The Tabernacle
Notes
Transcript
Exodus 25-31; Hebrews 10:19-22
BI: God graciously comes to dwell with his sinful people in Jesus
Morning everyone.
Well, these days I’m into shows about houses, gardens, home improvement. I never thought I would say that. I used to hate it. But somethings happened, I’m over mould, unkempt grass, things around the house not working. But I’m into shows like Fixer Upper, this really hip American couple Chip and Joanne Gaines. They take crappy old properties and turn them into houses you’d find on the Block. Or Gardening Australia gotta love Costa Georgiadis’ beard. There’s so much I can learn from him about gardening. I can’t grow any beard.
But here’s the latest one I discovered this week. It’s called Grand Designs. It’s a show about dream homes. Couples build their dream home. And unlike regular house builds, these designs are so out there, so bold – so grand, beautiful, you can’t help but go far out. That’s amazing. I caught an episode this week. This middle aged couple, Dennis and Karen. They wanted to build a home on the blue mountains in NSW. Build a dream home overseeing the beautiful green luscious forest. It was literally an edge of the cliff type build. It had spectacular views. And the really interesting thing was it was built with containers. Shipping containers. Dennis, the bloke who built it was experienced in building world renown sky scrappers. He goes this is the most important project of my life. My last stand project. It’s been bubbling in my head for over 10 years and I really want to get it out. And his wife Karen proudly next to him goes it will be a dream come true, our slice of paradise, our little heaven on earth.
That is the key to our passage today. Today is the grand design for God’s home in the Old Testament. It’s called the tabernacle. But I wonder if you like me as you were listening to Exodus chapter 25 , you went why is God giving us what feels like Ikea instructions. Did you think that? why this Long, specific, highly detailed instructions bit like building a table from Ikea? My wife Joy loves instructions and manuals. it’s certainly not my cup of tea.
And actually in Exodus, we get these instructions twice. How to build it, chapters 25-31. And then the actual building of it, chapters 35-40. The words are very much the same. So why? Why is 25% of Exodus about building a tabernacle? Detailed instructions? It’s not exciting like the drama of God rescuing his people from Egypt. That’s what’s we’ve covered. It’s doesn’t feel as important as when God gives the Israelites the law at Mount Sinai. We spent a term on the 10 commandments. They don’t really make Hollywood movies about the tabernacle. Let me know if you have seen one, So why these chapters?
Here’s the thing, this is the high point, the climax of the book of Exodus. Because the whole point of God rescuing his people from Egypt, the big exodus, the whole point of giving the 10 commandments, the whole point of all of that is so that God would dwell with his people. He is a great God. he is a loving and kind God. he makes a covenant with his people. He saves them. he cares for them. he tells them how to live under him. He even dwells in their midst. He is in relationship with them. This is a big big deal. And it’s such a big deal he gives detailed instructions on how to build it.
1. The Tabernacle
So let’s take a moment to look at the tabernacle. There’s so much detail, bit like a house contract. We can’t go through every verse. We’d be here all day. But here’s a replica model.
Now, when we use the word tabernacle, it’s talking about the whole tent precinct including the wall around the outer court. In chapter 27:9-13 the outer court is twice as long as it is wide. They talk in cubits, 1 cubit is a bit over half a metre. It’s about 54m by 27metres. Very big.
And what’s important here you progressively enter holier and holier sections. Nello mentioned in staff meeting its called graduated holiness.
Right, so in chapter 27:9 the courtyard is described, and all God’s people counter enter that area.
Then, you go inside the tent of meeting there were 2 sections. There’s the first section. It’s called the holy place. That’s where priests could enter but there was a curtain. And the section behind it, right progressively more holy, was the Most Holy place. Here only the high priest could enter. And only once a year on the Day of Atonement. Why? Well in there was the ark of the covenant. Chapter 25:10
“They shall make an ark of acacia wood. Two cubits and a half shall be its length, a cubit and a half its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height.
(DIAGRAM)
This was a golden box with statues of angels called cherubim on top.
It was 133cm wide 80cm deep 80cm high. It had poles for the priests to carry. You needed a few to carry it because it weighed 300kg. And it’s so limited, so holy because here was God meet with his people on the mercy seat.
Did you notice how grand it was? 37 times in the passage the author repeats the idea of pure gold. To give you an idea of how grand, it was made of about a tonne of Gold. A tonne. 1 kg of gold today costs almost $100,000. 1 tonne is about 100 million dollars. And silvers is no slouch. There’s 3.4 tonnes of silver. $4.5m worth in Aussie dollar today. The tabernacle is the grandest most expensive design in that time. Look at verse 3, chapter 25 – these materials go into the tabernacle.
And this is the contribution that you shall receive from them: gold, silver, and bronze, blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, goats’ hair, tanned rams’ skins, goatskins, acacia wood, oil for the lamps, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, onyx stones, and stones for setting, for the ephod and for the breastpiece.
Full of luxuries. Full of expensive stuff. Makes the Block house look like toy Ferrari. Like any grand design home. The author leaves us going wow. This is the grand design house. It’s was the envy of the nations.
2. God comes to dwell with his people
But here’s the thing, what makes it holy and set apart is this; God comes to dwell in their midst. That is what is most important. Did verse 25:8 prick your ears? t’s incredible
exodus 25:8
And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst.
What makes the tabernacle mind boggling is God dwells in their midst. That’s what Tabernacle means. It means dwelling. A place where God would dwell. Like any grand design home, it’s supposed to be awesome. You are supposed to stand back and go far out that is incredible. What beauty. What splendour. What delight. Like a little glimpse of heaven on earth. In fact, when the New Testament looks back on the tabernacle it says
They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.”
It’s spectacular because it’s a copy of God’s throne room in heaven. That’s why we have all the detail. Brilliant detail. It’s where God dwelt.
Now, I don’t know if you realised this, but the tabernacle was God’s second attempt to dwell with his people. When was the first? In Eden, with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. The tabernacle is suppose to remind us of the garden of Eden. God has come to dwell again.
How do we get this link?
Can you see in chapter 25:31-32
“You shall make a lampstand of pure gold. The lampstand shall be made of hammered work: its base, its stem, its cups, its calyxes, and its flowers shall be of one piece with it. And there shall be six branches going out of its sides, three branches of the lampstand out of one side of it and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side of it;
The lampstand gave light in the tabernacle. But it’s shaped to look like a tree. Why? Because there was a tree in Eden. it represented life. God gives light and life.
And more than that, remember in Genesis after Adam and Eve were kicked out of the garden. There was a cherubim with a flaming sword. It blocked their way back to the garden. In Exodus 26:31 look at what the entrance has.
“And you shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. It shall be made with cherubim skillfully worked into it.
It has a cherubim embroidered on it. It blocks the way from the holy place to the Holy of Holies.
Ever since Adam and Eve blew everything up, they could not dwell with God. But now here God comes to dwell with his people again. The second time.
This was incredible. God is working out his plan. his promise. Look at chapter 29 verse 45 this is a key verse
I will dwell among the people of Israel and will be their God. And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them out of the land of Egypt that I might dwell among them. I am the Lord their God.
I have a neighbor. They are seiks. She prays and meditates. When Joy talks to her their God is very mysterious. Very distant. Strict obedience. Pray 2 hours a day. Don’t really know this God. But we know God’s heart. The God of the Bible comes to rescue his people. He’s come to rescue them out of slavery in Egypt. He wants to be their God. he saves them for relationship. He comes to dwell with his people. He tabernacles with his people. This is just wonderful. God wants to relate with people like us.
Because the reality is, there is every reason for him not to – Adam and Eve stuffing it up in Eden. Israel again and again and again grumbling in the wilderness, we know what it’s like when we want to make relationship but you get rejected over and over and over again. We’re suppose to look at this tabernacle and go God is so good. He’s so loving. Why would he bother again? and then again?
But here’s the thing, even after the Israelites said yes we will keep the covenant, keep our promise, worship you alone right. Look there Exodus 19:8
Exodus 19:8 (ESV)
All the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do.” And Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord.
they say it. but words are cheap. What happens? Just a clue, next week we have the golden calf, one of the low moments of their history. Complete and utter disobedience. His people continue to reject him.
3. But his people continue to reject him
Friends, God is not naïve. God is not ignorant. God is God. He knows their hearts. he knows our hearts. He knows your heart. We all fall short. We all ignore God. He’s not gullible. But you actually see even in the Tabernacle, he sets sections. He sets limitations. There’s the outer court, there’s the inner court. There’s the most holy place. There’s a sacrificial system with an altar for offerings. There’s a basin for washing. There are verses about priesthood. They are the only ones who could go in. And only the High priest into the holy of Holies. Just because God comes to dwell, his people cannot casually just waltz into his presence like my neighbor who comes in shoes on and all. It’s okay I’m not that Asian you can wear your shoes. Why? Because God knows what his people, what we are all like. We are sinners. We don’t just come into his presence.
It's a bit like going to visit the King. It’s weird saying King and not Queen, she ruled for what over 70 years. But imagine visiting him at Buckingham palace. When the flag flies high, the King is present. But that doesn’t mean you just rock up for tea. There are high fences. There are lots of security, there’s a royal guard. He has footmen to attend to his needs. You don’t just rock up. There’s a high standard. Shiny shoes, do your hair and make up, suit and a certain tie. It’s a high standard all round, for cleanliness and order when you meet the King.
Now God’s standard is even higher. His standard goes to the heart. Because actually in chapter 29 we see an abbatoir more than a royal Buckingham palace. There’s blood sprinkled over everything. it’s a blood fest. Animal blood everywhere. Everywhere. Look at chapter 29 verse 10, here’s what they were to do before the tent of meeting
“Then you shall bring the bull before the tent of meeting. Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the bull. Then you shall kill the bull before the Lord at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and shall take part of the blood of the bull and put it on the horns of the altar with your finger, and the rest of the blood you shall pour out at the base of the altar.
lots of blood. and here’s more blood.
“Then you shall take one of the rams, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the ram, and you shall kill the ram and shall take its blood and throw it against the sides of the altar.
it goes on and one. there’s blood everywhere.
And that’s right, because blood washes over sin. Sin is serious. it’s rejecting God. He is holy. he is pure. So blood cleanses us from all our wrongdoing. These restrictions, limitations, it’s all their for safety. God is Holy. His people were not. That is very clear. Friends, God knows what we are all like. We can’t go into his presence like we go to a mates place. Remember when he gave the 10 commandments. There was thundering, lightning. There was roaring from the mountain top. The people were afraid. They said we’ll be okay back here. Moses you go speak to God on our behalf.
God has come to dwell. The tabernacle is his grand design. But he is well aware that his people are sinners. And even after Adam and Eve stuffed up in the garden, even after Israel continued to grumble in the desert, we are suppose to look at this and go, wow God is a great God. He still comes to dwell with his people.
But here’s the thing, many religions still try to set up sacred places. Whether it’s the grand cathedral, the beautiful Duomo Cathdral in Italy. It’s very grand. I’ve visited. it’s quite breathtaking really. nearly 600 years to build. Whether it’s fighting over Jerusalem, pilgrimaging to Mecca, Buddhist temples in Asia, I’ve seen a stack in Thailand, lots of people believe God dwells at their site. He doesn’t. He just doesn’t.
Why? Because that’s not how you come to God. It isn’t. Because after the Tabernacle was built, God’s people continued to sin over and over and over again. it’s naïve to think we don’t need atonement. We need someone to pay for sin. You can’t go to a holy site to be cleansed from sin. That’s Israels history. they kept sinning over and over again. And the fact is holy sites don’t understand the change from Old Testament Tabernacle to New Testament Jesus. And it’s Jesus who deals with the heart. Only he can. He is the better tabernacle. this is what’s most important.
4. Jesus is the better tabernacle
Come to John’s Gospel chapter 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.
God sent Jesus. He is God’s very own Son. He is the Word who came to dwell among his people. Think about that. Even though the tabernacle was a huge leap for the Old Testament, all those guys would say you’ve got Jesus. You are so blessed.
And look at what Jesus does. Hebrews 10:19-22 our second reading he has replaced the tabernacle
Hebrews 10:19–22 (ESV)
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Do you want a most holy place? It’s by Jesus’ blood.
Do you want to go past the curtain to see God? it’s through his flesh – Jesus’ body broken for you.
Do you need to confess to a High Priest? Jesus is the great one. go to Him.
Do you want a house of God? Jesus by his Spirit dwells in his people.
All the holy sites claim you can meet God, like heaven on earth, but actually they are not. God now rules from his heavenly throne room. If you want to meet him, know him, have him dwell in you it’s only by Jesus’s blood. He tabernacles in us, those who believe in him. He has given us new hearts by his Spirit. we can’t earn it. It’s a free gift. it’s by faith. trusting in his blood.
And you can come to his presence full of assurance. by trusting in Jesus you are in. you have a clean heart. God has saved you. That’s just staggering.
God now dwells in you through trusting in Jesus alone
Friends imagine if the world knew this.
5. Implications
first implication, it’s all about Jesus.
5.1 It’s all about Jesus and not a holy site
You wouldn’t get Jews and Palestinians fighting over holy sites because Jesus opens the way to God. it’s by trusting in his Word.
You wouldn’t get Jews today who write their prayers and put it in the cracks of the western wall of the old temple. They think their prayers are heard because he is inside the wall. Actually God is not in bricks and mortar.
You wouldn’t get all these people going to the river Jordan to dunk their children in the water because they think that water brings you closer to God. No it’s faith in Jesus alone.
Friends Jesus is the better tabernacle. The better priest. The better blood. Only Jesus opens the way to know God.
And that goes for all of us. Sometimes right, I don’t about you but I can feel 80% Christian. Then I rock up to church. There’s a good song. I’m feeling it. Ding I’m 100% again. then Mondayitis comes and I’m wrecked, I feel 50% now. bad sleep. minimal effort in devotional time with God. The tabernacle in light of Jesus shows us that’s never true. Music does not bring us closer to God. In fact, the Lord’s Supper does not bring you closer to God. There is nothing about bread and grape juice that makes us right with God. Nothing. It’s good we want to be obedience to our Lord but it does not save us. It cannot bring us closer to God. not music. Not the Lord’s Supper, not even how i feel about God. It’s only by Jesus’s blood on the cross for our sins and trusting in him can we come into God’s presence. That’s 100% guaranteed.
And I think that’s just wonderful. God dwells in us by his Spirit because of Jesus’ blood. we can come to him fully 100% guaranteed knowing we are saved. That’s just amazing isn’t it? Because it means it’s what God has done, not any special building, not any special feeling, it’s all God. Second implication,
5.2 We use our buildings to proclaim Jesus
we use our building for proclaiming Jesus. This building is a good space. There’s the official opening. Since 5th November 1857, for 156 years it’s a place that is on about the Gospel. this complex here, just over 25 years since it was built. God has been so good to us. we use the building, the resources, the generousity of those who have gone before us to continue preaching the good news of Jesus. that’s how people can come into God’s presence. have God tabernacle with them. have their Sins forgiven by his blood. Life given by his resurrection. We gather here to worship our great God. Friends, God is not present in bricks and mortar anymore. But in you by his Spirit God dwells wherever Jesus’ death and resurrection is proclaimed from his Word. It’s not about holy sacred sites. It’s about Jesus dying and rising for his people. The tabernacle was a grand design. But it was a shadow God’s people back then would look at us and go, you’ve got the best, you’ve got Jesus. Praise God.
Let’s pray together.