Originally posted: 03/20/2019
God commanded many specifics in establishing His tabernacle and the ordinances for His place of sacrifice and offerings. It would be His prescribed provision alone to cleanse and forgive our sins. But in His perfect provision there would also be His Prohibitions.
Consider His Prohibitions
His Prohibition: There was to be nothing strange offered on the altar of incense. “You shall not offer any strange incense on this altar, or burnt offering or meal offering; and you shall not pour out a drink offering on it… It is most holy to the Lord.” (30:9, 10).
His Prohibition: There was to be no hierarchy in the giving of the contribution to the LORD. “The rich shall not pay more and the poor shall not pay less than the half shekel, when you give the contribution to the Lord to make atonement for yourselves,” (30:15).
His Prohibition: There was to be no unclean hands or feet when approaching the altar. “Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet from it; 20 when they enter the tent of meeting, they shall wash with water, so that they will not die; or when they approach the altar to minister, by offering up in smoke a fire sacrifice to the Lord. 21 So they shall wash their hands and their feet, so that they will not die…” (30:19-21).
His Prohibition: There was to be no duplicating or misusing the anointing oil. “You shall speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘This shall be a holy anointing oil to Me throughout your generations. 32 It shall not be poured on anyone’s body, nor shall you make any like it in the same proportions; it is holy, and it shall be holy to you. 33 Whoever shall mix any like it or whoever puts any of it on a layman shall be cut off from his people.’” (30:31-33).
His Prohibition: There was to be no duplicating or misusing the incense. “The incense which you shall make, you shall not make in the same proportions for yourselves; it shall be holy to you for the Lord. 38 Whoever shall make any like it, to use as perfume, shall be cut off from his people.” (30:37-38).
How do we respond to His Prohibitions?
- His Prohibitions demand truth in our worship and offerings.
- “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth,” (John 4:23-24).
- Let us rely on His Holy Spirit and His Word each day so that our lives would reflect our relationship of grace through faith.
- “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth,” (John 4:23-24).
- His Prohibitions place each of us on equal ground without partiality.
- Opening his mouth, Peter said: “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, 35 but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him,” (Acts 10:34-35).
- For there is no partiality with God, (Romans 2:11).
- Let us live lives that demonstrate our unceasing gratitude for His amazing and impartial grace.
- His Prohibitions establish the necessity for cleansing and purity before entering His presence.
- Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood and has not sworn deceitfully, (Psalm 24:3-4).
- Let us seek to live lives of purity, transparency and humility through repentance.
- Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood and has not sworn deceitfully, (Psalm 24:3-4).
- His Prohibitions leave no room for pretense.
- Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him with whom we must give account, (Hebrews 4:13 NIV).
- Let us live in constant awareness that nothing is hidden from His sight; may we daily rely upon His Holy Spirit to lead in authentic worship, prayer and service.
- Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him with whom we must give account, (Hebrews 4:13 NIV).
- His Prohibitions call us to holiness.
- “Thus you are to be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy; and I have set you apart from the peoples to be Mine,” (Leviticus 20:26).
- Let us depend on and cooperate with His Holy Spirit to set us apart as His own, that we would walk in the light of His holiness.
- “Thus you are to be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy; and I have set you apart from the peoples to be Mine,” (Leviticus 20:26).