The Divine Presence of the Lord in the Tabernacle

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Exodus 25: 1-9 (NIV)

•The LORD said to Moses, 2 "Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from each man whose heart prompts him to give. 3 These are the offerings you are to receive from them: gold, silver and bronze; 4 blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair; 5 ram skins dyed red and hides of sea cows [a] ; acacia wood; 6 olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; 7 and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece.  8 "Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. 9 Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.

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Your Church is.....

The Tabernacle in the City

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Why Study the Tabernacle?

• It was in the tabernacle that God demonstrated what was required for man to become "right" with Him

• Each component of the tabernacle pointed to Jesus Christ, the role of the high priest was fulfilled in Christ

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God is very serious about His Sanctuary and about those who serve in His Sanctuary

•Gave specific instructions on how to build the tabernacle (Exodus 25 – Exodus 28)

•Gave specific instructions about the priests (Exodus 28 – Exodus 29)

•The detailed commands that God gave the Israelites for the setting up of the tabernacle demonstrate to us God’s holiness — in order for sinful man to approach a holy God, we must come to God in God’s own prescribed way, and no other way

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The Tabernacle

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The Israelites' Tabernacle

In the Wilderness7

The Tabernacle

• The Gates• The Brazen Altar• The Laver • The Menorah • The Table of Showbread • The Golden Altar of Incense • The Holy of Holies and the Veil• The Ark of the Covenant and Atonement Cover

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The Gate of the Tabernacle (Christ)

• I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

•“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.” (John 10:9)

•By entering, one could find forgiveness of sin and fellowship with God

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The Brazen Altar of the Tabernacle

• Altar of sacrifice• This is a projection of Christ, our sacrifice. The cross,

was His altar,• The altar was the place for burning animal sacrifices. It

showed the Israelites that the first step for sinful man to approach a holy God was to be cleansed by the blood of an innocent creature

• Blood is a significant agent of atonement (covering for sin)

• Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, came as the ultimate and last sacrifice for mankind when He offered up His life– “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out

for many.” (Mark 14:24)

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The Laver of the Tabernacle

• The laver was located in a convenient place for washing and stood as a reminder that people need cleansing before approaching God

• The application for believers today is that we are forgiven through Christ’s work on the cross, but we are washed through His Word.

• We need to be washed daily in His Word to cleanse ourselves, so that we can serve and minister before Him

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The Menorah of the Tabernacle (Golden Lampstand)

• The light shone upon the table of showbread and the altar of incense, enabling the priests to fellowship with God and intercede on behalf of God’s people

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The Table of Showbread of the Tabernacle•Only priests could eat the bread, and it could only be eaten in the Holy Place, because it was holy

•“Showbread” also was called “bread of the presence” because it was to be always in the Lord’s presence

•The table and the bread were a picture of God’s willingness to fellowship and communion with man.

•God was willing for man to enter into His presence to fellowship with Him, and this invitation was always open

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The Golden Altar of Incense of the Tabernacle

• The incense was to be left burning continually throughout the day and night as a pleasing aroma to the Lord

• The incense was a symbol of the prayers and intercession of the people going up to God as a sweet fragrance.

• God wanted His dwelling to be a place where people could approach Him and pray to Him.

• The golden altar, furthermore, is a representation of Christ, who is our intercessor before God the Father.

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The Holy of Holies and the Veil (1/2)

•The Most Holy Place. Judging from its name, we can see that it was a most sacred room, a place no ordinary person could enter

•It was God’s special dwelling place in the midst of His people

•The veil/curtain -- it was shielding a holy God from sinful man

•Whoever entered into the Holy of Holies was entering the very presence of God. In fact, anyone except the high priest who entered the Holy of Holies would die.

•Even the high priest, God’s chosen mediator with His people, could only pass through the veil and enter this sacred dwelling once a year, on a prescribed day called the Day of Atonement. (Yom Kippur – tomorrow 09/18)– On the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) -- the time when the

children of Israel came together to be reconciled to God (Leviticus chapter 16). 1

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The Holy of Holies and the Veil (Continued)

•The picture of the veil was that of a barrier between man and God, showing man that the holiness of God could not be trifled with. God’s eyes are too pure to look on evil and He can tolerate no sin (Habakkuk 1:13).

•The veil was a barrier to make sure that man could not carelessly and irreverently enter into God’s awesome presence. Even as the high priest entered the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement, he had to make some meticulous preparations: He had to wash himself, put on special clothing, bring burning incense to let the smoke cover his eyes from a direct view of God, and bring blood with him to make atonement for sins

•As the veil was torn, the Holy of Holies was exposed. God’s presence was now accessible to all

•We can now boldly enter into God’s presence, “the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf.” (Hebrews 6:19-20)

•The Holy of Holies is a representation of heaven itself, God’s dwelling place, which we have access now through Christ

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The Ark of the Covenant and Atonement Cover (1/2)

• Within the Holy of Holies, shielded from the eye of the common man, was one piece of furniture comprising two parts: the Ark of the Covenant and the atonement cover (or “mercy seat”) on top of it.

• Above the ark and the atonement cover, God appeared in His glory in “unapproachable light” (1 Timothy 6:16). This light is sometimes referred to as the Shekinah glory. The word Shekinah, has the same roots as the word for tabernacle in Hebrew and refers to the presence of the Lord.

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The Ark of the Covenant and Atonement Cover (Continued)

• The Ark was God’s throne among His people– There are quite a number of miracles recorded in the Old

Testament surrounding the ark: With the presence of the ark, the waters of the River Jordan divided so the Israelites could cross on dry land, and the walls of Jericho fell so that the Israelites could capture it (Joshua 3:14-17, 6:6-21).

– The ark could not be treated with irreverence because it was also a symbol of God’s judgment and wrath

– When the Israelites fought their enemies the Philistines during the time of the prophet Samuel, they disregarded the commands of the Lord and took the ark out to the battlefield with them, “summoning” God’s presence. God caused the Philistines to win the battle and “the glory departed from Israel, for the ark of the Lord was taken” (1 Samuel 4:22).

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The Priest

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Consecration• God required consecration before entering the

Tabernacle (Exodus 29)– Exodus 29:44-46

• “44 "So I will consecrate the Tent of Meeting and the altar and will consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve me as priests. 45 Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God. 46 They will know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them out of Egypt so that I might dwell among them. I am the LORD their God”

– Consecrate: to make or declare sacred; set apart or dedicate to the service of a deity• 2 Chronicles 29:31: Then Hezekiah said, "Now that you have

consecrated yourselves to the LORD, come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the house of the LORD." And the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all those who were willing brought burnt offerings

• "You shall consecrate yourselves therefore and be holy, for I am the Lord your God" (Leviticus 20:7)

–Q: If you are in ministry, do you consecrate yourself before coming to the Lord?

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When the Lord is present

• Covenants are made or confirmed (the agreement between God and the ancient Israelites, in which God promised to protect them if they kept His law and were faithful to Him)– Edenic Covenant  (Genesis 1:26-31; 2:16-17): God

provided everything necessary for human existence in the Garden of Eden when man was innocent of all sin.

– Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12:1-4; 13:14-17; 15:1-18; 17:1-8): The purpose of the covenant was to prove to Abraham that God would keep His commitment.

– Mosaic Covenant Exodus 19:4-6 (YHWH's) 19:8 (Israel's) 20:1-31:18      

– Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7:4-16; 1 Chronicles 17:3-15)

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When the Lord is present• Covenants are made or confirmed• Miracles• Healing• Provision is made • Protection is given• Deliverance from demonic spirits• Revelation of knowledge• Blessings poured out• Forgiveness of sins• Love is given• Spiritual Power• Peace• Joy

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