Outside the Camp - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2024

Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach.
Hebrews 13:12-13 NKJV

Outside the Camp
The book of Hebrews mentions no writer but begins with God. It shows the New Testament revelation to be consistent with the Old Testament, and at the same time to be in great contrast to it. Indeed, prophecies, types, and persons are seen to have their marvelous fulfillment in God now speaking from heaven in the Person of His Son, the Creator and Upholder of all things. His eternal Godhead and His true manhood are clearly and carefully declared, and He Himself supersedes every Old Testament partial revelation of the mind of God.

Here we find His great work of redemption seen in its eternal value before God. He is viewed as having entered into heaven itself, establishing a heavenly and eternal inheritance for every redeemed soul, in contrast to the earthly hope of Israel. He is the great High Priest, passed through the heavens, by whom we approach and worship God, who sustains and sympathizes with His saints in their present needs. The believer is seen as on earth, but possessing a heavenly hope, and so the believer is seen as a passenger through an adverse world. All religion of earthly character—even Judaism, previously established by God—is viewed as a "camp" that is hostile to the glory of this heavenly revelation (Heb. 13:13).

Hebrews provides precious lessons in the clearness of its lines of demarcation regarding the Christian's faith, walk, and worship.

-- L. M. Grant

When we see Thy love unshaken—Outside the camp;
Scorned by man, by God forsaken—Outside the camp;
Thy loved cross alone can charm us,

Shame need now no more alarm us,
Glad we follow, naught can harm us—Outside the camp.

-- E. Dark