The Tabernacle
Exodus: Shadows of Christ • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 2 viewsScripture Reading: Revelation 21:1–4
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The Tabernacle- Exodus 26; 38:9–31
The Tabernacle- Exodus 26; 38:9–31
William McEwen, The Glory and the Fullness of Jesus Christ, pages 205–213
Mike McKinley begins his book, Friendship with God, in this way...
“Imagine if I told you that I was friends with a lot of famous people: Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, Jeff Bezos, Oprah Winfrey, and Taylor Swift....What if I told you that I am not only friendly with those people but that they all go to great lengths to be friends with me—they come to visit me all the time, they always pick up the phone when I call, and I have an open invitation to use their vacation homes and drive their sports cars whenever I’d like? You’d think I was a really big deal, wouldn’t you? In fact, you would probably be more than a little envious of me. You might wonder what made me so special that people like that wanted to know me so well.
Well, if you are a Christian, the Bible says that the eternal God—the one who made the universe and everything in it, the God who is more holy and glorious and powerful than we can ever begin to understand—that God wants you to know him and be known by him. He has gone to great lengths to make it possible for you to be his friend. He delights in your company and loves to shower you with good gifts. In fact, he plans to spend eternity blessing you far beyond what you can describe.”
The Tabernacle, this beautiful construction designed to house the Ark of the Covenant, the showbread, and the Lampstand, was the physical dwelling of the almighty God. But more than that, this dwelling took place with the people of God, the nation of Israel.
It provided a tangible, visible representation of the relationship into which Israel was entering through the condescension of God in covenant.
It was a physical symbol of the dwelling of God with man. It was a physical reminder that God was their friend and God.
Seeing and savoring the shadow of Christ in the Tabernacle reminds us that Jesus is God in the flesh—made like us to be a friend and faithful brother forever
I. The Construction of the Tabernacle of God- Ex. 26, 38:9–31
I. The Construction of the Tabernacle of God- Ex. 26, 38:9–31
The Tabernacle has multiple parts that combine to make the structure as you can see in these pictures.
First, the Tabernacle required a great deal of material, including fine twined linen of blue, purple, and scarlet coloring with intricate designs, the skins of goats/rams, bronze clasps, support beams of acacia wood, bases of silver and bases of bronze.
Second, there was a specific pattern Moses was to follow, and we can see the finished work in the picture. The ten curtains were to be coupled together. They were to be 28 cubits in length and four cubits wide (42 feet long and 6 feet thick).
Third, there was a covering that went over the tent. You can see that in the pictures as well.
This would have been an intricate but relatively small building, and so the strong acacia would have been needed to hold the heavy material up. Additionally, bases of silver and bronze were needed to place the acacia beams into.
I looked up how much the Tabernacle would have cost in today’s economy, and one resource said $62 million.
But what about the purpose?
II. The Purpose of the Tabernacle of God- fellowship with God
II. The Purpose of the Tabernacle of God- fellowship with God
In Exodus 25:8 we read this, “And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst.” GREEN TAB
GREEN TAB We also see an important passage in Exodus 40:34–38 “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out. But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.”
Several points stick out of this passage and demonstrate the wonders of this covenant relationship with God.
First, God’s presence was glorious! Utterly unimaginable and without God’s divine intervention, utterly destructible to finite creatures such as we. Moses was not able to enter into the tent of meeting because the glory of God.
Compare this with other appearances of the Lord (1 Kings 19:12–14; Isaiah 6:1–7; Rev. 1:12–17). What a glorious God with whom we have fellowship!
Second, God’s presence was perpetual. “Throughout all their journeys...” Although their fellowship with God was hindered, it was still glorious (which is why the plight of the Gentiles was so severe, see Eph. 2:11–12). God’s presence was with Israel their entire journey from Egypt, through the wilderness, and into the Promised Land.
Third, God’s presence was guiding. He led them through the wilderness, each step of the way. What a gracious and sweet God He is!
God’s presence was _______________________.
God’s presence was _____________________.
God’s presence was _____________________.
But as wonderful as this was for Israel in the Old Covenant, we in the New Covenant have an even greater Tabernacle- The Tabernacle of God, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Seeing and savoring the shadow of Christ in the Tabernacle reminds us that Jesus is God in the flesh—made like us to be a friend and faithful brother forever
III. The Tabernacle of God- John 1:14
III. The Tabernacle of God- John 1:14
John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
The physical Tabernacle, with all its glories and privileges, was incapable of mediating the presence of God to human beings.
But The Tabernacle, the Lord Jesus Christ, is perfectly capable of mediating the presence of God to human beings who believe on His name.
GREATEST NEED CAME TO THEM, BUT THEY STILL FACED THEIR GREATEST PROBLEM—SIN
Matthew 27:50–51 “And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.”
The veil that separated Israel from God, the veil that indeed separates every human being from their Creator, has been, by Jesus dying the death and enduring the full wrath of God for our sins, been ripped in two.
It was a marvelous display of the greatness of God’s plan to redeem His people! And because He entered once for all in the holy place by means of His own blood, we have an eternal redemption. The need for sacrifices, temporary means of atonement, has been completely abolished, for the writing of ordinances, those commands we were completely incapable of keeping, has been done away with.
Colossians 2:13–14 “And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.”
The Tabernacle brought God to us, where we could not come to God in the earthly Tabernacle.
A glorious full-circle has been reached in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Where Eden was to serve as a Temple of God for fellowship between God and His creatures, (see Gen. 1–2), and through sin that fellowship was hindered,
Where the Tabernacle/Temple of Israel was to serve as a Tabernacle/Temple of God for fellowship between God and His creatures, and through sin that fellowship was hindered,
The Tabernacle Jesus completely, sufficiently, and eternally atoned for the sins of His people, paving the way for unending and unhindered fellowship between God and His creatures, and will culminate in the new heavens and the new earth, Revelation 21:3–4 “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.””
First, God’s presence is glorious—Colossians 1:25–27 (cf. 1:15–20) “of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
Second, God’s presence is perpetual—Matt. 28:19–20; Hebrews 13:5 “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.””
Third, God’s presence is guiding—John 16:13–15; Romans 8:14 “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”
But this Tabernacle, the Lord Jesus, though He is God, He is God in the flesh, and as such knows intimately the struggles we face. He is a faithful friend who knows what it is like to live life in a fallen world for He himself has done so.
He is able to sympathize with us (Hebrews 4:15 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” ), and I love the way Dane Ortlund captures this,
“If you are in Christ, you have a Friend who, in your sorrow, will never lob down a pep talk from heaven. He cannot bear to hold himself at a distance. Nothing can hold him back. His heart is too bound up with yours.”—Dane Ortlund, Gentle and Lowly, 50
Furthermore, because of His saving work, He is not ashamed to call us brothers (and sisters), so bound up is our union with Him, Hebrews 2:11–12 “For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.””
Seeing and savoring the shadow of Christ in the Tabernacle reminds us that Jesus is God in the flesh—made like us to be a friend and faithful brother for ever
Every time we see the Tabernacle in Scripture, every time we hear the terms Tabernacle or Temple, let us see and savor the shadow of Christ, relishing the reminder that Jesus is God in the flesh, made like us to be a friend and faithful brother forever.