These are the original teaching notes from this passage.
Review…
- Exodus 19 – In order for God to make Israel His nation – first had to meet with them
- Exodus 20 – the TEN Commandments – the LAW of God for INDIVIDUALS…
- Exodus 21-22 – The LAW of God for a SOCIETY…
- Exodus 23-24 – The LAW of God for JUDGES – show NO partiality…
- Coming to the Promised Land – victory would be LITTLE by LITTLE…
- Sealing the COVENANT – the people PROMISED to do ALL the Lord commanded…
- The LAW – the OLD COVENANT – was then sealed in blood…
- And Moses went up the mountain to get instructions for the TABERNACLE!
The Tabernacle of god… (4 things)
- 1st – Bring an OFFERING… vs. 1-9
- 1st – Why to GIVE… vs. 1-2
- The Lord said to Moses – SPEAK [piel] to the children of Israel…
- LET Israel BRING [jussive] – it was a CHOICE – it was NOT required…
- Me and OFFERING – from the verb [רוּם] – meaning to LIFT UP…
- The picture is of GIVING something – lifting it up – to God!
- Israel was to bring an OFFERING to God – the materials needed to build the tabernacle!
- Not because God needed anything from Israel – He is the creator of all heaven and earth!
- But God does wanted Israel to invest in Him / His work – Luke 12:34
- If you have P1 in a bank account – we never think about it – but if we have P1 million!
- We do not choose where are heart is – we do choose where we put our treasures…
- Wherever we put our money / time / talents – is where our heart will also be!
- Our heart follows our investments – our choices dictate what our heart wants!
- That is why we should never follow our heart – it is deceptive – Jeremiah 17:9
- Instead – we need to be wise where we choose to invest our time and treasures!
- 2nd – How to GIVE… vs. 2
- From EVERYONE who gives WILLINGLY from his HEART… vs. 2
- We often hear the distinction between TITHES and OFFERINGS…
- TITHES are required – while OFFERINGS are what we give above our TITHES…
- The word tithe is the Hebrew word for a tenth – we would say 10%
- According to the LAW there were THREE different TITHES people were required to give…
- Numbers 18:21-24 – the Levitical tithe to provide for those who served the Lord…
- Deuteronomy 14:22-26 – the feast tithe – 10% of the harvest – eaten before the Lord…
- Deuteronomy 14:28-29 – the poor tithe – which was only once every THREE years…
- In all the people were required to TITHE about 23% of their income each year!
- I am always amused by those who teach giving 10% to the church – it should be 23%…
- They take this ONE Law from the OT and teach it like it belongs in the NT…
- The Law is not a buffet line – you cannot pick and choose what laws you like…
- Those who teach giving 10% to the church – must also teach the rest of the Law!
- Old and New Testament truth…
- II Corinthians 9:7 – “Let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.”
- Often today people give out of a sense of obligation – they give but do not want to!
- It may even be taught that if we do not give – God will not bless us…
- As if we are stealing from God – Malachi 3:8 – if we do not give to the church!
- But God says to give whatever we want – as little or as much as is on our heart…
- But whatever we give – we are to do it with a hilarious heart – a cheerful giver…
- If we give out of obligation – it counts for nothing – God does not want it!
- 3rd – What to GIVE… vs. 3-7
- Israel was to give various kinds of precious metals…
- The different metals in the Tabernacle all have significant meaning…
- Gold – a picture of the Glory and Holiness of God – ONLY used inside the Tabernacle…
- Silver – a picture of salvation – the grace of God – used inside and outside…
- Bronze – a picture of judgment – ONLY used on the outside of the Tabernacle…
- Israel was to give various colors of thread and fine linen…
- Blue – a picture of HEAVEN – used in the decorations…
- Purple – a picture of ROYALTY – wealth and power – used in the decorations…
- Red – a picture of SACRIFICE / REDEMPTION – used in the decorations…
- Israel was also to bring animal skins / wood / oil / spices / and stones…
- Animal skins – were used as curtains / and a waterproof covering for the Tabernacle…
- Wood – was used to build the furniture / curtain poles / and supports for the Tabernacle…
- Oil – was used to light the Menorah – and as anointing oil…
- Spices – were used to make anointing oil / and as incense for the altar…
- Stones – were used on the Ephod for the clothing of the priests!
- That might seem like a LOT to ask for Israel to give…
- But Moses had to stop the people from GIVING – Exodus 36:4-7
- Too often in the church – money is the focus – tithes / offerings – the reason…
- The church is trying to do something that is their idea – NOT Gods…
- If it is our idea – we have to pay for it – if God has the idea – He will pay for it!
- When God is the one doing the work – He will stir the hearts of His people…
- He will provide so much – they will end up having to tell the people to STOP giving!
- The Law of sowing and reaping…
- II Corinthians 9:6 – “He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”
- Some of us might be familiar with the rules for farming – investing in a crop…
- It can be expensive to plow a field with a tractor / buy good seed / fertilizer…
- But in the end – the more a farmer invests into a crop – the more they get back!
- If we do not have to give – we might think – then why would I want to give!
- Turns out the principal of sowing and reaping is just as true with giving…
- Our gifts to God – whether given to the church / or those in need – are like seeds…
- If we are cheap and choose to only plant a couple of seeds – a little harvest…
- But if we sow bountifully – we will also reap bountifully a harvest of blessing from God…
- We will never out give the Lord – the more we give / the more we will be given!
- Yet God knows the motives of our heart – you CANNOT give to try and get…
- If we only give to the Lord expecting back – we will be disappointed!
- 4th – The result of GIVING… vs. 8-9
- Let them make me a SANCTUARY…
- Do NOT think of the Tabernacle as a Jewish church…
- The Tabernacle was NOT a church for the Jews to come and worship on the Sabbath…
- The Israelites could NOT come into the Tabernacle – ONLY the priests!
- Do NOT think of the Tabernacle as a HOUSE for God…
- It was never intended to be a house for God – God does not need a place to live…
- Acts 7:49 – “Heaven is my throne, the [whole] earth is my footstool. Could you ever build me a temple as good as that? asks the Lord. Could you build a dwelling place for me?”
- Too often we get the idea that God lives in the church – the House of God…
- But it does not matter if a church is tile and cement / or grass and sticks…
- The church is NOT for God – the church is for us – a place to come meet with God!
- A SANCTUARY that I may DWELL with them…
- SANCTUARY – noun form of the very HOLY [קָדַשׁ] – it was the HOLY place!
- The Tabernacle made Israel a HOLY people – because a HOLY God dwelt with them!
- I Corinthians 3:16 – “You are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you…”
- As we INVEST in the Lord – it turns our heart TO the Lord – and He DWELLS in us…
- People should be able to look at our lives – and see that we are HOLY…
- The NT word saints – hagios – means to be holy – set apart…
- We are called saints – it means we are to be set apart from the world for God!
- It was also a picture of heaven…
- THREE times God will tell Moses to make sure to follow the Pattern He was shown…
- The study of the Tabernacle is an important one – it gives us a shadow of heaven!
- Hebrews 8:5 – “They serve in a place of worship that is only a copy, a shadow of the real one in heaven. For when Moses was getting ready to build the Tabernacle, God gave him this warning: Be sure that you make everything according to the design I have shown you here on the mountain.” [NLT]
- 1st – Why to GIVE… vs. 1-2
- 2nd – Inside the Tabernacle… vs. 10-40
- There were two rooms in the TABERNACLE – Holiest and HOLIEST of All…
- In THE HOLY – Table of Showbread / Menorah / Altar of incense – Exodus 30:1-10
- In THE HOLY of HOLIES – The ARK of the Covenant / Mercy Seat
- 1st – The ARK of God… vs. 10-16
- The description of the ARK…
- ARK – [אֲרוֹן] – 202x in OT – literally a chest – a place to store things…
- A wooden box roughly 4x2x2 – covered inside and out in pure gold…
- It had FOUR gold rings on its sides – used to insert TWO gold poles – used to carry the ark…
- The poles were never to be taken out of the rings – because you could NOT touch the Ark!
- When the men of Beth-Shemesh tried to look into the ARK – 50k died – I Samuel 6:19
- King David tried to move the ark to Jerusalem – II Samuel 6:6-7
- One of the men helping – Uzzah – touched the Ark and was killed instantly!
- The purpose of the ARK… vs. 16
- The Ark was meant to hold the TESTIMONY – the TEN commandments written on stone…
- It was meant to keep the most important of all treasures – the Word of God!
- How can we meet with God – hear from the Lord today…
- Through His Word – just like in the Ark – God speaks to us from His Word!
- Romans 10:17 – “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”
- The Ark was lost to history after Babylon conquered Jerusalem – 586 B.C.
- Some say it was hidden by Priests in the tunnels under the Temple mount…
- Others say that it was taken by Jeremiah to Egypt – Jeremiah 43
- More likely God took the ARK to heaven – Revelation 11:19
- 2nd – The MERCY seat… vs. 17-22
- The cover for the Ark – was called the MERCY SEAT…
- MERCY SEAT – [כַּפֹּרֶת] 27x in OT – from the verb [כָּפַר] – to COVER / ATONEMENT…
- It was also to be made out of pure gold – with two CHERUBIM on top of the cover…
- CHERUBIM – angles first mentioned in Genesis 3:24 – described in Ezekiel 1:5-28
- The TWO angels would face each other – with wing spread out over the MERCY SEAT…
- Symbolic of the THRONE ROOM of God – surrounded by the CHERUBIM – Revelation 4
- It was there – from on top of the Ark – God would speak to the people of Israel!
- This was the place where the HIGH priest would come once a year – Yom Kippur…
- To make ATONEMENT – COVER the sins of all Israel – Leviticus 16:14
- We come to the ARK – to hear the Word of the Lord…
- We come to the MERCY SEAT – to be forgiven by the Lord…
- But not just covered – through Jesus – our sins are REMOVED!
- Hebrews 9:14 – “How much more shall the blood of Christ… cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God…”
- 3rd – The table of SHOWBREAD … vs. 23-30
- The description of the table… vs. 23-29
- A wooden table – THREE feet long x 1.5 FEET wide x TWO feet high – overlaid with gold…
- It also had FOUR gold rings on its sides – used to insert TWO gold poles to carry it…
- There were also gold plates / gold pitchers – used in drink offerings to the Lord!
- The purpose of the table… vs. 30
- SHOWBREAD – [לֶחֶם הַפָּנִֽים] – literally the bread before the FACE of God – Exodus 35:13
- On top of the table there would be TWELVE loaves of bread – ONE for each of the tribes…
- God kept a reminder of all His people before Him there in the Tabernacle!
- We like to keep pictures of people who are important to us – to remember them…
- The same is true in about God – our heavenly father is always thinking about us!
- Psalms 139:17 – “How precious are your thoughts about me, O God! They are innumerable!”
- 4th – The MENORAH… vs. 31-40 / 27:20-21
- The description of the candle stick – menorah…
- A candle stick – with SIX branches coming out of the main stem – made of solid gold!
- It had ALMOND shaped cups on the top of each stem to hold pure olive oil to burn for light…
- ALMOND – from the VERB [שָׁקַד] – to WAKE up / be ALERT!
- The priests were to keep the lights burning day and night – Exodus 27:20-21
- In was a SEVEN stemmed / SEVEN foot candle stick made of 75 pounds of solid gold!
- SEVEN in the Bible is the number of perfection – the Menorah was the PERFECT light!
- The purpose of the candle stick – menorah…
- It was the only light in the Tabernacle – it lit the path to get to God…
- John 8:12 – “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness…”
- Jesus is our Menorah – our perfect light – who shows us the only way to get to God!
- 3rd – The design of the Tabernacle… vs. 1-37
- 1st – Make the TABERNACLE… vs. 1-30
- TABERNACLE – from the VERB [שָׁכַן] – to settle down or ABIDE…
- It was a tent – 15 feet wide x 15 feet high x 45 feet long – covered in FOUR layers…
- FIRST layer – ram skin dyed red / fine goat skin leather – waterproof layer…
- SECOND – TEN sheets of goat hair fastened with bronze clips – ONE flap covered the back…
- The first TWO layers were made from animals…
- The BRONZE clips speak to the JUDGEMENT of sin…
- Someone had to DIE for our sin – before we could enter the presence of God!
- THIRD – TEN sheets of fine linen decorated with CHERUBIM in blue / purple / and red yarn…
- They were held together by gold clips – a decorative inner layer for the tabernacle…
- The colors and CHERUBIM design are meant to reflect a picture of heaven!
- FOURTH – the inside framework of the tabernacle – made of wood ALL overlaid in GOLD…
- 48 boards – 15 feet high x 2 feet wide – all set edge to edge – set in silver bases for support…
- 20 boards on the NORTH / 20 boards on the SOUTH side / 8 boards on the WEST side…
- All of the board would sit on TWO silver bases each to give them stability…
- The EAST side was the entrance – the doorway into the Tabernacle!
- When you walked into the Tabernacle – you would have seen a solid GOLD interior!
- It was meant to be an awe inspiring representation of heaven itself…
- With the Table of Shewbread on the north (right) of the Tabernacle as you walked in…
- The Menorah on the south (left) of the TABERNACLE reflecting light off the GOLD walls…
- And straight ahead of you – the HOLIEST of ALL – the THRONE ROOM of God!
- Everything was made to be portable – it was a TENT after all…
- Hebrews 11:13-16 – “[We are] strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland… that is, a heavenly country.”
- This is not our home – we are only here for a short stay!
- Far too often we get way to attached to things in this life and forget…
- We are not home yet – our home is a place we have yet to see – our home is heaven…
- We need to remember to keep a light touch on things here – just living in tents!
- 2nd – The VEIL… vs. 31-37
- The Tabernacle was divided inside into TWO parts…
- THE HOLY [הַקֹּדֶשׁ] – the FIRST room inside the Temple – only the priest were allowed
- The HOLY of HOLIES [קֹדֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִֽׁים] – the inner room – the Ark of the Covenant
- The VEIL separated THE HOLY – from the HOLY of HOLIES…
- It was to be decorated with CHERUBIM – embordered in blue / purple / and red thread…
- The VEIL was no small piece of cloth – 15×15 feet x 4 inches thick!
- Yom Kippur…
- Only the High priest could enter the HOLY of HOLIES – and once a year – Day of Atonement…
- He would enter with the bells on his priestly robe – if they stopped – he was dead…
- Tradition tells us he would have a rope around his foot – to drag him out…
- The reason was to show the SEPARATION between God and man – Hebrews 9:7-8
- A SEPARATION that is taken away through the cross of Christ…
- The VEIL that separated the Holiest of All was TORN in TWO – Mark 15:38
- Because has made ATONEMENT for our sin – we have ACCESS to the presence of God…
- There is no longer a SEPARATION between God and man!
- We can now boldly enter the very throne room of God – the Holiest of All!
- Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
- The Jews later repaired the VEIL…
- God had opened up the way – men wanted to CLOSE it again…
- They would rather have religion – than a true relationship with God!
- Men love religion because it puts salvation in their hands – rather than with God…
- Men love religion because it feeds their pride / self-righteousness…
- But Religion cannot get us into heaven – on the contrary – it keeps us from God
- It is like putting the VEIL that Jesus tore down – back up again!
- 1st – Make the TABERNACLE… vs. 1-30
- 4th – Outside the Tabernacle… vs. 1-19
- TWO things outside the TABERNACLE – the ALTAR / LAVER – Exodus 30:17-21
- 1st – The ALTAR… vs. 1-8
- The description of the bronze ALTAR …
- A wooden box 7.5’ wide x 7.5’ long x 4.5’ high – overlaid with BRONZE…
- At each of the FOUR corners there were BRONZE horns sticking out…
- It also had FOUR bronze rings on its sides – used to insert TWO bronze poles to carry it!
- The purpose of the ALTAR…
- Those who came to meet with God could only come as far as the ALTAR …
- They came to bring sacrifices – the penalty for their sins – but they could NOT meet God…
- It served as a reminder that sin had to be judged – and sin kept us from God!
- Sin should never be taken lightly – sin brings death – sin brings judgment (bronze) …
- Sin will always separate us from our relationship with God – keep us from the Lord!
- 2nd – The courtyard… vs. 9- 19
- The description of the courtyard…
- A wall of curtains 150 feet long x 75 feet wide x 7.5 feet high around the Tabernacle…
- The curtains were held up by 56 bronze posts – set in 56 bronze bases…
- The tops of the bronze posts were all connected by silver rails to hang the curtains…
- On the EAST side there was a 30 foot entryway into the courtyard…
- The entry was covered with a curtain decorated with purple / blue / and red embroidery!
- The THREE doorways into the Tabernacle…
- FIRST doorway led you into the courtyard – to the Altar of sacrifice…
- SECOND doorway led you into THE HOLY – with the Menorah and Table…
- THIRD doorway led you into the HOLY of HOLIES – the Ark and presence of God!
- All the supports were made from ACACIA wood – from the verb [שֹׁטֵט] – to scourge or whip
- Pictures of the THREE doorways in life…
- The TABERNACLE is an incredible picture of our relationship with God…
- We are born into sin and judgment – Romans 6:23 – the FIRST door to the Altar…
- When we receive Jesus – SCOURGED for us – we enter the SECOND door into THE HOLY…
- When we finally get to go home – heaven – enter the THIRD door into the presence of God!