Furthermore
we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them
reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of
spirits, and live?
(Heb 12:8-9)
40 Let all things be done decently
and in order (1
Cor 14:40)
Meticulous attention to detail and a conviction to obey, precisely, the Words
of the Lord, are the salient points of these latter chapters of Exodus. There
is no a single Word of Scripture that does not bear the utmost importance to
us. Reading the introductory verses from Hebrews and 1 Corinthians, we see that
it is a character and practice of the devout Christian to pay the utmost
reverence to God (especially in worship – before and after), and to do all
things in good order. Reverence for God’s Presence, and Holy, decent order in
worship, are two qualities that are missing in most modern-day churches. Where
there is not a Godly order in worship, the service will fall into those
practices devised by man and which will not remain holy and reverential. Need I
point out those aberrant AND abhorrent practices of unrestrained carnal worship
of the charismatic’s and many TV evangelists? Thus, God sets standards and
limits to worship, and it is always in good order and reverential if it is
acceptable to God. (forgive my polemical approach to theology)
1 And
Bezaleel made the ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half was the length of
it, and a cubit and a half the breadth of it, and a cubit and a half the height
of it: 2 And he overlaid it with pure
gold within and without, and made a crown of gold to it round about. 3 And he cast for it four
rings of gold, to be set by the four corners of it; even two rings upon the one
side of it, and two rings upon the other side of it. 4 And he made staves of shittim
wood, and overlaid them with gold. 5 And he put the staves into the
rings by the sides of the ark, to bear the ark. 6 And he made the mercy seat of
pure gold: two cubits and a half was the length thereof, and one cubit and a
half the breadth thereof. 7 And he made two cherubims of
gold, beaten out of one piece made he them, on the two ends of the mercy seat; 8 One cherub on the end on this
side, and another cherub on the other end on that side: out of the mercy seat
made he the cherubims on the two ends thereof. 9 And the cherubims spread
out their wings on high, and covered with their wings over the mercy seat, with
their faces one to another; even to the mercy seatward were the faces of the
cherubims. (Ex 37:1-9)
The Ark, representing the very abode of God in His Justice and Righteousness,
was the first article of furniture made by Bezaleel, and it was made of pure
gold. The Ark of the Covenant was made first, because it represented the
essential contract between God and His People, if He would deign to allow their
abode with Him. Though God is LOVE, He is first of all righteous and just. God
has given us His Laws to obey. The Tables of the Law were contained in the Ark
to establish the fact that God requires a perfect righteousness of His people.
It also represents the place of safety for God’s people.
The first Ark of Noah was a shadow of that Ark to come for
the Tabernacle and, later, the Temple; and this, too, was a foreshadow of that
perfect Ark of Safety to come in the Person of the only Begotten Son of God! It
not only contained the Law, but also the Manna (or Bread which came down from
Heaven) which also alludes to Jesus Christ who is the Bread of Heaven. I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never
hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. But I said unto you,
That ye also have seen me, and believe not. All that the Father giveth me shall
come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came
down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath
given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
(John
6:35-39)
The Ark was covered by two winged-Cherubim who covered the
Ark and faced toward its center which was the MERCY SEAT. The Mercy Seat was
the lid (or door) to the Ark and represents the redemption from sin made
available by the Father through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus. Without mercy,
we stand naked and unjustified before a Holy God!
10 And he made the table of
shittim wood: two cubits was the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth
thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof: 11 And he overlaid it with pure
gold, and made thereunto a crown of gold round about. 12 Also he made thereunto a border
of an handbreadth round about; and made a crown of gold for the border thereof
round about. 13 And he cast for it four rings of
gold, and put the rings upon the four corners that were in the four feet thereof.
14 Over against the border were the
rings, the places for the staves to bear the table. 15 And he made the staves of
shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold, to bear the table. 16 And he made the vessels which
were upon the table, his dishes, and his spoons, and his bowls, and his covers
to cover withal, of pure gold. (Ex
37:10-16)
Next in order of construction was the Shew Bread Table (or
the Table for the Bread of Presence). This Table will seem familiar to those
who observe the proper serving of the Holy Communion by partaking of the Bread
of the Spiritual Presence of Christ (His Body) at the Table of the Lord. Facing
the Most Holy Place, the Shew Bread Table (representing the continual Presence
of Christ to us) was on the right side of the Holy Place. The Presence of God
the Father is represented, I believe, by the Ark and Most Holy Place, in the
Tabernacle. Jesus Christ, being the Second Person of the Godhead, is
represented (in the Tabernacle of the time) by the Bread of Presence which must
be passed in order to reach the Ark. We cannot approach God in His
righteousness without having Christ as our Passover. On the way to Mount Sinai,
the people first passed by Mount Horeb from which the Great Rock effused a merciful
Fountain of Living Waters. That Rock was Christ!
Finally, the Candlestick of Seven Lights was made to stand
across from the Shew Bread Table on the left side of the Holy Place as one
faces the Most Holy Place and Vail. 17 And he made the
candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work made he the candlestick; his shaft,
and his branch, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, were of the same: 18 And six branches going out of
the sides thereof; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side
thereof, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side thereof: 19 Three bowls made after the
fashion of almonds in one branch, a knop and a flower; and three bowls made
like almonds in another branch, a knop and a flower: so throughout the six
branches going out of the candlestick. 20 And in the candlestick were four
bowls made like almonds, his knops, and his flowers: 21 And a knop under two branches of
the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two
branches of the same, according to the six branches going out of it. 22 Their knops and their branches
were of the same: all of it was one beaten work of pure gold. 23 And he made his seven lamps, and
his snuffers, and his snuffdishes, of pure gold. 24 Of a talent of pure gold made he
it, and all the vessels thereof. (Ex
37:17-24) This
Candlestick with her Seven Lights must represent the revealing Light of the
Holy Ghost. But the Comforter, which is the
Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things,
and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
(John 14:26)
I might add that light itself is invisible. It is manifested by the things that
it reveals to our vision. The Holy Ghost does not speak of Himself, but always
points to the Lord Jesus Christ – unlike the false beliefs of some churches.
So we have the Three Persons of the Godhead revealed in the tabernacle
furniture. The Ark (Father), the Bread of Presence (Son), and the Candlestick
(Holy Ghost). The Holy Ghost opens our eyes, in light, to the Son which
provides us access to the Father. So what else is needed? To come to Christ
means that we must accept His sacrifice on our behalf through repentance. So,
for our prayers, the Tabernacle needed an Altar of Incense.
25 And
he made the incense altar of shittim wood: the length of it was a cubit, and
the breadth of it a cubit; it was foursquare; and two cubits was the height of
it; the horns thereof were of the same. 26 And he overlaid it with pure gold,
both the top of it, and the sides thereof round about, and the horns of it:
also he made unto it a crown of gold round about. 27 And he made two rings of gold
for it under the crown thereof, by the two corners of it, upon the two sides
thereof, to be places for the staves to bear it withal. 28 And he made the staves of
shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold. 29 And he made the holy anointing
oil, and the pure incense of sweet spices, according to the work of the
apothecary. (Ex 37:25-29)
You will remember the Bronze Altar at the entrance to the court of the
Tabernacle. This represented the sacrifice of Christ for our sins. But now we
have an Altar of Incense past the Shew Bread Table and Candlestick that stands
immediately before the Vail of the Ark. This is an altar of prayer – prayer is
represented by the incense rising to God from the people. Once we have accepted
the sacrifice of Christ (at the Bronze Altar) we may now proceed to the
continual Presence of Christ in the Holy Place. He is always with us! But we
may oft times fail in our obedience. Our prayers of repentance stand before the
Most Holy Place at which we plead the blood of Christ for our forgiveness and
supplication. By His death, Jesus rent the Vail from top to bottom affording us
direct access to the Father’s Throne of Mercy.
I must admit that this may seem a bit difficult for those not deeply committed
to Bible study; but I have set the meanings forth as simply as I know how.
Knowing the mysteries of the Tabernacle will help us to better understand the
nature of Christ and the Godhead as revealed more abundantly in the Gospels.
