“For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second.”
(Hebrews 8:7)
The author begins Hebrews 8 as follows: “Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man.” (Hebrews 8:1-2). I love how this point is made abundantly clear. If, for some reason, we are unsure of what the author is communicating in the Book of Hebrews, clarity is provided here. We have a High Priest in Jesus appointed by God the Father, who both reign in heaven.
In the following few verses, an incredible revelation is given. It is written that when the priests offered their gifts and sacrifices, it was a “copy and shadow of the heavenly things.” As an example, the author mentions the instructions given to Moses by God to build the Tabernacle. God commanded Moses to make the Tabernacle precisely as he was shown, and those detailed instructions were provided beginning in Exodus 25.
Blue, purple, and scarlet curtains of fine linen, artistic designs of cherubims engraved within the building, and acacia wood overlayed with pure gold were some of God’s intentional designs for the Tabernacle. Interestingly, in Hebrews 8, we learn that God wanted his temple precisely as he instructed because it was a copy of what is in heaven.
How beautiful of God to reveal a piece of heaven through the construction of the Tabernacle. When we read Revelation 1, we see another glimpse of heaven. John’s visions in Revelation confirm that the Tabernacle built by Moses was indeed a copy and image of heaven. John saw seven golden lampstands in Revelation 1:12, just as Moses built seven lampstands in Exodus 25:37. John saw golden bowls of incense which held the prayers of God’s people in Revelation 5:8 and in Exodus 30:1-10, we see incense used by the priests on golden tables on behalf of God’s people. Also, in Psalms 141:2, David wrote, “May my prayer be set before you like incense.”
God has given us an exclusive look into what glory will be like. It is an underrated privilege that should produce excitement within believers. When we travel and take vacations, we browse brochures and websites to get a glimpse of the destination ahead. We become delighted with what we expect to experience on our getaways—as we should. It should be the same as we prepare for our getaway with God. God promises that we will become caught in the air with him to sail away to our final escape one day. Be excited, hopeful, and delighted in the destination to come.
Yet, at times, we fail to sincerely appreciate the new way God has provided for us to ascend to glory. The Hebrew author emphasizes the fault in the old way and highlights the beauty of the new way. But we should use the word ‘fault’ with understanding. The old way, or the Old Law, was faulty, and yet it was perfect. God gave the law directly to Moses, and everything God gives or does is perfect. Psalms 19 confirms the perfection of the law:
The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;
(Psalm 19:7-8)
Notice the words used to describe the law … perfect, pure, sure, and right. And yet, Hebrews 8:7 says, “If that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second.” So, is the law perfect, or is it faulty? If we believe all scripture is true, then we must believe the law was perfect, just as it is written, and it is also faulty, just as it is written. Yet, the fault was not in the law. The fault was within us.
Hebrews 8:8 reads, “Because finding fault with them, He says: Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.” God gave us a better convent simply because we could not keep the old one. God called that which was perfect flawed, not because it was flawed, but because we were.
This fully displays God's love, devotion, and dedication to us. He declared a perfect law imperfect for the sake of imperfect people. In God’s eyes, the law could not be considered perfect if it kept his children away from him. Although it was perfect, it was not because perfection to God is being restored to his children. And if anything stands in the way of that, it is faulty.
Parents should wholeheartedly understand this. If my children had charges against them and the death penalty was their sentence, I’d, without a shadow of a doubt, rule a perfect law imperfect to spare them. I would make rules and regulations change before I would watch them die. Many educators also rearrange standards for the sake of their youth or students.
I recall taking an exam in college. After completing it, I knew I didn’t do well. I studied and did all I could to pass, but I just couldn’t grasp the material. It turned out I wasn’t alone. No one did well on the test. We all sat outside class the next day and discussed how we knew we’d failed. We talked about how difficult that test was. But the professor showed mercy.
Have you ever heard of grading on a curve? It’s when a teacher or professor adjusts the grading scale on a test so that students’ grades are higher than they really are. Essentially, students who fail a test are given the grace to pass. And so, although we all failed that test, many of us passed due to the professor’s mercy.
Likewise, God has shown us mercy by deeming the perfect law faulty. There was nothing wrong with that test that I and my fellow classmates failed in college, just as there was nothing wrong with the law. No matter how hard we tried, we students could not pass the test, just as God’s people cannot uphold the law regardless of how hard we strive. But praise be to God that our Lord curved the way in which we receive salvation.
The author concludes Hebrews 8 by writing, “In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.” The new covenant of grace and mercy under Jesus Christ rather than the old law is God’s way of adjusting the grading scale so that we may pass. Heaven was not our destination; death was because we broke the commands of the perfect law. But now, we have access to God and heaven because of God’s salvation plan through Christ.
The beauty of the new covenant is far better than the first, regardless of its perfection. Never forget that God called that which was perfect faulty to make faulty people perfect through Christ Jesus. That is something only a loving Father full of mercy and grace would do. It is a wonderful thing to have a God who cares about imperfect people in such a fierce, loving way.
Reader, that is all I have for you. Be blessed, be encouraged, and be thankful that the law is ruled faulty, and you are ruled perfect under the new covenant of Jesus Christ. Have a wonderful day. Until next time, take care.
Quin Arrington here, I want to thank you for reading this week's Write On! Wednesday word. Browse the website for Christian Fiction & Nonfiction Books and Christian Apparel & Merchandise. The Now, That's A Word! YouTube Channel is here:
Have a blessed day!
Fantastic! I love the way God uses you to break down the meaning of His words! Thank God for being such a loving, kind and patient God!