was the commandment of the great and mighty God. There was to be nothing slack and untidy about those who appeared before Him when they came into His holy presence. And why was this? What was the object of all this carefulness? Was it merely to recommend the people to God? Was it merely to gain His approbation? The reason that was given me was this, that a right impression might be made upon the people. If those who ministered in sacred office should fail to manifest care, and reverence for God, in their apparel and their deportment, the people would lose their awe and their reverence for God and His sacred service. If the priests showed great reverence for God by being very careful and very particular as they came into His presence, it gave the people an exalted idea of God and His requirements. It showed them that God was holy, that His work was sacred, and that everything in connection with His work must be holy; that it must be free from everything like impurity and uncleanness; and that all defilement must be put away from those who approach nigh to God.”2

If our God is so holy as He has seen fit to have Scripture makes this clear, then how should we approach Him? It could never be carelessly or thoughtlessly, but with prayer, humility, reverence, and with a clean body, spirit, and mind.

The sanctuary was not just a building or tabernacle. It was a system of ceremonies. Each specific service was designed to impress the beholders that sin was ugly and sin cost life. That is why there was death. Not because our God needs appeasing - for this is what paganism teaches - but because sin brings death as its sure result. God was seeking to teach the people the results of rebellion. This is what was demonstrated in the sanctuary service.

“Now the Lord of glory was dying [at Calvary], a ransom for the race. In yielding up His precious life, Christ was not upheld by triumphant joy. All was oppressive gloom. It was not the dread of death that weighed upon Him. It was not the pain and ignominy of the cross that caused His inexpressible agony. Christ was the prince of sufferers; but His suffering was from a sense of the malignity of sin, a knowledge that through familiarity with evil, man had become blinded to its enormity. Christ saw how deep is the hold of sin upon the human heart, how few would be willing to break from its power. He knew that without help from God, humanity must perish, and He saw multitudes perishing within reach of abundant help.”3

“It was not the spear thrust, it was not the pain of the cross, that caused the death of Jesus. That cry, ‘uttered with a loud voice’ (Matthew 27:50; Luke 23:46), at the moment of death, the stream of blood and water that flowed from His side, declared that He died of a broken heart. His heart was broken by mental anguish. He was slain by the sin of the world.”4

“Sin is the opposite of holiness; sin crucified the Son of God. If men could see how hateful sin is, they would not tolerate it, nor educate themselves in it. They would reform in life and character.”5

The sanctuary service did not end merely as a theoretical ritual, thank God. It illustrated, through type and symbol, that the Redeemer would remove sin and its power and would grant us the ability or power to live a new life through Jesus Christ. Praise the Lord! We have hope.

I find it an interesting thought, that where Christ, the Redeemer, gives new life, there rebellion and chaos are put away. How is this applicable in our daily living?