Season 2, Episode 3: What’s the purpose of the tabernacle/temple?
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Big Idea:
Big Idea:
The tabernacle/temple is the story of God bringing us home.
Child Dedication(?)
Child Dedication(?)
Intro:
Intro:
As a child, the idea of home was interesting. Don’t get me wrong… although I was raised by a single mom, doing all she could to survive, and there were plenty of times we didn’t have much, I always felt loved. And in that way, I had a home…
On the other hand, we moved around a lot! And even after marriage, Janelle and I moved something like 11 times in 10 years. Not to mention, San Diego (where I was born and raised) never felt like home to me.
It wasn’t until we moved here to Glastonbury that I felt at home. And earlier this week, I was sitting in my living room, spending time with Jesus, and had two thoughts…
This is the longest I’ve ever lived in one house.
God has been good to me. This isn’t the biggest place. But it’s my home. And I REALLY love living here!
And it got me thinking, “What actually makes a home?” Then, I considered: How do you prepare a home for family?
For example, if you invited someone to live in your house, how would you prepare so they could feel at home? Maybe we’d…
Rearrange how we live. We’d think about the spaces we’d sacrificially give up to make room. We’d alter our normal rhythms of getting ready, eating, and sleeping.
We’d probably clean up our house and try and make our home a welcoming environment…
You ever come back from a trip, walk into your house, take a whiff, and think, “Why does my house smell like fart baked with dirty socks, sprinkled with wet dog? Does it smell like this all the time?”
…therefore, we’d probably buy some candles and air fresheners for the bathrooms.
And we’d likely check in with our family and ask if there are any special needs or foods we could purchase.
I mention all of this because the idea of “home” plays a significant part in this next episode of “There is More.”
For those of us who need a reminder (maybe this is your first time at TRC -welcome), we are currently in a year-long sermon series through the book of Romans called “There is More.” We’re treating it like a 10-season Netflix series that takes us verse-by-verse through the entire letter.
Right now, we’re in Season 2, which is title “More to the Old Testament.” The purpose of this season is to answer the question, “What’s the purpose of the Old Testament?” We’re asking this question because in Romans 3, Paul says…
So what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? Considerable in every way. First, they were entrusted with the very words of God.
The “very words of God” Paul is references is the Old Testament. Therefore, in Season 2, we have paused at Romans 3:1-2 and are spending 7 weeks/episodes quickly going through the Old Testament, because we believe it’s essential for us to know MORE about the OT, if we want to know MORE about the book of Romans!
Plus, we’ve learned over the past couple of weeks that the Old and New Testament (the two parts of the Bible) are both part of one unified story, inspired by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the Old Testament is part of our (the church’s) story! And so far…
We’ve gone from Adam (the beginning) to Abraham, seeing that the Old Testament preaches the gospel.
Last week, we asked, “What’s the purpose of Israel?” And discovered that, by Israel, God invites everyone back into His family.
And today, in episode 3, we’re asking the question, “What’s the purpose of the tabernacle and temple?” And we’re going to cover a lot of distance on the biblical timeline… [by the way, here’s a slide that might help us see where we are…]
That’s because the concept of God’s tabernacle and temple is found from Genesis to Revelation.
Additionally, over the next two weeks, we’re gonna ask two additional questions:
What’s the purpose of the law and sacrifices?
What’s the purpose of the kings?
Therefore, today, I’m going to lay historical groundwork that will setup the next two weeks…
That being said, we have a pretty cool resource to help you understand where we are in the Old Testament, especially since we’re moving so quickly…
I’m a huge fan of the Bible Project. They use animation to help explain the Bible. You can find their stuff on the web, YouTube, and even on RightNow Media (which is a streaming Bible study platform we offer to you guys for free). I’m gonna put a QR code on the screen that will lead you to their content. Additionally, we’ve printed out small posters of their Old Testament survey drawing. Please grab one if you think this will help you learn MORE about the OT.
[Move to the OT slide]
Body:
Body:
Alright, last week we ended with Moses bringing the Israelites out of Egypt. If you keep reading, God saves them again by miraculously splitting the Red Sea. Afterwards, on the way to the Promise land, God introduces them to His laws, sacrifices, and the idea of a Tabernacle (the Tent of Meeting - a place that would host God’s holy presence). He tells Moses…
“Have the people of Israel build me a holy sanctuary so I can live among them. You must build this Tabernacle and its furnishings exactly according to the pattern I will show you.
“These burnt offerings are to be made each day from generation to generation. Offer them in the Lord’s presence at the Tabernacle entrance; there I will meet with you and speak with you. I will meet the people of Israel there, in the place made holy by my glorious presence. Yes, I will consecrate the Tabernacle and the altar, and I will consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve me as priests. Then I will live among the people of Israel and be their God, and they will know that I am the Lord their God. I am the one who brought them out of the land of Egypt so that I could live among them. I am the Lord their God.
Based on how we’ve chronologically been making our way thru the OT, this would seem to be a good place to start, but we actually need to go backwards. To the very beginning - the Garden of Eden. What we talked about a couple of weeks ago. The paradise God had created for Adam and Eve, the first humans.
The Garden was very good. It provided everything they needed to flourish. However, there was a “serpent” in the Garden. We know him as Satan - a fallen angel and enemy of God. And he tempts Adam and Eve to sin against God, which ruins everything. We call this event the Fall. And it’s at this moment that I want to start…
Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. So the Lord God called out to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”
And he said, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.”
Now, this moment specifically describes what happens after Adam and Eve sin. However, I think the details allow us to make some biblical speculations. For example…
It seems like God was walking in the garden at this time - not because He was hunting Adam down to accuse him - but because it was part of His normal rhythm. The Garden was the place where God spent time with those He loves.
It was His (God’s) Garden… Ezekiel 28 calls “…Eden, the garden of God.”
Therefore, I believe it’s biblical to imply that the Garden was a “home” for both God and man. A place where both dwelled together in loving-relationship.
If you’re taking notes, point number 1 is…
1) In the beginning, God shared a home with us.
1) In the beginning, God shared a home with us.
But check this out… one thing you don’t find in Eden is a temple. [Say OOooooo] Hold onto that thought for later…
After the Fall, things get really bad. So, God judges the world by a Flood. Only Noah’s family survives. They repopulate the Earth, but people continue to refuse live with God. So, God chooses one family and starts there. He starts with Abraham.
Abraham begets, Isaac. Isaac begets Jacob. Jacob has twelve sons. One is Joseph. His story in Egypt leads us to Moses… and by that time, Abraham’s small family becomes the nation of Israel - the chosen people of God called to be a light to the world inviting the nations back home to God.
And that brings us back to when God says…
“Have the people of Israel build me a holy sanctuary so I can live among them. You must build this Tabernacle and its furnishings exactly according to the pattern I will show you.
And here’s why God says this: Point number 2…
2) God must prepare us for home .
2) God must prepare us for home .
Last week, we read the following…
When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.”
Let me add a couple of verses describing what else was going on during that time…
and they said to Moses, “Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt? Didn’t we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, ‘Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!’ ”
So… before, they were crying out to God for deliverance. Now, they want to go back…
“If only the Lord had killed us back in Egypt,” they moaned. “There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted. But now you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all to death.”
All of a sudden, Egypt wasn’t that bad. Apparently, they went Home Town Buffet every night…
When the people saw how long it was taking Moses to come back down the mountain, they gathered around Aaron. “Come on,” they said, “make us some gods who can lead us. We don’t know what happened to this fellow Moses, who brought us here from the land of Egypt.”
So Aaron said, “Take the gold rings from the ears of your wives and sons and daughters, and bring them to me.”
All the people took the gold rings from their ears and brought them to Aaron. Then Aaron took the gold, melted it down, and molded it into the shape of a calf. When the people saw it, they exclaimed, “O Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of the land of Egypt!”
Who cares about Moses! Give us something to worship - and make it like what we used to worship back in Egypt, which is apparently a place they are fond of again!
But now our appetites are gone. All we ever see is this manna!”
Let me explain… When they were in the wilderness, God supernaturally provided them with heavenly bread called manna. It would show up every morning and they could collect as much as they needed. Manna was like heavenly, calorie-free, cookies! But these rebellious, ungrateful people complained about this too!
What’s the point of all these verses? The point is: Sin has jacked us up. And even when God rescues us, it’s a process to shape us into the kind of people that actually want to live with God. Because our sin wants to run and hide from God!
And so, one purpose of the tabernacle (and eventually the Temple) is to prepare us for home. In His presence, our heart is transformed and we begin to desire wanting to be with God as much as He wants to be with us!
That’s what made Moses so special. Look at what the Bible says…
Inside the Tent of Meeting, the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Afterward Moses would return to the camp, but the young man who assisted him, Joshua son of Nun, would remain behind in the Tent of Meeting.
You know what made Moses special? He was a friend of God. Why do the Scriptures call him a friend? Because, like a good friend, the only thing Moses wanted to do was spend time with God. And that’s the only thing God wants from any of His people.
But that desire (in us) is a process. It requires spending time with God - dwelling in His presence. The MORE that happens, the MORE we desire making our home with God.
…Eventually, the Israelites enter the Promised Land. They had a chance to do it right after Egypt, but they refused to trust God. As a consequence, the Israelites spent an additional 40 years wandering in the wilderness. Sounds harsh, but it was transformative. It cultivated a people who had faith to enter the Promised Land and make their home with God.
Moses took one for the team and didn’t enter the Promised Land, so Joshua (Moses’s assistant) led them in. God faithfully gave him victory. However, the people still refused to make a home with God - they needed MORE preparation.
We see this during the time of the Judges. After Joshua dies, the people go crazy in their sin again. And for the next 400 years, the Scriptures describe it this way…
In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.
That seems like a good idea. It really seems to describe we live today. But it’s not a good idea. What it really means is, “No one wanted to make a home with God.”
The next season in Israel’s history was the time of the kings. We’ll learn about that in a couple of weeks, but even then, it was not originally something God wanted. It was something the people wanted. They told Samuel (the final judge)…
They said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Therefore, appoint a king to judge us the same as all the other nations have.”
When they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” Samuel considered their demand wrong, so he prayed to the Lord. But the Lord told him, “Listen to the people and everything they say to you. They have not rejected you; they have rejected me as their king.
In other words, the people did not want a home with God. They desired to be like the pagan nations around them. But, by God’s grace, He used the kings for His purposes. And during this time the first Temple was built.
The idea originated with King David, a man after God’s own heart…
When the king had settled into his palace and the Lord had given him rest on every side from all his enemies, the king said to the prophet Nathan, “Look, I am living in a cedar house while the ark of God sits inside tent curtains.”
So Nathan told the king, “Go and do all that is on your mind, for the Lord is with you.”
But that night the word of the Lord came to Nathan: “Go to my servant David and say, ‘This is what the Lord says: Are you to build me a house to dwell in? From the time I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until today I have not dwelt in a house; instead, I have been moving around with a tent as my dwelling. In all my journeys with all the Israelites, have I ever spoken a word to one of the tribal leaders of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, asking: Why haven’t you built me a house of cedar?’
God tells David that his son, Solomon, will build him a house. Solomon does it. And it’s beautiful. And by it, God - once again - makes His home amongst His people…
When Solomon finished praying, fire descended from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.
Unfortunately, but not surprising, His people are still not ready. Even after hundreds of years, miracles, and God’s presence living with us, they still struggle making a home with God.
After Solomon, the nation of Israel splits into two kingdoms:
The northern kingdom (called Israel) includes 10 of the tribes of Israel. They continue in wickedness and God uses Assyria to wipe them out as discipline.
The southern kingdom (called Judah) includes 2 tribes (and Jerusalem). They have a mix of good and bad kings, but eventually have to be spanked too. That’s the period of the exile. But it’s also when Solomon’s temple is destroyed.
After 70 years, God brings His people back to Israel. Through much struggle they rebuild the temple. But this 2nd Temple is like when you see something really cool on TikTok or Instagram, like food or a craft, and you try to recreate it… only it comes out terrible. And then the Titanic song with the recorder plays in the background… y’all know which one I’m talking about. But if you don’t, it’d be like this…
But many of the older priests, Levites, and family heads, who had seen the first temple, wept loudly when they saw the foundation of this temple, but many others shouted joyfully.
It was so bad that when people who had seen the Solomon’s Temple saw the 2nd one, they literally cried. The prophet Haggai said…
‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Doesn’t it seem to you like nothing by comparison?
But then he says something important…
The future glory of this Temple will be greater than its past glory, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. And in this place I will bring peace. I, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!”
The Tabernacle and Temples had a divine purpose. They prepared people for making a home with God. Something God desired from the very beginning. But it was a temporary purpose pointing at something greater and eternal. Something better.
And quickly… I’m going to jump out of the Old Testament and into the New. After the 2nd Temple, there’s 400 years of silence. God doesn’t speak to His people. That is, until John the Baptist arrives. And John’s purpose is to prepare the way for the Lord. Because…
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
God the Son, Jesus, makes His home with us. But as wonderful as that is, it’s not “it” either. Believe it or not, something better is still coming. That’s why Jesus says…
In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?
And…
Jesus answered, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
Our home is not ready yet. Something better is coming! It started with Jesus dying on the cross for our sins and rising 3 days later showing His victory over sin and death. And because of this Perfect Word, if anyone repents (turn from their sin/their desire to live apart from God) and puts their faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior, they will be forgiven and given eternal life. Additionally, we will receive the Holy Spirit!
Why does that matter? Well, look at what the apostle Paul says…
Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,
Here’s what’s crazy…
3) Because of Jesus, God’s home is now in our heart.
3) Because of Jesus, God’s home is now in our heart.
We have become the temple of the Holy Spirit. Before, as great as the visible Tabernacle and Temple were (God’s presence WITH us)… as great as Jesus being on the earth was (God WITH us)… something better has come. God is now IN us!
But guess what… it’s still not complete. THERE IS MORE. One day, Jesus is coming back. And when He does, THEN everything will be made right - RESTORED! Back to what it was intended to be. And what exactly is that?
Remember how I told you to hold onto a thought regarding “no temple” in the Garden? It’s time to pull that thought out!
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.
…and now, check this out…
I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
In other words, one day God restores everything back to His original design. God and mankind will share a home together. And because of that, there will be no need for a temple. The tabernacle and temple were not God’s eternal house. It’s purpose was simply to point us to Jesus and prepare us for our eternal home.
Our final point for today is…
4) In the end, our home with God is perfectly restored.
4) In the end, our home with God is perfectly restored.
And so, as begin to close and the worship team comes up… how do we respond to the preaching of God’s Word this morning?
Response:
Response:
Since the Fall, we’ve lived in this odd tension. On one side, we’ve all noticed that something is not right with this life. Something’s off. Broken. Something’s missing. And what’s missing is our relationship with God. We are supposed to share a home with our Creator. At the same time, because of our sin, we have resisted this. That’s why we have periods of history like…
From the Fall to the Flood…
The times of the Judges…
The split Kingdoms and exile…
And even today, when we’re once again doing whatever we want with no attention to making a home with God…
So, this morning, as you consider the purposes of the tabernacle and temple, the first way you can respond is…
Come home.
Come home.
You exist because God loves you, wants a relationship with you, and ultimately wants to live with you forever. Come home! It’s where you belong. It’s not easy, but it’s simple. It simply requires you to turn from your sin, and put your faith in Jesus and Lord and Savior.
See! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
That tugging on your heart. That’s Jesus knocking. He wants to make His home with you. Will you let Him in? If you want to do that, say “Yes, Lord, come in.” in the privacy of your heart. [Prayer room?]
Secondly, maybe you’ve already done that. Jesus is your Savior. You’ve received the Holy Spirit. Your heart is the temple of God.
But there’s a strange struggle in your heart. Bible teachers sometimes call this the “already, but not yet.” In Christ, your future is secured. Every promise of God is yours! At the same time, not yet. We are still awaiting a better day. And until that final day comes, one thing we must do is…
Prepare your home (heart) for Jesus.
Prepare your home (heart) for Jesus.
Just like a family member moving in, you might need to…
Rearrange your life. What do you prioritize in your life? Does it make Jesus feel at home?
Clean up some junk. Your heart smells like that for a reason. Time to throw some things away or wash it with God’s word.
You might have to make some different friend choices. Some of them act a fool. Can’t have that in your house anymore because Jesus is coming to stay.
Just as the Jews had the advantage of having the Old Testament, we have the greater advantage of the Holy Spirit making His home in our heart. Don’t pass up this advantage. Make the change. It’ll be worth it. God wants to make a home with you!
How does God want you to prepare your heart for His presence? Think of one thing you can do this week to make room for Jesus in your life. Then, do it.
Let’s pray…
When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.
