Wednesday, September 15, 2021

Moses; Part 11: The Tabernacle

Content:

  • The Tent of Meeting
  • The Tabernacle
  • The Ark of the Covenant 
  • The Table of Showbread
  • The Lamp Stand
  • The Altar of Incense
  • The Altar of Sacrifice
  • Laver for Washing


The Tent of Meeting 


Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, called the Tent of Meeting. Whoever inquired the Lord would go to this tent. Whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people got up and stood at the entrances of their tents and watched Moses until he entered the tent. When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud came down and stood at the entrance, while the Lord spoke to 
Moses. Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance of his tent. The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua didn't leave the tent. (Exo 33:7–11).

This was before the Tabernacle was built. After the Tabernacle was built, it was used as the Tent of Meeting, but placed in the center of the community. 

That Moses spoke to God "face to face", doesn't mean that Moses saw his face.
This statement "face to face" means intimacy. Often when God speaks in the Bible
he does so through dreams, visions, prophets, and even angels may be involved, see Spiritual Gifts. "face to face" in this context means that God spoke directly to Moses, and Moses responded directly to God. Not even David experienced this kind of intimacy with God, see King David. No one can see the face of God and live, see God Shows Moses his Glory in Moses; Part 13: Rebellion and Paganism. 

That Joshua hung out there shows some of his devotion to God.

The Tabernacle


The Tabernacle was essentially a tent (see the reed circle in the picture), 28 cubits long and four cubits wide (14 x 2 meters) (Exo 26:2, 36:9). It contained the Holy Place and Most Holy Place, see the picture below.
The rest of the curtains that surrounded the area were basically the courtyard walls, 100 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and five cubits high 
(50 x 25 x 2,2 meter)
(Exo 27:18–19, 38:9–20). 

The Tabernacle was later called the Tent of Meeting. 

The construction is described in Exo 26:1–37, 27:9–19, 36:8–38. The pattern of
the tabernacle was according to a heavenly reality, see time 17:05–18:21 in
DAVID GUZIK SERMON ON EXODUS 25-28 I AM Living With You. There is a temple
in God's Heaven, see God's Throne in Heaven.

The veil that separated the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom when Jesus died on the cross (Mat 27:50–51a), see The Rending of the Veil of the Temple. This veil is the symbol of the separation between God and his people. That it was torn in two, symbolizes that entry has now been made possible for all of us through the blood of Jesus, to enter the presence of God. This veil is a symbol of Christ (Heb 10:19–20), who can be seen as the gate in 

After the Israelites had received the Mosaic Laws, the Lord told Moses that he would go up to him on Mount Sinai, and God would give him the tablets of stone with the law and commandments. Then Moses set out with his aide Joshua, and Moses went up the mountain. He told the elders to wait for them until they returned. Anyone involved in a dispute could go to Aaron and Hur. When Moses went up the mountain, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from within the cloud. To the Israelites the glory of the Lord looked like a consuming fire on the top of the mountain. Then Moses entered the cloud as he went up the mountain, where he stayed for 40 days and 40 nights. (Exo 24:12–18).

During the time on the mountain, God gave Moses specific instructions about the Tabernacle and all its furnishings. Watch the short video: Tabernacle of Moses.

Every aspect of the Tabernacle is full of meaning:

  1. About 50 chapters in the Bible talk about the Tabernacle.
  2. It represents the true Tabernacle in Heaven, see Where is Heaven. 
  3. The tearing of the veil becomes significant only when we understand the meaning of the Tabernacle. It was torn in two from top to bottom when Jesus died on the cross, see The Rending of the Veil of the Temple.
  4. The elements of the Tabernacle symbolically express much of the truth in the New Tesrament.
  5. Studying the Tabernacle strengthens our faith and increases our understanding of the Bible.


The Lord told Moses to tell the Israelites to bring an offering to God. Moses should receive the offering from all whose hearts urge them to give. This principle of giving in the New Covenant is described at the end part of The Book of Corinthians.
They should make a sanctuary for God, who would dwell among them. This Tabernacle and all its furnishings must be made exactly like the pattern shown by God. (Exo 25:1–9, 31:1–11, 35:4–35, 36:1–7). The Ark of the Covenant should be in the Most Holy Place (Exo 26:33–34). The Table of showbread shall be in the Holy Place on the north side of the tabernacle, and the lamp stand (menorah)
opposite it on the south side. (Exo 26:35, 40:22–24). Also, the Altar of Incense was placed in the Holy Place in front of the veil that shielded the ark (Exo 30:6). 

The golden Altar of Incense was brought by the high priest into the Most Holy Place once a year. It was used in the daily temple service and therefore stood just outside the veil of the Most Holy Place. (Heb 9:2–5).


The total amount of gold used for all the work was about one ton (1000 kg). The amount of silver was about four tons (4000 kg). (Exo 38:21–31). The Lord had made the Egyptians favorably disposed to the people, and they gave them what they asked for when they departed; so they plundered the Egyptians, see 
Moses; Part 7: The Tenth Plague.

When all the work on the Tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, was completed, it was brought to Moses. Moses inspected the work and saw that they had done it just as the Lord had commanded him. Moses blessed them. (Exo 39:32–43).

The time from the release of Egypt until they set up the Tabernacle for the first time was about a year (Exo 40:2, 17). They placed the furniture according to God's commands (Exo 40:3–33). Then the cloud covered the Tabernacle, that is the
Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle (Exo 40:34–38).

When the Israelites entered the Promised Land, the whole assembly gathered
at Shiloh, which is in the center of Israel, and there they set up the 
Tent of Meeting (Joshua 18:1a). 

The Ark of the Covenant 


They were to make an ark (the Ark of the Covenant) of acacia wood, two and a half
cubits long, one cubit and a half wide, and one cubit and a half high
(120 x 70 x 70 cm) (Exo 25:10, 37:1). It shall be overlaid with pure gold, both inside and out, with a gold molding around it. They would cast four gold rings for it and fasten them to its four feet, with two rings on one side and two rings on the other. Then they shall make poles of acacia wood, overlaid with gold. The poles must be inserted into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry it. The poles must remain in the rings of this ark; they shouldn't be removed. The stone tablets of the covenant
(two tablets of stone with The Ten Commandments which God would give Moses), should be placed in the ark. (Exo 25:10–16, 37:1–5, 40:20, Heb 9:4b). The ark would also contain Aaron’s staff that had budded (Aaron's rod) and the gold jar of manna (Heb 9:2–5, Exo 16:33–34, 40:20, Num 17:8–11, Heb 9:4b).
They should make an atonement cover (mercy seat) of pure gold, two and a half
cubits long, and one cubit and a half wide (120 x 70 cm) (Exo 25:17, 37:6), and two cherubim of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. One cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other, in one piece with the cover, at the two ends. The cherubim shall have their wings spread upward, overshadowing the cover with them. The cherubim must face each other, looking toward the cover. The cover should be placed on top of the ark. They would put in the ark the tablets of the covenant law that God would give Moses. There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the covenant law, God would meet him and give him all his commands for the Israelites. (Exo 25:17–22, 37:6–9).

The mercy seat is a powerful image of Jesus Christ (Rom 3:23–25a).
For information about the cherubim in Heaven, see God's Throne in Heaven.

When Moses entered the Tent of Meeting to speak with the Lord,
he heard the voice speaking to him between the two cherubim above the mercy seat on the ark. In this way the Lord spoke to him. (Num 7:89).

The Table of Showbread

They shall make a table of acacia wood, two cubits long, one cubit wide,
and one cubit and a half high (100 x 50 x 70 cm) (Exo 25:23, 37:10).
It should be overlaid with pure gold with a gold molding around it. They would make a rim around it, a handbreadth wide, and put a gold molding on the rim. They were to make four gold rings for the table and fasten them to the four corners, where the four legs are. The rings would be near the rim to hold the poles used to carry the table. The poles shall be made of acacia wood, overlaid with gold, and they should carry the table with them. They were to make its plates and dishes of pure gold, as well as its pitchers and bowls to pour out the offerings. They should put the bread of Presence on this table to be always before God. 
(Exo 25:23–30, 37:10–16).

This bread of the Presence, also called showbread, was 12 loaves, arranged in two stacks, six in each stack, placed on the table. At each stack they should put some pure incense as a memorial portion to represent the bread and to be a
Grain Offering. This bread was to be set forth Sabbath after Sabbath, on behalf of the Israelites, as a lasting covenant. It belonged to Aaron and his sons, who were to eat it in the sanctuary area. (Lev 24:5–9).

The bread symbolized the 12 tribes, but also God's desire to fellowship with his redeemed people. It's a picture of the one who is coming, Jesus Christ
(John 6:51), see Jesus the Bread of Life.

The Lamp Stand


They should make a lamp stand (menorah) of pure gold. They should hammer out its base and shaft and make its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms in one piece with them. Six branches should extend from the sides of the lamp stand, three on one side and three on the other. Three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms should be on one branch, three on the next branch, and the same for all six branches extending from the lamp stand. On the lamp stand there should be four cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms. One bud should be under the first pair of branches extending from the lamp stand, a second bud under the second pair, and a third bud under the third pair, a total of six branches. The buds and branches shall all be of one piece with the lamp stand, hammered out of pure gold.
Then they shall make its seven lamps and put them on it so that they light up the space in front of it. Its wick trimmers and trays must be of pure gold. A talent of pure gold must be used for the lamp stand and all accessories. 
(Exo 25:31–40, 37:17–24, Num 8:1–4).

Lamp stand symbolizes the light of God, see Jesus the Light of the World.
It's also a symbol of the church (Rev 1:20), a body of believers, see 
The Two Witnesses.

The Israelites had to bring clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps could be kept burning constantly. Aaron and his sons had to constantly tend the lamps from night to morning. The lamps on the pure gold lamp stand must be cared for continuously. (Exo 27:20–21, Lev 24:1–4).

The olive oil in the lamp stand symbolizes the Holy Spirit.

The Altar of Incense


They are to make an altar of acacia wood to burn incense. It should be a square, one cubit long and one cubit wide, and two cubits high (50 x 50 x 100 cm)
(Exo 30:2, 37:25), along with its horns in one piece. They shall overlay the top, all the sides, and the horns with pure gold. They would place the altar in the
Holy Place, in front of the veil that shielded the ark. Aaron must burn fragrant incense on the altar every morning when he tends the lamps, and again when he lights the lamps at twilight (Psalm 141:2). Once a year Aaron must make atonement on its horns. This annual atonement must be made with the blood of the atoning Sin Offering. (Exo 30:1–10, 37:25–28).

This altar was the Altar of Incense, also called the Golden Altar (Exo 39:38a,
Num 4:11a). The altar was all about prayer (Rev 5:8), see God's Throne in Heaven.
Burning incense is an image, an act of prayer. Our prayer smells good to God, see Ask, and it will be given to you in The Sermon on the Mount.
.

The Altar of Sacrifice


They should build an altar of acacia wood,
three cubits high; it shall be square, five cubits long,
and five cubits wide (2,5 x 2,5 x 1,5 meter)
(Exo 27:1, 38:1), overlaid with bronze. 
It had a horn at each of the four corners. 
(Exo 27:1–8, 38:1–7). 

The altar was a place of sacrifice. Bronze is the metal of sacrifice and dealing with sin. It was placed outside the entrance to the Tabernacle and told the people that if they wanted to approach God they must do so through blood sacrifice. Ultimately it would be through the blood of Jesus Christ.

Laver for Washing


The Lord told Moses to make a bronze laver with its bronze stand for washing. They should place it between the Tent of Meeting (the Tabernacle) and the
Altar of Sacrifice and put water in it. 
Aaron and his sons would wash their hands and feet with water from it. Whenever they entered the 
Tent of Meeting, they shall wash with water.
Also, when they approached the altar to minister by presenting a Food Offering to the Lord, they would wash their hands and feet. (Exo 30:17–21, 38:8).

For all parts, see Moses; Part 1: Introduction.

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