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Covenant Relationship
We will continue our study of the temple as a model for entering the presence of God. The
inner court of the temple was for cleansing of sins to purify God’s people for worship. Yet the
inner court also served another purpose. It was the place in which the people renewed their
covenant with God and dedicated themselves to His service. This is an important example for
us today as we approach the throne of God to worship Him. When we are not in intimate
relationship with God, He will not allow us to enter into His presence. God desires an intimate
relationship with His people, a covenant relationship, in which He is our God and we are His
people. Once we accept His covenant, we must renew it every time we desire to enter into His
presence to worship Him.
We will continue our study of the temple as a model for entering the presence of God. The
inner court of the temple was for cleansing of sins to purify God’s people for worship. Yet the
inner court also served another purpose. It was the place in which the people renewed their
covenant with God and dedicated themselves to His service. This is an important example for
us today as we approach the throne of God to worship Him. When we are not in intimate
relationship with God, He will not allow us to enter into His presence. God desires an intimate
relationship with His people, a covenant relationship, in which He is our God and we are His
people. Once we accept His covenant, we must renew it every time we desire to enter into His
presence to worship Him.
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Between the Pillars
Throughout the Tanakh (Old Testament), there are various examples of God’s people Israel
renewing their covenant with Him. Often times, they renewed the covenant with Him in the
courtyard while the king stood between the two pillars on the temple portico (see 2 Chr. 23:11-
17 and 34:29-32). These two pillars were named Jakin, meaning “He establishes”, and Boaz,
meaning “in Him is strength” (see 1 Kings 7:21). In this way, they commemorated their history
with God as He displayed His strength on their behalf and established them as His people.
When God delivered His people Israel out of bondage in Egypt, He used the hardness of
Pharaoh’s heart to prove His strength to the world (see Ex. 3:19-20)—Boaz. When He
brought them into the land He had promised them, He established them as a nation forever
(see Ps. 105:4-11 & Jer. 31:31-40)—Jakin.
Through delivering us from sin, the Messiah shows His strength. Through intimacy in
relationship with us, He establishes His Bride. The example of marriage between a man and
woman becomes so important for us then (see Eph. 5:22-33). We, the Bride, are continually
being prepared for our Bridegroom. His Word in the Bible puts our sins before us physically,
yet it also spiritually cleanses us as He writes His words on our hearts (Jer. 31:33). When we
are purified, through no strength of our own, we are left to marvel in His strength. Once
cleansed, He becomes intimate with us, thus establishing a Bride for Himself. As a man
deposits a piece of himself physically into his wife to initiate and renew their covenant, Yeshua
(Jesus) deposits His Spirit into us to initiate and renew our covenant with Him. Physical
intimacy occurs regularly in a healthy marriage, and spiritual intimacy occurs regularly
between the Master and Bride when our relationship with Him is healthy. Regardless of how
many times we break our covenant, He will accept us back, cleanse us for Himself and reunite
with us through His Spirit when we sincerely renew the covenant and repent of our sins. The
sign to us that the covenant has been renewed is being drawn into His presence and filled
with the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit).
Not only, then, is the Messiah our Kinsman Redeemer and Bridegroom (see Ruth ch.4), He is
also our King. When we stray from God and break our covenant by sinning, we must allow
King Yeshua (Jesus) to lead us in renewing the covenant. Deliverance from evil over and
over again displays His strength not only to us, but even to those around us as we are purified
and made holy. Then the presence of His Spirit on us transforms us from mere flesh to
spiritual beings united with the God of the universe. These are the pillars between which our
King Yeshua (Jesus) stands every time He draws us to renew our covenant with God or
dedicate ourselves to His service. So let us leave our old ways behind, for the King is
enthralled with our beauty (see Ps. 45).
Throughout the Tanakh (Old Testament), there are various examples of God’s people Israel
renewing their covenant with Him. Often times, they renewed the covenant with Him in the
courtyard while the king stood between the two pillars on the temple portico (see 2 Chr. 23:11-
17 and 34:29-32). These two pillars were named Jakin, meaning “He establishes”, and Boaz,
meaning “in Him is strength” (see 1 Kings 7:21). In this way, they commemorated their history
with God as He displayed His strength on their behalf and established them as His people.
When God delivered His people Israel out of bondage in Egypt, He used the hardness of
Pharaoh’s heart to prove His strength to the world (see Ex. 3:19-20)—Boaz. When He
brought them into the land He had promised them, He established them as a nation forever
(see Ps. 105:4-11 & Jer. 31:31-40)—Jakin.
Through delivering us from sin, the Messiah shows His strength. Through intimacy in
relationship with us, He establishes His Bride. The example of marriage between a man and
woman becomes so important for us then (see Eph. 5:22-33). We, the Bride, are continually
being prepared for our Bridegroom. His Word in the Bible puts our sins before us physically,
yet it also spiritually cleanses us as He writes His words on our hearts (Jer. 31:33). When we
are purified, through no strength of our own, we are left to marvel in His strength. Once
cleansed, He becomes intimate with us, thus establishing a Bride for Himself. As a man
deposits a piece of himself physically into his wife to initiate and renew their covenant, Yeshua
(Jesus) deposits His Spirit into us to initiate and renew our covenant with Him. Physical
intimacy occurs regularly in a healthy marriage, and spiritual intimacy occurs regularly
between the Master and Bride when our relationship with Him is healthy. Regardless of how
many times we break our covenant, He will accept us back, cleanse us for Himself and reunite
with us through His Spirit when we sincerely renew the covenant and repent of our sins. The
sign to us that the covenant has been renewed is being drawn into His presence and filled
with the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit).
Not only, then, is the Messiah our Kinsman Redeemer and Bridegroom (see Ruth ch.4), He is
also our King. When we stray from God and break our covenant by sinning, we must allow
King Yeshua (Jesus) to lead us in renewing the covenant. Deliverance from evil over and
over again displays His strength not only to us, but even to those around us as we are purified
and made holy. Then the presence of His Spirit on us transforms us from mere flesh to
spiritual beings united with the God of the universe. These are the pillars between which our
King Yeshua (Jesus) stands every time He draws us to renew our covenant with God or
dedicate ourselves to His service. So let us leave our old ways behind, for the King is
enthralled with our beauty (see Ps. 45).