The LORD said to Moses, "tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from each man whose heart prompts him to give. These are the offerings you are to receive from them: gold, silver and bronze; blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair; ram skins dyed red and hides of sea cows; acacia wood; olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breast piece. "Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you. Exodus 25:1-9
Let’s take a look at something that played a large part in the life of the Israelites as they journeyed through the desert on their way to the Promised Land. Moses was on the mountain for forty days and nights receiving instruction from the Lord, but, of the 613 commandments, the very first recorded instruction was about the building of the tabernacle and the institution of its services. Why? The answer, I think, comes from an unexpected source. Julie Gold wrote a song that Bette Midler made famous. The title is: From a Distance and one line goes: God is watching us from a distance. From the behavior of the Israelites, you get the impression that they thought the same thing – that God was remote, and they wanted something closer, something more tangible.
When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, "Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don't know what has happened to him." Exodus 32:1
Aaron complied
He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, "These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt." Exodus 32:4
By no stretch of anyone’s imagination could they have believed that but is seems that they were just so desperate to have some tangible evidence of a divine presence that they were prepared to throw credibility let alone reason to the winds. God knew this and so He instructed Moses to make something substantial that would be that visible reminder of His presence among His people. Unfortunately, His people weren’t prepared to wait. As people, we haven’t changed a great deal from those Israelites. We Christians also need a sense that God is with us and so we often adopt the Tabernacle mentality. We build sometimes imposing and beautiful edifices and call them Churches – and they’re not. We say isn’t it wonderful that God is here – and most of the time He isn’t. We walk out the door and
all that’s left is an empty building because God doesn’t live in buildings anymore. Has God grown tired of dwelling with His people? No, quite the contrary, He has found a far more intimate way of dwelling with His people.
Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?1 Corinthians 3:16
God’s original desire is still unchanged – He still wants to dwell among His people. It’s just that the building is now organic. The Church still goes where His people go because His people are the Church.
you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.1 Peter 2:5
Note that the Israelites didn’t need to invite God to dwell in the tabernacle; all they had to do was provide it and God would do the rest; and I will dwell among them. The same is true for the Christian. The Spirit comes to live with us because of another’s request. Jesus said:
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counsellor to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. John 14:16-17
But, just like the Israelite, we have to provide the place for God to live. Can anyone provide such a place? No, for the unregenerate man this is not possible.
The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1 Corinthians 2:14
There is no place in the soul of the one who has not accepted Christ as Saviour for the Spirit of God to find a home but, when we embrace the fact that Jesus died for our sins on Calvary and that he rose again that we might know that we are justified before God, the situation changes entirely.
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20
Let’s look at the attitude of the Israelite who gave. You are to receive the offering for me from each man whose heart prompts him to give. There was no compulsion here. It was not a matter of tithing. It was a free-will offering from someone who had been touched by the love of God, someone who knew themselves to be blessed, and wanted to show his or her appreciation. God has not changed one bit and His message is just the same today
Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7
The Israelites gave what was needed to make the sanctuary a place fit for God and so do we.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Romans 12:1
One other thing we should mention about our reading; it was God who made the design for the Tabernacle. True it was men and women who would build it and furnish it and serve in it, but it would be to God’s design. There was a very good reason for this; only God knew what suited Him best and, after all, it was to be His dwelling place. Trying to second guess God is fraught with difficulties for an obvious reason.
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9. And so, He wrote it down so that they could follow His design exactly. Unfortunately, in the intervening millennia, modern man seems to have concluded that he has now reached a stage in his evolution when he can question God’s design. The Bible is God’s complete design and yet it is not uncommon, even from the pulpit, to hear it debated. It seems that wherever God’s design runs counter to man’s enlightened philosophy, it is God who got it wrong. I suppose that it should not really surprise us.
After all, Paul told Timothy almost two thousand years ago that it was going to happen.
For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 2 Timothy 4:3-4
The downside of course was declared by King Solomon even earlier
There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end, it leads to death. Proverbs 14:12
Not a happy conclusion for those who believe that they know better than God. Sometimes it does seem difficult to argue God’s plan in the face of what can often seem, humanly speaking, to be reasonable and decent causes but God’s plan is for a purpose
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17. To reject it holds grave dangers and to accept it, great blessings
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. Ephesians 4:14-15
There is yet another reason why it had to be to God’s design. The writer to the Hebrews has this to say of those who served in it.
They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: "See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain." Hebrews 8:5
Its design was not merely a whim of God but was designed to portray heavenly truths, truths that were centuries in the future for the Israelites but for us have become reality.
When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. Hebrews 9:11-12
Before we look at the Tabernacle itself, I would like us to consider its location relative to the Israelite camp. Remember that we are talking about a mobile people who rarely stayed long in one place. So are we.
Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world .1 Peter 2:11a
They were travelling towards a fixed destination – the Promised Land. So are we.
But our citizenship is in heaven. Philippians 3:20a
So, what can we learn from how the Israelites pitched the Tabernacle.
The LORD said to Moses and Aaron: "The Israelites are to camp around the Tent of Meeting some distance from it, each man under his standard with the banners of his family." Numbers 2:1-2
From the diagram you can see that it was in the very center of the camp, protected on all sides and closely surrounded by those whose job it was to minister in it. We, too, need to protect that place in us where God dwells. It is not unassailable. The sad fact is that for us the enemy is a familiar one – ourselves. Paul exhorts the Ephesian Christians
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Ephesians 4:30
When the tabernacle was external it stood aloof from the normal Israelite. Untouched by his failure, its services continued unabated; there was an entire priestly class just to ensure it. No longer. We are now that priestly class but you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9
And when we falter the service falters, and our testimony fails. There was a good reason that Paul warned Timothy Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. 2 Timothy 1:14
But the assembled Israelites did not only guard the sanctuary, but they also bore a testimony to the faithfulness of the God who dwelt amongst them; a God who fulfilled His promises and blessed His people. The last thing Jesus said to His disciples before He ascended back into the heavens was
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8
Since we have also been on the receiving end of some very great and precious promises let us heed the words of Jesus to a young man called Saul
Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. Acts 26:16
And bear a testimony to His great love so that others may come to know the joy of God dwelling in them
The Tabernacle – Its Layout
Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand, the table and the consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron's staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now. When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing. This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order. When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. Hebrews 9:1-12
We have looked at the reason for the existence of the Tabernacle and discovered that it was a part of God’s plan to be with His people; after all the word means a residence or dwelling place. We also discovered that the design was quite specifically dictated by God. Twice in chapter 25 of Exodus and again in chapters 26 and 27 Moses is instructed to make sure everything is done according to the pattern that God showed him on the mountain. This, we discovered, was because it was a model of something much bigger.
They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: "See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain." Hebrews 8:5
In the passage from Hebrews chapter 9, we see that the Tabernacle points to the Lord Jesus Christ. Now it is time to have a look at the Tabernacle itself and we will start as the Scriptures do, from the inside out.
in extent, the court surrounding the Tabernacle was about 150’ long by 75’ wide. The tent itself was about 45’ long and 15’ wide. As can be seen from the illustrations, the tabernacle compound contained seven distinctive artefacts apart from the structure itself and the curtains that sectioned it. In the Most Holy Place there was the ark of the Covenant with the mercy seat on top. In the Holy Place there was the golden alter, the lampstand and the table of showbread. In the courtyard stood the laver and the bronze alter. Each has a specific function, and each speaks typically of some aspect of the heavenly tabernacle of which it was a shadow.
The first vessel described is found in verse 10 of chapter 25 of Exodus. It is a wooden chest just over a meter long and 2/3 meter wide and high and would become the stuff of which movies. It is, of course, the Ark of the Testimony and it is fitting that it should be described first because it speaks to us of the Lord Jesus Christ. It was made of acacia wood – a fine grained durable wood eminently suited for cabinetry – overlayed with pure gold. The wood speaks of what is earthly and gold speaks of what is pure and divine. These two Characteristics were united in our Lord Jesus Christ
The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. 1 Corinthians 15:47
It spent most of its time in the dark for the only light in the Tabernacle stood on the other side of the veil which separated the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place. It reminds you of what the apostle John said of Jesus. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. John 1:4-5
He came into a dark world, a world weighed down by sin and rebellion against God, and the darkness just didn’t understand what was going on. But the verse in John said that in him was life and that reminds of the three things that were placed in that golden chest. According to Hebrews This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron's staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. Hebrews 9:4
The gold jar of manna symbolized God’s provision for His people. They might have been journeying through a parched desert but six mornings a week God spread manna upon the ground for them to eat. On one occasion when Jesus was speaking to the people, they reminded Him of this by way of a taunt.
So, they asked him, "What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'" John 6:30-31
Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." ... Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6:32-33,35 Jesus is God’s everlasting provision for man – the One who gives life to the world
There were many times on that journey to the Promised Land when the people of God rebelled against the leading of God through His servant Moses and one of them is recorded in Numbers 17. In the previous chapter a bunch of insolent Israelites had told Moses that he was no better than they were and where did he get off telling them what to do. God then demonstrated in a somewhat dramatic fashion where they got off by opening the ground and swallowing them whole. Not content with this, the rest of them accused Moses of killing the dissidents. So, God arranged another demonstration to show the people who their guide was to be. Each of the leaders of the twelve tribes presented his staff upon which his name was written, and they were put in the Tabernacle overnight. The next day Moses entered the Tent of the Testimony and saw that Aaron's staff, which represented the house of Levi, had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds. Numbers 17:8
The rest were still dead sticks. They were left in no doubt as to God’s choice of the man who would be His representative among His people. Centuries later Peter was to tell the Jews "Therefore, let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." Acts 2:36
How did He do that?
This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. Acts 2:23-24
Though man rejected Him and crucified Him, just like that dead stick of Aaron’s, God raised Him to life again and appointed Him to be our guide to God for Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.1 Peter 3:18a
Lastly, the Ark of the Covenant contained the words of God represented in the tablets of stone on which God had scribed the Ten Commandments. Jesus spoke the Word of God to the people
For I did not speak of my own accord, but the father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So, whatever I say is just what the father has told me to say." John 12:49-50
Jesus was the fulfilment of the word of God You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, John 5:39
Jesus was the word of God. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:1,14
Jesus was in every respect the fulfilment of those types and shadows portrayed by the Ark of the Covenant. Speaking of the priests who served in the Tabernacle, the writer to the Hebrews could say
But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises. Hebrews 8:6
To complete the picture of Christ there was one other artefact in the Holy of Holies.
"Make an atonement cover of pure gold—two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. And make two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. ... The cherubim are to have their wings spread upward, overshadowing the cover with them. The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the cover. Place the cover on top of the ark and put in the ark the Testimony, which I will give you.
Exodus 25:17-18,20-21. Why was it an atonement cover? Once, every year, the high priest entered the Holy of Holies to sprinkle blood upon this golden cover. The purpose was to atone for his sins and the sins of the people for, as the letter to the Hebrews tells us in fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Hebrews 9:22
And so, every year, year after year, the blood was presented to obtain forgiveness. What more telling picture of our Lord Jesus Christ. When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. Hebrews 9:11-12
As wonderful as the forgiveness provided by the mercy seat was, that provided by the sacrifice of Jesus was far better (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. Hebrews 7:19,22b
And such was the superiority of Jesus sacrifice that He only had to do it once. Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. Hebrews 9:28
So, what’s with the Cherubim? We meet them first in the third chapter of the Bible.
After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life. Genesis 3:24
It would seem that they are the ones who carry out the will of God and here we see them, their wings extended, looking down on the ark and the sprinkled blood. I guess it would be a constant reminder to the people of God how it was that they were now free of their Egyptian slave masters. When the LORD goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, he will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway, and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down. Exodus 12:23
It is also a reminder to us for you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.1 Peter 1:18-19
Ere we bring this look into the Holy of Holies to an end, there is one more feature of the Ark that we should consider. Two gold covered wooden poles were made to carry the Ark, which is perfectly sensible, but God was insistent The poles are to remain in the rings of this ark; they are not to be removed. Exodus 25:15 Regardless of how long the People stayed in one place, and they sometimes stayed up to a year, the carrying poles would remain attached to the Ark. I tend to think that God required it to be so in order that it be a permanent reminder that the people were just travelling through; that there was no permanent dwelling place there. It is a reminder to us of the same thing. Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world.1 Peter 2:11a They were travelling towards a fixed destination – the Promised Land. So are we. But our citizenship is in heaven. Philippians 3:20a So, let us be encouraged by the lessons the Tabernacle teaches about God’s plan for His people and the One by whom He brought it about
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2
Now we are going to pass through the veil into the Holy Place and look at the three items found there – the Table of Showbread, the Lampstand and the Alter of Incense. But before we do, let’s pause for a moment to look at the veil itself. "Make a curtain of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen, with cherubim worked into it by a skilled craftsman. Exodus 26:31 The base material for the curtain was fine linen, probably Egyptian which was renowned and probably given to them by the Egyptians when they left the country. The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing. The LORD had made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for; so, they plundered the Egyptians. Exodus 12:35-36 Its white color symbolized purity or righteousness, as the color still does today, a fact we glean from the marriage of the bride of Christ Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) Revelation 19:7-8 And it reminds us of an occasion which Peter, James and John were privileged to witness.
After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. Mark 9:2-3
So, the background of the veil spoke of the essential righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ
My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 1 John 2:1
But how do we know that this is speaking of Jesus alone? After all, we’ve just read a scripture speaking about the righteous acts of the saints. To answer that, we need to look at what else was woven with that fine linen. There was blue, speaking so clearly of heaven, and what do we know about Jesus?
The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. 1 Corinthians 15:47
Then there was purple. then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again and again, saying, "Hail, king of the Jews!" And they struck him in the face. John 19:1-3
Purple was the color of royalty and so the soldiers dressed Jesus as a king so that they might mock Him. How ironic that they played mock obedience to the One before whom, in a day yet to come, they will be forced to bow. Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11
Finally, there was scarlet and what does the Bible say about scarlet? "Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. Isaiah 1:18
How could sin possibly be representative of the holy, righteous, sinless Son of God?
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21
There were Cherubim embroidered into the veil and we have already discovered that Cherubim are the agents of God’s will. "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. John 4:34 But the most telling evidence comes not from a veil that barred the way into the Most Holy Place but from a rent veil and when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. Matthew 27:50-51 Why was the veil rent when Jesus died? Because it no longer had a purpose.
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, Hebrews 10:19-20
We are now in the Holy Place and our eyes alight on a small, gold covered wooden table with twelve loaves of bread stacked upon it and a number of pure gold plates, bowls and decanters. The least obvious symbolically, we might perhaps glean its purpose from what saws on it.
Put the bread of the Presence on this table to be before me at all times. Exodus 25:30
Literally the bread of faces, it pictured the twelve tribes – the entirety of God’s people – always before Him. It reminded me of something King David once said: Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings Psalms 17:8
Although the bread dominated the view of the table - each loaf using just over three liters of flour - it was not alone. "Take fine flour and bake twelve loaves of bread, using two-tenths of an ephah for each loaf. Set them in two rows, six in each row, on the table of pure gold before the LORD. Along each row put some pure incense as a memorial portion to represent the bread and to be an offering made to the LORD by fire. Leviticus 24:5-7 Every week, when the bread was changed, the incense was put upon the golden alter to produce a sweet-smelling Oduor before the Lord to remind Him of His people. It reminded me of something Paul said about those who were bearing a testimony to the unsaved. But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ. 2 Corinthians 2:14-15 As we go about the work to which each and every one of us are called, we remind God of Jesus, and it gladdens His heart.
Opposite the table, on the other side of the Tabernacle stood the lamp stand.
"Make a lampstand of pure gold and hammer it out, base and shaft; its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms shall be of one piece with it. Six branches are to extend from the sides of the lampstand—three on one side and three on the other. Exodus 25:31-32
The lampstand was the only source of light in the Tabernacle. We have already learned that the earthly Tabernacle was a picture of something by far more important
They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. Hebrews 8:5a We catch a glimpse of that greater Tabernacle in the second last chapter of the Bible. Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. Revelation 21:1-3
And guess what was lighting that heavenly dwelling place? I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. Revelation 21:22-23
Who was the lamp? When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life." John 8:12
The lamp was for a stated purpose "Then make its seven lamps and set them up on it so that they light the space in front of it. Exodus 25:37 And what was in front of it? The table of show bread. God wanted His light to shine upon His people so that they might never be in darkness, so that they would always have his light to guide them, and He has provided that for us. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Psalms 119:105 We have another picture of a seven-fold lampstand in the Scriptures.
The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. Revelation 1:20 We have already seen where Jesus said: “I am the light of the world.” But a chapter later He qualified it. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." John 9:5 Jesus is no longer in the world in a physical sense but we, His people are and so He says of us "You are the light of the world. ... Matthew 5:14a And, just as that lampstand in the Tabernacle, we have a specific function in life
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:15-16 The Lord Jesus has gone home to glory and the only way He can be the light of the world now is through His people, the Church. This, I know, is an awesome responsibility but if others are going to be saved it is one, we need to shoulder. Paul describes us as God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.
1 Timothy 3:15 And, if ever the world needed to know the truth, it is now. So, wherever you may be, do not hide your light but let it shine so that others may know that there is a God who loves His people and wants to dwell with them. Blessed is those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD.
In Exodus 30 we find the third thing in the Holy Place - the golden altar of incense. Unlike every other alter in Israel it was never to be used for sacrifice. It had only one purpose
"Aaron must burn fragrant incense on the altar every morning when he tends the lamps. He must burn incense again when he lights the lamps at twilight so incense will burn regularly before the LORD for the generations to come. Do not offer on this altar any other incense or any burnt offering or grain offering, and do not pour a drink offering on it. Exodus 30:7- For generation after generation the fragrance of the incense would fill the tabernacle. Why should God have wanted that to be? I can only think that it would be a constant reminder to Him of the One who would come in His name to fulfil His will in every respect; the One who was ever the delight of His heart
While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" Matthew 17:5 And the One who would show His devotion to His Father in His dying obedience to His will, the One of whom the Tabernacle spoke live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:2 He was unique, just as the incense was unique; any attempt to copy it would result in expulsion from the presence of God. Do not make any incense with this formula for yourselves; consider it holy to the LORD. Whoever makes any like it to enjoy its fragrance must be cut off from his people." Exodus 30:37-38T he incenses has passed into history just as the One of whom it spoke has departed this scene to appear in the presence of God for us, but the aroma of Him remains in a very special way
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 2 Corinthians 2:14-15 There we will leave, for a time at least, our study of the Tabernacle. There is much more that we could explore, for we have only looked on the inside – at the things of gold – and then not with the thoroughness they deserve. The outer court and those who served we have not explored at all. But let’s finish where we began by reminding ourselves why the Tabernacle existed in the first place. have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. Exodus 25:8 Did the demise of the Tabernacle end God’s desire to dwell with His people? There are many scriptures we might examine but I will leave you with the last recorded words of the real Lord’s prayer. I have made you have known to them and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them." John 17:26
In light of this may our response to His love bring forth in our lives a desire to please Him in all we do and speak I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20
Title photo credit: moving_edge_israel