THE TABERNACLE
Unit 1
PURPOSE OF THE TABERNACLE
Ex 25:8-9 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among
them. According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle of all the instruments thereof even so shall
ye make it.
**The purpose of the tabernacle was to allow God to dwell among the Israelites in order to meet their needs. God’s
compassion was evident in that He wanted to dwell among them.
(1) Notice
that it was God who wanted to dwell with the people. Even though they did not seek after God he sought them. This has always
been God’s way. When Adam and Eve sinned God made the 1st move (Gen 3:8-9). When Cain slew Abel God approached
him about Abel (Gen 4:9). The same principle is seen in the New Testament concerning Jesus Christ (Jn 1:11-13; Jn 3:17).
COMPARTMENTS OF THE TABERNACLE
Ex 25:10 And they shall make an ark of shittum wood
Ex 27:1 And thou shalt make an altar of shittum wood
**There were 3 compartments to the tabernacle: The Holy of Holies, the Holy Place, and the outer court. It is common for
us to think of these compartments in reverse order outer court, Holy Place,
and Holy of Holies. This was the way man must approach God.
(1) The
ark of the covenant in the Holy of Holies and the altar in the outer court represent 2 extremes. The Ark of the Covenant was
the place where justice and judgement were established. The altar of sacrifice in the outer court was the place where the
sinner first came to meet God in mercy and truth. God did not begin with the sinner but with his place of abode where forgiveness
and mercy could be obtained.
NAMES GIVEN TO THE TABERNACLE
TENT
Ex 39:32 Thus was all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation finished (Ex 39:33,40)
**The tabernacle is frequently referred to as the tent. A tent is a temporary dwelling place and God intended it
to be this way because he wanted to keep them moving toward the Promised Land. It is also moveable which suggest a pilgrimage.
(1) The
believer’s body is also temporary. (2Cor 5:1) While the believer is on earth his body is like a tent-house; he inhabits
it only while waiting for his permanent residence in Heaven.
(2) The
word ‘Tent’ was also used to refer to the tabernacle as a meeting place
(Ex 39:32,33,40; Ex 25:22). It was the meeting place of God and man. Thus, a key purpose of the tabernacle was to enable God
to meet and commune with His own as they came by the prescribed way of the sacrifices. The believer today is able to approach
God on the basis of the shed blood of Jesus. (Heb 10:19-22)
SANCTUARY
Ex 25:8 Let them make me a Sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.
**The Sanctuary was a place set apart for the dwelling of God among men. (Ex 29:45-46)
(1) New
Testament believers are a Sanctuary for God. (1Cor 3:16-17) Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth
in you? If any man defile the temple of God
him shall God destroy; for the temple of God
is holy, which temple ye are. The place of God’s residence in earth is no longer a building such as the Old Testament
temple or the Tabernacle but he dwells within each believers life. (Jn 14:23; Ep 2:19-22; 2Cor 6:16; Rev 21:3)
TABERNACLE OF THE CONGREGATION
Ex 27:21 In the Tabernacle of the congregation without the vail, which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons
shall order it from evening to morning before the Lord: it shall be a statute for ever unto their generation on behalf of
the children of Israel. (Lev 1:1; Deut
31:14)
**Notice that it is ‘of the congregation’ which the Lord
came to dwell among in Old Testament times. Since the Old Testament tabernacle was a tabernacle of ‘The’ congregation,
it is clear that God did not want divisions within the congregation.
(1) Just
as there was only one congregation in the Old Testament – Isreal – in which God dwelt, so there is only one body
today – the Church (Matt 16:18; 1Cor 12:13,25). So too there should be no divisions within the universal Church today.
TABERNACLE OF THE LORD
1Ki 2:28 Then tidings came to Joab: for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he turned not after
Absalom. And Joab fled unto the tabernacle of the Lord, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.
**This expression particularly emphasizes that the tabernacle was God’s dwelling place; it was
not just a place where one went to worship the Lord. It is awesome to realize that God Himself actually dwelled on earth and
now that He dwells in the lives of individual believers. This realization provides not only comfort but also a warning.
(1) Much comfort can be derived from what the scriptures say about God’s presence
(Heb 13:5; Deut 31:6; Josh 1:9
(2) The realization that God dwells with us also provides a warning (Psa 139:7-12)
TABERNACLE OF TESTIMONY
Ex 38:21 This is the sum of the tabernacle, even of the tabernacle of testimony; as it was counted,
according to the commandment of Moses, for the service of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, son to Aaron the priest.
**Within the Ark of the Covenant, inside the Holy of Holies, were the Ten Commandments, Aaron’s
rod that budded and a pot of manna. These were a testimony to the Holiness of God, the need to approach Him the right way
The 10 Commandments were especially a testimony of God’s righteous standards. These standards could never be lowered,
so unless there was a sacrifice to take care of sin man could never enter God’s presence. Having come to God thru proper
sacrifices, however, the Israelites were to be testimonies in their personal lives of God’s righteous standards
(1) As New Testament believers we are to be a testimony to God’s righteous
and holy standards. We are to reflect the characteristics of God in our personal lives (Matt 5:13-16)
TABERNACLE OF WITNESS
Num 17:7-8 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.
**It was first called the tabernacle of witness when the rods of the various tribes were placed in
the tabernacle to verify which tribe was distinctly chosen to represent God to the others. God instructed Moses to keep Aaron’s
rod in the tabernacle as a witness that He had invested authority in him (Num 17:10)
(1) Believers today are also invested with God’s authority. We who know Christ
are chosen as a royal priesthood to act and speak on the authority of Jesus Christ (Jn 15:16; 1Pet 2:5, 9-10)
(2) As the Tabernacle witnessed to the Old Testament world we who know Christ today
are to witness for Him (Acts 1:8)
MATERIALS IN THE TABERNACLE
Ex 3:21-22 NASB And I will grant this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be that
when you go, you will not go empty-handed. But every woman shall ask of her neighbor and the woman who lives in her house,
articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing; and you will put them on your sons and daughters. Thus you will plunder
the Egyptians
**As Israel left
Egypt God provided them with most of the materials needed to build the tabernacle. How ironic it is that the Pharaoh who rejected
God (Ex 5:1-2) provided God with the materials needed to build, for Himself, a house of worship.
Ex 25:2 Speak unto the children of Israel,
that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.
**After Israel was delivered from Egypt God asked them to give back to Him in a free-will offering
what they had brought out that He may build for himself a tabernacle (Ex 25:8). The people responded so well that Moses had
to ask them to stop bringing (Ex 36:1-7)
(1) Exodus 25:1-7 mentions the materials to be used in building the tabernacle. These
materials and even the colors used typified the Lord Jesus Christ. The following is a list of items and what each represents:
ITEM REPRESENTS
Gold
Deity
Silver
Redemption
Brass
Judgement
Blue Heavenly
nature
Purple
Royalty
Scarlet
Sacrifice
Wood (acacia)
Humanity of Christ
Fine linen
Righteousness
Oil
Holy Spirit
Rams skins
Atonement
Goats hair
Atonement
Badgers skins
Humanity or
outward
Appearance of Christ
THE
OUTER COURT
Unit
2
The Israelites first came to the outer court to establish a relationship with God. They entered thru
the eastern gate, and in the outer court they found the brazen altar and the laver. The entire outer court which surrounded
the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies, was 150’
by 75’. Lets look at the outer room and the furniture it contained in detail.
THE CURTAIN
Ex 27:9&13 Thou shalt make the court of the tabernacle: for the south side southward there shall
be hangings for the court of fine twined linen of an hundred cubits long. And the breadth of the court on the east side eastward
shall be fifty cubits. (A cubit is about one and a half feet)
**Why was this outer court necessary since God dwelt inside the building? Could it be since that God
demands absolute separation there had to be a place where the priest could become separate before coming into His presence?
He was shut in from the world and the world was shut out from Him.
(1) The wall of the outer court (The Curtain) was made of ‘Fine Twined Linen’ which represents righteousness (See Rev 19:8,14). So the fine linen curtain indicated
that the court was encircled with the righteousness which God demands. The curtain was hung on pillars and was too high for
a person to climb over. No person could scale the wall of righteousness on his own he had to enter by the gate, which God
provided. The curtain wall of righteousness barred everyone whether they were
gross sinners by society standards or self-righteous.
THE PILLARS
Ex 27:18 The length of the court shall be an hundred cubits, and the breadth fifty every where, and
the height five cubits of fine twined lined, and their sockets of brass.
**As we said the curtains were held up by pillars so that the fence itself was seven and one-half feet
in height. The pillars were set in a brass or bronze foundation, which held up the fine linen curtain which, represents God’s
righteous standards (Righteousness). Brass represents judgement, which is
what anyone who tried to climb the fence would have experienced. Therefore sinful man was forbidden and prevented from approaching
the perfect God except thru the gate on the east.
(1) God cannot accept man’s righteousness (Rom 10:1-3). Those who wish to find
true righteousness must find it in Christ (Rom 10:4). James 2:10 Whosoever shall keep the whole law, ands yet offend in one
point, he is guilty of all. According to most Bible scholars the 10 commandments had grown to about 613 commandments. This
shows why no man could be saved by the law. No man could keep all 613 without offending in one point.
THE GATE
Ex 27:16 For the gate of the court shall be an hanging of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet,
and fine linen, wrought with needlework: and their pillars shall be four, and their sockets four.
**The gate of the tabernacle pointed to Jesus Christ. The gate faced east, the direction of the rising
sun. There was no other entrance to the outer court, just as there is no other way to God except thru Jesus Christ (Jn 10:7-9;
Matt 7:13-14; Acts 4:12). The colors of the gate represented several characteristics of His perfect being.
THE COLORS OF THE GATE
(1) Blue – The color of heaven; it speaks of Christ’s heavenly character.
In this case it represents the nature and origin of Christ.
(2) Purple – A combination of scarlet and blue, was the color frequently associated
with royalty. So this color pointed to Jesus Christ as the King. As a mixture of blue and scarlet, purple pointed to Christ
as the one who combined the heavenly nature with the sacrifice for sin.
(3) Scarlet – Or red is the color of blood. This color in the gate looked ahead
to Jesus Christ as the sacrifice for sin.
(4) White – Color of the ‘Fine
Twined Linen’ represented righteousness. It speaks of the perfect character of Christ.
THE
ALTAR
THE PURPOSE OF THE ALTAR
Ex 27:1-2 Thou shalt make an altar of shittim wood, 5 cubits long (7 ½’) , and 5 cubits broad
(7 ½’) ; the altar shall be foursquare: and the height thereof shall be 3 cubits (4 ½’) . And thou shalt make
the horns of it upon the 4 corners thereof: his horns shall be of the same: and thou shalt overlay it with brass.
**The Altar was the 1st piece of furniture the sinner encountered as he passed thru the
gate on his way to fellowship with, and the worship of God. The Altar was the meeting place for Holy God and the sinner where
he accepted a substitute for his sin:
(1) The Altar was actually a type of Christ who became the substitute for man’s sin and thus
allowed Holy God and sinful man to meet. The word Altar refers to that which is elevated or lifted up. Could this be what
Jesus had in mind in (John 12:32)?
(2) The Altar was the place of substitutionary sacrifices – the place of death. There the blood
was poured out, and the body consumed by fire, which speaks of judgement. Blood has always been the only satisfactory substitute
for sin (Gen 4:3-5), see Lev 17:11. The Altar stood between the gate of entrance and the door to fellowship with God. It barred
the way so that no approach to God was possible except by the Altar. (Heb 9:22, 25-28)
(3) The Altar represents the 1st aspect of salvation known as Justification.
THE DESIGN OF THE ALTAR
Ex 25:40 And thou shalt make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.
Heb 8:5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when
he was about to make the Tabernacle: for, See saith He, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee
in the mount.
**The designing of the Altar was not left to the guesswork of Moses. It was made by man but was designed
by God in Heaven. So when it was completed, God was able to send the fire and ignite the wood on the Altar. Man’s part
in the death of Christ was simply the making of the cross. The rest was left to the predetermined pattern and purpose of God.
(Gen 3:15; Jn 3:16; Rev 13:8)
THE
SYMBOLISM REVEALED IN THE ALTAR
Ex 27:1 Thou shalt make an Altar of shittim wood
**The wood was also known as ‘Acacia’ wood, which came from a tree which, grew under the
severe and adverse conditions of the desert. As such, it is a picture of the humanity of Jesus, for He was (Isa 53:2) ‘As
a root out of dry ground’. In His humanity Jesus lived under the most severe conditions and died a horrible death.
Ex 27:2 And thou shalt overlay it with brass
**Brass speaks of judgement And Jesus as the Son of Man was judged in the flesh for everyone’s
sins (Phil 2:6-8). A miraculous thing about the wooden Altar is that it did not deteriorate and crumble under the constant
heat from the fire, which burned day and night. Even so the sinless body of Christ in constant contact with a sinful world
did not for one moment succumb to sin. Christ was also a constant living miracle.
Ex 27:2 And thou shalt make the horns of it upon the 4 corners thereof:-
(1) The sacrifice was bound to these horns. There was no need to bind Christ to the cross. His love
for us bound him to the cross.
(2) Horns are also representative of ‘Power’
evident from the studies of Daniel and Revelation. Since they were associated with salvation on the altar they can be thought
of as the (Rom 1:16; 1Cor 1:18) power of the gospel. Inasmuch as the horns point in all directions they suggest that the Gospel
is for everyone.
(4) The horns also provided a place that a person could flee to and cling to if he were being persecuted
or if someone was seeking his life (1Ki 1:50, 2:28). Just as the altar was a place for a person to obtain mercy so is the
cross of Christ a place of refuge in fleeing from the clutches of sin and Satan.
FIRE
ON THE ALTAR
Lev 6:12-13 And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest
shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order upon it: and he shall burn thereon the fat of the
peace offerings.
**Fire often speaks of judgement in the
scriptures and in this case the fire was never to go out.
Lev 9:24 And there came a fire out from before the Lord, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering
and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted and fell on their faces.
(1) The fire was entirely of God and its origin was unrelated to man. Any one who offered manmade
or strange fire on the altar was punished (see Lev 10:1-3). This teaches us a serious lesson concerning salvation. God will
not permit any mixture of human works in His plan of salvation (see Ep 2:8-9). Those who seek to be saved by their own works
remain under condemnation.
(2) Only God’s consuming fire of judgement was exacted on Christ as He paid the penalty of sin.
Thus the altar is a beautiful illustration of Christ who was slain from the foundation of the world. No strange or manmade
judgement was allowed to slay Christ; He gave his life of his own free will (Jn 10:17-18)
SACRIFICES
ON THE ALTAR
1Ki 18:38 Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones,
and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
2Chr 7:1 Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed
the burnt offering and the sacrifice; and the glory of the Lord filled the house.
(1) In Old Testament times the consumption of the sacrifice, offered by the priest, by fire showed
the people that God had accepted the sacrifice.
Heb 10:11-12 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices,
which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right
hand of God;
(1) The Old Testament priest’s work was never done; he never sat down in the tabernacle. No
chair was furnished for him. The scriptures speak of Christ sitting because such an expression emphasizes His finished work
of redemption (Jn 19:30; Heb 1:3; Rev 3:21). Once we have received Christ as Savior, there is no need to return every day
to reestablish the standing we have with him.
(2) In the Old Testament tabernacle, the offerings were burnt, and the ashes were laid outside the
tabernacle in a clean place. So also, after Christ offered Himself as a sacrifice for sin, His body was laid in a new tomb
where no body had lain. It is possible to think of our sin’s having been reduced to ashes when Christ died on the cross
for us.
(3) Because Jesus has finished His work of redemption, there is a rest of faith for those who believe
(Heb 4:9-10)
THE LAVER
Ex 30:17-21 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, “Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and
his foot also of brass, to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and
thou shalt put water therein. For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat: When they go into the
tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister,
to burn offering made by fire unto the Lord: So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and it shall
be a statute for ever to them, even to him and his seed throughout their generations.”
(1) The order of the furniture presents a beautiful picture of the progress in salvation. The brazen
altar represents the cross of Christ (as we stated in our study of the altar) where faith is expressed in a substitute. This
is where salvation has its starting point known as ‘Justification’
(Rom 5:10).
(2) The 2nd aspect of salvation has to do with separation, better known as ‘Sanctification’ (2Cor 6:17). The ‘Laver’ speaks of the 2nd aspect of salvation.
It does not relate to deliverance from condemnation – that was taken care of at the ‘Brazen Altar’. This
aspect has to do with the believer’s behavior and the need to have a cleansed life in their daily walk. This is beautifully
typified by the ‘Laver’ (Jn 15:3).
PURPOSE
OF THE LAVER
Ex 30:19-20 For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat: When they go into
the tabernacle of the congregation they shall wash with water that they die not.
**The Laver was provided so that the priest would not be struck dead. The priests were to wash both
their hands and feet at the laver before proceeding into the Holy Place,
the place of fellowship. The floor of the tabernacle was simply dust, so the priest’s feet would need daily washing.
Having offered sacrifices, the priest’s hands would need to be washed.
(1) The Bible indicates that the Laver was made with an upper bowl and a lower one – one for
the hands and one for the feet. This provides a beautiful parallel to the Christian life. The hands speak of service, and
the feet speak of our walk. The Old Testament laver emphasizes the need to have clean hands as we serve Christ and clean feet
as we walk with Him.
(2) As we consider Old Testament priests, which New Testament believers are a type of (1Pet 2:9),
it is evident that we must deal with sin in our daily walk before we can expect to come into God’s presence to behold
his beauty to worship Him and to fellowship with Him.
(3) The Psalmist asked – Psa 24:3 “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who
shall stand in his holy place”? In the following verse he answered his own question – Psa 24:4 “He that
hath clean hands and a pure heart”.
Thought to Consider
– ‘Today evangelism is stressed greatly and rightly so. But too little emphasis is given to the person’s
walk after he becomes a Christian.’
WATER
IN THE LAVER
Ex 30:20 When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they
die not –
**The water in the laver was symbolical of the Word of God. The scriptures frequently speak of the
cleansing that comes through the application of the Word.
(1) The Scriptures indicate that the new birth comes through the Word – Jam 1:18 “Of his
own will begat us with the word of truth” – 1Pet 1:18 “Being born again not of corruptible seed, but of
incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”
12
(2) At the laver sins committed after regeneration by the believer are taken care of. The laver was
made of polished brass from women’s mirrors (See Ex 38:8). The Priests therefore would have been quite able to view
themselves in the brass and to be sure they were completely clean before entering the Holy
Place to serve and worship. (Ja 1:21-25; Ep 5:26; Jn 17:17; Psa 119:9). So also our constant contact
with the world demands a constant washing by the Word.
(3) The importance of confessing sin to the Lord is indicated in many Bible passages (1Jn 1:7-9; Pr
28:13). In Jesus’ words to Peter (Jn 13:1-10) He reveals a great truth. At the time of salvation a person becomes spiritually
clean and never needs to be saved again but he does need to confess daily sin so he can be cleansed of its defilement.
THE HOLY PLACE
Unit 3
Leaving the Outer Court we
now enter into the Holy Place. This was a splendid
chamber 20 cubits long by 10 cubits wide. Let us examine the furniture contained here. As we do it is important to remember
that we are discussing the place of fellowship. This is the most important element in the believer’s life – fellowship
with God Himself.
THE TABLE OF SHEWBREAD
Ex 25:23 Thou shalt also make a table of shittim wood: 2 cubits shall be the length thereof, and a
cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof. (24) And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, and make
there to a crown of gold round about. (25) And thou shalt make unto it a border of a handbreadth round about, and thou shalt
make a golden crown to the border thereof round about. (26) And thou shalt make for it four rings of gold, and put the rings
in the four corners that are on the four feet thereof. (27) Over against the border shall the rings be for places of the staves
to bear the table. (28) And thou shalt make the staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be
borne with them.
**As earlier indicated the acacia wood speaks of the humanity of Jesus. The gold speaks of the deity
of Jesus. The combination of the two reminds us that Jesus Christ was the God-Man.
THE BREAD
Ex 25:30 And thou shalt set upon the table shewbread before me always.
**The Table of Shewbread in the Tabernacle was to be a constant reminder to the Israelites that God
was their provision (Provider) for the wilderness journey.
Lev 24:5-9 And thou shalt take fine flour, and bake 12 cakes thereof: two-tenths deals shall be in
one cake. And thou shalt set them in two rows, six on a row, upon the pure table before the Lord. And thou shalt put pure
frankincense upon each row, that it may be on the bread for a memorial, even an offering made by fire unto the Lord. And it
shall be Aaron’s and his sons; and they shall eat it in the holy place: for it is most holy unto him of the offerings
of the Lord made by fire by a perpetual statute.
(a) The bread was made of unleavened flour. Leaven is a symbol of sin in the Bible. Since the bread
was unleavened it was a beautiful picture of the sinless Christ.
(b) The bread was the result of a process of death and suffering, for the wheat had been harvested,
ground to powder and baked in a hot oven. So also, Christ went through the crushing experience of Calvary and the burning
heat of Gethsemane.
(c) The bread on the table in the Holy Place
constituted food for the priests as they ministered daily before the Lord. It pointed ahead to Jesus Christ who is the Bread
of Life (Jn 6:35, 48, 51).
(d) The bread was replaced regularly which indicates to us the need of coming to the Word of God each
day for a fresh portion. Like the manna in the wilderness (Ex 16:20) it must be received fresh each day. We cannot live on
yesterday’s food.
(e) There were no chairs in the Holy Place
of the tabernacle. This meant the priests ate bread while they were standing. This is a reminder of the way the Israelites
ate the Passover Lamb and the unleavened bread on the night they were delivered from Egypt (Ex 12:11).
THE GOLDEN LAMPSTAND
Ex 25:31 Thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made:
his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers shall be of the same. (32) And six branches shall come
out of the sides of it; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of
the other side. (37) And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give
light over against it. (38) And the tongs thereof, and the snuffdishes thereof, shall be of pure gold. (39) Of a talent of
pure gold shall he make it, with all these vessels. (40) And look that thou make them after the pattern, which was shewed
thee in the mount.
**The lampstand was to be made of a talent of pure gold. A talent weighed over 90 pounds. This would
be about 1500 ounces, or about 1370 troy ounces, in which gold is measured. Think what it would be worth today. Let’s
look at some symbolism connected with the Golden Lampstand.
(a) The beaten gold symbolizes the suffering Christ, who is now risen and glorified.
(b) The Golden Lampstand was placed inside the Holy Place,
not outside the tabernacle. From this we infer that Christ is hidden from the world but is revealed to the believer, who is
a part of the priestly family of God.
(c) On the Golden Lampstand were seven bowls filled with oil. These remind us of the sufficiency of
the spirit of Christ, who has been given to believers.
(d) The seven branches of the Golden Lampstand holding up the seven lighted lamps foreshadow the Person
of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit within the sanctuary glorifies Christ.
(e) The Golden Lampstand was placed opposite the table of shewbread to cast light on it. There was
no need for the priest to eat the bread in the dark just as there is no need for the individual believer to read the Bible
in spiritual darkness.
THE GOLDEN ALTAR
Ex 30:1 And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: of shittim wood thou shalt make it. (2)
A cubit shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof; foursquare shall it be: and two cubits shall be the
height thereof: the horns thereof shall be of the same. (3) And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, the top thereof, and
the sides thereof round about, and the horns thereof; and thou shalt make unto it a crown of gold round about. (4) And two
golden rings shalt thou make to it under the crown of it, by the two corners thereof, upon the two sides of it shalt thou
make it; and they shall be for places for the staves to bear withal. (5) And thou shalt make the staves of shittim wood, and
overlay them with gold.
**The Golden Altar occupied the central position in the Holy
Place – it was immediately in front of the veil which was closest to the mercy seat and the
ark. Since the Holy of Holies was God’s dwelling place, the nearest one could be to the Holy of Holies without being
in it was the altar of incense.
(a) Psa 141:2 Let my prayer be set before thee as incense, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening
sacrifice. (Rev 5:8)
**The burning of incense in the Holy Place
is regarded as an emblem of prayer. An offering of incense was to be on the coals of fire of the Golden Altar continually.
Incense was made of various sweet-smelling ands precious spices (Ex 30:34). The clouds of smoke arising from the altar were
full of perfume and spread their fragrance all around.
(b) Heb 9:24 For Christ has not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures
of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us. (Heb 7:25)
**The Brazen Altar is considered a type of Christ with respect to his atonement, and
the Golden Altar is a type of Him with respect to the other part of his priestly office – His intercession. Simply said
– Redemption and reconciliation took place at the Brazen Altar, and intercession for the redeemed took place at the
Golden Altar of incense.
(c) 1Thes 5:17 Pray without ceasing
**The Golden Altar of incense also speaks concerning our prayer life. The altar had a
continual fire and incense, but there were regular times of the day when it was specifically attended. So are we to pray continually,
yet there are times for special prayer. It could easily be argued that the highest office of a believer is intercessory prayer.
(Ex 32:10-14; Gen 18:23-33; 1Sam 12:23)
THE HOLY OF HOLIES
Unit 4
Whereas the Holy Place was
twice as long as it was wide the Holy of Holies was a cube – 15 feet by 15 feet by 15 feet. The Holy of Holies was God’s
dwelling place among his people. A curtain or veil blocked the entrance to the Holy of Holies. This heavy curtain prevented
anyone from entering except the high priest and he was able to enter only once a year. The other 2 curtains in the tabernacle
the one allowing entrance to the outer court and the one allowing entrance to the Holy Place were curtains of invitation (Matt
11:28-30). Let us now examine the furniture contained in this special place.
THE ARK
OF THE COVENANT
Ex 25:10 And they shall make a ark of
shittim wood: 2 cubits and a half (45 inches) shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half (27 inches) the breadth
thereof, and a cubit and a half (27 inches) the height thereof. (11) And thou shalt overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown
of gold around about. (12) And thou shalt cast four rings of pure gold for it, and put them in the four corners thereof, and
two rings shall be in the one side of it. (13) And thou shalt make staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold. (14)
And thou shalt put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark; that the ark may be borne with them. (15) The staves
shall be in the rings of the ark; they shall not be taken from it. (16) And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony, which
I shall give thee..
**The Ark of the Covenant was a symbol
of God’s presence among His people. In fact the Tabernacle was built especially to house the ark. The ark is the first
piece of furniture mentioned after God told Moses (Ex 25:8) ‘Let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them”.
Thus the ark becomes the most complete type of Christ to be found anywhere in the Bible, for it was He who came to dwell among
men (Jn 1:14)
(a) Ex 25:10-11 States that the ark was made of shittim wood overlaid with
gold. As we have stated throughout this study the wood and the gold speaks of the two-fold nature of Christ, His humanity
and His deity. However the ark differs from the other pieces of furniture in that they pointed to some aspect of Christ’s
work, for example:
(1) The Brazen altar pointed to his sacrificial death
(2) The Laver typified his cleansing thru his word
(3) The Table of Shewbread pointed to Christ
as bread of life
(4) The Golden Lampstand spoke
of Christ as light
(5) The Altar of Incense pointed to Christ as our Intercessor
The Ark of the Covenant distinctly spoke
of the Person of Christ – not what He has done, but who He is. What he does is important, but who He is, is far more
important (Phil 3:10). The Ark of the Covenant contained 3 distinct items (Heb 9:4). Let’s examine them and discover
their significance.
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
Deut 10:2 I will write on the
tables the words that were in the first tables which thou brakest, and thou shall put them in the ark.
(a)
The first set of stone tables that were broken represent man’s continual breaking of the
law (Rom 3:23). The second set of stone tables represents Christ, who did not break the law when He came to earth to live
among men. God’s righteous standards are represented in this second table of stone. The fact that they were placed in
the Ark of the Covenant revealed that God Himself protects His standards. Man’s attempt to lower God’s standards
to match his behavior does not work. (Heb 12:14)
(b)
In these commandments God testified, showed or revealed His will, and they were evidence that He
had made a covenant with the Israelites. If obedient they would be a testimony in their favor; if disobedient they would testify
against them. Hence the sacred chest is sometimes named the Ark of Testimony (Ex 25:16).
THE
POT OF MANNA
Ex 16:33 And Moses said unto Aaron, “Take
a pot, put an omer full of manna therein, and lay it up before the Lord, to be kept for your generations (34) As the Lord
commanded Moses so Aaron laid it up before the Testimony (Ark of the Covenant), to be kept”.
(a) Even though the manna spoiled when the Israelites kept it a day longer
than they should have, God miraculously preserved a sample so it could be kept in the Ark.
Since the manna sustained the lives of the Israelites in the wilderness, it was a fitting symbol of Jesus Christ, who sustains
our lives spiritually. Thus the manna
(b) presented Christ as the great provider and sustainer of life. It was
a sign of Christ’s faithfulness in caring for His own. (Jn 6:48)
AARON’S
ROD THAT BUDDED
Deut 17:1 And the Lord spake unto Moses,
saying, (2) Speak unto the children of Israel, an take of every one of them a rod according to the house of their fathers,
of all their princes according to the house of their fathers twelve rods: write thou every man’s name upon his rod.
(3) Ands thou shall write Aaron’s name upon the rod of Levi: for one rod shall be for the head of the house of their
fathers. (4) And thou shalt lay them up in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony where I will met with you.
(5) And it shall come to pass, that the man’s rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom: and I will make to cease from
me the murmurings of the children of Israel,
whereby they murmur against you. (10) And the Lord said unto Moses, “Bring Aaron’s rod again before the Testimony
(Ark of the Covenant), to be kept for a token against the rebels; and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me,
that they die not.
**In response to Korah and his men’s
rebellion against Moses right to authority (Num 16:1-33) God had each tribe bring a rod to be placed before the Ark of the
Covenant. God would then make known whom He would honor as His choice for priest, to be his representative. He would do this
by causing one of the rods to bud. There would be no doubt when He made his choice.
(a) Heb 5:1-10 tells us clearly that Jesus was God’s choice for the
High Priest. Aaron’s rod that budded represented the priesthood of Christ. (Heb 4:14-16)
THE MERCY SEAT
Ex 25:17 And thou shalt make a mercy
seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof. (18) And
thou shalt make 2 cherubim’s of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the 2 ends of the mercy seat. (19) And
make one cherub on the one end and the other cherub on the other end: even on the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on
the 2 ends thereof. (20) And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings,
ands their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be. (21) And thou shalt
put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I will give thee. (22) And there I
will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee
from above the mercy seat, from
the between the 2 cheribums which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto
the children of Israel
(a) The Mercy seat was made from a solid piece of gold and represented God’s
throne in the midst of a sinful people. It was a separate article in itself, yet it formed the lid to the Ark of the Covenant.
There was no wood in the Mercy Seat, only gold. This again speaks of the throne of Almighty God. It represents Jesus Christ
before he took on Himself a body to live among men (Jn 1:1-2).
(b) On each end of the Mercy Seat was a cherub beaten out of the same piece
of pure gold. With wings outstretched they protected the absolute holiness of God. It was here that God’s presence abode
(Psa 99:1) and He met with man. The Mercy Seat was God’s throne here on earth.
(c) Being placed on top of the ark of the covenant, the Mercy Seat revealed
that God could cover the ark – containing the Law which revealed his standards – and show mercy. There was a way
whereby God could cover man’s great sin of breaking the law. Although God had to remain just and righteous without lowering
his standards, He could extend mercy through the sprinkling of blood on the mercy seat (Lev 16:14-15).
(d) God could not exercise mercy at the expense of His justice and judgement.
His holy character was involved, but in Christ (a fulfillment of the mercy seat) God’s avenging holiness was fully satisfied
by the shedding of blood on the cross. Since Jesus is now on the mercy seat on the throne of God we can now approach the throne
of grace (Heb 4:14-16)
THE VEIL
Ex 26:31-33 Thou shalt make a veil of
blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made: and thou shall hang
it upon the four sockets of silver. And thou shalt hang up the veil under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within
the veil the Ark of the Testimony: and the veil shall divide
unto you between the Holy Place and the Most Holy.
**Having considered what was on the inside
of the Holy of Holies – the Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat – we will now look at the Veil that covered
the entrance to the Holy of Holies.
(a) Since the veil was made of fine linen, it represented the complete holiness
and righteousness of Christ Himself. On the veil were cherubim in 3 colors – blue, purple and scarlet – all pointing
to Jesus Christ the incarnate One, who is the only way to the Father (Jn 14:6)
(b) The cherubims were symbolic of protecting the holiness of God. They
were placed on the East side of the Garden of Eden to protect the tree of life (Gen 3:24). On the veil of entrance to the
Holy of Holies they represented protection of the inner room where God’s throne was.
(c) The purpose of the veil was to keep everyone except the High Priest
from the presence of God. No one else was allowed to enter and they only once a year (Lev 16:2). Behind the veil was the throne
of God, and in the Ark was the Law, which condemned the
sinner before God. The Ark represented the God-Man, Jesus
Christ, for it was made of wood overlaid with Gold. Inside were the two tablets of stone, which testified to the unbroken
standards of God’s holiness. To meet God a person had to meet those standards perfectly from birth to death, which was
accomplished only by Jesus Christ. But the Ark was covered
with a mercy seat of pure gold, revealing that God would be merciful if man came in a prescribed way. This is why it was so
important that no one enter except by God’s prescribed way.
(d) The key to understanding the significance of the veil is to recognize
that it points the body of the Lord Jesus Christ (Heb 10:19-20). The veil was a type of the body of Jesus. Therefore it represents
Christ in His perfect, sinless humanity. When Jesus was crucified this veil, which was in the temple in Jesus’ day,
was torn in two (Matt 27:50-51) because it was then that Jesus’ body was broken and torn for us. Thus giving us access
to God.
THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT
Unit 5
Num 29:7 And ye shall have on the tenth
day of this seventh month an holy convocation; and ye shall afflict your souls; ye shall not do any work therein
**This day was one of the great days
in the life of Israel. It corresponds
with our month of September. Individual sin was dealt with day by day in the Tabernacle but this was the day God had set aside
for Israel as a nation to deal with their
sin of the past year.
SPECIAL OFFERINGS FOR THIS DAY
Lev 16:3 Thus shall Aaron come into the
holy place: with a young bullock for a sin offering; and a ram for a burnt offering.
Lev 16:6 And Aaron shall offer his bullock
of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his family
(a) The first offering of a young bullock was a sin offering for Aaron and
his family. Aaron must first deal with his own sin lest he die (Lev 16:2)
(b) Part of Aaron’s preparation was taking off the high priest’s
colored robes and putting on the white linen ‘Holy Garments’ and washing his body before he begins the process
of offering the sacrifices (Lev 16:4).
Lev 16:5 And he shall take of the congregation
of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.
Lev 16:8 And Aaron shall cast lots upon
the 2 goats; one lot for the Lord, and the other lot for the scapegoat. (9) And Aaron shall bring the goat, upon which the
Lord’s lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. (10) But the goat on which the lot fell to be scapegoat, shall be
presented alive before the Lord, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.
(a)The second offering was two goats, which was a sin offering for the people. The two goats combined one offering
for the people. One was slain and its blood sprinkled on the mercy seat. The sins, which were now atoned for, were symbolically
placed on the head of the live or ‘Scapegoat’, which was led out in
the wilderness by a fit man. The symbolic meaning of this was that the sins were now completely forgiven, lost never to be
remembered any more. This would become a reality thru Jesus Christ.
Lev 16:24 And he shall wash his flesh
with water in the holy place, and put on his garments, and come forth, and offer his burnt offering, and the burnt offering
of the people, and make an atonement for himself, and for the people.
(a) The third offering was a ram for a burnt offering for Aaron and his
house
(b) The fourth offering was a ram for a burnt offering for the people.
**Notice at the end of the bloody mess
of sacrificing the animals and dealing with Israel’s
sin, Aaron must be cleansed and change clothes once again and come forth dressed in the colorful robes of the high priest.
It would seem that God is very serious about us being separated from sin.
Lev 16:28 And he that burneth them (v27
skins and bodies of sacrificial animals) shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come
into the camp.
(a) To further impress the people that God was a holy God, and that sin
was hateful in his sight, the man who led the goat into the wilderness as well as the priests and Levites who carried the
bodies of the slain bullock and goat to the fire outside the camp, having become ceremonially unclean, had to wash before
returning.
Jesus Taken Outside the Gate (Camp):
Heb 13:11 For the bodies of those beasts,
whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. (12) Wherefore Jesus also,
that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
**On the fire outside the camp the bodies
of the animals slain as sin offerings for the high priest and the congregation were consumed. The sins of the high priest
and a nations sins were considered more heinous on God’s sight than those of an individual. Jesus because he became
a sin sacrifice for the whole world it must be done outside the tabernacle.
THE TABERNACLE CLEANSED
Lev 16:18 And he shall go out unto the
altar that is before the Lord and make an atonement for it; and shall take of the blood of the bullock, and of the blood of
the goat, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about. (19) And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger
seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.
(a) The tabernacle as well as the people required cleansing, for it was
polluted by reason of the sins of those who stood in the midst of it
