Grace is often defined as "God's unmerited favor". I am very fond of this definition because it captures the character of God. Human beings do not find their worth on planet Earth. God has given humanity its worth and no one on Earth can take it away. To unveil something is to uncover or make visible something that was covered or hidden. God's grace is no longer covered or hidden but is exposed for the world to see. But there is a difference between seeing and experiencing the unmerited favor of God personally. Experience comes from relationship. In the Bible many things are referred to as being veiled. For example, the face, the Ark of the Covenant, a brides face, God's presence. The following is what I found on Wikipedia regarding the veil:
{"the Veil of the temple signifies the Son of God, Jesus Christ, hanging upon the Altar of the Cross, as the true veil between God and us….." In this context, the word veil alludes to a promise, or bond. In ancient Rome a red veil, or a veil with red stripes, distinguished newly-married women from the unmarried, again signifying a bond between them and their husbands. It is also worn by widows, who made a profession of continence. The veil is also a symbol of the pre-enlightened state, hidden knowledge, secrecy, illusion, and ignorance. According to the famed historian Josephus, there were four veils that adorned the Tabernacle. The white veil signified the earth, the blue veil signified the air, the purple veil signified the sea (because the purple color comes from murex, a shell-fish) and red signified fire. Today, the Passing of the Veils ceremony uses three veils, sometimes four. Veils are also often used to cover a religious, or holy, object to keep it from the public. The significance again is less to conceal something; rather is signifies something special. In Exodus 34, we learn that when Moses came down Mt. Sinai, "the skin of his face shone", which he had to cover with a veil as the people were unable to look upon his shining face. The verb, to reveal, comes from re-veil, which signifies to pull back or to cover again something with a veil. The Tabernacle (reconstruction) showing the veils which covered the sanctuary and the courtyard.
Hebrew mitpahath (Ruth 3:15; marg., "sheet" or "apron;" R.V., "mantle"). In Isaiah 3:22 this word is plural, rendered "wimples;" R.V., "shawls" i.e. wraps.
Massekah (Isaiah 25:7; in Isa. 28:20 rendered "covering"). The word denotes something spread out and covering or concealing something else (comp. 2 Cor. 3:13-15).
Masveh (Exodus 34:33, 35), the veil on the face of Moses. This verse should be read, "And when Moses had done speaking with them, he put a veil on his face," as in the Revised Version. When Moses spoke to them he was without the veil; only when he ceased speaking he put on the veil (comp. 2 Cor. 3:13, etc.).
Paroheth (Ex. 26:31-35), the veil of the tabernacle and the temple, which hung between the holy place and the most holy (2 Chr. 3:14). In the temple a partition wall separated these two places. In it were two folding-doors, which are supposed to have been always open, the entrance being concealed by the veil which the high priest lifted when he entered into the sanctuary on the day of Atonement. This veil was rent when Christ died on the cross (Matt. 27:51; Gospel of Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45).
Tza'iph (Genesis 24:65). Rebekah "took a veil and covered herself." (See also 38:14, 19.) Hebrew women generally appeared in public without veils (12:14; 24:16; 29:10; 1 Sam. 1:12). Radhidh (Cant. 5:7, R.V. "mantle;" Isaiah 3:23). The word probably denotes some kind of cloak or wrapper.
Masak, the veil which hung before the entrance to the holy place (Ex. 26:36, 37). }
The veil seperating man from God has been split in two. The presence of God is now dwelling within the hearts of men and woman who have recieved Him. He makes Himself known through us. The Holy Spirit has been given to us to be the breath of life within us.
Peace,
Chaplain Jeremy
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