A study on the Tabernacle in the Wilderness,
IT'A ALL ABOUT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
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| 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.  |
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.
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| 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 1st 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?
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| 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.
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:
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| 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.
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| 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,
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| 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 1st 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:
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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.
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