Thursday 20 January 2011
- Bible Book:
- Hebrews
"For Moses, when he was about to erect the tent, was warned, 'See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.' But Jesus has now obtained a more excellent ministry, and to that degree he is the mediator of a better covenent, which has been enacted through better promises." (vv. 5-6)
Background
The tent referred to in this passage is a small portablesanctuary, sometimes called a tabernacle, which the Israelitescarried with them during their wanderings in the wildernessfollowing the exodus from Egypt. It was a place where they expectedto encounter God and was sometimes described as the 'tent ofmeeting [with God]'.
A contrast is drawn between the old order of priests and the oldcovenant or binding promise, between God and the people of Israel,and Jesus. The new better, and by implication, greater covenant isbuilt on better (and greater) promises. Jesus is described as themediator or guarantor of the new covenant (or binding relationship)between God and the people. In ancient times it was common forpagan gods to be called on as guarantors of an agreement; as werepriests and prophets. Moses is especially known as a mediatorbetween God and the people, carrying the tablets with the TenCommandments on down the mountain to where the people were. Jesusguarantees personally in his life, death, and resurrection a newway to know God.
The "better promises" which the writer talks about are in fact thepromises offered by a new relationship between God and the people.This is centred on who Jesus is and what God does through him.Jesus is the better and greater promise. Jesus ushers in a newpromise, a new commandment, a new order.
To Ponder
What does your 'tent of meeting with God' looklike? Is it a formal church building or is it round a table withfriends? Is it an actual place or is it deep within you? Where doyou meet with God?
Some promises are hard to keep - which ones havewe broken?
For you, who is Jesus? What has God done throughhim?