People all over the world say they worship God. Christians worship God through God’s Son. Hebrews CH. 9 explains why we worship this way. The text first describes ancient Israel’s worship center. It had two rooms. In the first room, priests offered animal sacrifices on an altar. These temporarily covered people’s sins. The second room was for the High Priest only. He could enter only once a year after meticulous preparation–because in that second room, God’s presence was symbolized by God-ordained items–a golden incense altar; a wooden chest called the Ark of the Covenant, covered with gold on all sides. Inside the Ark were a gold jar containing manna, Aaron’s staff that sprouted leaves, and the stone tablets of the covenant. Above the Ark were the cherubim of divine glory. Their wings stretched out over the Ark’s cover, the place of atonement. This tent on earth represented God’s covenant with ancient Israel. It portrayed God’s holiness and denied access to God’s presence except in the way he approved, by the person He ordained. This setup worked until Jesus came to offer up one sacrifice that atones for sin forever. We praise God for giving us His Son. Through Him we worship God.
Dr. Melvin E. Banks, Sr.
Dr. Melvin E. Banks, Sr. is the founder and chairman of UMI (Urban Ministries, Inc.). Under his direction, UMI has grown to be a leading publisher of Christian education resources for churches in the African American community. Read More
