¹ Now even the first covenant had regulations of divine worship and the earthly sanctuary.

God must think it important for us to understand that Christ replaces the old covenant with the new, for He gives much space to this theme in the book of Hebrews. In the next seven verses we find a summary of worship practices under the old covenant, followed by three verses giving a theological interpretation of that worship system, namely that it was limited. After that the terminology and imagery of the old covenant is used to describe the culmination in and superiority of the new covenant.

The primary focus of both the old covenant in law and the new covenant in grace is worship. It’s all about how to approach God, our Creator (Heb 1:2), the One angels recognize and worship (1:6). He is worthy to be worshipped because He made us and has authority over us. We are the masterpiece of the Artist, the poetry of the Poet Laureate, the intricate design of the Designer. Anything good and pleasing and enjoyable comes from Him and is ultimately centered in Him. Our purpose in life is to reflect His character back to Him, like a mirror reflects the person looking into it. The Westminster Confession is right when it says, “The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”

To glorify God is the essence of worship. The tabernacle, the place of worship, was glorious by all standards. It was the regulated place of worship, and as such it was quite elaborate. Complete with ornamental furnishing, it represented the residence of God on earth, a lavish tent of immense proportions, where the people of God came to give back to Him out of all that God had given to them. It was the place to show recognition and appreciation for the One who gave them life and freedom and sustenance. This is the essence of worship.

Worship is central to finding rest from the burden of sin. In worship, we come back to God from whom we strayed—coming back in repentance, forgiveness and submission to the God of grace, redemption and reconciliation. In worship we find rest from the spiritual struggles that weigh us down, and that is the point of the book of Hebrews—finding that rest in Christ, which the old covenant anticipated and for which it prepared God’s people. In worship we are finally moving toward God rather than away from Him.

We must worship in God’s defined way. Anything else produces bondage and failure. In Christ is true rest, true freedom from the burden and guilt of sin. This is the rest of Hebrews—worship flowing freely to God through Christ.

Lord, thank You that we no longer worship at an earthly sanctuary. Teach us to worship You in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).