And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by my glory.
Exodus 29 belongs to the instruction given to Israel in the wilderness concerning God's covenant with the people He seeks to save, the terms of salvation, and the education of greatest value, forming part of the lessons Christ gave Israel in the wilderness. God promises there to meet with the children of Israel, and His glory sanctifies and hallows the tabernacle by His abiding presence remaining among them. The tabernacle was thus to be the visible center of the nation's worship, with God present among them as their King.
By this promise Israel was lifted from a race of slaves to be the peculiar treasure of the King of kings, separated from the world to receive His law and to preserve the knowledge of God among men. Through Israel the light of heaven was to shine out to a world enshrouded in darkness, calling all peoples with a voice to turn from idolatry to serve the living God. If Israel was true to that trust, God would be their defense and exalt them above all other nations, revealing His light and truth through them, so that living under His wise and holy rule they would stand as an example of the superiority of His worship over every form of idolatry.
Because the sanctuary was made holy by that presence, priests had to prepare before entering, leaving their shoes in the court so dust would not defile it, and washing their hands and feet at the laver to remove impurity, lest they die.
Exodus 29 belongs to the instruction given to Israel in the wilderness concerning God's covenant with the people He seeks to save, the terms of salvation, and the education of greatest value, forming part of the lessons Christ gave Israel in the wilderness. God promises there to meet with the children of Israel, and His glory sanctifies and hallows the tabernacle by His abiding presence remaining among them. The tabernacle was thus to be the visible center of the nation's worship, with God present among them as their King.
By this promise Israel was lifted from a race of slaves to be the peculiar treasure of the King of kings, separated from the world to receive His law and to preserve the knowledge of God among men. Through Israel the light of heaven was to shine out to a world enshrouded in darkness, calling all peoples with a voice to turn from idolatry to serve the living God. If Israel was true to that trust, God would be their defense and exalt them above all other nations, revealing His light and truth through them, so that living under His wise and holy rule they would stand as an example of the superiority of His worship over every form of idolatry.
Because the sanctuary was made holy by that presence, priests had to prepare before entering, leaving their shoes in the court so dust would not defile it, and washing their hands and feet at the laver to remove impurity, lest they die.