We have an altar whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. Hebrews 13:10
The priests who served in the tabernacle in the Old Testament ate very well, or at least they did as long as the people were bringing their offerings and sacrifices as they should. Every week, a new batch of shewbread was placed in the holy place for the priests to eat. And many of the offerings and sacrifices included a generous portion for the priest. They had plenty of the best of meat, which they would share with their families. This was a large part of their remuneration for their service in the tabernacle, and the priests who rotated through their courses of service would look forward to their time in the tabernacle. They would eat, and eat well from the offerings on the altar, because it was their right and privilege as part of their service and worship. But that right to enjoy the bounty from the altar was limited to only those who were serving in the tabernacle. There is an altar today that Christians can enjoy the bounty from, but which is out of bounds to others.
When our Lord ate the Passover with His disciples, He instituted the Lord’s Supper. As He gave the bread and the cup to the disciples, He instructed them, ‘This do in remembrance of Me’ (Luke 22:19). And so, we take the bread and the cup when we gather to remember Him, keeping in mind that as ‘as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till He come’ (1 Corinthians 11:26). No higher privilege is extended to mankind than to gather and participate in the Lord’s Supper. No worship is higher than this, as the Lord’s people spend time in contemplation on the sacrifice and the sufferings of Christ, as the incense of praise rises to Heaven. Much more than the offerings listed in the book of Leviticus that brought a sweet savour unto the Lord, the sacrifice of praise that the Lord’s people bring today is precious to God because this worship is a remembrance of the one great Sacrifice of which those offerings in Leviticus were just a picture and shadow.
The priests in the tabernacle did more than just worship; there was much service and work that went along with their time spent in that holy tent. This was work that was not permitted to those who were not of the family of Aaron. No others had the right to be there and work there. It’s the same today when it comes to the work of God. Only those who by the new birth have been brought into the royal family of God have the privilege of truly serving our Father. Many today will serve their religions and may think they are serving God. But theirs is an empty service if there is no divine life, if their works are the product of their religious fervour and not the product of the Holy Spirit Who dwells within each child of God.
God’s rich bounty of worship and service is spread for His people, and only His people can truly appreciate and rejoice in what is on that great table. – Jim MacIntosh