Walls pervaded the worship of the Old Testament. This preliminary system of worship was set up with boundaries and boarders everywhere. To exhibit this there is no greater example than the tabernacle itself. The Tabernacle or temple was the center of worship of the Old Testament. God revealed unto Moses the specific design of this tabernacle. It was the way God had shown Moses that would allow the people to approach unto God. The descendents of Abraham were brought out of slavery in Egypt, and were brought into a covenant relationship with God. The problem was that there sinful condition made a true fellowship with God impossible. God designed the Tabernacle worship system so that He could get as close to His people as possible.

We must understand that it is not God who wants the boundaries. In the beginning God came and fellowshipped with man in the evening times. He walked with man as one would walk and talk with an old friend. It was sin and rebellion that made the boundaries necessary. It was Gods mercy and love that placed those walls up so that His awesome judgment would not break forth on their sin and destroy them. Sin separates. Yet His heart longed to fellowship with His creation. This is why he developed the elaborate worship system of the Old Testament so that He could have interaction – howbeit limited – with mankind.

Within the tabernacle system there were a series of walls – barriers that became more and more stringent as you approached the Holy Place where the presence of God abided. The Bible refers to the resting place of the Ark of the Covenant as the Holiest Place. It represented the place of meeting. It was the place of divine communication.

Ex 25:23 There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the Testimony, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites. NIV

Of the divisions of the Temple there was the outer court, or the court of the gentiles, where all men of every race could come and worship. Then there was the court of the women. This was the place where all of the covenant people could come, both men and women. After this was the inner court. Only the men could approach into this court. Then there was the holy place where the priests could minister before the Lord. Finally there was the Holiest place where only the High Priest could go once a year. These boundaries represented the difficulty that was present under the law when it came to approaching God. The whole system was marked by limitation.

As we examine their approach under the law we can see the great burden that was upon them. First of all only one person, the High Priest, could enter into the presence of God. He only did this one time a year. The other priest were allowed to approach the Holy furniture of the tabernacle but were separated by the massive veil that symbolized the division between God, and His people. Imagine ministers going through the motions of religious service without ever entering into the presence of God.

The Holiest place was deep within the Temple structure. It was surrounded by a massive curtain or veil. Some estimate that it was almost a foot thick. There was nothing to light the Holiest place. It was in complete darkness. Can you imagine that trembling High Priest as he made His way into that dreadful and dark place. The sound of the blood of sacrifice dripping from the hyssop branch in His hand. In darkness he approached the ark of the Covenant and sprinkled the blood of sacrifice upon it, and hurriedly left that fearful place.

This was the worship experience of the Old Testament. A closed system. Keep the people away from God. Fear – darkness. Once we understand this we can then understand the significance of the events recorded in Matt 27:50-51

And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. NIV

Jesus Christ Himself entered into that dark and fearful place of death. He proceeded into the heavenly Temple, only this time instead of offering the blood of an innocent lamb, He offered His own blood. The earth shook. The rocks split. The veil split in two. Justice had been satisfied. No more walls! When Christ died the veil that represented the division between God and His people was torn in two. The light from the lamps in the temple filled the Holiest place. Suddenly the God who was inaccessible was now available to all men. Listen to what is written in Hebrews.

Heb 4:14-16 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. NIV

This throne of grace is none other than the mercy seat that was over the ark of the Covenant. The writer says “let us approach with confidence.” One translation says for us to boldly approach. No more cowering in fear. We can march right into the presence of God and get what we are in need of.

Not only did Christ remove the veil which represents the division between God and man, he also removed the separating walls which represents the other types of division in the temple.

Eph 2:13-15 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, NIV

The walls in the Old Tabernacle were racial walls dividing those who were gentiles from those who were Jewish. They were gender barriers keeping women from approaching unto God. They were ministerial barriers, only allowing certain individuals or families to be used by God. Yet in the New spiritual tabernacle of the Church:

Gal 3:26-29 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. NIV

Thank God the barriers are gone! Thank God for free access. We cannot even fathom the amount of mercy and grace that has been given unto us. Surely the angels look on in bewilderment as we sinful creatures enter without fear into the presence of the Holy God, to worship – and live!