Tabernacle and Covenant

The tabernacle had three sections: the altar, the middle section where the priests performed their daily services after passing through the veil, and the innermost section.

This middle section was called the Holy Place, and it was here that the priests would enter to perform their services, which were a type of the old covenant, where the blood sacrifices were offered.

The innermost section was known as the Holy of Holies, which was a type of the mystery among us.

The apostle Paul refers to the first tabernacle, located after the bronze altar, as being towards the Holy of Holies, since it was in the middle, separated from the court by the veil.

After the middle tabernacle, there was another veil, and behind this veil was the Holy of Holies, into which no one entered except the high priest, and he only once a year.

Inside the Holy of Holies was the ark of the covenant, which contained the tablets of the law, the jar of manna, and Aaron's rod; however, some traditions say that only the tablets were placed in the ark, but Paul may have added the rod and jar from tradition.

Above the ark were the cherubim of glory, overshadowing the mercy seat.

The prophet declares that he was shown to us, 'when he saw the glory, and spoke about it' (Isaiah 6:1-3).

For he says, 'I saw the Lord Sabaoth sitting on a high and exalted throne' (Isaiah 6:1), and the seraphim stood around him, and the Lord on the throne was glorified, stretching out their wings, and they glorified him.

Thus it was arranged and in the holy tabernacle the cherubim with their wings overshadowing the mercy seat.

If the golden cherubim had a voice, they would have glorified the Lord Sabaoth, the Son of God who appeared in the form of a servant, the only begotten from God the Father according to nature.

The Spirit of grace was insulted.

Various baptisms and ordinances of the flesh were in place until the time of correction, but they were limited in their ability to perfect anyone in conscience.

The law introduced teachings of baptisms and narratives of purifications for the cleanliness of the flesh, but these were merely fleshly commandments, justifying those who seemed unclean according to the flesh.

Even if someone touched a dead person or a leper or became unclean, they would be baptized and thus seemed to be cleansed.

God did not allow those from the blood of Israel to dwell among the shadows of the law, for He commanded the lamb to be sacrificed as a type of Christ, signifying that the things in types would not stand forever, but would run towards the truth (Exodus 12:1-28).

Consider how the mercy seat was made into an image of the Son who became human; for then it became a mercy seat; but the cherubim were commanded to stand around and overshadow with their wings, always turned towards and looking at him.