The Place Where the Lord Dwells (Ch26 and Ch27) *All verses in NKJV*
– Exodus 25:1-2, 8-9, Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering… And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. 9 According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it.
– Today we are talking about that place in which the Lord dwells.
Read Exodus 26:1-37
– This is the Tabernacle proper; literally, “the Tent of Meeting,” or the Sanctuary of the Lord.
– The tabernacle was approx. 15’ wide, 15’ high, and 45’ long. It was a tent inside a larger tent that contained the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place, aka “Holy of Holies.”
– The inside was made of gold and fine linen (the color of kings) and was supported by acacia wood overlayed with gold… all of this was made just as beautiful and special as the other furniture that we have been describing in the recent Sunday sermons.
– The beautiful insides were covered from view by a humble goat hair fabric, and a protective layer of leather over that. The inside could not be seen from the outside, and it was protected from harm.
– A curtain of fine linen, or Viel, was inside that separated the Holy place from the Most Holy Place. The Holy Place held the incense, the table and show bread, and the lampstand. The Most Holy Place held the Ark of the Covenant with the Mercy Seat, and contained the presence of God, Himself!
Read Exodus 27:1-8 (The Alter of Burnt Offering)
– The alter was located in the outer courts, not inside the tabernacle proper, but in the area surrounding it. It was used for animal sacrifices and giving a burnt offering to God.
– The “horns” of the alter were protrusions sticking up from the corners of the structure. The animal would be fastened to the altar with cords during the sacrifice to ensure that it did not fall off the altar and become impure. This was called binding.
– The “binding” of the sacrifice commits it to the Lord. Abraham bound Isaac to the alter in the wilderness as God commanded… Jesus was bound to the cross as a willingly sacrifice for our sins.
– These horns represented God’s grace and mercy, and a reprieve from judgement. This became a way to beg for mercy from the king, as someone would “take ahold of the horns” of the alter…
(Example: in 1 Kings 1:50-51… Adonijah attempted to steal the throne from Solomon; so he went and took hold of the horns of the altar….)
Read Exodus 27:9-21 (The outer courtyard)
– The plans for the courtyard called for walls made of woven linen in a rectangle 150’x75’, with a 30’ opening on one end. There was a curtain shielding the entry. This enclosure was open to the sky.
– This area contained the alter of burnt offering and the wash basin.
– Its dimensions kept the inside of the courts (or sanctuary, the area of worship and offering), set apart as holy and special. A place for those engaged in worship to share the experience. (Church?)
– Sin separates people from God. The tabernacle provided a temporary means by which the Israelites could experience God’s presence without being destroyed by it. The tabernacle shows us in a tangible way what is required to enter Gods presence.
– There are walls surrounding the courtyard area that separate it from the outside world. Showing us that it is set apart for holy purposes. All may enter, but not take it as a common thing. (The church.)
– Psalm 100:4-5, Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. 5 For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.
– The alter, a place of necessary atonement and mercy from our sins, the first thing located within the courts, showing us sin must be dealt with FIRST, to be in God’s presence.
– The wash basin is next. You must have clean hands and a clean heart to go further.
– In the Tabernacle is the Holy Place, containing the “the bread of life” and “the light of the world”. Only the High Priest could enter here and make intercession for the people before God.
– There is a veil separating the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies, that restricts access to the Father. It must be removed to be in the presence of God. Only the High Priest may enter here to sprinkle the blood of the sacrifice for sin on the mercy seat, for the forgiveness of all our sins.
This is a picture of what Christ has done for us!
– Jesus has fulfilled everything in the tabernacle and what it is meant to represent!
– JESUS is our sacrifice for sin as we cling to the altar’s “horns” and beg for mercy. JESUS cleanses us from all unrighteousness, so that we may approach God’s presence.
– 1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
– JESUS is our High Priest who intercedes before the Father on our behalf and removes the veil so we can have full access to the Father through him alone.
– Matthew 27:50-51, And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split,
– John 14:6, Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
– When Jesus died on the cross to forgive our sins, he sprinkled his own blood on the Mercy Seat in Heaven, and the veil separating us from the Father was removed. Those who have salvation through Jesus now have full access to the Holy Place of God!
– Jesus has created a place for us to be set apart, to experience what is holy, to worship, to sacrifice, and be in the Lord’s presence as a community… that is the local church!
– The author of Hebrews explains it like this…
– Hebrews 8:1-2 and 6, Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man…. 6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.
– Hebrews 9:11-12 and 24, But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption… 24 For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;
WE are now the place where the Lord dwells.
– 1 Cor 3:16-17, Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
– 1 Cor 6:19, Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
– The tabernacle was a foreshadowing of the presence of God that you and I get to walk in and experience every single day if you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
– The outside of you may be rough leather and goat hair, but the inside can be fine linen and gold!
– Eph 3:16-17, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;
– prayer –
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