How to Build a Tabernacle: Part 6

Today's Reading: Exodus 35

Comments:

I have posted answers to questions 4 and 5 for the chapter study of Exodus 35.  Please see Part 1 for the details of this chapter study.

Study:

4. What does this chapter teach me about Jesus?

The answer here is sprinkled through all the other answers so I offer up just this one more passage…

Hebrews 8:1–2 (ESV)8 Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2 a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man.

Jeff- My Son is the only high priest that offers an eternal sacrifice.  There is no other high priest that can make atonement for sin.  The entirety of the redemption of mankind is wrapped up in my Son.  Take my Son…please take my Son.  He is in the tabernacle that I have built in heaven, which is perfect and holy.  My Spirit also dwells in you Jeff, as my tabernacle on earth.

Remember Jeff- the entire bible, the entirety of human history, the entirety of my creation, is about my Son.  My beloved Son. Do you understand this Jeff? The only reason I created you was to know Him.  I always act according to my good pleasure and my pleasure is entirely bound up in my Son...

Isaiah 46:10 (NASB95) 10 Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’; 

Ephesians 1:9 (NLT)⁹ God has now revealed to us his mysterious plan regarding Christ, a plan to fulfill his own good pleasure.

There is none like Him Jeff…do you understand? Do you see the love I have for Him and how I stop at nothing to express this? Jeff- keep my Son squarely in focus before you. He is the only reason there is life. I have given Him all authority. Do you see that I am a relational God…do you see that I am not interested in sacrifice but in your heart being surrendered to the Lordship of my wonderful Son who will care for you, even die for you? Is there another who is worthy of your surrender? Is there another who is pure and will set you free?

5. How does this tabernacle construction relate to me being His temple under the new covenant?

Jeff- be certain that you understand this. The tabernacle that I commanded Moses to build was nothing but a sign post. Recall that not one person was actually redeemed or their sin atoned for by animal sacrifice or ritual performed in this tabernacle. Know that all of this was a foreshadowing and an education regarding what was to come in my Son. The faithful obedience of my people, however, was real and for this faith I imputed my Son's righteousness upon them that they would be held safe with Abraham until the time my Son would redeem them on the cross. Recall the story from Luke a few days ago where I revealed Lazarus (having died) standing at Abraham's side while the non-believer was separated from them in hades.

From the ESV Study Bible-

impossible … to take away sins. These animal sacrifices symbolized the payment for sin, but they did not accomplish it. No animal was worthy of paying the price for a human being’s sin before a holy God. The law assumes that atonement and forgiveness occur by means of the legislated sacrifices; however, last year’s sacrifice does not cover this year’s sins, thus leaving guilty consciences and a remaining sinful condition. A permanent sacrifice is needed to deal permanently with sin.
Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (2376). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

So here is the important lesson Jeff- nothing man can do in his best effort to know me, in his best effort to please me, even following my own instructions to please me, nothing man can do will ever, can ever achieve salvation. There is NO NAME Jeff, not one but my glorious Son (do you see my love?)…

Acts 4:12 (ESV)¹² And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

If there was any other way that would provide for your reconciliation to me Jeff, do you think I would have done it? Do you think I wanted to kill my Son on the cross Jeff?  See that the new covenant was the only covenant to save mankind from the beginning Jeff...

Hebrews 8:8–12 (ESV)8 For he finds fault with them when he says:
  “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord,
when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah,
 9  not like the covenant that I made with their fathers
on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt.
  For they did not continue in my covenant,
and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord.
 10  For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel
after those days, declares the Lord:
  I will put my laws into their minds,
and write them on their hearts,
  and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people.
 11  And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor
and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’
  for they shall all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest.
 12  For I will be merciful toward their iniquities,
and I will remember their sins no more.” 

2 Corinthians 3:2–6 (ESV)2 You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. 3 And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Your heart is my tablet Jeff, your body is itself my earthly temple (tabernacle)…

From the Matthew Henry Commentary-

(1.) God articles with his people that he will put his laws into their minds and write them in their hearts, v. 10. He once wrote his laws to them, now he will write his laws in them; that is, he will give them understanding to know and to believe his law; he will give them memories to retain them; he will give them hearts to love them and consciences to recognize them; he will give them courage to profess them and power to put them in practice; the whole habit and frame of their souls shall be a table and transcript of the law of God. This is the foundation of the covenant; and, when this is laid, duty will be done wisely, sincerely, readily, easily, resolutely, constantly, and comfortably.
Henry, M. (1996). Matthew Henry's commentary on the whole Bible : Complete and unabridged in one volume (Heb 8:6–13). Peabody: Hendrickson.

From the Teacher's Bible Commentary-

A Better Sanctuary (Heb. 9:1–12)The tabernacle and its routine were symbols of the old covenant (vv. 1–5). The furniture and ceremonies were reminders of God’s presence, his past dealings with them, and his will for them in the future. The purpose of all of this was to aid men to draw near to God. Only the high priest could go into the innermost part of the tabernacle, and only once a year (vv. 6–7). This annual event was to atone for his own sins as well as for those of his people.
In spite of its impressiveness, the tabernacle produced disappointing spiritual results. The author says that the forbidden holy of holies was in itself an indication that the time had not come for ordinary worshipers to enter (v. 8). The tabernacle ritual of “gifts and sacrifices” could only provide an external qualification for worship (vv. 9–10). But Christ as the high priest, by the sacrifice of his own life, removed all barriers to sinful men coming directly into God’s presence (vv. 11–12). 

A Better Sacrifice (Heb. 9:13–10:18)This section is the holy of holies of the epistle to the Hebrews. It contrasts the tabernacle sacrifices of animals with the atoning sacrifice of Christ. The blood of animals qualified one ceremonially for worship (9:13). “How much more is accomplished by the blood of Christ!” (v. 14, TEV). Because of his voluntary action, Christ is the mediator of the new covenant (v. 15). His sacrifice is effective for all time.
Why did Christ have to die? The author answers with two illustrations. The first is from secular law. A person’s will becomes effective only when he dies. Christ died to put his will or testament, the new covenant, into effect (vv. 16–17). The second illustration is from divine law (vv. 18–23). A blood sacrifice of a higher order was necessary to seal the new covenant. Christ made that sacrifice with his own blood. 

In contrast to the earthly high priest who entered the holy of holies annually, Christ entered once for all “to bear the sins of many” (vv. 24–28). The Old Testament sacrifices were vague images. “For the blood of bulls and goats can never take sins away” (10:1–4). Christ’s death, however, was by the will of God (vv. 5–7). It was also accepted by Christ voluntarily (v. 8–14). The Holy Spirit attests to the inauguration of this new agreement between God and his people by which he says, “I will not remember their sins and wicked deeds any longer” (vv. 15–17). No other sin offering is needed. This is the full, complete, and final sacrificial act for sin. There will be no other (v. 18).
Paschall, F. H., & Hobbs, H. H. (1972). The teacher's Bible commentary: A concise, thorough interpretation of the entire Bible designed especially for Sunday School teachers (778–779). Nashville: Broadman and Holman Publishers.

From Wiersbe's Commentary-

II. The Superior Sanctuary Under the New Covenant (9:11–28)At v. 11 the picture changes, and the writer explains why the New Covenant sanctuary is superior to the Old and why Christ’s priesthood is superior to Aaron’s. 

A. It is a heavenly sanctuary (v. 11). Christ is a high priest of good things “that have come to pass.” His heavenly sanctuary is greater and more perfect because it was not made with human hands. The word “building” ought to read “creation”; it is not of this creation because it is of the new creation. The earthly tabernacle belonged to the Old Covenant, the old creation, but Christ’s sanctuary is of the New Covenant, the new creation. See also v. 24. 

B. It is effective for changing lives (vv. 12–23).What a contrast! The high priest took another creature’s blood into the holy of holies many times during his life; but Jesus took His own blood into God’s presence once for all. The OT sacrifices brought about ceremonial cleansing for the body (v. 13) but could never reach into the heart and conscience. But the blood of Christ, shed once and for all, purges the conscience and gives the believer an unchanging and perfect standing before God. All Jewish ceremonies were but “dead works” in comparison to the living relationship with God under the New Covenant. 

D. It is based on a completed sacrifice (vv. 25–28).The superiority of Christ’s sacrifice is the theme of chapter 10, but it is also mentioned here. The priest’s work was never done because the sacrifices were never final. Christ’s death was final. He appeared “at the climax of the ages” to put away sin, not merely cover it. The veil has been rent and the way opened into the presence of God. Christ appears in heaven for us; we can come into the presence of God. The OT Jew did not have access to God’s immediate presence; he would not have dared to enter the holy of holies. But because of Christ’s completed work on the cross (“It is finished!”), we have an open path to God through Him.
Note that the word “appear” is used three times in vv. 24–28. We see Christ’s past appearance, which put away sin (v. 26), His present appearance in heaven for us (v. 24), and His future appearance to take us to glory (v. 28). When the high priest disappeared into the tabernacle on the Day of Atonement, the people waited outside expectantly for him to reappear. Perhaps God would refuse the blood and kill the high priest. What joy there was when he came out again! And what joy we will have when our High Priest appears to take us to our eternal holy of holies, to live with Him forever!
Wiersbe, W. W. (1997). Wiersbe's expository outlines on the New Testament (702–703). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.

From the ESV Study Bible-

Hebrews teaches a contrast between the realities of the old covenant and the new covenant. In the old covenant, the law and its ceremonies were a shadow of the good things to come. They only reflected the reality of the “heavenly things” (depicted by arrows intruding into the old covenant). The inauguration of the new covenant is described as a change in priesthood and law that brings about a change in reality because of the cross. After the work of Christ in the new covenant, the heavenly reality (Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem) not only intrudes into history but Christians actually participate in this new reality (arrows now go both ways) because the good things have come through Christ in his death, resurrection, and ascension. Christians live in a semi-heavenly (or semi-eschatological) age, whereas in the old covenant with its laws, rules, and regulations, people could not fully participate in the “heavenly things.” Although they participate in the heavenly reality now, in the age to come God’s people will fully realize their Sabbath rest.
Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (2375). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Remember that I now dwell in the hearts of those who trust in my Son with humble, contrite hearts that tremble at my Word...

Isaiah 66:1-2 1 Thus says the Lord: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest? 2 All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the Lord.  But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.

So rejoice in the new covenant and salvation in my Son Jeff! Embrace Him and enjoy Him as I have from all eternity. For if you know Him, you know me. Never try to add to His perfect sacrifice or think there is any other way of salvation Jeff, this does not please me.  Humble yourself and simply receive the gift…this pleases me! Enjoy serving as the temple of the living God and experience my power in your life if you would simply surrender your will to mine and embrace me as your Father.

Application and Prayer:

• Today I will rejoice that God revealed His plan to us in His Word and we see His beautiful story of reconciliation
• Today I will know that He does not desire sacrifice but surrender
• Today I will consider how I might honor Him and what He did to redeem me
• Today I will focus on Jesus and know that my life should be fixated on Him in all that I do
• Today I will live as a temple of the Lord

Thank you for loving me so, Lord.  Thank you for the gift of your Son. Please fill me today with your Holy Spirit and lead me in your way. Let me walk humbly today and I pray that you would use me as your vessel according to your will.  Let me hear your voice and give me the faith and trust to answer "Here I am Lord".

In Jesus name I pray, amen.

Soli Deo Gloria!

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