Findig Jesus in the OT Week 4 - Tabernacle

Intro

Read: Exodus 26 csb

Exodus 26 ESV

1 “Moreover, you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen and blue and purple and scarlet yarns; you shall make them with cherubim skillfully worked into them. 2 The length of each curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits; all the curtains shall be the same size. 3 Five curtains shall be coupled to one another, and the other five curtains shall be coupled to one another. 4 And you shall make loops of blue on the edge of the outermost curtain in the first set. Likewise you shall make loops on the edge of the outermost curtain in the second set. 5 Fifty loops you shall make on the one curtain, and fifty loops you shall make on the edge of the curtain that is in the second set; the loops shall be opposite one another. 6 And you shall make fifty clasps of gold, and couple the curtains one to the other with the clasps, so that the tabernacle may be a single whole. 7 “You shall also make curtains of goats’ hair for a tent over the tabernacle; eleven curtains shall you make. 8 The length of each curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits. The eleven curtains shall be the same size. 9 You shall couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and the sixth curtain you shall double over at the front of the tent. 10 You shall make fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that is outermost in one set, and fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that is outermost in the second set. 11 “You shall make fifty clasps of bronze, and put the clasps into the loops, and couple the tent together that it may be a single whole. 12 And the part that remains of the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that remains, shall hang over the back of the tabernacle. 13 And the extra that remains in the length of the curtains, the cubit on the one side, and the cubit on the other side, shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle, on this side and that side, to cover it. 14 And you shall make for the tent a covering of tanned rams’ skins and a covering of goatskins on top. 15 “You shall make upright frames for the tabernacle of acacia wood. 16 Ten cubits shall be the length of a frame, and a cubit and a half the breadth of each frame. 17 There shall be two tenons in each frame, for fitting together. So shall you do for all the frames of the tabernacle. 18 You shall make the frames for the tabernacle: twenty frames for the south side; 19 and forty bases of silver you shall make under the twenty frames, two bases under one frame for its two tenons, and two bases under the next frame for its two tenons; 20 and for the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side twenty frames, 21 and their forty bases of silver, two bases under one frame, and two bases under the next frame. 22 And for the rear of the tabernacle westward you shall make six frames. 23 And you shall make two frames for corners of the tabernacle in the rear; 24 they shall be separate beneath, but joined at the top, at the first ring. Thus shall it be with both of them; they shall form the two corners. 25 And there shall be eight frames, with their bases of silver, sixteen bases; two bases under one frame, and two bases under another frame. 26 “You shall make bars of acacia wood, five for the frames of the one side of the tabernacle, 27 and five bars for the frames of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the frames of the side of the tabernacle at the rear westward. 28 The middle bar, halfway up the frames, shall run from end to end. 29 You shall overlay the frames with gold and shall make their rings of gold for holders for the bars, and you shall overlay the bars with gold. 30 Then you shall erect the tabernacle according to the plan for it that you were shown on the mountain. 31 “And you shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. It shall be made with cherubim skillfully worked into it. 32 And you shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold, with hooks of gold, on four bases of silver. 33 And you shall hang the veil from the clasps, and bring the ark of the testimony in there within the veil. And the veil shall separate for you the Holy Place from the Most Holy. 34 You shall put the mercy seat on the ark of the testimony in the Most Holy Place. 35 And you shall set the table outside the veil, and the lampstand on the south side of the tabernacle opposite the table, and you shall put the table on the north side. 36 “You shall make a screen for the entrance of the tent, of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, embroidered with needlework. 37 And you shall make for the screen five pillars of acacia, and overlay them with gold. Their hooks shall be of gold, and you shall cast five bases of bronze for them.

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The Type

The Old Testament institutions and ceremonies were powerless to save the souls of men. They were devised as types of Christ and the different phases of effectual salvation (Cf. Hebrews 7, 8, 9, 10).

The Tabernacle and later the Temple typified the places and the manner in which Jehovah met with His people and dealt with their sins. They were a type of the Incarnate Christ and His ministry for men.

The priesthood typified the one and only perfect priest, the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Offerings, Feasts, and Ceremonies all typified things having to do with redemption through the Messiah and the life of the redeemed.

The Old Testament people were a type of the New Testament people of faith. The places of the Old Covenant were typical of spiritual places or conditions.

Even the land was a type of salvation to come through the Christ. The following are some of the main types found in the Tabernacle.

The HIGH PRIEST was by divine appointment (Exodus 28:1; Heb. 5:4-6; 7:20-24). Only the High Priest could make atonement (Lev. 16:1­3; Heb. 7:27; 6:20; 8:3; 9:7, 12, 24-28; 10:12; 13:20; 2:9; 1 Cor. 6:20; 1 Pet. 1:18-19; Ex. 28, 29; Lev. 8; Num. 3, 8; cf. Heb. 5, 7, 9). Jesus was the Great High Priest offering up Himself as the perfect sacrifice for our sin debt.

The key to the TABERNACLE is Christ (Exodus 25-27). It symbolized the dwelling place of God in the midst of His people. As a type of Christ, it symbolized the meeting between God and man (Heb. 9:21-24; 2 Cor. 5:19; Col. 2:9; Heb. 10:5; Rev. 21:3; Jn. 1:14 2:13-22). The tabernacle is a symbol, picture and prophecy of the man in whom God should become incarnate. It is also a symbol of the Body of Christ, the Church (Col. 1:26-27; 1 Cor. 12:13; Rom. 12:5; Eph. 2:21, 22).

The GOAT HAIR TENT COVER (Exodus 26:7ff) completely covered the Tabernacle. It is a symbol of the complete way in which the sacrificial death of Jesus covers the Body of Christ. Because of the death of Christ, and our acceptance of it, God cannot see our sins (Lev. 9:15; Num. 28:22; Isa. 53:10; Heb. 9:10, 14, 26, 28; Eph. 5:2; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Jn. 1:9; Ps. 32:1).

Two COVERINGS OF THE TABERNACLE consisted of (1) ram's skins dyed red, and (2) a covering of porpoise or badger which was dull bluish, or gray in color and had no comeliness or beauty. It was nothing to be desired and was despised and rejected for coverings by men. It is a picture of Christ to all who do not come by way of the Cross (Isa. 53:2, 3).

The GATE to the Tabernacle was the only entrance. It was accessible, attractive and well supported. Christ is the only gate into the presence of God (John 10:7, 9; 14:6; Eph. 2:13; 1 Cor. 2:2; Heb. 10:19-20).

The BRAZEN ALTAR (Exodus 27:1-8) is a type of Christ our sacrifice (Jn. 1:29). The sacrifice stands at the entrance of man's approach to God. Man has no access to God except as a sinner atoned for by blood. All who pass through the door must pass by the bloodstained altar or not at all. The Mizbeach - "slaughter place," just within the gate was easily accessible, unavoidable and unmistakable.

LAVER OF BRONZE (Exodus 30:17-21) symbolizes Christ our cleanser which cleanses from defilement (Eph. 5:25-26; Jn. 17:17). It denotes spiritual renewal. We have daily cleansing from defilements of life, and it is accessible only through our Priest. We are continually cleansed by Christ through the Spirit and the Word (Jn. 15:3; 1 Jn. 1:6-9).

HOLY PLACE was the first room the priest entered and contained three pieces of furniture: Table of Presence, Menorah or Golden Lampstand, and Altar of Incense.

The MENORAH or LAMP STAND OF PURE GOLD symbolizes the presence of Jehovah as the source of life's entertainment, and God's leadership. Christ is our Light (Jn. 8:12), and denotes spiritual illumination (Exo. 30:7-8; 27:20; Phil. 2:15-16; Prov. 4:18; 2 Cor. 4:6; Eph. 1:18; 5:13; Matt. 5:14-16). The Holy Spirit gives illumination to the believer.

BREAD OF THE PRESENCE lit. "face-bread," symbolizes the presence of the LORD as food of life. Jesus is the "Bread of Life" for every believer (Jn. 6:35). He is our spiritual sustenance.

ALTAR OF INCENSE (Exodus 30:1-10) was a perpetual adoration of the LORD. Christ is our intercessor who is always making intercession for us (Jn. 17; Heb. 7:25; Rev. 8:3-5). It also symbolizes the worship of the believer (Jn. 4:21, 23); and prayer of the saints (Rev. 8:3, 4; Ps. 141:2; 1 Tim. 2:1-5).

The VEIL in the Temple (Exodus 26:31-35) separated the Holy of Holies, or Most Holy Place, and the Holy Place. It is a type of Christ's body (Heb. 10:20; Matt. 27:51). The door into God's presence was opened to man when Christ died and rent the veil (Jn. 10:9). The unrent veil shut man out from the typical presence of God. The rent veil changed at once from a barrier to an open way into the Holy of Holies (Heb. 9:20, 26; 10:10, 12, 14; Eph. 2:4-6; Heb. 4:15, 15).

HOLY OF HOLIES was entered only one day of the year on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. It represented God's dwelling place (Heb. 9:24). It symbolized the human body of Jesus (Jn. 2:19-21), and the body of believers (1 Cor. 3:16-17; 6:19). In 2 Corinthians 6:16 it symbolizes the local church, and Ephesians 2:21 the universal church consisting of all believers in Christ.

The ARK OF THE COVENANT (Exodus 25:10-16) contained the Law, manna and Aaron's budded rod. Christ had the Law in His heart and came to fulfill it (Matt. 5:17, 18). It is another symbol of God being with His people. Just as the Ark of the Covenant contained God's testimony to Israel, Christ is God's testimony of man.

The MERCY SEAT was the gold lid or cover on top of the ARK of COVENANT (Exodus 25:17-21; Lev. 16:13-16). The Mercy Seat is the cover, the covering or removal of sin by means of expiatory sacrifice. It is the Old Testament throne of grace. Justice and mercy met there, and the blood of the innocent sacrifice cleanses away all sin. Christ is that covering for sin (Heb. 9:5; Rom. 3:25; 1 Jn. 2:2). He is the Mercy Seat.

THE GLORY, MY GLORY is the Shekinah. "Glory" describes Yahweh's self-manifestation, His transcendence, or His presence with men (Ex. 33:18-20; 34:5-7; 14:19; 40:34, etc.). It is a type of His dwelling in heaven (Heb. 9:24; Ex. 40:34-35). He is looking down upon the Mercy Seat, seen guiding Israel, was not in the second temple, and reappeared with Christ (Matt. 17:5; Lk. 2:9; Jn. 1:14; Rev. 21:3; Heb. 1:3; Jn. 17:5; 2 Pet. 1:16, 17; Acts 1:9; Mk. 14:62; Rev. 14:14).

Questions

What questions do you have about the reading?

Have you ever considered the Tabernacle/Temple as important today? Why would knowing about the Tabernacle/Temple and the connections to Jesus be important for us today?

The OT saints took following God seriously. Everything they did was giving honor and reverence to the Lord, all the way down to how they constructed the Temple. Do you feel like you take going into God's presence as seriously as they did? Why or why not? What might need to change in your daily routines to help you better worship God rightly?

The New Testament in 1 Cor. 6:19 tells us that we are the temple for the Holy Spirit. How should that affect the way we live today? What does that show us about the significance of sin in our life?

The Altar of Incense hid the stench of the sacrifices happening outside, it helped them focus PAST that. Jesus has forgiven our sins, calling us to move out of them (Go and sin no more...). Why is continually focusing on your sins a detriment to your spiritual growth? How can you "Go and sin no more..."?