What does Numbers 4:5 teach about the holiness of the tabernacle items? Setting the Scene “When the camp sets out, Aaron and his sons are to go in and take down the veil of the curtain and cover the ark of the Testimony with it.” (Numbers 4:5) Restricted Access Highlights Holiness - Only Aaron and his sons—those consecrated as priests—may even approach the Ark. - Ordinary Levites wait until the Ark is concealed; the rest of Israel never see it at all (cf. Numbers 4:15; 1 Chronicles 15:13). - The veil that normally separates the Most Holy Place (Exodus 26:33) now becomes a traveling shroud, preserving the same separation while on the march. - Holiness is therefore guarded by distance and by delegation—God appoints specific people and precise procedures to protect what is set apart. Coverings as Symbols of Separation - The Ark is first wrapped in the inner veil, then layered with “a covering of fine leather” and finally “spread a solid blue cloth over it” (Numbers 4:6–7). • Veil: reminds Israel of God’s unseen glory (Leviticus 16:2). • Leather: a barrier against defilement, signaling God’s purity versus the wilderness dust. • Blue cloth: heaven-colored, lifting eyes to God’s throne above (Exodus 24:10; Ezekiel 1:26). - Each layer preaches, “Handle with holy awe; this belongs to the King.” Reverence in Motion: Moving the Ark Safely - Before the Kohathites lift it, every sacred object is hidden from sight. Touching or even looking directly at the holy things means death (Numbers 4:15; 2 Samuel 6:6-7). - The Ark is carried by poles (Exodus 25:14); no shortcuts, no carts. God’s design governs every step. - The procedure turns a logistical task into an act of worship, reinforcing that God’s presence travels with His people yet remains transcendent. Implications for Worship Today - God’s holiness never diminishes; reverence is still the proper response (Hebrews 12:28-29). - Access to His presence now comes through Christ, our veil-piercing High Priest (Matthew 27:51; Hebrews 10:19-22). - While the physical Ark is gone, the principle endures: treat what God calls holy—His Word, His ordinances, His people—with the same careful respect. |
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