DWELLING WITH GOD, PART 2

A study on the Tabernacle in the Wilderness,

IT'A ALL ABOUT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.

Special thanks to Daniel Brooks for a great picture 

Things to learn from What the Scripture Doesn’t Say

It is easy to get side tracked, the enemy would love to see you so busy with what doesn’t matter that you miss the things the Lord has for you. There are many specifics not mentioned in the description of the tabernacle. As an engineer, my carnal mind finds this irritating. I want more detail. The Lord wonderfully gives us all we need, so let’s not make an argument out of what manna was.

Exodus 25:3-7 list some things, but no quantities are mentioned. Nothing is said as to how to gather it, how to store it. They didn’t know if they would be in 1 place long enough to complete the project, or if they might have to be transporting all this stuff before the project was completed. The scripture didn’t have to say any more for us to get the message to give what the Lord puts on your heart to give, give willingly, give generously, give specifically.

https://www.369universe.com

Ex. 25:10-12 describes the ark, but my engineering brain wants to know how were the sides joined? How was the bottom held in place? How thick were the boards that it was made of? How thick was the overlay? What was the diameter of the rings to hold the staves?– Who cares? The fact that these scriptures don’t mention these details is that they don’t matter. Those details won’t help you win the lost or become more like Jesus.

V13-15 – How long were these sticks? What was their diameter? Did they stick out past the Ark, like we see in pictures, or where they same length as the Ark, so it was carried like a coffin? After all, the Lord did say not to remove the sticks from the rings. Can you just do what the Lord asks you to do without knowing all the details? Do you really need to know all the long term implications of obedience? Isn’t God trustworthy? He will give us all we need so let’s not complain or get hung up on tangents that don’t profit.

The Tabernacle symbolizes the unity of the Church

Exodus 26 contains considerable detail about the construction of the tabernacle. The walls are curtains, and boards, support pieces and connectors. The roof is made of several layers of different cloth and skins. There is significance in the typology of all the detail, however, lets look at it from above, as the eagle looks down and sees it.

http://www.livingbeishamikdash.com/posts/the-most-private-space

First of all, this is no ordinary tent. It is extremely beautiful and ornate. It is built 1^st class. From above, however, the most ornate is hidden under a roof and covered with animal skins. It takes a deeper look, at ground level. We have to get to the heart level to see the most precious.

In some Hebrew texts, the Holy of Hollies is compared to the bedroom of a married couple. It expresses the exclusive relationship between a husband and wife, between God and His people.

This shows the nature of God and also how the Father sees the heart of His kids. We can be comfortable in such beauty and splendor, in such extravagance, because we are children of the King of Kings. This is a beautiful place and God sees you as so beautiful, so lovely. He loves you enough to have given His life for your redemption. The Holy of Hollies is such an awesome place, so much gold, so much amazing craftsmanship, such a beautiful veil to pass through to get inside. It is in this place that the Father wants to meet with us, at the Mercy Seat, at the heart of everything that the Tabernacle is all about.

Another amazing thing about this tent is that it all fits together. There are lots and lots of pieces. There are big pieces, little pieces, heavy stuff and small lightweights, wood, gold brass, silver, cloth, animal skins. Each piece has prophetic significance, has practical functions and some life application of scripture. For example:

Ex. 26:2   These ten curtains must all be exactly the same size—42 feet long and 6 feet wide.

3   Join five of these curtains together to make one long curtain, then join the other five into a second long curtain.

4   Put loops of blue yarn along the edge of the last curtain in each set.

5   The fifty loops along the edge of one curtain are to match the fifty loops along the edge of the other curtain.

6   Then make fifty gold clasps and fasten the long curtains together with the clasps. In this way, the Tabernacle will be made of one continuous piece.

All this stuff can only be put together “according to the pattern shown thee on the mount.” Can you see the analogy to the church, to the Body of Christ?

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/479483

What would happen if the blue loop on the edge of the curtain told the gold ring to stay away, “leave me alone, I don’t want to be connected to that other blue loop.”? (Ex. 26:6). There wouldn’t “be one tabernacle.” What about that big wood board (Ex 26:16), covered in gold? It is happy to be between 2 other boards just like itself, but Oh No, it refused to be put into that socket, thinking it is too good to be put into inferior silver. It would fall down! I believe the Lord sheds tears over the disunity within churches and between churches and denominations. Psalm 133 becomes more important in this light.

Psalm 133:1   Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!

2   It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments.

3   It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing— Life forevermore.

God’s Presence Goes With Us:

https://www.369universe.com

The first piece of furniture listed is the Ark of the Covenant. Just the name of this item indicates that a relationship with God is a place of safety. Noah built the ark that God used to save life from the flood. A covenant with God is more binding than a legal contract so entering into God’s covenant is a safe thing to do.

http://www.livingbeishamikdash.com/posts/
the-most-private-space

Exodus 25:22   I will meet with you there and talk to you from above the atonement cover between the gold cherubim that hover over the Ark of the Covenant. From there I will give you my commands for the people of Israel.

Here is the place to hang out, at the Mercy Seat.

The Ark of the covenant played a very significant role in the Exodus, and at other times in ancient Jewish history. This verse sets the Biblical precedent,

http://godbricks.blogspot.com/2015/06/
ark-of-covenant.html

Num 10:33 They marched for three days after leaving the mountain of the Lord, with the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant moving ahead of them to show them where to stop and rest.

It is symbolic of God’s omnipresence, you take Him with you wherever you go. The whole tabernacle was designed for mobility, for frequent set-up, tear dawn and transport. From wherever you were when you 1^st got saved, until you get to heaven, your life is an exodus and the Lord is with you throughout the trip. The following promise to Moses is something we can cling to today:

Exod 33:14   The Lord replied, “I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest—everything will be fine for you.”

15   Then Moses said, “If you don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place.

16   How will anyone know that you look favorably on me—on me and on your people—if you don’t go with us? For your presence among us sets your people and me apart from all other people on the earth.”

Indeed, the Presence of God must always be the calling card of the church.

It was work to take the ark with them. It was heavy. It takes some work to carry His presence with us wherever we go. It involves staying prayed up and walking in the Spirit. It requires understanding and bearing the weight of His glory, not just in church, but in the world. Jesus is our example, remember what happened when He showed up at the wedding party. He didn’t steal the show but He sure made a difference.

Challenge:

http://www.kathleendeggelman.com/2012/07/09/

five-strategies-for-how-to-manage-time-like-a-millionaire/

I read an article that challenged me, and I put this out to you, to look at things that have become habits, especially concerning cell phones and technology in general, to determine if those habits are beneficial. Do they help cultivate His Presence and love in my life? Do I spend time in face to face communication with people on a regular basis – no phone allowed? Do we use technology as a tool or does it just captivate our time and attention feeding us dribble and junk? How much precious time do we waste on things that don't matter, things that are of no benefit to the call to love people like God does and make disciples as we support our families? Time spent can never be retrieved.

DWELLING WITH GOD, Part 1, A Study of the Tabernacle in the Wilderness

2 Cor 6:16   ...For we are the temple of the living God. As God said:

The Hebrew word for sanctuary is mishkan, which means dwelling place. It is used 139 times in the OT, always referring to the sanctuary, the “tent of meeting.” Just as God was with His people in the wilderness, His desire is to be with His people today.

1 Cor 3:16   Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?

When we hear God’s heartbeat, we hear this and Jn. 3:16. Let your senses and your spirit experience the atmosphere of this dwelling place,

Zeph. 3:17   ”The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.” (KJV)

When we are used to living in such a beautiful, relational place with God then the adversities of life on this planet effect us differently than they did before. Sure we feel things emotionally. Disappointment, sorrow, grief, panic when the car is broken and there’s no budget to fix it. Some anxieties are normal, and if we understand the process they will cause our faith to grow. Our compassion for others grows deeper. They no longer shake our faith, hinder our hope or confidence that “God’s got this.” We can better deal with those emotions and put the worry & panic aside.

Moses goes into God’s Presence:

The description in Ex. 25 is preceded by several wonderful chapters describing miraculous things God is doing with Moses and Israel. We see Moses frequently communing with God and receiving the 10 Commandments. Now, just before the “tent of meeting” is detailed, there is a key to hearing God’s heartbeat. Moses took a risk to get closer to the presence of God. Picture the scene at the end of Ex. 24 as the Lord calls Moses

Moses responds

Ex. 24:15, “Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount.”

So far this sounds pretty cool, like something many believers would not hesitate to do, WOW, EXPERIENCE THE SHEKINAH. Look a little further, are you ready for this?

Ex. 24:16   “And the glory of the Lord settled down on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days. On the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from inside the cloud.

17   To the Israelites at the foot of the mountain, the glory of the Lord appeared at the summit like a consuming fire.

18   Then Moses disappeared into the cloud as he climbed higher up the mountain. He remained on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

Moses followed God’s calling to him to come to a place where:

Ø 2 friends would talk

Ø Moses might hear God’s heart beat

Ø 40 days alone with God was worth the hike and changed the course of history 

Jesus extended that invitation,

Are we that desperate for intimacy with God that we would climb up a mountain, get to the top even though it looked like “consuming fire?” Was Peter that desperate when he got out of the boat to walk on the water in the midst of a storm? Aren’t you glad Jesus makes it easy for us. The Message Bible put is this way:  Look at the purpose of this elaborate, ornate, detailed Tabernacle again,

Exodus 25:8   “Have the people of Israel build me a holy sanctuary so I CAN LIVE AMONG THEM.

SUNY COLLEGE AT CORTLAND

Where people live together, they relate to one another. This is not in

the context of “roommates” living in the same dorm room but not in real relationship with each other. Living in the dorm in my 1^st semester in college was a drag. Later I lived with guys who became good friends, one in particular has been a friend ever since. This next verse defines it well.

And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel;

He is called the God of the whole earth.

Its on God’s Terms

This relationship; however must be on His terms, “He is Lord.” Matthew Henry put it this way,

“For the scripture is designed to direct us in our duty, not to fill our heads with speculations, nor to please our fancies.” Matthew Henry, commentary on Ex. 25:1-9

Our relationship with God is not on our own terms. Though we live under grace, not law, we cannot live with the concept that everyone can do what is right in his own eyes. Living for the Lord has comforting boundaries as these verses describe:

Exod. 25:9   You must build this Tabernacle and its furnishings exactly according to the pattern I will show you.

Matt. 4:17, ”Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Studying the tabernacle will give us insights into God’s terms for this relationship. His terms are wonderful and reflect His loving character.

Look again at

Ex. 25:1   “The Lord said to Moses,”

Though the Scriptures repeat this phrase, or others like it frequently, think about the consequence of these occurrences and think of how rarely they occur in the lives of Bible characters. We have daily communication with the Father but words with such tremendous consequence are rare. Yes we must be led by the Spirit but we are given wisdom to live. There are those special times when you know you have heard from God and they should always be “wows” to us. Such special instructions reveal conditions of the heart.

Exodus 25:2 “Tell the people of Israel to bring me their sacred offerings. Accept the contributions from all whose hearts are moved to offer them.

God told Moses to ask about 2 million people to give allot. Now that’s a WOW. The Lord was very specific in His instructions and showed His character. He was asking, not ordering, the people to part with a large amount of high dollar stuff. Nothing in the list (verses 3-7) was common or inexpensive. These former slaves did not leave Egypt empty handed, they came into some big bucks. Now the Lord is asking them to give it to build the Tabernacle. The verse emphasizes that this must be a willing, heart felt, offering. Remember, these are Jews, and the response was overwhelming. Now that is a WOW.

When God makes His plan and purpose plain, and shows His love at the same time, His people respond. Hearts are moved to sacrificial action at the demonstration of His love and power. This awesome display of supernatural power on Mt. Sinai coupled with a request, not an order, is a combination the hearts of man cannot but respond to generously.

In Conclusion.

picture from THE SHACK movie showing the
main character standing with the Trinityhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CL0yUbSS5Eg

We see that God, motivated by His great love for man, fervently, eagerly, earnestly desires that there be a meeting place, indeed a dwelling place, where HE is among us. The Tabernacle in the Wilderness was a shadow, a pre-cursor, to the reality of a people who are new creatures in Christ, a people with God in our hearts and living a life of worship. When in that place of relationship with God who is in our hearts, worship becomes a lifestyle. As we continue this study over the next several weeks, and look at some details of this magnificent tent of meeting, it is with the emphasis that we grow closer to the wonderful God we worship, who continuously reveals Himself to us in so many ways.

Revelation 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

THE CHALLENGE:

The invitation God gave Moses to come up to Him is extended to us. We have the choice. Do we climb the mountain of His love, leading others to freedom, or do we take the easy way and slide into the muck of sin? With every temptation, He makes a way of escape. Do you ascend the hill of the Lord, or slide to hell on greasy grace? Life or death, it’s our choice. Make a positive difference or be another slime ball just fitting in with a hell bound crowd? Our love affair with God should be sufficient motivation to climb up, go up the stairs into His chambers. Love is not something you fall into, it is a mountain to climb. I hope you always decide to keep climbing the mountain. 

Do we love our friends, acquaintances and family enough to pray for opportunities to have this conversation with them?

Christian's Priestly JOB OF INTERCESSION

Heb 4:14   Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

Do you see it? Picture the ascension. Do you understand where Jesus is and what He is doing on your behalf? He is passed through the heavens and sits at the right hand of the Father. When the accuser tries to lay condemnation on you, Jesus holds up His nail pierced hand so the Father sees you washed and clean. Your sin was nailed to the cross. Therefore, this verse ends with the admonition to, “hold fast our confession.” In other words, live what you say you believe. He is functioning in the capacity that these next verses describe.

Heb. 4:15   For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 

Verses 14 & 15 bridge to the next chapter and the awesome things Jesus, our great high priest, has accomplished for us. We can overcome every sin thanks to Him. Verse 16 is such a beautiful crescendo, because of all this; we are admonished to boldly come before God’s throne. Here God’s throne is not a judgment seat, you’re not “called on the carpet”, but to the throne of grace, the place to get what you need when you need it. If you ever think you are not in need of God’s mercy then you better get to this throne. If the circumstances of life and your spiritual situation are so rosy that you don’t think you are in need of more grace, WATCH OUT! 

Hebrews 5:1   Every high priest is a man chosen to represent other people in their dealings with God. He presents their gifts to God and offers sacrifices for their sins.

2   And he is able to deal gently with ignorant and wayward people because he himself is subject to the same weaknesses.

This says allot about the responsibilities and qualifications of priests. We are called to be a kingdom of priests so let’s glean what we can, that we may walk worthy of the calling.

Exodus 19:6   And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation…KJV

Priests are taken from people and appointed for people. The appointment is from God; this is not a man made position or responsibility. Aaron’s descendants, and the Levites, neither chose nor earned their calling, the Lord ordained them. Self appointed leaders have done considerable damage to the cause of Christ; pride comes before a fall. But now, in Christ, priesthood is not a leadership position; it is a responsibility of every believer with Jesus being our Great High Priest. Jesus took care of the offerings for sins, now He has left us with the obligation to forgive and to exercise the compassion specified in verse 2 below.

Gal. 6:1   Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.

2   Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

3   For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

If we are, “appointed for men in things pertaining to God,” every believer has intercessory responsibility. Pray for people, hold them before the Lord. We are accountable to each other, and we need to have relationships with Godly people we trust to be accountable to. Sometimes we need to talk to somebody about things we struggle with. If we see someone stumbling or fallen; love dictates that we help them get back up. This verse is primarily concerning our conversation with Jesus but sometimes we need people too.

The 3rd verse from Galatians 6 parallels Heb. 5:2, we are “beset by weakness.” We are not, therefore, left alone to stumble, but placed in the Body of Christ. It has often been said that there are no “lone rangers” in the Body and this is why. Is there enough love in our relationships for us to be at this level of help and accountability to one another?

The old covenant priesthood had this responsibility of performing sacrifices for their own sins and the sins of the people until Jesus came and finished the work. Their specific responsibilities pointed to the Cross. These guys had to slaughter and butcher, boil and burn many animals every day. Thank God our priestly responsibilities do not involve such exposure to blood and guts, but realize the intensity of dealing with sin. Intercessors sometimes get a taste of praying for others with such intensity that the physical body sometimes feels some pain and their spirit groans, aching for the deliverance from sin, sickness, brokenness of people. Priestly intercession often includes identification with the sins of others. Oh how much we need the prayers of the intercessors and to be willing to be in that role ourselves. Jesus exemplified intercession at this level, especially in the garden just before they came to take Him.

Heb 5:7   “who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear,”

This may sound negative but look at the last phrase. The scriptures say allot concerning the fear of the Lord. When we understand that we find so much hope, realizing God hears and answers prayer.

James 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

Heb 5:8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.

Take a quick look at Job.

Job 5:7   “Yet man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward.”

Going through the troubles of life should cause us to develop compassion for others and enable us to pray for them more effectively. We tend to dismiss the lessons in Job by saying he was the exception, not the rule. Doing this carelessly throws the baby out with the bath water. Even Jesus, God’s only Son, the Word of God incarnate, the only man to live a life without sin, the Eternal Lamb of God, had to experience this life lesson. Recognize adversity as the instructional tool of a loving Father who wants us to experience His love in greater dimensions. Here in the USA, in the early years of this new millennium, the economy was in horrible condition. Ask any of the hundreds of thousands of people who couldn’t find a good, long-term job. I was in that situation from 2002 until 2012. Companies downsizing and reorganizing, or just going out of business left us suffering the feelings of failure and rejection. Ask the believers suffering atrocities for their faith in many countries throughout the world about loving Jesus. Oh the wonder of His grace, the beauty of His face. We look at His face instead of the face of adversity and find that grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:16   So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Heb 5:9   And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,

Jesus’ whole earthly existence was so focused, so directed to this purpose. Everything He did, everything He said, everything He experienced was for our salvation and set the example of how we ought to live.

Heb 12:2   looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Again we see the admonition to focus on Him. The process of working, “out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil 2:12) starts and ends with Jesus. In between the start and end is a life of loving obedience. We look at Jesus as the example and realize that there are sacrifices to be made, but what have we to sacrifice? ”You died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Col 3:3); there is no sacrifice, only loving obedience to our loving savior. All we are, all we have, we have on loan from Him. Jesus looked past the Cross and saw you saved and experiencing a right relationship with the Father (the joy set before Him). Wow, this realization always overwhelms me, what did Jesus see when He looked past the Cross? Was it the grandeur of Heaven? Was it the great tribulation and His glorious 2nd coming? Was it the enemy of our souls cast into the bottomless pit? These things are real but were not what He went to Calvary for. I believe He was looking at you, looking at me, and seeing us born again, filled with His Spirit and in right relationship with the Father, walking in the Spirit and experiencing the Joy of the Lord. He saw you tapping into His grace to help in time of need. (Heb 4:16). He saw you as His beautiful bride in that pure white robe, cleansed from all sin and sin’s consequence. Now, when you get off your face, and realize we are not there yet, look at the rest of Hebrews 4. It will give your prayer life a new dimension.

There are so many people whose hearts are hard, who just don’t want to hear it. There are lukewarm pew sitters, believers not committed to local churches, fence sitters. My heart cries out for the fire proofed kids and grand kids of those who were on fire. There are many scriptures that address these “dull of hearing” people.

Isa 6:10   "Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and return and be healed."

Matt 13:15   For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them.'

Acts 28:27   For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them."

In all these, we see God’s heart is that the broken people would hear and be healed, be made whole. Every believer not in this category can probably think of some broken, “dull of hearing” people. Perhaps the Lord will lay the intercessory burden for some of them on you. Don’t try to manufacture intercessory burdens, just make yourself available. 

The understanding that all believers are priests should eliminate any division between clergy and laity, it takes those in “The Ministry” off the pedestal. Jesus sees us all in the same plane and that’s how we should see each other. The playing field is level, there’s no hierarchy, just varying roles and responsibilities in the Body of Christ. As a body we all need each other and grow together in Christ, we all are responsible to bare each other’s burdens and to reach the world for Christ.

1 Timothy 2:5   For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.

John 13:35   By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

U used cheap interior paint under windows of my 
apartment on Main St. Cortland, NY. Circa 1973. 
MESSAGE OF THE CROSS IS FOREVER