The Tabernacle

I. Recap/Context

ISRAEL @ MT. SINAI

MOSES RECEIVES LAW — 10 COMMANDMENTS

PEOPLE ENTER INTO COVENANT W/ GOD

BLOOD SACRIFICE

MOSES ASCENDS MOUNTAIN AGAIN… to RECEIVE STONE TABLETS (24:12)

Transition: TEXT PICKS UP HERE

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II. Teaching Text:

Part 1: Moses on Mt. Sinai

Tabernacle Instructions

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.

Key Points:

Commission: TAKING UP CONTRIBUTION—MATERIALS

**Freewill offering**

Goal: BUILD “SANCTUARY” (HOLY PLACE)

TABERNACLE— PORTABLE TEMPLE

(Q) Why portable? TRAVELING to CANAAN LAND! SINAI = PIT STOP

Purpose: GOD DWELLING in their MIDST!

Quote: Alec Motyer: GOD LIVING in a TENT: “symbolized his coming alongside, his identification with them and with their circumstances.”

!! Play Video !! & Pictures

Summary: Ch. 25-27, 30 — Tabernacle description

Summary: Ch. 28-29 preparations for priests—tabernacle servants

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Layout & Furniture Overview/Summary

Outer Court

Inner Court/Holy Place

Most Holy Place/Holy of Holies

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Bronze altar

OUTER COURT

PLACE of SACRIFICE

Bronze basin/laver

BETWEEN ALTAR & TENT

CEREMONIAL WASHING for PRIESTS

THINGS SO HOLY—UNCLEANNESS WOULD KILL! (30:20!)

Golden Lampstand

(HOLY PLACE) PROVIDED LIGHT

PROBABLY SYMBOL of TREE of LIFE

Table for Bread (Bread of presence)

(HOLY PLACE)

1X a WEEK—BREAD PROVIDED.

PICTURE of GOD SUSTAINING HIS PEOPLE

PRIESTS WOULD EAT

Altar of Incense

(HOLY PLACE)

INCENSE—SYMBOL of PRAYERS ASCENDING to GOD

Ark of Covenant

(HOLY of HOLIES)

MOST SIGNIFICANT PART of TABERNACLE

MERCY SEAT/ATONEMENT COVER

BLOOD on DAY of ATONEMENT

i. Quote: “The kapporeth (mercy seat) was, in effect, the throne of Yahweh on earth.”[1]

GUARDED by CHERUBIM

ARK = TANGIBLE REMINDER— GOD WAS WITH THEM.

NOT IDOL— GOD ISN’T RECTANGULAR— BUT a VISUAL HELP.

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**Side note on priest’s consecration??** Ex. Ch. 28-29

PREPARING a PLACE & a PEOPLE!

HOLY GOD isn’t APPROACHED CASUALLY

EVERYTHING MADE ACCORDING to PLAN

SPECIAL PEOPLE PREPARED

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Promise of God’s Dwelling

Exodus 29:42–46 (ESV)

42 It shall be a regular burnt offering throughout your generations at the entrance of the tent of meeting before the Lord, where I will meet with you, to speak to you there.

43 There I will meet with the people of Israel, and it shall be sanctified by my glory.

44 I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar. Aaron also and his sons I will consecrate to serve me as priests.

45 I will dwell among the people of Israel and will be their God.

46 And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them out of the land of Egypt that I might dwell among them. I am the Lord their God.

AGAIN—PURPOSE = GOD’S DWELLING PLACE…

GOD DWELLING AMONGST HIS PEOPLE = HUGE DEAL! — ** REVISIT LATER **

Transition: FOR NOW, WE HAVE PLANS— WE NEED BUILDERS...

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Appointed Workers

Exodus 31:1–11 (ESV)

1 The Lord said to Moses,

2 “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah,

3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship,

4 to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze,

5 in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft.

6 And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you:

7 the tent of meeting, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is on it, and all the furnishings of the tent,

8 the table and its utensils, and the pure lampstand with all its utensils, and the altar of incense,

9 and the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the basin and its stand,

10 and the finely worked garments, the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons, for their service as priests,

11 and the anointing oil and the fragrant incense for the Holy Place. According to all that I have commanded you, they shall do.”

GOD GIVES GIFTS, TALENTS, ABILITIES to ALL

Body of Christ— NOT ALL ALIKE — BUT ALL IMPORTANT

GOD SPECIALLY EMPOWERED MEN to CRAFT!

DON’T THINK YOUR CONTRIBUTION DOESN’T MATTER

PRIESTS WOULD’VE HAD NO TENT to SERVE WITHOUT the BUILDERS!!

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Transition: GOD FINISHES INSTRUCTIONS…

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Exodus 31:18 (ESV)

18 And he gave to Moses, when he had finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God.

Summary: EVERYTHING = GOOD to GO

HAVE PLANS

HAVE BUILDERS

HAVE TABLETS of TESTIMONY

Transition: but things AREN’T GOOD to GO...

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Pt. 2: Summarize—Moses’ Descent/People’s Sin

Ex. Ch. 32— GOLDEN CALF

Background: REMEMBER— HE’D BEEN ATOP the MOUNTAIN 40 DAYS!

WHILE MOSES TARRIES—PEOPLE FASHION GOLDEN CALF...

Exodus 32:1–6 (ESV)

1 When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron and said to him, “Up, make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.”

2 So Aaron said to them, “Take off the rings of gold that are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.”

3 So all the people took off the rings of gold that were in their ears and brought them to Aaron.

4 And he received the gold from their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool and made a golden calf. And they said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!”

5 When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow shall be a feast to the Lord.”

6 And they rose up early the next day and offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings. And the people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.

Problem: Ch. 24— they ALREADY AGREED to COVENANT

(Q) 1ST COMMANDMENT? — NO OTHER gods...

(Q) 2nd COMMANDMENT? — NO IDOLS...

APPROX. 1 MONTH & THEY BETRAY GOD & HIS COVENANT!!

(V10) GOD PLANS to DESTROY THEM! REPLACE W/ MOSES

(V11-13) MOSES INTERCEDES on BEHALF of PEOPLE...

Exodus 32:11–13 (ESV)

11 But Moses implored the Lord his God and said, “O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand?

12 Why should the Egyptians say, ‘With evil intent did he bring them out, to kill them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from your burning anger and relent from this disaster against your people.

13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your offspring, and they shall inherit it forever.’ ”

(Q) SEE MOSES’ APPEAL?? ON the BASIS of ABRAHAMIC COVENANT

* GOD RELENTS in RESPONSE

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Moses’ Response to People:

(V19) MOSES RETURNS—BREAKS TABLETS (SYMBOLIC of BROKEN COVENANT)

MELTS CALF,, PUTS in WATER,, MAKES PEOPLE DRINK!

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MOSES ascends Mt. SINAI (6th Time) & INTERCEDES,, TAKE ME INSTEAD(V31-32)

SOME are KILLED

OTHERS...GUILTY DIE in PLAGUE (V25)

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Summarize: Ex. Ch. 33 — GOD TELLS THEM to GO to PROMISED LAND WITHOUT HIM!

Exodus 33:16 (ESV)

16 For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?”

Summary: GOD’S PRESENCE = DISTINGUISHING FACTOR… MOSES PLEADS W/ GOD & GOD AGREES to GO...

HOW MUCH DO WE VALUE GOD…VERSUS JUST WHAT HE DOES FOR US??

Challenge: WOULD WE HAVE BEEN HAPPY WITH a PROMISED LAND WITHOUT the PROMISER??

THANKFULLY — GOD AGREES to GO WITH...

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Pt. 3 Summarize—Covenant Renewal (CH. 34)

MOSES MAKES NEW TABLETS— 10 COMMANDMENTS ROUND 2

IN COVENANT AGAIN...

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Transition: WOULD THE PEOPLE RESPOND APPROPRIATELY?

TABERNACLE OFFERING??

TABERNACLE CONSTRUCTION??

Summary: Ex. Ch. 35-40 = ALL ABOUT CONSTRUCTION of TABERNACLE & PRIESTLY GARMENTS

Exodus 35:4–10 (ESV)

4 Moses said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, “This is the thing that the Lord has commanded.

5 Take from among you a contribution to the Lord. Whoever is of a generous heart, let him bring the Lord’s contribution: gold, silver, and bronze;

6 blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen; goats’ hair,

7 tanned rams’ skins, and goatskins; acacia wood,

8 oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense,

9 and onyx stones and stones for setting, for the ephod and for the breastpiece.

10 “Let every skillful craftsman among you come and make all that the Lord has commanded:

again— CONTRIBUTION WASN’T REQUIRED— BUT of GENEROSITY!

**PEOPLE HAD OPPORTUNITY to PROVE THEIR LOVE**

Transition: Moses Prepares to work:

Exodus 36:1–7 (ESV)

1 “Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whom the Lord has put skill and intelligence to know how to do any work in the construction of the sanctuary shall work in accordance with all that the Lord has commanded.”

2 And Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whose mind the Lord had put skill, everyone whose heart stirred him up to come to do the work.

3 And they received from Moses all the contribution that the people of Israel had brought for doing the work on the sanctuary. They still kept bringing him freewill offerings every morning,

4 so that all the craftsmen who were doing every sort of task on the sanctuary came, each from the task that he was doing,

5 and said to Moses, “The people bring much more than enough for doing the work that the Lord has commanded us to do.”

6 So Moses gave command, and word was proclaimed throughout the camp, “Let no man or woman do anything more for the contribution for the sanctuary.” So the people were restrained from bringing,

7 for the material they had was sufficient to do all the work, and more.

MOSES ADDRESSES PEOPLE — NEED for CONTRIBUTION & PLAN...

(V6-7) THEY GOT IT ALL!!… SUFFICIENT for the TASK!!

(C.C.) I CAN ONLY IMAGINE

PRESENT WORLD— MINISTRIES CONSTANTLY CRYING OUT for MONEY

CHURCH NEEDS MONEY

Transition: NEEDS MET— TABERNACLE WILL BE CONSTRUCTED:

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Pt. 4: Tabernacle’s Completion

Exodus 39:32 (ESV)

32 Thus all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting was finished, and the people of Israel did according to all that the Lord had commanded Moses; so they did.

Exodus 39:42–43 (ESV)

42 According to all that the Lord had commanded Moses, so the people of Israel had done all the work.

43 And Moses saw all the work, and behold, they had done it; as the Lord had commanded, so had they done it. Then Moses blessed them.

Conclusion: PEOPLE OBEY— AS GOD DIRECTED!

VERY IMPORTANT— DID ACCORDING to GOD’S PATTERN…(RF. 25:9)

WORK = FINISHED!

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III. Theology Focus

Purpose: GOD’S DWELLING

Exodus 29:45–46 (ESV)

45 I will dwell among the people of Israel and will be their God.

46 And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them out of the land of Egypt that I might dwell among them. I am the Lord their God.

GOD’S DWELLING PLACE— TABERNACLE, then TEMPLE… TEMPLE DESTROYED then 2ND TEMPLE...

Takeaway: AMAZING— GOD CONDESCENDS to OUR LEVEL…

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1 Kings 8:27 (ESV) Solomon & Temple...

27 “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built!

HE DOESN’T OWE it TO US to REVEAL HIMSELF…TO COME DOWN to US...

WE DON’T DESERVE ANY of IT...

GOD TAKES the INITIATIVE...

WHAT a PRIVILEGE!!

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REVERSAL of FALL:

Genesis 3:23–24 (ESV)

23 therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken.

24 He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.

SEPARATION in EDEN—BEGINNING to BE REVERSED in TABERNACLE...

CHERUBIM GUARDING WAY to GARDEN—NOW WHERE BLOOD WOULD BE APPLIED for ATONEMENT

GOD = OPENING DOOR to HUMANITY...

GOD of GLORY— COMES DOWN to OUR LEVEL to OFFER RELATIONSHIP...

YOU TENT? I TENT.

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Greater Example:

John 1:14 (ESV)

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

SKENAO...DWELT = TABERNACLED… “TENTED”

JESUS CHRIST—LEFT HEAVEN BEHIND to CAMP HERE & BECOME LIKE US...

IMMANUEL— GOD WITH US!!!

Transition: HE CAME DOWN— to OPEN the WAY to HEAVEN!

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IV. Christ our High Priest—Greater Heavenly Realities

TABERNACLE = PICTURE of GREATER HEAVENLY REALITY

Hebrews 9:11–15 (ESV)

11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation)

12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.

13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh,

14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

15 Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.

Hebrews 9:24 (ESV)

24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.

EVERYTHING in EXODUS = PICTURE of HEAVENLY REALITIES...

CHRIST ENTERED—NOT EARTHLY TENT— BUT HEAVEN

NO W/ BLOOD of BULLS/GOATS — BUT HIS OWN

WE NOW HAVE ACCESS to GOD—LIKE THEY NEVER HAD!

CHRIST’S DEATH TORE the VEIL

Hebrews 4:14–16 (ESV)

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Conclusion:

SECURED ETERNAL REDEMPTION!

HOW MUCH MORE— CLEAN CONSCIENCE & SERVING GOD?? (V14

HOW MUCH MORE DEVOTED??

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V. Present Reality & Future Hope/Culmination

TABERNACLE — TEMPLE — INCARNATION — N.T. TEMPLE = BELIEVERS… GOD HAS COME to DWELL IN US!

1 Corinthians 3:16 (ESV)

16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?

1 Corinthians 6:19 (ESV)

19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,

THIS = PRESENT REALITY

CHANGES the WAY WE VIEW/LIVE OUR LIVES & TREAT OUR BODIES

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Transition: GREATER FUTURE REALITY:

Revelation 21:3–4 (ESV)

3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.

4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Revelation 21:22 (ESV)

22 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.

DWELLING W/ GOD = END of the STORY!

GOD’S MISSION WAS RESTORING RELATIONSHIP

HUMANITY MESSED IT UP

GOD HAS WORKED to MAKE it RIGHT.

SOMEDAY — NO TEMPLE/MEETING PLACE NEEDED— WE’LL LITERALLY BE WITH HIM!!

Transition: Closing takeaways...

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VI. Takeaways

A HOLY GOD MUST BE APPROACHED on HIS TERMS

ALL ACCORDING to PATTERN

PRIESTHOOD = VERY SPECIFIC

GREAT PRIVILEGE HE’S WILLING to DWELL W/ US...

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GOD’S WORK REQUIRED CONTRIBUTIONS & DEDICATION of HIS PEOPLE

GOD OPENED the OPPORTUNITY— THEY HAD to RESPOND...

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END of THE STORY— FUTURE DWELLING W/ GOD in PERFECTION

FULL CIRCLE GARDEN of EDEN— BUT FAR GREATER

CONCLUSION: PRESENT REALITY—BRING US JOY; FUTURE REALITY— BRING US HOPE...

(Q) CLOSING THOUGHTS/ QUESTIONS??

Close in Prayer