God’s House: The Inner Court
The next phase in our progression toward intimacy with God is the Inner Court, also called the Court of the Priests. The priests were given special access because of their sacred responsibilities. They studied God’s laws, inspected the required offerings, performed sacrifices for their own sins and the sins of the people, carried out ceremonial washings, and blessed the people. Their service required spiritual preparation as well as demanding physical work.
The priests and sacrifices pointed toward something greater. Jesus became the final sacrifice when He died on the cross, rose again, and ascended into heaven. He is now our eternal High Priest, seated at the right hand of God. Because of Him, believers are invited to serve as a royal priesthood and draw closer to God.
“Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man.” Hebrews 8:1–2 ESV
The Altar of Sacrifice
The Inner Court served two important purposes: sacrifice and cleansing. At the altar, the priests presented sacrifices for their own sins and on behalf of the people. These sacrifices provided atonement under the old covenant, but they could not permanently remove sin or completely cleanse the conscience. They were a shadow pointing toward the perfect sacrifice that was still to come.
Jesus, the sinless Son of God, came as the Lamb of God and willingly received the punishment for our sins. His blood was shed not for any sin of His own but for ours. His sacrifice accomplished once and for all what repeated animal sacrifices could never accomplish. We now bring our sins to God through prayer and confession, trusting in what Jesus’ blood has already done for us.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 ESV
God does not want empty religious activity without genuine repentance. The sacrifice He desires from us is a heart that recognizes its need for Him, turns away from sin, and humbly receives His grace.
“For You do not delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering. My [only] sacrifice [acceptable] to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart [broken with sorrow for sin, thoroughly penitent], such, O God, You will not despise.” Psalm 51:16–17 AMP
The Bronze Basin
A bronze basin stood between the altar and the entrance to the Tabernacle. After presenting sacrifices, the priests washed their hands and feet before entering the Holy Place or ministering again at the altar. The basin was made from the bronze mirrors donated by the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting. It held water for cleansing and prepared the priests to move into a more intimate place of ministry.
For me, the basin is a beautiful picture of the cleansing work of God’s Word. Because it was made from mirrors, it reminds me that Scripture allows us to see ourselves truthfully. God’s Word sometimes comforts and inspires us, but it can also expose attitudes, motives, and sins we have tried to hide—even from ourselves. Jesus spoke about His words making His disciples clean, and Ephesians describes Christ cleansing His Church through the washing of water with the Word. Scripture does not explicitly identify the basin as the Bible, but the connection gives us a meaningful picture of how God’s truth cleanses and transforms us.
“You are already clean because of the word which I have given you [the teachings which I have discussed with you].”John 15:3 AMP
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 ESV
My Kitchen
My kitchen also has different levels of access: one for guests and another for close friends and family. A guest does not know what is behind every cabinet door or inside my refrigerator and pantry. The people closest to me have greater access, but that intimacy developed through many small steps. The more time we spent together, the more comfortable I became allowing them to see my imperfect kitchen. At first, they may have helped me make coffee or tea. Later, they learned where everything belonged as they helped me clean up after lunch.
Before long, these trusted people became the ones helping me cook and clean during dinner parties and celebrations. I am not embarrassed when they find an old, moldy potato hidden in my pantry. They quietly throw it away without making a scene in front of everyone else. They have my back, and I have theirs. We share responsibilities, break bread together, work through offenses, and forgive one another. This level of honesty can feel uncomfortable at first, but it becomes precious because real intimacy allows someone to see the mess without walking away.
Sacrifices of Praise
We grow closer to God in a similar way. As we spend time with Him, we become more comfortable inviting Him into our mess and confessing our sin. This deeper level of intimacy may initially feel uncomfortable, but once we experience His grace, it becomes easier to trust and praise Him—even in pain or fear.
“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.” Psalm 100:4 KJV
Praising God during difficulty declares that He is greater than our failures, fears, enemies, and trials. Praise shifts our attention from the size of our problems to the greatness of our God. We glorify Him not because our pain is insignificant but because He remains worthy and faithful within it. Through Jesus, we are members of a royal priesthood. We confess our sins at the altar, allow God’s Word to cleanse us at the basin, and then offer sacrifices of praise as we move closer to His presence.
“For since the Law has only a shadow [just a pale representation] of the good things to come—not the very image of those things—it can never, by offering the same sacrifices continually year after year, make perfect those who approach [its altars].” Hebrews 10:1 AMP
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9 ESV
The Inner Court teaches us that progressing toward intimacy with God involves both sacrifice and cleansing. Jesus has already provided the perfect sacrifice, but we must be willing to confess our sins and allow His Word to reveal and remove what does not belong. It may feel uncomfortable to let Him into every hidden place, but it is worth it. Honest fellowship with God opens the way to deeper and more extraordinary experiences with our unfathomable God.
“And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me; in His tent I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.” Psalm 27:6 AMP
