| We
left off at the year 2600 AC (I am
using AC as a point of reference ... AFTER
CREATION). It was 2600 years after Creation
that the giving of the Law took place on Mount
Sinai (Exodus Chapters 19 & 20). God gave
Moses some very specific instructions as to the
construction of the tabernacle and just how all
of the Levitical Priesthood ceremonies were to be
performed (Exodus Chapters 25, 26 & 27). At
any rate, the tabernacle in the wilderness, the
furnishings and the ceremonies were all figures
... shadows ... types ... or examples ... of that
which was to come. Hebrews 9:8-19&24; 8:5 10:1;
1 Corinthians 10:11; Luke 24:44.
It is God’s desire to dwell among His
people, to be their God, and they be His people.
And, the tabernacle had a whole lot to do with
this desire. As a matter of fact, the
tabernacle’s construction, furnishings and
the ceremonies have some very significant
meanings ... even for us today. And, to leave out
the tabernacle of Moses in our teaching, or
failing to understand its importance, we are
actually neglecting a powerful and necessary tool
that God has prepared for us to understand the
Cross AND New Testament Salvation.
Tabernacle means "tent," "place
of dwelling" or "sanctuary." It
was a sacred place where God chose to meet His
people, the Israelites, during the 40 years they
wandered in the desert under Moses’
leadership. The tabernacle was situated in the
center of their camp, and the 12 tribes of Israel
would set up their tents around it according to
tribe, according to how God said it should be
done (Numbers Chapters 2-3). The instruction on
how to build the tabernacle was first given to
Moses in the wilderness, who then gave the orders
to the Israelites. "And let them make me a
sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.." (Exodus
25:8)
"Then I will dwell among the Israelites
and be their God. They will know that I am the
Lord their God, who brought them out of Egypt so
that I might dwell among them." (Exodus 29:45-46)
The tabernacle was more than just a dwelling
place. All the components of the tabernacle were
part of an intricate visual aid to illustrate God's
relationship with His people. One aspect of this
relationship was God’s requirement for
complete obedience. God told Moses to create the
tabernacle exactly the way He commanded. It was
not to stray from God’s blueprint.
"Make this tabernacle and all its
furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show
you." (Exodus 25:9)
To this end, God gave very specific
instructions about the size of each component and
the materials the Israelites were to use, as we
will see in the following sections of this
discussion. These seemingly cumbersome rules were
not intended to burden the people, but to show
God’s unquestionable authority and holiness,
and emphasize that people could only come to God
on God’s terms, not on their own. They had
to obey reverently not only in the construction
of the tabernacle, but also in the way they
worshiped. Any irreverence or ritual uncleanness
could result from an individual being cut off
from his people or in death.
For example, the anointing oil for the
tabernacle and the incense for the altar of
incense (made from God’s own prescribed
formulas of spices) were both declared holy, and
could only be used for the purpose of the
tabernacle; anyone else using the same formula
for their own consumption would be cut off from
Israel (Exodus 30:34-38). The special garments
for the priests were holy; if they did not wear
the right clothing in serving the Lord, they
could die (Exodus 28:2, 43).
The whole compound of approximately 150 feet
by 75 feet was surrounded by a (curtain) fence,
with only one entrance. A person could not simply
come from any direction into the tabernacle as he
pleased — he had to enter through the one
gate, which was always located to the east. The
altar of sacrifice was situated right inside the
courtyard upon entering the gate. The bronze
laver, or basin, was a large bowl filled with
water located halfway between the brazen altar
and the Holy Place. Only after the priests washed
themselves with water at the laver could they
enter the Holy Place ... or the first room in the
tent (tabernacle). Inside, there were three
pieces of furniture: the lamp stand, which had a
central branch and three branches on each side,
forming a total of seven branches (lights), was
on the left side, the table of shewbread was on
the right side, and the altar of incense, which
sat in front of the curtain that separated the
Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (or Holy of
Holies), was straight ahead. There was only one
entrance into the Most Holy Place. It was a
curtain (veil) that separated the Holy Place from
the Most Holy Place. Inside the Most Holy Place,
which, by the way, was not seen by anyone but the
high priest ..., and him only one day each year -on
the Day of Atonement (Leviticus Chapter 16). The
Most Holy Place is where the presence of the Lord
dwelled between the two cherubims on either end
of the Mercy Seat over the Ark of the Covenant,
which contained a golden pot of manna,
Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the two
stone tablets on which the Ten Commandments were
written (Exodus 25:22; 2 Kings 19:15). If
everything was not done precisely as God
instructed the priest who entered the Most Holy
Place would never see the light of day again.
Also, the priest had pomegranates and small bells,
which made a tinkling sound as the priest moved
about, sewn to the hem of his garment (Exodus 28:34).
It’s my understanding that some historical
accounts indicate that a rope was tied to the leg
of the priest who entered the Most Holy Place so
he could be dragged out just in case things were
not done properly, and God slew him while he was
in there ... which would be ascertained if the
tinkling sound stopped and didn’t start up
again. And, while I am not saying that is a fact,
it does make a whole lot of sense.
Any how, before we talk more about the
tabernacle furnishings, take a look from the east
end of the Outer Court, towards the Most Holy
Place. You will notice that, starting the altar
of sacrifice, and looking towards the laver ...,
the alter of incense and the Most Holy Place ...,
the intersection in the Holy Place of the lamp
stand on the left and the table of shew bread on
the right, forms the pattern of a cross.
1) The first thing seen when entering
into the only entrance (Jesus is the ONLY way)
into the outer court was the brazen altar. After
presenting a lamb without spot or blemish, death
... the shedding of blood ... was the very first
step in the Atonement process. Also, death
symbolizes Repentance ... dying out to sin, self
and the world. Those who do not repent do not
enter in the "narrow way." ... Romans
12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the
mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a
living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God,
which is your reasonable service. ... Isaiah 59:16
And he saw that there was no man, and wondered
that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm
brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness,
it sustained him. ... God became the Lamb ...
Genesis 22:8 And Abraham said, My son, God will
provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so
they went both of them together.
2) The laver was located between the
brazen altar of sacrifice and the Holy Place. The
priests atoned for their sins through a sacrifice
at the brazen altar, but they cleansed themselves
at the laver before serving in the Holy Place, so
that they would be pure and not die before a holy
God.
Water was a very essential part of the
Atonement process. Likewise, water baptism is an
essential part of the New Testament Plan of
Salvation. (John 3:5; Mark 16:15-16; 1 Peter 3:21)
3) The lamp stand was the only source
of light in the Holy Place. Jesus, is the
"... true Light, which lighteth every man
that cometh into the world." (John 1:9) ...
"I am the light of the world: he that
followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but
shall have the light of life." (John 8:12)
4) The table of shewbread stood on the
right side of the Holy Place, across from the
lamp stand, and held 12 loaves of bread,
representing the 12 tribes of Israel. The priests
baked the bread with fine flour and it remained
on the table before the Lord for a week; every
Sabbath day the priests would remove it and eat
it in the Holy Place, then put fresh bread on the
table. "And Jesus said unto them, I am the
bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never
hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never
thirst. ... Your fathers did eat manna in the
wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which
cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat
thereof, and not die. (John 6:35, 49-50)
5) God commanded the priests to burn
incense on the golden altar every morning and
evening. The incense was to be left burning
continually throughout the day and night as a
sweet smell to the Lord. The incense is a symbol
of prayers and intercession of the people going
up to God as a sweet smell. God wanted His
dwelling to be a place where people could
approach Him and pray to Him. "…for my
house will be called a house of prayer for all
nations." (Isaiah 56:7) ... And another
angel came and stood at the altar, having a
golden censer; and there was given unto him much
incense, that he should offer it with the prayers
of all saints upon the golden altar which was
before the throne. Revelation 8:3
6) There was only one doorway into the
Most Holy Place (Jesus is the ONLY way). And, a
veil separated the Most Holy Place from the Holy
Place. Hebrews 10:19-21 Having therefore,
brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by
the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way,
which he hath consecrated for us, through the
veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an
high priest over the house of God;
7) The Most Holy Place ... God’s
dwelling place: The mercy seat was the lid of the
ark. On top of it stood two cherubim (angels) at
the two ends, facing each other. The cherubim,
symbols of God’s divine presence and power,
were facing downward toward the ark with
outstretched wings that covered the mercy seat.
God said to Moses: "And there I will meet
with thee, and I will commune with thee from
above the mercy seat, from between the two
cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony,
of all things which I will give thee in
commandment unto the children of Israel." (Exodus
25:22) ... "... Speak unto Aaron thy brother,
that he come not at all times into the holy place
within the veil before the mercy seat, which is
upon the ark; that he die not; for I will appear
in the cloud upon the mercy seat." (Leviticus
16:2) ... "…the ark of God, whose name
is called by the name of the Lord of hosts that
dwelleth between the cherubims." (2 Samuel 6:2)
... "O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, that
dwelleth the cherubims, thou art the God, even
thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth:
thou hast made heaven and earth." (Isaiah 37:16)
Because the ark was God’s throne among
His people, it was a symbol of His presence and
power with them wherever it went. There are quite
a number of miracles recorded in the Old
Testament surrounding the ark: With the presence
of the ark, the waters of the River Jordan
divided so the Israelites could cross on dry land,
and the walls of Jericho fell so that the
Israelites could capture it (Joshua 3:14-17, 6:6-21).
Yet the ark could not be treated with irreverence
because it was also a symbol of God’s
judgment and wrath. When the Israelites fought
their enemies the Philistines during the time of
the prophet Samuel, they disregarded the commands
of the Lord and took the ark out to the
battlefield with them, "summoning"
God’s presence. God caused the Philistines
to win the battle and "the glory is departed
from Israel, for the ark of God is taken" (1
Samuel 4:22). However, God showed His power to
the Philistines when He caused their idol, Dagon,
to fall to the ground when the ark was placed
next to it, and several Philistine cities were
plagued heavily when the ark was in their midst (1
Samuel 5). Ultimately, the ark was returned to
Israel.
The contents inside the Ark of
the Covenant
A) The pot of manna: And Moses said,
This is the thing which the LORD commandeth, Fill
an omer of it to be kept for your generations;
that they may see the bread wherewith I have fed
you in the wilderness, when I brought you forth
from the land of Egypt. And Moses said unto Aaron,
Take a pot, and put an omer full of manna therein,
and lay it up before the LORD, to be kept for
your generations. As the LORD commanded Moses, so
Aaron laid it up before the Testimony, to be kept.
(Exodus 16:32-34)
1 Corinthians 10:1-5 Moreover, brethren, I
would not that ye should be ignorant, how that
all our fathers were under the cloud, and all
passed through the sea; And were all baptized
unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did
all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all
drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of
that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that
Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was
not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the
wilderness.
B) Aaron’s staff that had budded:
The people rebelled against Aaron being their
high priest. To resolve the dispute, God
commanded the people to take 12 sticks written
with the names of the leader of each tribe and
place them before the ark overnight. The next day,
Aaron’s rod from the house of Levi had
budded with blossoms and almonds. God confirmed
his choice of Aaron’s household as the
priestly line.
And Moses spake unto the children of Israel,
and every one of their princes gave him a rod
apiece, for each prince one, according to their
fathers' houses, even twelve rods: and the rod of
Aaron was among their rods. And Moses laid up the
rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness.
And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses
went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold,
the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded,
and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and
yielded almonds. And Moses brought out all the
rods from before the LORD unto all the children
of Israel: and they looked, and took every man
his rod. And the LORD said unto Moses, Bring
Aaron's rod again before the testimony, to be
kept for a token against the rebels; and thou
shalt quite take away their murmurings from me,
that they die not. Numbers 17:6-10
C) The stone tablets with the Ten
Commandments: God had chosen the Israelites as
His people. For the Israelites to qualify for
that distinction, God had demanded one thing.
They must obey His Word. By the way, God made a
CONDITIONAL agreement with them: "Now
therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and
keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar
treasure unto me above all people: for all the
earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom
of priests, and an holy nation. These are the
words which thou shalt speak unto the children of
Israel. (Exodus 19:5-6) ... Also, God’s Word
is inseparable from Him ... "And the Word
was made flesh, and dwelt among us, ..." (John
1:1&14). We’ve only scratched the
surface!
|