The Tabernacle – What is it telling us? (by Peter Barnett)
Exodus 25 – 29
My wife Patricia and I sometimes go to the movies at the Lighthouse at Pauatahanui. We like to go on a Wednesday as Gold Card holders can get a free coffee. Before the start of the movie proper we would see “Trailers” which are snatches of upcoming movies. These trailers give a glimpse of what a movie is about. We don’t see the whole movie but just enough to give an idea of the story and of course to gain our interest.
In a similar way the Tabernacle of the Old Testament gives us a glimpse of how God reached out to Israel and ultimately to humankind.
In recent weeks Will has been going through the Ten Commandments which, as you know, were given to the people of Israel by God in their wanderings in the wilderness. The wanderings of Israel for forty years in the wilderness is a well-known story. They had become a sizable group of people by the time Moses led them out of Egypt. There is some conjecture as to how many people there were but there were enough to cause Pharaoh concern.
God not only gave the Ten Commandments but quite a number of other socio-economic directions and regulations. There were laws on property, inheritance, marriage and divorce, food laws and so on. Amongst all these directions was information for building a Tabernacle. The Tabernacle in all its detail was in fact designed by God Himself.
Dimensions of the tabernacle are written down in our Bible in considerable detail so we have a good idea of what the tabernacle must have looked like.
The tabernacle was a simple stand-alone building. It consisted of an outer courtyard area and was surrounded by a fence covered with linen. This outer fence was 50 cubits wide and 100 cubits long or 23 metres x46 metres. The fence was five cubits high – or 2.3 metres high.
God wanted the Tabernacle constructed because He wanted to dwell amongst the People of Israel. The word Tabernacle means “Place of Dwelling”. It was at the divine initiative God was to dwell amongst His people. Up until that time the Bible tells us that God would walk and talk with people but He did not “dwell” with them.
As the Israelites were on the move constantly the Tabernacle had to be portable. It was a kind of a tent. Every time they pitched their tents the tabernacle was erected in a central place in the camp. That way God’s presence was always near and visible. Later when the Israelites eventually settled in the land of Canaan they would build a permanent temple in Jerusalem. It is thought the Tabernacle of Moses was in use for around 440 years up until the time Solomon built his Temple in Jerusalem.
The Old Testament Tabernacle was a highly symbolic construction. It was a demonstration of God reaching out to humankind. It also foretold of Jesus’ sacrifice and gave a glimpse of what Jesus was to do for us. The Bible talks of Jesus who “Tabernacled amongst us”. He dwelt with humankind and connected with humankind. He was Emmanuel – God with us.
The tabernacle was a place where numerous rituals of sacrifice took place. The performance of the various rituals gave access to God but did not and could not deal with the sin dilemma permanently. They were only a temporary fix until Christ came.
There was a fenced off area with the altar where the sacrifices took place. There was also the laver or basin where the priests washed their hands and feet as part of the sacrificial ceremony. You will also notice the cattle beast being prepared for sacrifice.
The large tent is known as the Holy Place. Inside this tent is the Altar of Incense and the Candlestick with the distinctive seven branches.
There were three beautifully coloured curtains in the tabernacle. The first one was at the gate of the entrance into the tabernacle just before the bronze altar; the second was at the door through which the priest gained entrance into the Holy Place; and the third was before the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies. These three curtains were placed strategically in the tabernacle, each one made of fine-twined linen into which were twisted threads of purple, blue, and scarlet.
Within the Holy Place was a separate section known as the Holy of Holies. The furniture in the Holy of Holies was covered in gold. The Holy of Holies was divided from the Holy Place by a heavy thick veil or curtain. There was no opening in the veil so the High Priest had to climb under the veil to enter the Holy of Holies.
It was here that the High Priest met with God once a year. The priest would first make a sacrifice for his own sins and then a further sacrifice for the sins of the people. The blood of the sacrifice would be sprinkled on the Ark of the Covenant as an offering to the Lord for the sins of the people. This reminds us that we can only come to God through the shedding of Christ’s blood.
Covers of the Tabernacle
The Holy Place was covered with four layers. Each layer spoke of some aspect of our relationship with God.
The Layers of the Coverings
1. The inner one was made of white linen speaking of holiness.
2. The next layer was goat’s hair, dyed purple, speaking of royalty. Goats hair was used in those days for tent making.
3. The next was ram’s skin, dyed red, speaking of the blood of the sacrifices and the ultimate sacrifice of Christ that would be shed on the cross.
4. The outer most layer was porpoise or dolphin skin although some Bible translations say badger skin.
Altar of Burnt Offering
The Altar of Burnt Offering was made of acacia wood overlaid with brass. The fire on the Altar was not allowed to go out but burned continually. The law of Moses set out the sacrifices to be offered here, foreshadowing the Saviour and His “great and last sacrifice”. Sacrifice can also symbolise our repentance—giving up our sins and offering a broken heart and contrite spirit
Laver or Basin for washing
It was here that the priests washed their hands and feet in preparation for the ritual sacrifices. If a priest did not wash according to the law it could imperil his life. So it was important that the priest observed the law very carefully. The Laver was made of bronze. This bronze was obtained from the women of the Israelites in the form of mirrors. The women gave their bronze mirrors which were used in the manufacture of the Laver.
Altar of Incense
This altar was used by the priests to burn incense each morning and night before the veil. The Altar of Incense was made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold. Incense is used to represent prayers ascending to heaven.
Table of Shewbread
The Table of Shewbread was made of acacia wood overlaid with gold. Twelve loaves of unleavened bread, one for each of the tribes of Israel, were placed each Sabbath on the table of shewbread, a word meaning “bread of the presence” in Hebrew. The loaves were eaten in the holy place by the priests every Sabbath as “an everlasting covenant between God and Israel” reminding them of the time when God fed them in the wilderness. Wine was also placed on the Table and reminded them of the blood of the covenant. So each time we take communion we are participating in a very long established practice of bread and wine which started in the time of Moses and the Tabernacle through to the disciples at the Last Supper and to here in Tawa Baptist Church.
The Lampstand
The Candlestick or Lampstand was also made of gold. Seven lamps burned pure olive oil, providing light to the holy place.
Ark of the Covenant
The Holy of Holies, the innermost compartment, held the Ark of the Covenant. This Ark was a wooden chest overlaid with gold. It held the two tablets of the law which were given by God to Moses. It also held the pot of manna which was the food God provided in the wilderness and the rod of Aaron that budded. This was known as the mercy seat and it had a covering of pure gold and was overshadowed by two angelic figures called cherubim. It was at this mercy seat God met with His people on the basis of shed blood.
For hundreds of years the Israelites observed the tabernacle rituals according to what the Lord required. Sometimes more zealously than others. The priests and High Priests faithfully observed the laws. There were times of course when they strayed from their religious obligations. All this was done so as to maintain their relationship with the Lord and to hear what He said.
God who dwelt in the Tabernacle now dwells in us by His Spirit. This is repeatedly confirmed by Paul and the other apostles. They went to great pains to point out that God at one time was regarded as dwelling in the Tabernacle and later the Temple but now dwells in each of us. We are living temples of God.
And so we have an empty cross. The veil of the Holy of Holies has been torn from top to bottom. This tells us that all the requirements of the law have been satisfied in Christ. He has made the required sacrifice and shed His blood. He has given His body. He has satisfied all the demands of the law. But death could not hold Him as He has risen and is alive forever more.
Hebrews 10:19-22 Therefore brothers and sisters 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, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
Tawa Baptist 