Envision the bride walking down the aisle to meet her groom being escorted by her father. We all love the moment to see the hands of the father lift the veil when the bride reaches her groom, and the father then kisses her and presents his daughter to her husband.
God did just that for us, as His beloved children. The veil has been removed and lifted and we have been kissed by our groom. God, our Father, presents us to Jesus, our Maker, and husband. We now live a life with Him and for Him.
“Only in Christ the veil is taken away.” (2 Corinthians 3: 14) For someone who is Jewish, “The same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only IN Christ it’s taken away.” (2 Corinthians 3: 14-15)
“Even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord the veil is taken away.” (2 Corinthians 3: 15-16)
As a believer in Yeshua, I don’t think we realize the glory that we carry in Him. (Selah) Read this next verse slowly.
“Our unveiled faces reflect the Lord’s glory with being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory which comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3: 18)
When Moses would go in to speak with God he would cover His face afterward to prevent the Israelites from seeing the fading of the glory. His face must have shown like the sun.
“The Old Covenant had a glory, but it was a fading glory. God didn’t want people to see the fading glory of the Old Covenant, and lose confidence in Moses.
The Old Covenant was great and glorious – but it looks pretty pale in comparison to the New Covenant. A bright autumn moon may look beautiful and give great light, but it is nothing to the noon-day sun.” (David Guzik)
- Yes, the Old Covenant faded away to give way to the New Covenant of His glorious radiance, which is now belonging to us.
No more veil for it’s been lifted and we’ve been given to our husband at the altar, sealed with a kiss from our Father. (Taken from 2 Corinthians 2: 5-3: 18, Paraphrased & Modified)
Micah, years earlier, proclaimed the coming Messiah. “He will stand and shepherd His flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord His God. And they will live securely for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And He will be their peace.” (Micah 5: 4-5)
The veil has been lifted for all to see, for all to come. (Taken from Micah 5: 2-15, Paraphrased & Modified)
Six more kings came and were appointed in Israel. Four more appointed in Judah. In these two chapters, we read of each of them and how each of them stepped into their role and then died.
King Ahaz, the king of Judah, was a wicked king. He sacrificed his son in the fire, following the detestable ways of the nations.
He went to the city of Damascus and “Saw an altar in Damasus and sent to Uriah, the priest, a sketch of the altar with detailed plans for its construction.” (2 Kings 16: 10)
What was the sketch for? Uriah was instructed to build an altar in accordance with all the plans that King Ahaz had sent from Damascus. He finished it before the king returned home.
After arriving home the king offered up a sacrifice to the Lord on the regular altar that was already in place. This was a big no-no. The king was not to serve as a priest, as commanded by God.
- Folks, know what and where God has called you to, and follow His commands.
He then told the priest to offer the sacrifices from the new larger altar; but on the bronze altar, he will use for seeking guidance.
King Ahaz was pulling the priest into an area that was forbidden as well. He was luring him into idolatry.
- Corrupt leaders find other corrupt leaders to help them.
He was renovating the temple court and giving preference to the new altar. Not good!
The original bronze altar is where fire from heaven came down, was now being replaced with this new altar that was patterned after the pagan altar from Damascus. Three times a day, these offerings had to go up. He thought he would seek guidance from the Lord God by using his new altar that was erected.
- Never a good idea to alter God’s altar.
- The pure and defiled must be separated.
Jesus became that sacrifice upon the altar, once and for all.
We’ve been brought to the Father through the blood of the Son. The veil has been torn, not only lifted, and we now have access. The veil that once separated us from the Holy of Holies, is now open for us to come.
No need for the veil to cover the glory, we shine as we carry Jesus. With unveiled faces, we behold His glory.
Oh, what an amazing God He is that chooses to share His glory with us. (Taken from 2 Kings 15-16, Paraphrased & Modified)
UNBROKEN LOVE SERIES
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