How to Build a Tabernacle: Part 10

Today's Reading: Exodus 35

Comments:

Today I have posted my answer to question number 9 of the Exodus 35 chapter study.  Please see Part 1 for an explanation of this chapter study.

9. Is there anything special about the variety of items required?

Prayer:

Lord please give me ears to hear you in this text.  Please let me see the significance to all the various materials needed, to all the various components of the tabernacle that you required Israel to build.  Please let me find the application for this in my life today Lord.  In Jesus name I pray, amen.

Exodus 35:10–19 (ESV)¹⁰ “Let every skillful craftsman among you come and make all that the Lord has commanded: ¹¹ the tabernacle, its tent and its covering, its hooks and its frames, its bars, its pillars, and its bases; ¹² the ark with its poles, the mercy seat, and the veil of the screen; ¹³ the table with its poles and all its utensils, and the bread of the Presence; ¹⁴ the lampstand also for the light, with its utensils and its lamps, and the oil for the light; ¹⁵ and the altar of incense, with its poles, and the anointing oil and the fragrant incense, and the screen for the door, at the door of the tabernacle; ¹⁶ the altar of burnt offering, with its grating of bronze, its poles, and all its utensils, the basin and its stand; ¹⁷ the hangings of the court, its pillars and its bases, and the screen for the gate of the court; ¹⁸ the pegs of the tabernacle and the pegs of the court, and their cords; ¹⁹ the finely worked garments for ministering in the Holy Place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, for their service as priests.”

See Jeff that there are many parts to this tabernacle I required.  There are a multitude of lessons in this but focus today on understanding that while there are many, it is one body.  Many items are needed Jeff.  Many things occur to bring you into my grace.  Many things happen to accomplish my work.  Much was to be done in order to reconcile with you Jeff. I did not create a justice that was weak or easily satisfied.  All of this ritual and ceremony and complexity is required because it is an explanation of what had to be accomplished in my Son for your sake Jeff. 

Look again at the tabernacle Jeff…

A few notes about the various articles from Opening up Exodus Commentary-

Verse 22 makes it clear that the Ark was the meeting-place, the place of fellowship and communion, and the symbol of the presence of the covenant God in the midst of his people. It was the symbol which gave meaning to the whole Tabernacle structure. It taught that the only way in which God and man may commune is on the basis of obedience to God’s law and commandments…

There is a similarity between the Ark of the Covenant and the Table for Bread. Both were made of acacia wood overlaid with gold. Both were of the same height (the only articles in the Tabernacle of which that was so). Both were surrounded and ornamented with a gold crown. Both had rings and staves for carrying. Both had something placed on them: the Ark had the mercy seat and the Table had the bread of the Presence. The Ark tells us of the ground of fellowship between God and man: atonement on the basis of righteousness. The Table speaks of the substance of that fellowship, and the effect of Christ’s atonement: communion and fellowship with God through our feeding upon life-giving bread...

Above the linen covering was one of goats’ hair (v. 7). This covering was made of eleven curtains—a number that seems to suggest sin, disorder and lawlessness. The goat was the animal for the sin offering on the Day of Atonement (Num. 28:22—‘one male goat for a sin offering, to make atonement for you’). Five curtains covered the Most Holy Place, and this was joined with rings to the six curtains covering the Holy Place. Interestingly, the sixth curtain was to be folded back in the forefront of the tabernacle (v. 9). This eleventh curtain was the one which could be seen... 

The third covering was that of rams’ skins dyed red, or tanned (v. 14). Rams were offered for the sin offering, the burnt offerings and the peace offerings. Its significance to the patriarchs was that of substitution—it was a ram which was slain on behalf of Isaac. This covering was placed over the goats’ hair, and symbolized the fact that substitutionary blood was the only means by which contracted and actual guilt could be dealt with… 

The final covering was of badgers’ skins (v. 14, AV), for a final protection from heat and storm. No recorded measurements are given. And from the outside, no attraction, no fine embroidery, no colour, no cherubim are visible either. There is no comeliness, no beauty.
Campbell, I. D. (2006). Opening up Exodus (111). Leominster: Day One Publications.

See that in my Son I accomplished much.  Do you see how he was a humble man in appearance and yet he is the king of kings?  He did not stop being the king because He came as a man Jeff. He stood with Shadrack, Meshack, an Abednego in the furnace as a man before He came in the flesh to Mary.  He put off the majesty and glory of His appearance and He walked as entirely man and yet entirely God still.  So too the tabernacle is glorious and ornate and specifically purposed but to the exterior it is meek and humble with badger skin adornment.  Remember that I reveal myself in right measure Jeff.  Draw near for more revelation but know that I cannot, save that I will not force myself upon you more than a groom upon his bride.

Isaiah 48:16 (ESV)¹⁶  Draw near to me, hear this:
from the beginning I have not spoken in secret,
from the time it came to be I have been there.”
And now the Lord God has sent me, and his Spirit.

Hebrews 4:16 (ESV)¹⁶ Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 7:25 (ESV)²⁵ Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

James 4:8 (ESV)⁸ Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

In the church as the earthly form of my Son's body- know that the many parts are required to come together in form and function as one body.  There will be those that contribute, those that build, those that serve, those that carry out ritual, those that maintain, those that carry it to another location, those that guard, and all will watch for my presence and my lead.  Just as the many parts of the tabernacle come together to form one sanctuary where I met with my people and where we were in relationship of two-way communication, where I was to arrange for atonement of their sin, so too in your body I accomplish this individually and so in the church I accomplish this collectively.  Aaron and the priesthood has been fulfilled and replaced by my Son, the true high priest who now intercedes for you at my throne.

Live as one body Jeff and bless one another.  Serve one another and understand that there is purpose to each of you in my church. Be certain to include all and to respect every part of my body.

Application and Prayer:

• Today I will thank you for arranging such a marvelous plan to redeem me.
• Today I will seek to know my place in this body and I will fulfill my role to your glory.
• Today I will honor everyone who is a member of this body and I Will encourage them in their role.
• Today I will pray that you would bring your glory and presence in an awesome way as you did when you first dwelled in the tabernacle in Exodus 40.

Lord let me walk each day understanding that I am your tabernacle and that your presence is within me.  Let me surrender my will to yours that your Spirit would freely radiate from me to your glory and that I would fulfill my role in the collective body of Christ.  Teach me how to glorify you in your church Lord and let me value every member as part of the whole Father.  In Jesus name I pray, amen.

Soli Deo Gloria!

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