The Holiest of All By Andrew Murray

284 abe toltest of ail
effects. The word Blood has not yet been used : in this chapter
we have it twelve times. In the first half (1-14) we have its
efficacy in opening the most holy place, and in sprinkling our
conscience to enter there; then (15-22) in dedicating the cove
nant, and cleansing all connected with it ;
and after that again in
opening heaven and putting away all sin (23-28).
The first portion begins with a description of the worldly
sanctuary, the tabernacle and its furniture, of which things, the
writer says, we cannot now speak severally.
Just as he said, in chap.
viii. I, This is the chief point: we have such an High Priest,
so here too, in speaking of the sanctuary, he has one great thought
which he wishes to press home. The tabernacle was so con
structed by Moses, after the heavenly pattern, as specially to
shadow forth one great truth. In that truth lies the mystery
and the glory of the New Testament, the power and joy of the
Christian life. That truth is the opening of the way into the
Holiest, the access into the presence of God.
We read: There was a tabernacle prepared, the first,
which is called the Holy Place. And after the second veil, the
tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies. The priests
go in continually into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the
service ;
but into the second, the high priest alone, once in the
year, not without blood. The one thing the writer wishes to
direct our attention to is the difference and the relation between
the two compartments into
which the tabernacle was divided,
and the meaning of the veil that separated them.
The inner sanctuary was called the Holiest of All, or, as it is
in Hebrew, the Holiness of Holinesses. It was the highest em
bodiment there could be of holiness ;
it was the place where
God Most Holy dwelt. His holy presence filled it. No man
might enter there on pain of death but the high priest, and