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EXODUS 25 BY RABBI ESTHER BOUCHER |
The Tabernacle was to be built from the contributions of the children
of Yisrael. Only free will offerings were to be accepted, because the
L-rd seeks after the willing heart. The Tabernacle is filled with rich
symbolism.
Exodus 25:8 we see the final covenant ritual performed at Mt. Sinai
with a covenant meal. G-d calls Moses up into the cloud over the
mountain and tells him to let the Israelites construct a sanctuary for
Him that He may dwell with them. In Jewish wedding custom a
special bridal chamber was prepared for the bride and groom.
Following the wedding ceremony the consummation of the marriage
took place in the bridal chamber. The Tabernacle will be the place
where the covenant is celebrated and renewed. If the covenant offer
can be spoken of as a betrothal and the covenary ceremony the
wedding, then the tabernacle can be the bridal chamber. The L-rd
sought to bring Israel, His bride, into the tent of the Tabernacle. In
Judaism marriage and the marital act are called Kiddushin (holiness).
The Tabernacle is to be a Holy Place. The word holy Kadosh
literally means set aside or separate. The Sabbath, the festivals, the
Tabernacle, the sacrifices, the priesthood, even Israel itself is all
separated for G-d. Mount Sinai and the holy place of the
Tabernacle. In Exodus 19 Moses is told to mark boundaries, they
clearly delineated between the holy/unholy places. Similar
boundaries existed within the Tabernacle. Only Moses, Aaron, his
sons and the elders of the tribes were allowed to ascend the
mountain. In the same way only Moses and the priest were allowed
to go into the Tabernacle proper. The priest however were not
allowed in the holy of holies. Only the high priest could access the
most Holy Place. In the same way only Moses could ascend the
mountain and enter the Cloud of glory and the presence of G-d. In
order for the covenant to be celebrated, maintained and renewed it
was necessary for Israel to take the Mount Sinai experience with
them. The Tabernacle was the means by which they could do that.
As G-d described each article of the Tabernacle to Moses, He
showed Moses the real one in heaven. In Hebrews, the Temple on
earth is regarded as an earthly reflection of the real Temple in
heaven. Isaiah speaks of an altar in heaven tended by angels, John
in Revelation speaks of seeing the throne of G-d, an alter, an incense
alter lampstands and even the Ark of the Covenant. Building the
Tabernacle is about making Heaven on Earth. We are to apply
ourselves to the task of seeing our Father’s will done on Earth as it is
in heaven. The relationship cannot be casual. G-d is separate. He is
Holy. There are rules to play by. There are limits to the
interaction. For the Holy One to dwell among human kind,
accommodations have to be made. It is not a slight thing to enter
into covenant with the Living G-d. We now as individuals become
the dwelling place for the presence of G-d. The believers became
dwelling places, like little tabernacles inside the Temple itself. Each
believer is a part of the greater Temple, the whole of the people of G-
d, members of His body.
The Throne Room = Holy of Holies. The ark is His throne; the one
who dwells between the cherubim upon the ark is to be worshiped.
The Holy of Holies was His Throne on earth. Cherubim of gold
represented the adoring heavenly host that surrounds His eternal
throne. Cherubim are found in the veils, the partition screen and
ark. Their presence indicates G-d is near. Secondly they elude to
the way to Eden; where G-d walked and had relationship with
human kind.
The Table and Bread = bread of the presence is called that because it
remains continually in the presence of G-d. The entire area in front
of the Holy of Holies is called the presence of G-d. 12 loaves = 12
tribes. In the second temple area the bread was huge filling the table
on racks. Ex. 25:23-30 the bread was baked fresh and placed before
the L-rd each Sabbath. The bread was offered to the L-rd and then
the priest. Thus we have a shared meal. As we participate in
Messiah we continually renew our covenant with G-d through Him.
As we remain in Messiah, we remain in the presence of G-d
continually. He is the Bread of Life and He is continually in the
presence of G-d on our behalf.
The Menorah served to light the Tabernacle. The seven lamps
correspond to the Divine number. Verse 31-40 we see the imagery
of the almond motif. In Hebrew the almond is called sha’ked which
means diligence, perseverance and watchfulness. Remember on
Sinai G-d’s glory appeared as burning fire. So too within the
Tabernacle, the blazing light of the Menorah burns before the Holy
of Holies, the place in which G-d’s glory resided. There were two
alters in the Tabernacle: the alter of the burnt offering and the altar
of incense. The altar of burnt offerings served both as ornamental
and a ritual function. The building of the sin offerings were smeared
on the horns. The burnt offering continually burned. Wine libations
were poured over the horns. A fire was to be kept burning
continually. No rain ever quenched the fire of the woodpile on the
altar. This altar was as close as the common Israelite could come.
The altar is metaphorically spoken of as the Table of G-d. The
significance of the altar for believers is that it speaks of the sacrificial
death of Messiah. Through Messiah’s sacrifice, atonement has been
made for the world to come. All Israel had access to the outer court,
but only if they were in a state of purity. Within the court yard the
celebrations, the worship, the prayers, the songs and psalms of the
people were offered before the altar. The priesthood daily
pronounced their blessing over the children of Israel. The outer
court of the Tabernacle was regarded as a place of prophetic
inspiration. The Levites assembled, the psalms sung, the sacrifices
made, the smoke rising from the altar as the King made his petitions
to G-d. No sooner had the prayer left his lips than the Holy Spirit of
prophecy came upon one of the Levites and he would deliver the
message from G-d. It was the common expectation of the Israelites
to receive counsel from the L-rd when visiting the Temple. To stand
within the courtyard was like standing at the front of Mount Sinai.
As the body of Messiah, we believers have become His physical
representation on earth. We are the Holy place because we have
been made holy through Him. We are the dwelling place because we
have received the presence of His anointing Spirit. Along with all
Israel, we are the bride of whom the L-rd has declared, “they will be
my people, and I will be their G-d.” We are the bride of messiah,
brought into His bridal chamber.
of Yisrael. Only free will offerings were to be accepted, because the
L-rd seeks after the willing heart. The Tabernacle is filled with rich
symbolism.
Exodus 25:8 we see the final covenant ritual performed at Mt. Sinai
with a covenant meal. G-d calls Moses up into the cloud over the
mountain and tells him to let the Israelites construct a sanctuary for
Him that He may dwell with them. In Jewish wedding custom a
special bridal chamber was prepared for the bride and groom.
Following the wedding ceremony the consummation of the marriage
took place in the bridal chamber. The Tabernacle will be the place
where the covenant is celebrated and renewed. If the covenant offer
can be spoken of as a betrothal and the covenary ceremony the
wedding, then the tabernacle can be the bridal chamber. The L-rd
sought to bring Israel, His bride, into the tent of the Tabernacle. In
Judaism marriage and the marital act are called Kiddushin (holiness).
The Tabernacle is to be a Holy Place. The word holy Kadosh
literally means set aside or separate. The Sabbath, the festivals, the
Tabernacle, the sacrifices, the priesthood, even Israel itself is all
separated for G-d. Mount Sinai and the holy place of the
Tabernacle. In Exodus 19 Moses is told to mark boundaries, they
clearly delineated between the holy/unholy places. Similar
boundaries existed within the Tabernacle. Only Moses, Aaron, his
sons and the elders of the tribes were allowed to ascend the
mountain. In the same way only Moses and the priest were allowed
to go into the Tabernacle proper. The priest however were not
allowed in the holy of holies. Only the high priest could access the
most Holy Place. In the same way only Moses could ascend the
mountain and enter the Cloud of glory and the presence of G-d. In
order for the covenant to be celebrated, maintained and renewed it
was necessary for Israel to take the Mount Sinai experience with
them. The Tabernacle was the means by which they could do that.
As G-d described each article of the Tabernacle to Moses, He
showed Moses the real one in heaven. In Hebrews, the Temple on
earth is regarded as an earthly reflection of the real Temple in
heaven. Isaiah speaks of an altar in heaven tended by angels, John
in Revelation speaks of seeing the throne of G-d, an alter, an incense
alter lampstands and even the Ark of the Covenant. Building the
Tabernacle is about making Heaven on Earth. We are to apply
ourselves to the task of seeing our Father’s will done on Earth as it is
in heaven. The relationship cannot be casual. G-d is separate. He is
Holy. There are rules to play by. There are limits to the
interaction. For the Holy One to dwell among human kind,
accommodations have to be made. It is not a slight thing to enter
into covenant with the Living G-d. We now as individuals become
the dwelling place for the presence of G-d. The believers became
dwelling places, like little tabernacles inside the Temple itself. Each
believer is a part of the greater Temple, the whole of the people of G-
d, members of His body.
The Throne Room = Holy of Holies. The ark is His throne; the one
who dwells between the cherubim upon the ark is to be worshiped.
The Holy of Holies was His Throne on earth. Cherubim of gold
represented the adoring heavenly host that surrounds His eternal
throne. Cherubim are found in the veils, the partition screen and
ark. Their presence indicates G-d is near. Secondly they elude to
the way to Eden; where G-d walked and had relationship with
human kind.
The Table and Bread = bread of the presence is called that because it
remains continually in the presence of G-d. The entire area in front
of the Holy of Holies is called the presence of G-d. 12 loaves = 12
tribes. In the second temple area the bread was huge filling the table
on racks. Ex. 25:23-30 the bread was baked fresh and placed before
the L-rd each Sabbath. The bread was offered to the L-rd and then
the priest. Thus we have a shared meal. As we participate in
Messiah we continually renew our covenant with G-d through Him.
As we remain in Messiah, we remain in the presence of G-d
continually. He is the Bread of Life and He is continually in the
presence of G-d on our behalf.
The Menorah served to light the Tabernacle. The seven lamps
correspond to the Divine number. Verse 31-40 we see the imagery
of the almond motif. In Hebrew the almond is called sha’ked which
means diligence, perseverance and watchfulness. Remember on
Sinai G-d’s glory appeared as burning fire. So too within the
Tabernacle, the blazing light of the Menorah burns before the Holy
of Holies, the place in which G-d’s glory resided. There were two
alters in the Tabernacle: the alter of the burnt offering and the altar
of incense. The altar of burnt offerings served both as ornamental
and a ritual function. The building of the sin offerings were smeared
on the horns. The burnt offering continually burned. Wine libations
were poured over the horns. A fire was to be kept burning
continually. No rain ever quenched the fire of the woodpile on the
altar. This altar was as close as the common Israelite could come.
The altar is metaphorically spoken of as the Table of G-d. The
significance of the altar for believers is that it speaks of the sacrificial
death of Messiah. Through Messiah’s sacrifice, atonement has been
made for the world to come. All Israel had access to the outer court,
but only if they were in a state of purity. Within the court yard the
celebrations, the worship, the prayers, the songs and psalms of the
people were offered before the altar. The priesthood daily
pronounced their blessing over the children of Israel. The outer
court of the Tabernacle was regarded as a place of prophetic
inspiration. The Levites assembled, the psalms sung, the sacrifices
made, the smoke rising from the altar as the King made his petitions
to G-d. No sooner had the prayer left his lips than the Holy Spirit of
prophecy came upon one of the Levites and he would deliver the
message from G-d. It was the common expectation of the Israelites
to receive counsel from the L-rd when visiting the Temple. To stand
within the courtyard was like standing at the front of Mount Sinai.
As the body of Messiah, we believers have become His physical
representation on earth. We are the Holy place because we have
been made holy through Him. We are the dwelling place because we
have received the presence of His anointing Spirit. Along with all
Israel, we are the bride of whom the L-rd has declared, “they will be
my people, and I will be their G-d.” We are the bride of messiah,
brought into His bridal chamber.
Ministry of Gates of Praise Ministries, Inc. Copyright Gates of Praise Ministries 2007