Sinai And The Tabernacle

From Law to Glory

Text: Exodus 19–20 From the Law that condemned, to the Blood that redeemed, to the Glory that now dwells within us.

Introduction – The Mountain of God

Main Idea: The story of redemption begins at the mountain, where man first realized his inability to stand before a holy God without a mediator.

Israel, delivered from Egypt, stood at Mount Sinai where God desired to make them “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Ex. 19:6).

They eagerly said, “All that the LORD hath spoken we will do.”

But when the mountain quaked and the thunder rolled, those who once drew near now stood afar off (Ex. 20:18).

Preaching Points:

They were sincere—but sincerity without blood cannot save.

The closer they came to God’s holiness, the more aware they became of their unholiness.

Job 42:6 “6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent In dust and ashes.”

They needed a mediator between man and God.

Illustration: Like Job, who said Job 9:33 “33 Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, That might lay his hand upon us both.”, Israel longed for someone who could reach both heaven and earth.

Transition Verse: Romans 3:20 “20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”

I – The Law: The Measure of Man (Exodus 19–20)

Main Idea: The Law was not given to justify but to reveal sin; it shows us our need for mercy.

Description: The Law revealed God’s holiness and man’s sinfulness. It is the divine measure that tests the character of man — separating the wheat from the chaff.

Preaching Points:

The Law condemns. It exposes guilt but offers no grace.

It was holy, but it could not make man holy.

Man cannot fulfill it.

James 2:10 “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

The Law reveals our distance from God. Those who once said, “We will obey,” now stand afar off. (Ex 20:18)

Application: Self-righteousness cannot stand before God. The law leaves every mouth stopped and every soul convicted.

Transition Verse: Galatians 3:24 “24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”

II – Behold the Blood: The Covenant of Mercy (Exodus 24:1–8)

Main Idea: Where the Law demanded righteousness, the blood provided redemption.

Description: Moses, the mediator, built an altar and sprinkled the blood upon the people, saying, “Behold the blood of the covenant.” (Ex. 24:8)

Preaching Points:

The Order of Redemption:

God was honored.

The Word was revealed.

The altar was built.

Then the blood was applied.

The Meaning of the Blood:

It reveals sin – for sin is only seen in the light.

It provides substitution – “He was wounded for our transgressions.”

That blood pointed forward to Calvary, where John cried, “Behold the Lamb of God.”

It brings salvation – “Without shedding of blood is no remission.” (Heb. 9:22)

Matthew 26:28 “28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”

There is power in the blood:

“By Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.” (Acts 13:39)

Application: At Sinai, the blood was for some; at Calvary, it was shed for the world. The blood of Jesus does what the law could never do — it reconciles man to God.

Transition Verse: Ephesians 2:13 “13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.”

III – The Tabernacle: God Dwelling Among Us (Exodus 26:36)

Main Idea: The blood made a way for the presence — and the presence came to dwell among His people.

Description: After the blood, God gave instructions for the tabernacle — the visible sign of His desire to dwell among His people.

Preaching Points:

The Door: Jesus said, “I am the door.” (John 10:9)

The Door gave access to the light (candlestick), which revealed the bread (Word).

He is more than just a forgiver — He is the means of communion.

The Worship: The altar of incense represents prayer and worship.

But incense without fire is no good — worship must come from a heart touched by holy fire.

The Glory: God’s presence filled the tabernacle.

The five pillars (Ex 26:37) can represent Isaiah 9:6 — the fullness of the mighty God revealed in Christ.

“The Word was made flesh and dwelt (tabernacled) among us.”

Application: The same God who filled a tent in the wilderness now fills the hearts of His people through the Holy Ghost.

Transition Verse: 2 Corinthians 6:16 “16 ...for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”

IV – The Call: Who Is on the Lord’s Side? (Exodus 32:25–27)

Main Idea: When people stray into idolatry, God still calls them to repentance and relationship.

Description: While Moses was on the mountain, the people built a golden calf. God’s call came forth: “Who is on the Lord’s side? Let him come unto me.”

Preaching Points:

Two Sides Exist: There’s no middle ground — the Lord’s side or the enemy’s side.

A Call to Come Out: “Come out from among them and be ye separate.”

Because the sword of judgment was about to pass through the camp.

A Response Required: God worked according to their response. Those who repented became builders of the tabernacle (Ex. 36:1).

Their hearts were stirred to give. Former idol-makers became worshipers.

Application: When people respond to conviction, God turns their failure into fuel for worship. When we repent, we become builders, not breakers, of His house.

Transition Verse: Exodus 33:13–14 “13 Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people. 14 And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.”

V – The Way, the Rest, and the Glory (Exodus 33:13–18)

Main Idea: The God of Sinai became the Savior at Calvary so that His glory could dwell in His people.

Description: Moses longed to see God’s glory, and God revealed His goodness passing by. When Moses descended, his face shone with the reflected glory of God.

Preaching Points:

The Way: Jesus declared, “I am the way.” No man comes to the Father but by Him.

The Rest: When His presence goes with us, there is rest even in the wilderness.

The Glory: When His glory passes by, transformation happens — our countenance changes.

2 Corinthians 3:18 “18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

Application: That same glory that filled the tabernacle now fills believers through the Holy Ghost.

Sinai’s fire now burns in human hearts.

The God who once said “Stand afar off” now says “Come boldly.”

Jeremiah 31:31–33 “31 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, That I will make a new covenant With the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers In the day that I took them by the hand To bring them out of the land of Egypt; Which my covenant they brake, Although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord: 33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, And write it in their hearts; And will be their God, And they shall be my people.”

Conclusion – From Law to Glory

Main Idea: What began in distance ends with indwelling — the holy God of Sinai now dwells in His people through His Spirit.

Summary Points:

The Law revealed our sin.

The Blood provided our redemption.

The Tabernacle revealed His desire to dwell among us.

The Glory fills us now through the Holy Ghost.

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“Who is on the Lord’s side?”

Come by the Door — Jesus Christ.

Let the blood be applied.

Let the fire fall again.

Let the glory fill your temple.

Closing Verse: John 1:14 “14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”