The Tabernacle

[Pastor_Bob]

The study of the Tabernacle is a fascinating study. It is filled with many symbols and types of the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. My personal favorite type is the symbolism of the Mercy Seat.

The Mercy Seat covered the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark contained, among other things, the law of God. Mankind has broken the law of God. Only by the Mercy Seat, sprinkled with the blood of the sacrifice, could man obtain atonement for his sins. Without the blood-sprinkled Mercy Seat, man would face the wrath and judgment of God.

1 Samuel 6:19 And he smote the men of Baksheesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the LORD had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter.

When these men removed the Mercy Seat to look inside the ark, they came face to face with the broken law of God without the blood covering and came face-to-face with the justice of God. Without the blood, men are doomed. The symbolism of the blood of Christ is quite obvious.

I am curious if others have a favorite type or symbol presented in the Tabernacle.

 

[amity]

I would be interested to hear what you think of the tabernacle as a metaphor for life. It is only temporary, is constantly moving, has no fixed home, etc. Like the human body with the Spirit of God indwelling.

Someone also once delivered a beautiful sermon on the significance of the skins covering it and the beauty that lay underneath the outward humility. Wish I could remember the particulars of this one. Would have to get my church Bible and read the notes.

 

[skypair]

Brother Bob,

There are so many analogies and meanings. One I like best and is most obscure so far as students of scripture is concerned is the tabernacle in heaven in The Revelation. What fascinates me is the movement from the altar of burnt offering to the Holy of holies at the end. In Rev 6 we see that altar with the blood of the saints below -- who sacrificed their lives and, upon arriving in heaven naked, receive white robes. But their lives (I believe of the left behind church converts) were the sacrifice of the trib for the gospel sake. There is more to this one but I better study up before contunuing on that line.

There's another I see --- like amity says, our own bodies. The Holy of holies is our soul where the blood gives us a "perfect conscience" before God. Then there is the "holy place" where the shewbread, menorah, and incense altar represent the mind, emotions and will of our own spirits. We are to feast on the knowledge of God by the light of the love of the Spirit and turn our wills to offerings of worship to God, a sweet savor! And, of course, the outer court is the body or flesh where the "dirty work" of worship in the midst of the world is conducted.

I've heard the tabernacle compared to Christ. The main note that differed from the above was that the outside looks 1) white/pure per the outer court panels and 2) ugly ("He was not handsome that we should desire Him") per the seal skin cover of the holy place.

It's a really HUGE subject and I am looking forward to other peoples' inputs, Bob.

skypair

 

[richard n koustas]

First of all, I would like to say that the best book i have ever read on the tabernacle is a little book by Ada Habershon: Outline Studies of the Tabernacle. It is only 60 pages long.

The tabernacle has always facinated me. i have recently begun a study of the tabernacle in the NT books authored by John. Here is my [very preliminary] outline:

The Tabernacle According to John:

The Tabernacle According to the Gospel of John
And the Word became flesh, and did tabernacle among
us, and we beheld his glory, glory as of an only
begotten of a father, full of grace and truth. – John
1:14 YLT

The Plan View

The Outer Court (John 1-12)

The Laver (13)

The Holy Place (14-16)

The Holiest of Holy Place (17)

The Walk-through (He Is)

Lamb of God

Bread (6:35)

Light (8:12, 9:5)
Resurrection and Life (11:25)
The Way…no one comes to the Father (14:6)

The Shepherd’s Hut

Door (10:7)

The Good Shepherd (10:14) –

First Epistle of John

Burnt Offering (1:1-3)

Peace Offering (1:3, 6)

Sin or Trespass Offering (1:7)

Light (1:5-7, 2:8-11)

Laver (1:9)

Revelation

Earthly Tabernacle

Candlestick (1:12-20, 2:1-5,

Sea (Laver) (4:6)

Throne (Mercy Seat) (4:2,

Golden Alter of Incense (8:3)

The Heavenly Tabernacle

 

[J. Jump]

M.R. DeHaan also has a book on the Tabernacle. I didn't know Habershon had a book on the Tabernacle, but I will have to check that out.

One could probably spend a lifetime studying only the Tabernacle and never dig to the bottom of its depths. God's Word just continues to amaze me!

 

[richard n koustas]

James Strong (of Strong's Concordance fame) also wrote a book on the tabernacle. i have not read it yet. Funny how with so many books being written these days how few are on the taberancle.

 

[J. Jump]

There's not much emphasis placed on the OT in my opinion these days, so not as many books on the OT.

 

[richard n koustas]

Back to the OP

I am curious if others have a favorite type or symbol presented in the Tabernacle.

I think that my favorite is the laver. just like the priest of old, we get dirty and need to be cleaned. the brazen alter symbolized justification and the laver symbolized sanctification. both are necessary before we can approach God. the laver is the only thing in the tabernacle that was not dictated a size or shape, symbolizing that there is no limit to God's mercy. It was also made of the mirrors from the women. what are mirrors used for? to check to see how we look (becausee we are vain and/or not perfect). Think about it, one day, we won't need mirrors, either!

 

[richard n koustas]

How 'Bout Those Silver Sockets?

Here is something I wrote for a different board a couple years ago regarding the silver sockets:

When they had come to Capernaum, those who received the temple tax
came to Peter and said, "Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?"
He said, "Yes."
And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying,
"What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take
customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?" Peter said to
Him, "From strangers."
Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are free. Nevertheless, lest we
offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that
comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a
piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you." – Matt.
17:24-27

To find the origin of this `temple tax' or `tribute' (in the KJV), one
must go way back to the Old Testament. That's right, to the
construction of the tabernacle. In addition to the free will
offering, a tax was instituted for every man that was old enough to go
to war. The cost ½ shekel per man. It did not matter if he was rich
or poor, old or young, married or not. Each was required to pay the
tax. The tax was called the redemption tax or atonement money or "a
ransom for his soul unto the Lord". (Ex. 26:19-23, 30:11-16)

Literally tons of silver (money) was collected, but coins were not
used to purchase anything. They were melted down. Sockets were made
from the silver. The actual shape of the sockets is not given, but we
do know that each board (that made the walls around the sanctuary (the
holy place and the holiest of holy place)) was supported by 2 sockets,
and each socket weighed about 100 pounds. The sockets were the
foundation of the tabernacle. They held the boards up and off the sand.

The foundation of the tabernacle, where God met the sinner, was paid with
the redemption of men.
The foundation of the tabernacle, where God dwelt among sinners, was
paid with the redemption of men.
The foundation of the tabernacle, where God revealed Himself to the
sinner, was paid with the redemption of men.
The foundation of the tabernacle, where God accepted the sinner, was
paid with the redemption of men.
The foundation of the tabernacle, where God forgave the sinner, was
paid with the redemption of men.
The foundation of the tabernacle, where God received the sinner, was
paid with the redemption of men.

Aren't the silver sockets a great picture of Christ? The men in the
wilderness paid for the ransom for their souls by the tribute. Christ
paid the ransom for us, with His sacrificial death on the cross. He
paid the price, not with silver, but with His precious blood. This is
the foundation for us. Jesus said of Peter's confession "upon this
rock I will build my church."

In the words of that great hymn by Samuel Stone

The church's one foundation
is Jesus Christ her Lord;
she is his new creation
by water and the Word.
From heaven he came and sought her
to be his holy bride;
with his own blood he bought her,
and for her life he died.