TABERNACLE (EXODUS 25-31)

Exodus 25:1–9 ESV

1 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me a contribution. From every man whose heart moves him you shall receive the contribution for me. 3 And this is the contribution that you shall receive from them: gold, silver, and bronze, 4 blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, goats’ hair, 5 tanned rams’ skins, goatskins, acacia wood, 6 oil for the lamps, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, 7 onyx stones, and stones for setting, for the ephod and for the breastpiece. 8 And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. 9 Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it.

THE LORD SAID = 7X IN THIS SECTION – WE’LL COME BACK TO THIS

IT'S NOT A SACRIFICE IF IT DOESN’T COST!

CONTRIBUTION = gifts Hebrew terumah is a technical term referring specifically to that which is set aside by its owner and dedicated for sacred use.[i]

[i]Sarna, N. M. (1991). Exodus(p. 157). Jewish Publication Society.

BIG PICTURE AGAIN!

EXODUS 25:1-9: CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE SANCTUARY

EXODUS 25:10-16: THE ARK OF THE COVENANT

EXODUS 25:17-22: THE COVER AND CHERUBIM

EXODUS 25:23-30: THE TABLE

EXODUS 25:21-40: THE LAMPSTAND

EXODUS 26:1-14: THE COVERINGS

EXODUS 26:15-30: THE WOODEN STRUCTURE

EXODUS 26:31-37: THE CURTAINS

EXODUS 27:1-8: THE ALTAR

EXODUS 27:9-19: THE ENCLOSURE

EXODUS 27:20-21: OIL

EXODUS 28:1-43: THE PRIESTS’ GARMENTS

EXODUS 29:1-46: THE PRIESTS’ CONSECRATION

EXODUS 30:1-10: THE ALTAR OF INCENSE

EXODUS 30:11-16: THE CENSUS TAX

EXODUS 30:17-21: THE BRONZE BASIN

EXODUS 30:22-38: THE ANOINTING OIL AND INCENSE

EXODUS 31:1-11: THE SKILLED WORKERS

EXODUS 31:12-18: THE SABBATH

7 CHAPTERS DEVOTED TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SANCTUARY

7 CHAPTER OUT OF 40! THE AUTHOR BELIEVES THIS TO BE SIGNIFICANT WHILE WE FIND IT TO BE TEDIOUS. WE SHOULDN’T BUT TOO OFTEN WE DO!

THERE IS A DEEP CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TABERNACLE AND CREATION.

7 TIMES GOD SPEAKS.

THE 7TH TIME IS SABBATH.

THE SPIRIT IS INVOLVED. EX 31:3 IS FIRST TIME SPIRIT IS MENTIONED SINCE GEN 1:2

THERE IS A PATTERN = ORDER INVOLVED. THIS IS what GOD DOES – THIS IS WHAT HIS IMAGERS ARE TO DO – BRING ORDER OUT OF CHAOS.

THE TABERNACLE IS A MICROCOSM OF THE COSMOS!

IT IS A PICTURE OF ALL CREATION: HEAVEN AND EARTH.

OUTER COURT, HOLY PLACE, HOLY OF HOLIES

OUTER COURT: VISIBLE EARTH AND SEA WHERE HUMANITY DWELLS

ALTER = UNCUT STONE = LIT BOSOM OF THE EARTH (EZEK 43:14)

WASHBASIN = LIT CALLED THE SEA (1 KINGS 7:23-26)

HOLY PLACE: VISIBLE HEAVENS AND PRESENCE OF GOD WITH HIS PEOPLE

LAMPSTAND: LIGHTS OF THE VISIBLE HEAVENS = 5 PLANETS SUN AND MOON = TREE OF LIFE

TABLE OF BREAD = FELLOWSHIP

ALTAR OF INCENSE = PRAYER AND PRESENCE

HOLY OF HOLIES: INVISIBLE HEAVENS AND GLORY OF GOD

ARK/LID/CHERUBIM = GOD’S THRONE = FOOTSTOOL

TABLETS = GOD’S WORD

3 PART DIVISION = MOUNTAIN LAST WEEK = CREATION

CREATION ACCOUNT IS NOT AN ENDING BUT A beginning.

God’s consistent purpose for his tabernacle was to expand and fill the earth, so that his special, revelatory presence would fill it and so that sinful humanity might be forgiven and cleansed and perceive the full extent of his glory in all the coming new earth.

Therefore, the parallels between the creation of the tabernacle and creation of the heavens and the earth remind us of the ultimate purpose of the tabernacle: to fill the entire heavens and earth with the consummate, end-time glory of God. The tabernacle not only teaches us worship and how sinners can come into the presence of a holy God; the tabernacle reminds us of the mission of that tabernacle to expand and fill the entire earth with the eschatological glory of God. The goal of worship is mission, to expand the dwelling place of God until it fills the entire earth that God will create for all eternity.[i]

[i]Beale, G. K., & Kim, M. (2014). God Dwells Among Us: Expanding Eden to the Ends of the Earth. IVP Books.

Isaiah 6:1–3 ESV

1 In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”

ALL OF CREATION IS MEANT FOR THE GLORY OF GOD.

ROM 1 WE'VE EXCHANGED THE GLORY OF THE CREATOR...

2 COR 4:4 THE GOD OF THIS WORLD HAS BLINDED....

SO WE GET ISA 11: THIS GREAT PROPHETIC MESSIANIC TEXT = SHOOT/BRANCH OF JESSE - SPIRIT OF THE LORD - KINGDOM PICTURE OF THE WOLF DWELLING WITH THE LAMB AND THEN IT SAYS THIS:

Isaiah 11:9 ESV

9 They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

SO WE FIND A PRAYER LIKE PS. 72:18-19

Psalm 72:18–19 ESV

18 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. 19 Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen!

THIS SHOULD BE OUR PRAYER!

THIS IS OUR CALLING!

JESUS MAKES US THE TEMPLE.

NOW IT'S NOT THE PEOPLE COMING TO THE TEMPLE IT'S THE TEMPLE COMING TO THE PEOPLE. THE EXPANSION AND EXTENSION OF SACRED SPACE.