Redeemer: God saved us to bring us into His presence. Ex 25-31

Redeemer: God saved us to bring us into His presence.

Exodus 25-31

Exodus 25:2-9

[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.

Exodus 31:12-18

The Sabbath

[12] And the LORD said to Moses, [13] “You are to speak to the people of Israel and say, ‘Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the LORD, sanctify you. [14] You shall keep the Sabbath, because it is holy for you. Everyone who profanes it shall be put to death. Whoever does any work on it, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. [15] Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall be put to death. [16] Therefore the people of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath throughout their generations, as a covenant forever. [17] It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.’”

[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.

From Logos…_________

The Menorah or Lampstand

The only light source within the tabernacle came from a seven-candled Menorah. The Bible describes the Menorah as a tree with calyxes, petals, and blossoms (sometimes translated as “cups”). According to Numbers 8:4, the golden lampstand’s “base to its flowers” imitated its heavenly prototype.

Within the holy place and on the veil between the holy place and the most holy place, images of Cherubim appeared upon blue or purple cloth (Exod 26:1, 31; 36:8, 35). The light from the Menorah would illumine this image, appearing like a night sky with angels overhead and pointing to the tabernacle’s role of uniting heaven and earth.

As a tree of light, the Menorah reminds of the tree of life in the garden in Eden. As many today recognize, the garden of Eden shares similarities with the tabernacle, both functioning as temples. The Menorah would also shine its light of life upon the showbread, which represents the twelve tribes of Israel. In this way, it visually illustrates the Lord’s face shining upon Israel (Num 6:25).

The table for showbread

When walking in from the entrance, a table sat on the right-hand side of the tent. Upon the table, twelves loaves sat, representing the twelve tribes of Israel (Lev 24:8).

Since Exodus calls manna bread from heaven and the Israelites stored this bread within the tabernacle (Exod 16:4; 31–34), these loaves may also serve to remind Israel of manna from heaven. This manna may have reminded Israel to live by God’s word and not by bread alone (Deut 8:3).

The altar of incense

The alter of incense stood near the veil in front of the entrance to the Holy of Holies (or the Most Holy Place; Exod 30:1–7). Although the altar of incense burned daily (Exod 30:7–8), it played a special role on the Day of Atonement. At that time, the high priest made atonement for it by placing blood upon its four corners (Lev 16:18).

During the Day of the Atonement, the high priest would also bring incense and coal into the Most Holy Place (Lev 16:13). This incense represents the prayers of God’s people ascending through its smoke upwards (Ps 141:2; Rev 5:8; 8:3–4).8

The Holy of Holies (the Most Holy Place)

On this Day of Atonement, the high priest would enter into the Most Holy Place, opening the curtain that divides it from the Holy Place. This act symbolized one’s entrance into the presence of God (Exod 25:22).

Readers also know of Moses’s threefold ascent: first, up to God from the earth (Exod 24:1–8); second, up half-way where Moses and the elders enjoyed a meal upon ground like heaven (Exod 24:9–10); and, finally, into the presence of God (Exod 24:12–18).9 Further, the Old and New Testaments regularly speak of the world divided into three parts (e.g., 1 Kgs 8:27; Phil 2:10).

__________________ end Logos

The tabernacle reminds us and prepares us…

The tabernacle reminds us of what was lost.

In the book of Genesis we see God walking with Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden.

Genesis 3:8, [8] And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

This moment is recorded in the bigger story of the first sin and the fall of humanity.

Genesis 3:1-7, [1] Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” [2] And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, [3] but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” [4] But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. [5] For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” [6] So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. [7] Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

The tabernacle looks like God’s relationship with man was before sin came into the world. The tabernacle is a glimpse into the world at creation.

God made everything, then he made the garden and put Adam and Eve in the Garden. The whole earth wasn’t the garden, but the garden was where God walked with Adam and Eve. There was no need for wall to keep Adam and Eve out of the garden and away from the presence of God. But, this changed when sin came into the world.

And, the tabernacle has a garden of Eden known as the holy of holies, and the holy of holies, like the Garden of Eden is walled off from man by the curtain. And, the only way to enter into the holy of holies is through the atoning sacrifice made at the bronze altar. And this only happened once a year. The curtain of the holy of holies, the altar, and even the materials used remind us of God’s holiness and the relationship with him that was lost through Adam’s sin.

The tabernacle reminds us of God’s holiness.

The tabernacle reminded us of God’s holiness with the materials that were used, the layout that set apart the holy of holy’s, and then the altar where sacrifice had to be made for the atonement of sin.

And, not only does it remind us of God’s holiness, those same characteristics of the tabernacle reminds us of our sinfulness.

The sacrifice on the altar made it so the priest could enter into the holy of holies. He wasn’t able to enter on his own merits, he had to be ritually cleansed and then his sin had to be atoned for through the death of a sacrifice on the altar. it was then that he was able to enter into the presence of God.

The sacrifice of the animal purchased the entrance of the high priest into the presence of God. Without the sacrifice of blood there was no entrance into the presence of God. The penalty for sin is death, and for a sinful man to stand in the presence of God death must occur. God’s plan was for a sacrifice to be the substitute.

And it’s in this way that the Tabernacle reminds us of God’s promise of redemption.

The tabernacle reminds us of God’s promise of redemption.

Genesis 3 is monumental to our understanding of everything that we read in the Bible. it is here in Genesis 3 that we see God walking with Adam and Eve, it is the passage in which humanity falls through the sin of Adam. And, it is when God reveals His plan to redeem humanity from the curse of sin and to conquer the devil.

Genesis 3:8-15 says, [8] And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. [9] But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” [10] And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” [11] He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” [12] The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” [13] Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” [14] The LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field and on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. [15] I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

God says to the serpent that there would be one born that would bruise his head, meaning destroy and kill him, but that he would only bruise his heel.

This is the promise of redemption that the tabernacle reminds us of. The furnishings of the tabernacle reveal the redemptive work of God.

The ark of the covenant was in the tabernacle. This part of the furnishings was purposed to hold specific significant items like the staff of Aaron, the jar of manna, and the tablets of stone. But, it was more than a container. The Ark was also the place where the presence of God sat in the tabernacle and then later the temple.

the mercy seat was where God came to meet with His people. it was representative of a throne, or even the footstool of a throne… and at the same time it sat at the intersection of the sacrifices for sin and the gracious presence of God.

"The mercy seat is the place where law and grace meet together. God is satisfied by the life, by the death, by the resurrection, by the blood of Christ." Martin Lloyd-Jones

In the OT God was satisfied for the entrance of the high priest through the sacrificial offering… and ultimately this is fulfilled in Christ!

The tabernacle reminds us of God’s rule.

The ark of the covenant and the holy of holies take us back to creation and the Garden of Eden. God met with Adam and Eve in the garden, God spoke to them and gave them directions in the garden.

The ark is the place in the holy of holies where God’s presence rested. And, it was like a throne. but, not just a throne, it is like the footstool on earth of God’s throne in heaven.

God is the only god, and He rules and He reigns over all creation. Where He sits, he also reigns.

The holy of holies gives us a glimpse into the heavenly throne room where God sits enthroned and reigns over all the earth.

A place where the book of Revelation shows us that sacrifices are made before Him and He is worshipped!

The tabernacle prepares us for Jesus.

The tabernacle isn’t complete. In fact, you could say that the tabernacle prepares us for the temple, and the temple prepares us for Jesus, and Jesus prepares us for the new heaven and the new earth.

In fact, the NT uses the language of the tabernacle to describe Jesus coming to earth.

it actually says that Jesus came and “tabernacled” with us.

John 1:14, “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.”

not only does it tell us that Jesus is God come to dwell with us. He is revealed as the light of the light of the world, the bread of life, the way to the Father, the great high priest, the lamb who has come to take away the sin of the world, and the word made flesh.

Jesus is holy.

Jesus is without sin and as a result lives a perfect life and then is the only suitable and perfect eternal sacrifice for sin.

Jesus redeems us.

Jesus purchases our entrance into the presence of God through His sacrifice.

The tabernacle and the temple in the OT prepared us by way of prophesy for what was to come.

We know from Hebrews 9 that the tabernacle and temple were shadows of the heavenly dwelling place of God. We find in Hebrews 9 that the sacrifices made in the temple were for a time. And they were because the way to God had not been opened until the sacrifice of Jesus.

Hebrews 9:8-10 says, [8] By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing [9] (which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, [10] but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.”

This means that when Jesus died on the cross He atoned for our sins once and for all, thus removing the divide between us and God through his eternal sacrifice.

Hebrews 9:11-15, [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.

The sacrifices made in the tabernacle or the temple did not fully atone for the sins of God’s people, and as a result the veil between God and man had to stay in place. But, through Christ the veil has been torn, and a right relationship with God is possible through Christ, but through Christ alone.

Jesus said that He would tear down the temple and rebuild it in three days. And in doing so reveals that the time of the temple was coming to a close and that the time of His covenant and kingdom had come.

Mark 14:58-62, [58] “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.’” [59] Yet even about this their testimony did not agree. [60] And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” [61] But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” [62] And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

notice he doesn’t say that he will rebuild the temple made with hands… instead he says that there will be one not made with hands. This is what the writer of Hebrews is making clearer. The tabernacle, temple, and the sacrifices have been fulfilled in Jesus.

With his death Jesus atoned (paid the penalty) for our sin and established a new covenant with us through His blood. An eternal covenant that fulfilled the old and undoes the curse of sin.

Matthew 27:45-51. [45] Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. [46] And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” [47] And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” [48] And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. [49] But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” [50] And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. [51] And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.

The temple veil was torn by the Lord because there was no more need for a sacrifice to be made for us to dwell with God and for God to dwell with us.

God is with us now through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. God’s kingdom is an already and not yet reality. Through Christ God’s kingdom is an already and a not yet reality in our hearts.

This means that God has established his kingdom in our hearts as Christ reigns from His right hand in heaven. And that Christ will return again to bring His kingdom to earth.

Jesus reigns over us.

The mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant was representative of the reign of God, and the place where his reign was made visible here on earth.

Jesus reigns at the right hand of God in heaven and the Spirt of God dwells in us. We, His people have become the dwelling place of God and the temple of the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

[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, [20] for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

The body of Christ, the church, is the dwelling place of God.

Ephesians 2:17-22 says, “[17] And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. [18] For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. [19] So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, [20] built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, [21] in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. [22] In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”

Jesus is returning to bring us home.

The NT tells us that Jesus is coming back to bring us home. The book of Revelation shows us that when Christ returns he will judge the whole world. In the end all those who are in Christ, saved by grace through faith, will be with him in the new heaven and the new earth.

All who are not in Christ, will be cast into hell for all eternity. At this point there will be no more options for salvation. The day of your salvation is today, you are not promised tomorrow, and when Christ returns the second time it is for judgment not for salvation.

The new heaven and the new earth are like creation in Genesis 1-3, but better.

In revelation we see the new city of God descending to the earth, all of God’ people going and coming from His presence on earth… like Eden, like the holy of holies… but without sin, without any more sacrifice because Jesus paid the sacrifice. And, without the possibility of sin and temptation every happening again.

Jesus has come to redeem us and has promised to come and bring us home to something better than the garden of Eden.

Draw near to God and walk closely with Him by faith in Jesus.

Hebrews 10:19-25, [19] Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, [20] by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, [21] and since we have a great priest over the house of God, [22] let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. [23] Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. [24] And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, [25] not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

So, where are you in your relationship with God? Are you drawing near and walking with God by faith. Are you holding fast to the confession and striving to stir one another up to love and good works? Are you neglecting the gathering of the believers for worship and growth? Are you treating God and your faith like an extra curricular activity rather the center of your life and hope?

Do you have access to God through Christ? Is He your Savior?

Are you following the rule and reign of Christ in the already and not yet Kingdom of Christ.

Are you representing Christ to the world around you? The tabernacle represented God’s presence to all the nations… and the Israelites represented God’s nature and character through their obedience to His Word.

The church is the representation of God’s presence in the world today, and our obedience to God’s Word is how we represent God’s character and nature to the world around us.

Quotes and Notes

2 Corinthians 5:1-5

Our Heavenly Dwelling

[1] For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. [2] For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, [3] if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. [4] For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. [5] He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

"The mercy seat is the place where law and grace meet together. God is satisfied by the life, by the death, by the resurrection, by the blood of Christ." MLJ

Tabernacle represents/Gods plan for redemption

In order to understand the purpose of the tabernacle, we need to go all the way back to the beginning of Genesis. We read in 3:8 that the Lord used to walk with Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden during “the cool of the day,” signifying the close, intimate fellowship they enjoyed with the Creator before sin caused everything to fall apart. Having sinned, Adam and Eve were banished from Eden and the immediate presence of our holy God (vv. 22–24), and since that day the goal of salvation has been to restore that face-to-face communion between the Lord and His people. This is seen in the promises to the patriarchs where God promised not to leave Jacob until He accomplished what He said He would do (28:10–17).

The tabernacle was the vehicle through which God manifested His presence among Israel between Sinai and the construction of Solomon’s temple.

The brazen altar (altar of burnt offering) represents the necessity of confronting sin before approaching God. Lloyd-Jones explains: "It's just God's way of saying that if we really want to know him and to get into his presence, we must start by realizing that we are sinners, that sin is a terrible reality, and that that holy God cannot play fast and loose with sin." This altar teaches that repentance is the starting point for a relationship with God.

The tabernacle was God's way of showing that He wants to come and dwell among His people. As Lloyd-Jones explains: "In that holiest of all in the tabernacle, God's presence dwelt... There, in that holiest of all, into which the high priest alone was allowed to enter only once a year, not without Blood, was the shekinah glory, the glory of God dwelt between the cherubims on the mercy seat." The tabernacle represents God's desire for communion with humanity despite our rebellion and sin.

Jesus

As Jesus said, "the Scriptures . . . bear witness about me" (John 5:39). After His resurrection He led downcast believers through the Word of God to teach them of Himself: "And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself" (Luke 24:27). He then spoke to those He had made Apostles:

Then he said to them, 'These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.' Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. (Luke 24:44–45)

John Owen expressed this Christ-centered approach, when he said of the tabernacle:

By the coming of Christ in the flesh, and the discharge of his mediatory office in this world, the substance of what [the tabernacle and temple] did prefigure is accomplished; and in the revelations of the Gospel the nature and end of them is declared.

What was closed off is now open through Christ (hebrews 9)

Eden

Origen of Alexandria regularly argued that the end of all things is like the beginning (e.g., On First Principles 1.6.2). In the new heavens and earth, a tree of life blooms. Likewise, a tree of life thrived in the garden in Eden. Between these two poles—the beginning and the end—the Bible tells a story of restoration to Eden.

As a later stage in the history of redemption, the tabernacle carries similarities to the garden in Eden. Some of these similarities are:

The garden too was a place in which God dwelled or at least moved (Gen 3:8; Lev 26:12; Deut 23:15; 2 Sam 7:6–7).

Cherubim stand at the entrance east of Eden as they do in the tabernacle and temple (Gen 3:24; 1 Kgs 6:23–28, 29; Exod 25:18–22; 26:31).

The rivers that flow down from Eden imply the garden stood on an elevation (Gen 2:10). Temples likewise sit on elevations throughout the Bible (e.g., Ps 24:3). So the garden had temple-like qualities.

God gave Adam and Eve the vocation “to tend and keep” the garden, a word pair only used of priests within the Pentateuch (Gen 2:15; Num 3:7–8; 8:26; 18:5–6). This word pair suggests a priestly service for Adam and Eve.

The garden in Eden functioned as a temple, a place where God and humans could meet.11Likewise, the tabernacle takes up this role as a mobile temple.

The tabernacle doesn’t go far enough… hence the sacrifice of Christ.