TODAY’S READING: EXODUS 25-28
OVERVIEW:
God details His plans for the tabernacle; God details His plans for the High Priest’s coverings.
HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:
Here the Divine Architect (Designer and Builder of the entire universe) takes on His second building project through man. His first, theArk, was a vessel that carried man through the flood. The second, a tabernacle, is a way for God to be carried by man through the desert. God’s second building project is a tent, but in actuality, it is far, far more.
The blueprint is SIMPLE – made from materials available to the children ofIsraelin the desert – gold, silver and brass (unintentional gifts from the Egyptians), fine linen, animal skins, wood, oil, incense and precious stones. The blueprint is SYMBOLIC – absolutely every detail is a portrait of God’s character, how He desires to dwell with us, and how we can approach Him.
The tabernacle is to be PRECIOUS. God’s art demands the very best workmanship available to the Israelites – sewing, carving, goldsmithing, baking, dying. The tabernacle is to be PORTABLE. God has His people on the move and His design allows the Israelites to keep Him at the center of their lives while they move on to the Promised Land.
Entire books have been written about the numerous pictures drawn by God in this design. Like any great art, the more you look, the more you see. There is more column inches dedicated to the design of the tabernacle than any other idem in all the Word of God. God gives us 66 versus in Genesis to explain the design and creation of the universe, but gives us 15 Chapters and 515 versus to describe the tabernacle and its workings. Most be rally important!
Historically, God designed this tabernacle because He wanted to dwell and commune with His people (Ex. 25:8, 22). Practically, God designed the record of it for all history to know how we can dwell in Him (I John4:12-13; Hebrews 9:1-14).
CHRIST IS REVEALED:
In theARKOF THE COVENANT – wood overlaid by pure gold (wood representing His humanity and gold representing His deity – Ex. 25:10-11 (Phil. 2:6-8).
In the MERCY SEAT – Ex. 25:17 (Rom.3:24-25 – Note that the word “propitiation” in Rom.3:25is translated “mercy seat” in Heb. 9:5)
In the TABLE OF SHEWBREAD – Ex. 25:23-30 (Jesus is the Bread of Life: John 6:33, 35, 48, 51).
In the CANDLESTICK – Ex. 25:31 (Jesus is the Light: John 1:4-9;8:12; 9:5;12:35-36, 46)
In the VEIL – Ex. 26:30-37 (Representing the body of Christ which was torn to bring us to God: Mark 15:38; Hebrews 10:20)
Through the HIGH PRIEST and all of his CLOTHING – Ex. 28:1-43 (Jesus is our High Priest: Heb. 2:17; 3:1)