Bible Study Week 4
Part 3
From the Tabernacle to the Cross
The Altar of Sacrifice
The priest approached the Tabernacle first by way of the brazen altar, and there he offered the sacrifice for sin. It was a place of death and shedding blood. I represents the death of Jesus, which purchased our salvation. It also points to repentance, which is our identification with the death of Jesus and our personal death to sin and self-will. Everyone must approach God through repentance. Jesus said, "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3).
It was not merely the altar that gave the worshiper access to the Holy Place, by the putting away of his sins; there had to be a sacrifice upon the altar. Without the brazen altar, all else, no matter how magnificent, was useless. Everyone had to come to God by the way of the altar.
All the priests, their garments, the sacred vessels, and everything else were unfit for service until the blood shed at the brazen altar touched and sanctified them.
Here is the story of the cross of Christ, Calvary. There is no pardon, no righteousness, no peace, no grace, no blessings, and no salvation without the sacrifice of the Cross. the altar represents the shedding of blood and the death of Jesus. And without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins (Hebrews 9:22).
The fire upon the altar was never to go out (Leviticus 6:13). There is no hour, day or night, that a transgressor cannot find the atonement of Calvary.
The Laver of Water
Just before the door of the Tabernacle stood the brazen laver, where the priest was required to wash his hands and feet. God told them to wash "that the die not" (Exodus 30:21). At their initial consecration to the priesthood, the priests were washed completely. The laver points to the cleansing from sin we have in Jesus--the initial washing at water baptism, which is for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38), and the continual cleansing we have thereafter (I John 1:7). When we are baptized, God washes away our sins (Acts 22:16). Jesus said, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark 16:16). "Baptism doth also now save us" (I Peter 3:21). "But ye are washed, but ye are sacrificed, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus" (I Corinthians 6:11). (See also Exodus 30:18=21)
In the New Testament experience of salvation, repentance comes first, which is a death with Christ, a death of sin. Then comes water baptism, which is a washing and a burial with Christ (Romans 6:3-4).
The Holy Place
In the Holy Place was the golden candlestick (lampstand), the table of showbread, and the altar of incense. These pieces of furniture point to Jesus Christ and tour life in Christ through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
The Golden Candlestick
The candlestick was of pure gold, with seven branches coming forth from the stand. It provides the only light in the Tabernacle. It points to Jesus, who is the true Light. Just as the candlestick was of beaten gold, so Christ was first beaten before we could receive His light. The priest had to have the light to guide him in his priestly duties, just as we must be led by the light of the Spirit in true worship. (See Exodus 25:31-40)
The Table of Showbread
The table of showbread was approximately three feet by eighteen inches and was twenty-seven inches high. It was made of acacia wood overlaid with pure gold. On the table of showbread were twelve loaves of unleavened bread, which were eaten by the high priest and his sons in the Holy Place. The showbread provided sustenance for the priest. It points to Jesus, who is the Bread of Life, and to His word, which is food for the soul. Just as the table exhibited the bread, so the Christian life shows forth Jesus to a dying world. (See Exodus 25:23-30)
The Altar of Incense
The altar of incense was also made of acacia wood overlaid with gold. It represents prayers to God (Revelation 5:8). The incense was offered to God each morning and evening.
Likewise, we should pray each day. The aroma of the incense went up when the incense was put on the fire. Likewise, God hears the "effectual fervent prayer" of the righteous person (James 5:16).
The fire for the altar of incense came from the brazen altar of sacrifice, signifying that before there can be true prayer and praise (worship) there must first be death to sin and self. The altar was located before the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. Prayer is the beautiful experience that draws us into the very presence of God. (See Exodus 30:1-10)
The Holy of Holies
Behind the veil at the west end of the Holy Place was the Holy of Holies, which was the dwelling place of God. In the Holy of Holies was the Ark of the Covenant, which contained Aaron's rod that budded, the tables of stone (Ten Commandments), and a golden pot of manna. The Holy of Holies represents the presence of God Himself, which we enjoy in our lives today by the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
The budding rod is a type of Christ in that it showed the miracle of new life. Live buds and almonds sprang forth from Aaron's dead rod to establish his priesthood (Numbers 17:8). The golden pot of manna was a reminder of God's ability to provide miraculously for the needs of His children during their journey through the wilderness. The law written upon tables of stone gave God's direction to the nation of Israel. Resting on the top of the Ark was the Mercy Seat, made of pure gold. The Mercy Seat was stained with the blood of an innocent sacrifice. It represents the redemptive work of Christ's death. "According to his mercy he saved us" (Titus 3:5). The Mercy Seat was God's throne to His people. The Tabernacle was located in the center of all the tribes of Israel. God, the church, and His will must be in the center of our lives as well. When Israel was traveling, the Ark was carried before the people, just as we are to follow the Lord in our walk with Him. At the death of Jesus, the veil of the Temple was torn in to from top to bottom, opening the approach to the throne of God. The torn veil represents two things: each person now has direct access into the presence of God, and God's glory is now revealed so that everyone can be filled with the Holy Spirit.
From the Tabernacle to the Cross
"The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith" (Galatians 3:24). The mission and the object of the Law was the Cross. The things shown to Moses point to the One who was to come, even Jesus.
In particular, every aspect of the Tabernacle points to Jesus and His atoning work for our salvation. In the court stood the brazen altar, the first object approached by the priest as he started toward the Holy Place. The brazen laver stood between the altar and the door of the Tabernacle. Upon entering into the Holy Place, the priest saw the golden lampstand with its seven branches on one side of the Tabernacle. Directly opposite the golden lampstand was the table of showbread, and behind them, in the center of the Tabernacle and in front of the veil, was the altar of incense.
The altar of sacrifice represents Jesus Christ as the sacrifice for our sins and reminds us that we must die with Him in repentance.
The laver represents the cleansing from sin that Jesus provides, which we experience at water baptism in His name. Although He was sinless, He was baptized to provide our example for us to follow. The Tabernacle itself stands for the presence of God in the midst of His people. Jesus was literally God tabernacled in flesh, God coming into this world to be our Savior (Mathew 1:21,23). Through His death, we can receive the Holy Spirit and thereby become a tabernacle in which God dwells today.
The lampstand signifies Jesus as the Light of the world, and by extension, our position today as lights in the world. The showbread signifies Jesus as the bread of life, and by extension, His Word, which is our daily spiritual bread. The altar of incense represents prayer--first, the prayer of Jesus as He submitted to the will of God in dying for us and as He interceded on our behalf, and second, our daily life of prayer.
Finally, the Holy of Holies, the Ark of the Covenant, and the Mercy Seat teach us that Jesus fully atoned for our sins, thereby instituting the new covenant, giving us direct access to the throne of God, making the presence of God fully available to us by the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and enabling us to enter into a life of holiness.
>>> What do you think it was like when the priest entered the Holy of Holies and stood before the Mercy Seat as the presence of God filled the Tabernacle?
We know from descriptions further into the Old Testament that the glory of God would be so magnificent it was overwhelming. Moses' face even shone after being in God's presence on Sinai. The thrilling part is that we an experience the presence of God for ourselves every time we go to God in prayer!
Questions for Personal Reflection
1. Even though God called Moses to save the people, he was not in God's will when he killed the Egyptian. How can I make sure that I stay in the will of God?
2. God gave Moses the Law to give guidance for life; today the Bible directs us. How am I doing more about the Bible?
3. What symbol in the Tabernacle speaks to me today and why?
4. Since I can enter the presence of God for myself instead of waiting for a priest to go through the steps of the Tabernacle, how am I doing in taking advantage of the privilege of prayer?
5. What step can I take this week to draw closer to God?