Creekside Church, Sunday, November 14, 2021
East of Eden
Locations & Times
Creekside Church
660 Conservation Dr, Waterloo, ON N2J 3Z4, Canada
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 10:30 AM
Last week
Creation as a temple
Human Beings as image bearers & priests tasked with filling and subduing the earth, working and caring for creation and expand the borders of the garden temple.
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God calls Moses to lead his people out of Egyptian slavery
Moses at the burning bush - first time we are introduced to this holy God
Holiness = set apart, no one like him. His love, justice, beauty, goodness just blows us away
Moses leads them out of Egypt and then God tells him this in Exodus 19:3-6
3 Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”
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God instructs the building of the Tabernacle starting in Exodus 25:8-9
8 “Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. 9 Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.
Tabernacle was a 3 tiered structured
Outer Court contained an burnt altar and bronze laver. Here the priests would wash to clean themselves and perform burnt offerings on behalf of the people.
Holy Place contained a table with 12 loaves of shewbread and wine on it, a menora candlestick that was always lit and an altar of incense.
Holy of Holies contained the Ark of the Covenant. Inside were the 10 commandments, manna and Aaron's rod that budded. On top of the Ark were two Cherubim and between them was the Mercy Seat where the High Priest sprinkled blood once a year on the day of atonement.
A veil separated the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies and on it were Cherubim. The High Priest had to crawl under it to enter into the Holy of Holies.
The Tabernacle was in the centre of the Israelite camp representing that their God was their king.
The Tabernacle and Temple were the centre of Israelite and Jewish life.
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What does all of this represent?
1. God wants to dwell with us
2. Reminder of Eden
For more - https://reformedforum.org/summarizing-biblical-theological-case-eden-temple-garden/
3. God’s Holiness
4. Weight of sin
5. God loves us
6. God wants us to be holy like him
The tabernacle and later temple represent the holy God who longs to be with his people and have his people become holy like he is holy.
---
Five Reflections
1. Do you live with an awareness of his holiness?
2. Have you ever been undone like Isaiah? Afraid like Moses?
3. Have you lost the weightiness of the sacrificial offering of Jesus given to atone for your sins?
4. Do you love his holiness more than your sin?
5. Do you long for his presence?
Creation as a temple
Human Beings as image bearers & priests tasked with filling and subduing the earth, working and caring for creation and expand the borders of the garden temple.
---
God calls Moses to lead his people out of Egyptian slavery
Moses at the burning bush - first time we are introduced to this holy God
Holiness = set apart, no one like him. His love, justice, beauty, goodness just blows us away
Moses leads them out of Egypt and then God tells him this in Exodus 19:3-6
3 Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”
---
God instructs the building of the Tabernacle starting in Exodus 25:8-9
8 “Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. 9 Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.
Tabernacle was a 3 tiered structured
Outer Court contained an burnt altar and bronze laver. Here the priests would wash to clean themselves and perform burnt offerings on behalf of the people.
Holy Place contained a table with 12 loaves of shewbread and wine on it, a menora candlestick that was always lit and an altar of incense.
Holy of Holies contained the Ark of the Covenant. Inside were the 10 commandments, manna and Aaron's rod that budded. On top of the Ark were two Cherubim and between them was the Mercy Seat where the High Priest sprinkled blood once a year on the day of atonement.
A veil separated the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies and on it were Cherubim. The High Priest had to crawl under it to enter into the Holy of Holies.
The Tabernacle was in the centre of the Israelite camp representing that their God was their king.
The Tabernacle and Temple were the centre of Israelite and Jewish life.
---
What does all of this represent?
1. God wants to dwell with us
2. Reminder of Eden
For more - https://reformedforum.org/summarizing-biblical-theological-case-eden-temple-garden/
3. God’s Holiness
4. Weight of sin
5. God loves us
6. God wants us to be holy like him
The tabernacle and later temple represent the holy God who longs to be with his people and have his people become holy like he is holy.
---
Five Reflections
1. Do you live with an awareness of his holiness?
2. Have you ever been undone like Isaiah? Afraid like Moses?
3. Have you lost the weightiness of the sacrificial offering of Jesus given to atone for your sins?
4. Do you love his holiness more than your sin?
5. Do you long for his presence?