The Old Testament Tabernacle, Jesus Christ, and our Hearts. Second Week

Transcription

1 The Old Testament Tabernacle, Jesus Christ, and our Hearts Second Week To Review: *The Garden of Eden was designed and planted by God. *The Garden of Eden was God s dwelling place on earth. He met with and spoke to Adam and Eve there. *The Garden of Eden was the earth s first sanctuary tabernacle. Language used in Genesis is language used elsewhere in Scripture that describes God s presence in Israel s tabernacle. 1

2 The tabernacle is all about God s provision for His children. Names for God: El Elyon The Most High God: the perfect, sovereign Lawgiver; unapproachable Holiness El Shaddai The Caregiver; offers his people His complete sufficiency Jehovah Shamma The Lord is present Jehovah Jireh Jehovah will provide Jehovah Rapha God who heals 2

3 The tabernacle was built from the inside out (on purpose), it starts with the invisible. *Every single detail was designed by God (God was the architect). It was to be built exactly as God commanded (complete obedience to God). It was a perfect replica of something which already existed before in heaven. A type and shadow of something with real substance. *Every part had a prophetic, redemptive and typical significance. *Every detail points to some aspect of the character and work of the person of His Son, Jesus Christ. *It is probably the most comprehensive, detailed revelation of Jesus and the plan of salvation in the entire Old Testament. (Share model of the temple) *Every detail of the structure, the materials, the furniture and the ministry in the tabernacle revealed some particular aspect of the infinite graces, virtues, attributes, personality and work of our Savior. *Read Hebrews 9 take the time. 3

4 *The tabernacle was called the tent of meeting it was the place where man met God, and God met man. It was the only place where man could approach God, and where God would meet with man, upon the basis and the sacrifice and the blood. *It was the only place where God witnessed and testified to Israel their duty and responsibility to Him. *The tabernacle represents the completion and climax of God s redemption of His people. The tabernacle and it s furnishings and ceremonies are all types of Christ and His saving work for sinners. ***Note: One form of prophecy is called a type. A type is a person, event, or thing in the OT that is a type of Christ, a shadow of which Christ is the body. The tabernacle was to be a continual object lesson of the presence of the Lord for the Israelites (for all of us). But the tabernacle was much more. It was a type and an anticipation of the incarnation of Christ who became flesh and lived, and continues to live, among us. 4

5 The Architect of Salvation We enter the courtyard The tabernacle was a small rectangular plot of ground, the size of an ordinary city lot. It was enclosed by a fence, seven and a half feet high. At the eastern end of this enclosure was the Gate of the Court (The Court of the Gentiles or Outer Court), the only means of entrance into the sacred area. This gate (door) faced to the east, toward the rising of the sun. This door points to Jesus Christ as the only approach to God. 5

6 NOTE: A person could not simply come from any direction into the tabernacle as he pleased he had to enter through the one gate, which was located to the east so that people were facing west when they entered the tabernacle a direct opposition to the pagan sun worshippers of the day who always faced east. This setup informed the Israelites that they could only come to God in the way He prescribed. There was no other way. We must come to Him only through the way He has provided for us Jesus Christ. The Brazen Altar The brazen altar, the bronze altar, or altar of sacrifice was situated right inside the courtyard upon entering the gate to the tabernacle. The Hebrew root for altar means sacrifice/slaughter. The altar stood raised on a mound of earth, higher than its surrounding furniture. This is a projection of Christ, our sacrifice, lifted up on the cross, His altar, which stood on Calvary. 6

7 The altar was made of wood from the acacia tree and overlaid with bronze (usually symbolic of judgment on sin in the Bible), measuring 7.5 feet on all four sides and 4.5 feet deep showing equality in all directions. Four horns, (Horns were a symbol of power and strength in biblical times. When the sacrifice was made, blood was dabbed on the horns of the altar, signifying the power of the blood to atone for sins. Jesus is the horn of our salvation.) projected from the top four corners and a bronze grating was inside to hold the animal. The altar was the place for burning animal sacrifices. It showed the Israelites that the first step for sinful man to approach a holy God was to be cleansed by the blood of an innocent creature. Read Hebrews 9:

8 For a sin offering, a person had to bring an animal, a male, one without blemish or defect from the flock or herd, to the priest at the tabernacle gate. The person would then lay his hand upon the head of the offering, his sin and guilt being moved from himself to the animal. The animal was slaughtered by the priest, who would sprinkle its blood in front of the veil of the Holy Place, burn the sacrifice, and pour the rest of the blood at the bottom of the altar. Blood is a significant agent of atonement. To the west of the Brazen Altar stood the Laver (wash basin). The Laver The laver was a large bowl filled with water. It was located halfway between the brazen altar and the Holy Place. It was fashioned from the women s mirrors and reflective of the sinful priests making the sacrifices. The priests needed to cleanse themselves, hands and feet, at the laver before serving God in the Holy Place, so that they would be pure and not die before a holy God. 8

9 The application for us today is that we are forgiven through Christ s work on the cross, but we are washed through His Word. We need to be washed daily in His Word to cleanse ourselves, so that we can serve and minister before Him. (Baptism) *Ephesians 5:25 27 *Hebrews 10:22 God did not give specific measurements for the laver, it was made entirely of bronze and symbolized the purging of sins. We enter the Tabernacle Tent of Meeting The tabernacle was a flat roofed, rectangular tentlike building located at the western end of the enclosure. The tabernacle hung on a framework of boards, each the same height, set in sockets of silver (ransom money from Egypt). 9

10 In the Holy Place ( the place of worship), were three pieces of furniture; the dining table on the north, the lamp on the south, and between these and slightly to the rear stood the altar of incense. In the Holy of Holies, behind the veil, stood the Ark of the Covenant, and the Mercy Seat. These pieces of furniture were so arranged that if we draw a straight line from the altar at the door to the ark in the Holy of Holies and another straight line at right angles to the line we just drew from the dining table to the lamp, we have a perfect cross. 10

11 The Golden Lampstand (Menorah) After washing their hands and feet at the laver, the priests could enter the Holy Place, which was the first room in the tent of the tabernacle. There were three pieces of furniture in the Holy Place: the golden lampstand, the table of showbread and the golden altar of incense. The golden lampstand stood at the left side of the Holy Place. It was hammered out of one piece of pure gold. There were no specific instructions about the size of the lampstand. It was shaped as an almond tree in the full boom of life. It had six fruitful branches with a central shaft or trunk. They were designed to hold seven bowls filled with olive oil to provide light. 11

12 Light and life merged together in one unit. The light was continual and was never to go out. There was no light at all in the Holy Place except that which came from the golden lampstand. The varied colors and beauty of the inner sanctuary could only be seen in this one light. John 1 presents Jesus as both the light and life. The number six of the branches reminds us of men and the number seven of the lamps reminds us of God s perfect number. Jesus is both man and God in one person. The church is also pictured as a lampstand through which His Spirit and Word reveals the gospel truth and glory of God. Revelation 1:20 12

13 The Table of Showbread The table of showbread was a small table made of acacia wood and overlaid with pure gold. It measured 3 feet by 1.5 feet and was 2 feet 3 inches high. It stood on the right side of the Holy Place across from the lampstand and held 12 loaves of bread, representing the 12 tribes of Israel. The priests baked the bread with fine flour and it remained on the table before the Lord for a week; every Sabbath day the priests would remove it and eat it in the Holy Place, then put fresh bread on the table. Only priests could eat the bread, and it could only be eaten in the Holy Place, because it was holy. 13

14 Showbread was also called the bread of presence because it was to be always in the Lord s presence. The table and the bread were a picture of God s willingness to fellowship and communion (to share something in common) with man. It was an invitation to share a meal, an extension of friendship. God was willing for man to enter into His presence to fellowship with Him this invitation is always open. The Golden Altar of Incense The golden altar of incense sat in front of the curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. This altar was smaller than the Brazen Altar. It was a square, each side measuring 1.5 feet and was 3 feet high. It was made of acacia wood and overlaid with pure gold. Four horns protruded from the four corners of the altar. 14

15 God commanded the priest to burn incense on the golden altar every morning and evening, the same time that the daily burnt offerings were made. The incense was to be left burning continually throughout the day and night as a pleasing aroma to the Lord. The incense was made of an equal part of four precious spices which was considered holy. God commanded the Israelites not to use the same formula outside the tabernacle to make perfume for their own consumption; otherwise they would be cut off from their people. The incense was a symbol of the prayers and intercession of the people going up to God as a sweet fragrance. God wanted His dwelling to be a place where people could approach Him and pray to Him. 15

16 The golden altar is a representation of Christ, who is our intercessor before God the Father. Jesus is the High Priest who intercedes for His people. The Holy of Holies The Holy of Holies was separated from the Holy Place by a veil. The Holy of Holies contained the Ark of the Covenant. The word ark literally meant treasure chest because it held the Ten Commandments (Christ fulfilled the Law), a jar of manna (Christ is the Bread of Life); and the budding rod of Aaron (symbol of the resurrection). The ark was representative of God s presence to the Israelites, the Shekinah Glory ; 16

17 Christ was the Ark of the Covenant, the Shekinah Glory in the flesh. On the Ark was the name, YHWH (Hebrew), meaning I AM. 17