To understand the Tabernacle we must understand the Purpose
and Priority of God. He wants to Dwell with His People. He cannot
dwell with them if there is no Ownership Agreement
called COVENANT. He cannot live with them
if they are disloyal to Him and have their own Agenda, own interests and own
doctrines or rules by which they live. Conforming to the
Principles of His Word brings Relationship, Healing and Deliverance, and
Emotional Wholeness. To Moses, the Directive comes loud and clear:
"See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown
you on the mountain." You will read this instruction 3 times in Exodus 25:9 &
48, and also in Exodus 26:30. God has a Plan! God has a
Pattern! Does your life conform to it? Are you doing exactly what His Word
says or are you hooked on man-made philosophies with a side plate of religious observances
on Sundays?
Why is the Tabernacle Study important?
It is the essence of more than 40% of the book of Hebrews and covers 50 chapters in the
Old Testament. It is a picture and Type of Jesus
who is Emmanuel in Matthew 1:23. This is
God with us. The colours are significant. White speaks of Righteousness and blue,
scarlet and purple, speaking of Royalty. Brass is for Judgement and Gold is for Glory. The
acacia wood is His Humanity, which was overlaid by Gold, referring to His Divinity
and Glory [Exodus 25:13]. There were three parts to the Tabernacle speaking of the Triune God but also speaking of the tripartite nature of man:
Shell, Soul and Spirit
The Outer Court:
This Shell is a picture of the Body. With white Linen Walls called Salvation. The Gate was called Praise
. The tribe of Judah was always the first to move and they always had to settle in
front of the Gate. Jesus was born of that tribe and Judah means Praise! In the Outer
court all the furnishings were made of Bronze which speaks of Judgement.
Judgement must start with the family of God! [1 Peter 4:17].
The Holy Place:
This Inward part can be seen but not understood until we go inside. This privilege was
exclusive to the High Priest who had to enter with Blood
and with the Anointing Oil. All the furniture
here was made of Gold or Acacia wood overlaid with Gold. This can be identified as
the Soul Area. The 7 Golden Lampstands speaking of the Mind.
It needs to be renewed with Fresh oil from the Holy Spirit which Jesus gives to us; THE SPIRIT. The Golden Table with 12 loaves speaking of the Emotions
needing to be fed on the Abundant Bread of Life which is Jesus himself; THE TRUTH. The Golden Altar of incense where we discover the Will of
man singularly devoted to the burning of Incense, a picture of WORSHIP
. We were made for WORSHIP and until we fulfil that role we are unfulfilled. Hear
David as he commands his Soul to Worship the Lord. [Psalm 103].
The Holy of Holies:
No Entry! This is where God Lives! Impossible to enter, there was
a six-inch thick curtain that kept the priests out and only once a year the High Priest would
enter. He had to be correctly clothed and he had to have the BLOOD
to sprinkle on the Mercy Seat of the Ark of the Covenant.
The Ark was a Golden box on which were mounted two cherubim who covered the Mercy Seat with their
wings. Inside was the Rod of Aaron that blossoms, and had Fruit on it. The Law of Moses
written on tablets of stone and the bowl of Manna that remained fresh. Now the
Significance of each item is understood because the veil was torn from
Top to Bottom on the day Jesus died on the cross. The High Priest would have
appeared on that day to represent the people only to find the curtain ripped and the Ark missing
or at least the Presence of God was no longer there.
- The Rod represents The Way of Blessing
- The LAW represents The Truth of Character
- The Bowl represents The Life in the Spirit
All other manna had a shelf-life of between 24 and 48 hours before the maggots appeared.
This manna remained FRESH. Remember, Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except
through me." [John 14:6]. The moment we see the light of this revelation, we
discover that Jesus was travelling with His people, not
clothed in Flesh, but represented by furniture and fittings, each bringing the Pattern
and plan of God into the life of HIS PEOPLE.
