The TabernacleExodus 40

God Dwells in the Midst of His People

“O Lord my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty, covering yourself with lights as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent. He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters; he makes the clouds his chariot; he rides on the wings of the wind…” Psalm 104:1-3

“And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.” Exodus 3:8

“And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it.”

– Exodus 25:8-9

“…a perpetual priesthood throughout the generations…”

- Exodus 40:15

Court of the Tabernacle

**All photos taken from the ESV Study Bible

Exodus 27:1-8;

- The ephod was a colorful woven garment with ‘the breast plate of judgment’ holding 12 stones symbolizing 12 tribes. On the shoulder there were two onyx stones with the tribe’s names engraved on each (6 names per stone).

- The priest wore a fine linen turban with a golden band that said, “Holy to YHWH”.

High Priest’s Garments

Bronze Basin

Exodus 30:1-8; 38:8;

- Highly polished pieces of bronze likely taken from Egypt.

- The basin (laver) would be the place where the priests would wash their hands and feet before entering the Tabernacle.

Bronze Altar

Exodus 27:1-8;

- Acacia wood plated with bronze. 3 ft high x 7.5 ft wide x 7.5 ft long.

- The place where God promised that sin could be atoned by the blood of the sacrifice.

Inside the Tabernacle

Two separate rooms.

1) Holy Place – Front Room. 2/3 of the Tabernacle. Held the lampstand, altar, & bread table.

2) Most Holy Place or ‘Holy of Holies’ – Back Room. Contained the Ark of the Covenant. Only High Priest could enter on the Day of Atonement (Lev 16).

Table for Bread

Exodus 25:23-30

- Acacia wood covered in pure gold. 3 ft long x 1.5 ft wide x 2.25 ft high.

- Twelve loaves of bread were continually set out each Sabbath.

- Sign of the Covenant between God and the 12 tribes of Israel.

Golden Lampstand“Menorah”

Exodus 25:31-40

- One solid piece of pure gold formed in the shape of a flowering almond tree.

- Provided light within the Tabernacle and symbolized the life giving presence of YHWH.

-A reminder of God’s creation and the tree of life that stood in the midst of the garden.

Altar of Incense

Exodus 30:1-10; 37:25-28

- Acacia wood covered in pure gold. 3 ft tall x 1.5 ft wide x 1.5 ft long.

- Twice daily burning of incense on it by the High Priest.

- Symbolized the prayers of the people before the presence of the Lord.

The Tabernacle

Ark of the Covenant

Exodus 25:10-22

- Acacia wood covered in pure gold. 3.75 ft long x 2.25 ft wide x 2.25 ft high. -The footstool of God where he met with Moses and the representatives of Israel.

- Symbol of the presence of God among His people.

- The area between the wings of the cherubim was known as the ‘mercy seat’. It was here that the blood of the sacrifice was sprinkled on the day of atonement (Lev 16).

- Held the tablets of the law, a container of manna, and Aaron’s rod.

- Only furniture in the “Holy of Holies”.

God dwelling in the midst of His people…

“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.”

– John 1:14

The Gospel in the Tabernacle

Tabernacle Jesus

Tent in the wilderness where the presence of God dwelt.

Jesus’ body is the new temple where all the glory of God resides.

“Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his body.”

- John 2:19-21

“And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it.”

– Exodus 25:8-9

The Gospel in the Tabernacle

Tabernacle Jesus

Altar: A sacrifice of an animal done yearly to be reconciled to God.

Jesus’ Death: One time offering to permanently reconcile God’s people. “And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, …For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.”

Hebrews 10:11-14

“He shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him. Then he shall kill the bull before the Lord, and Aaron's sons the priests shall bring the blood and throw the blood against the sides of the altar that is at the entrance of the tent of meeting.” – Lev 1:4-5

The Gospel in the Tabernacle

Jesus in the Tabernacle

“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.”

– John 1:14

Table of Bread: “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” John 6:35Lampstand:“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12Altar of Incense: “…[Jesus] is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession or them.” Hebrews 7:25Basin “…but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Cor 6:11

Jesus in the Tabernacle

“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.”

– John 1:14

“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.”

- Exodus 40:34-38

An Eternal Temple

“And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.”

– Revelation 21:22-27

The TabernacleExodus 40