The veil in the Tabernacle of God divides the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. In Exodus 26:33b, the purpose of the veil is to keep out, or to prevent, those who are not allowed to enter from entering. It is also to hide and to cover. God is a holy God, thus although He dwells in the midst of His people, they must not approach Him casually or flippantly. In our worship of God, we must be mindful and careful to do so in the way that God has revealed to us.

1. There is a veil tells us that the dwelling place of God is holy (Exod 26:1-30)
The Tabernacle is a unique place. It is the dwelling place of God amongst His people, and it is a very exclusive privilege for His people to worship God. In the Old Testament, when a Gentile wants to be saved, he cannot simply say, “I believe in God,” and then continue with his normal life. He must assimilate and become part of the people of God in the nation of Israel. The worship of God must be according to what God has prescribed in the Bible.

2.  There is a veil tells us that the approach unto God is also holy (Exod 26:31-37)
One cannot approach the Holy Place of God and the Most Holy Place of God casually. There are prescribed laws for how one is to approach God. The priests are not even allowed to peek into the Most Holy Place, where the Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat are. There is only one appointed day a year, i.e. the Day of Atonement, when the high priest, not any priest, is allowed to enter the Most Holy Place. Before the high priest enters in, he must first offer a sacrifice for his own sins. The approach to God must be very deliberate and careful, done according to what God has prescribed.

The freedom that we now have in the worship of God contrasts with the Old Testament time because of what Jesus Christ has done for us:

-- Hebrews 9:12: Jesus Christ is our Great High Priest and He can bring us into the presence of God.

-- Matthew 27:50-51: Through the death of Jesus Christ, the veil which was a divide between God and man has been torn down.

-- Hebrews 10:19-24: Through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, He has consecrated a new and living way for us to approach God.

May we be thankful to God for this liberty in worship that we now have, and not let it breed complacency or arrogance as we worship our holy God.