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Reference: Tabernacle, The

Morish

This is variously styled the 'tabernacle of testimony, or of witness,' the 'tabernacle of the congregation,' or 'tent of meeting.' It was the place recognised by Jehovah, where, as dwelling among them, He met His people, and where in separation from the outer world His will was made known. It was to be made after the pattern shown to Moses in the mount, and when it was completed Moses bore witness that it had been constructed as the Lord had commanded. It is worthy of notice that none of its details were left to the ingenuity of Moses: he had simply to carry out his instructions. We read in the N.T. that the things made were patterns of things in the heavens, but not the very image of them; they were patterns of things that were before God, which were not to be materialised.

The tabernacle with its sacrifices was God's way of displaying Himself, and His way for man's approach to Himself. Any one drawing near to the tabernacle would see first its court, a space enclosed with curtains hanging from pillars. This was a hundred cubits long and fifty cubits broad. On entering the court by its one gate the first thing approached was the brazen altar. This altar was the place of approach for the people. The burnt offering was the ground of acceptance for a people on earth. The place of approach for the priestly family was the golden altar in the holy (place); but the way into the holiest was not yet made manifest. Heb 9:8.

Between the brazen altar and the holy (place) stood the laver, at which the priests washed their hands and feet whenever they drew near to minister. The holy (place) contained the table of showbread on the north, the golden candlestick on the south, and the altar of incense 'before the vail' in the centre. Here the priests ministered daily, burning sweet incense: type of Christ's intercession, and of the perfections of His Person and work, not seen here as meeting man's need, but as for the delight of God, His Father. The lamps were burning 'continually,' but apparently only in the night: cf. Ex 30:7-8; Le 24:2-3; 2Ch 13:11. The light typified the manifestation of God by the Spirit, the seven lamps being figurative of heavenly completeness. Twelve loaves were constantly on the table, typical of Israel in association with Christ before God, and of God's bounty which will be administered through Israel (twelve loaves) to the earth in the kingdom. The holy (place), or 'first tabernacle' refers to the things of Israel. Inside the second veil was the holy of holies, in which was the ark (q.v.) with the cherubim, typical of the throne of God. It figured the approach which Christians now have to the presence of God, because Christ has made a new and living way for them by entering in Himself as their great Priest. Heb 10:19.

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