8 March 2014 - The Law (part three of three)

Hebrews nine spoke of the tabernacle and worship

The Israelites took the tabernacle and ark on every trip

The first room had a lamp stand, table, and consecrated bread

It was The Holy Place, where priests entered without dread

The ark was in the Most Holy Place, behind another curtain

Only the high priest entered once a year, that’s for certain

There were also Aaron’s staff and an altar of incense

And the stone tablets which did the covenant dispense

When the high priest entered, he did so with a sacrifice

To offer for the people’s sins and various acts of vice

But when Christ came, the tabernacle became perfect

Because He was not man-made and thus had no defect

The Lord spoke to Aaron in Numbers chapter eighteen

The Levites were to become the priesthood, it is seen

They were to care for the care of the sanctuary and altar

God’s wrath would not fall as long as they did not falter

This role was given as a gift to Aaron and his close family

Death awaited anyone else who approached the sanctuary

From the holy offerings, the priests were to take a share

They would have no land, but they were not to despair

For God would be their “share and [their] inheritance”

And they would always have a place of holy residence

Deuteronomy seven spoke of driving out the nations

The Israelites would win because of their foundations

For although the others were larger and stronger

God would ensure that Israel would last longer

But God told them that after victoriously emerging

From His instructions, there should be no diverging

“Make no treaty with them” and mercy do not show

Don’t intermarry or the Lord’s anger would grow

For God loved the Israelites and kept his old oath

He redeemed them from slavery and tyranny both

In Deuteronomy thirty, God gave yet another command

It was not too difficult for those headed for the Holy Land

“The word is very near;…it is in your mouth and in your heart”

“So you may obey it”, take the right path, and do your part

The choice is life and prosperity or death and destruction

The command is to love God and follow His instruction

For then “the Lord your God will bless”

“In the land you are entering to possess”

But “if your heart turns away and you are not obedient”

The path to your destruction God will make expedient

So “choose life, so that you are your children may live”

For then God will keep his covenant and His land give