July 31: Being Thankful for God’s Presence

The curtain of the temple, also called the veil, was a curtain that separated the part of the temple called the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. The Most Holy Place was where the Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat were kept– this Most Holy Place (Holy of Holies) can also be said to be the earthly dwelling place of God’s presence. Only the High Priest was allowed into the Most Holy Place during a very special ceremony while the other priests on duty were allowed into the inner court. The rest of the temple where men entered was known as the outer court. This veil signified that man was separated by God because of sin. It marked the boundary between God’s pure holiness and the wickedness of mankind.

As mentioned earlier, only the High Priest was permitted to enter the Most Holy Place, going through this curtain, and even he could only enter once a year, on the Day of Atonement (Exodus 30:10). Before entering, the High Priest was to bathe and put on special garments, then sacrifice a bull for a sin offering for himself and his family. The blood of the bull was to be sprinkled on the Ark of the Covenant. Then the High Priest was to bring two goats for the sins of the people, one of which was to be sacrificed for their sins and its blood sprinkled on the Ark. The other goat was used as a scapegoat, which symbolically carried on itself all the sins of the people and was taken out and released into the wilderness.

If anyone else entered the Most Holy Place, or even if the High Priest entered on any day other than the Day of Atonement, that person would immediately die.

Hebrews tells us that this curtain or veil was symbolic of Christ Himself, and the tearing of the temple curtain as a means to direct contact with God without the need for a human High Priest, and so the feel of a personal connection to God. “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, His body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart….” Hebrews 10:19-22a. Let us be thankful to Jesus for His death on the Cross which removed the barrier separating us from God and His invitation to draw near to the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace in our time of need.

Prayer: I am eternally grateful that there is no longer a heavy curtain separating me from the presence of my Heavenly Father.