(5) The need for the presence of God
The details of the tabernacle take up several chapters of the book of Exodus, but the details in and of themselves were not that important. Of primary importance is what all the details were pointing to. After all of the tabernacle was set up in its correct arrangement Moses said, “ On the day the tabernacle was put up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, that is, the tent of the testimony; and in the evening, over the tabernacle was what appeared to be fire, which remained until morning. So the cloud always covered it, and it looked like fire at night. Whenever the cloud was taken up from above the tent, the people of Isra'el continued their travels; and they camped wherever the cloud stopped. At the order of ADONAI, the people of Isra'el traveled; at the order of ADONAI, they camped; and as long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle, they stayed in camp. Even when the cloud remained on the tabernacle for a long time, the people of Isra'el did what ADONAI had charged them to do and did not travel. Sometimes the cloud was a few days over the tabernacle; according to ADONAI's order, they remained in camp; and according to ADONAI's order, they traveled. Sometimes the cloud was there only from evening until morning; so that when the cloud was taken up in the morning, they traveled. Or even if it continued up both day and night, when the cloud was up, they traveled. Whether it was two days, a month or a year that the cloud remained over the tabernacle, staying on it, the people of Isra'el remained in camp and did not travel; but as soon as it was taken up, they traveled. At ADONAI's order, they camped; and at ADONAI's order, they traveled -they did what ADONAI had charged them to do through Moshe.” Numbers 9:15-23 (CJB).
The prophets tell us that eventually the temple and the freedom and peace of Israel were lost because God's chosen people did not honor the spiritual principles illustrated by “God's house of symbols.”
God had chosen Solomon to build the temple which took a huge workforce seven and a half years to complete. Then Solomon himself violated God's standards. (Deuteronomy 17:14-20) when his heart was turned aside to the pagan gods of his many wives. (I Kings 11:1-10)
In one way or another his spiritual lapse would be repeated time after time when “the kings, priests, and congregation of God dishonored the sacrifice (altar) and refused to wash themselves (basin) from the filth of the surrounding nations. They didn't surrender to God's terms of mercy (mercy seat). They didn't honor the laws (tables of the law) nor depend on God's daily provision (jar of manna), nor obey the leaders God gave them (staff of Aaron).” As a result, they lost the protection and provision of God.
Bronze Altar of Sacrifice – Christ's sacrificial death on the cross
Bronze Basin – purify our hearts
The Holy Place
Golden Menorah– God's light to and through His people
Golden Table of Showbread – our daily needs provided
Golden Altar of Incense – our prayers lit from the fires of Christ's sacrifice for us
Ark of the Covenant
Tablets of the Law – God's teachings
Mercy Seat – God's mercy in providing the ultimate sacrifice.
Cherubim – look at the atoning blood on the mercy seat rather than at the sinner
The details of the tabernacle take up several chapters of the book of Exodus, but the details in and of themselves were not that important. Of primary importance is what all the details were pointing to. After all of the tabernacle was set up in its correct arrangement Moses said, “ On the day the tabernacle was put up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, that is, the tent of the testimony; and in the evening, over the tabernacle was what appeared to be fire, which remained until morning. So the cloud always covered it, and it looked like fire at night. Whenever the cloud was taken up from above the tent, the people of Isra'el continued their travels; and they camped wherever the cloud stopped. At the order of ADONAI, the people of Isra'el traveled; at the order of ADONAI, they camped; and as long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle, they stayed in camp. Even when the cloud remained on the tabernacle for a long time, the people of Isra'el did what ADONAI had charged them to do and did not travel. Sometimes the cloud was a few days over the tabernacle; according to ADONAI's order, they remained in camp; and according to ADONAI's order, they traveled. Sometimes the cloud was there only from evening until morning; so that when the cloud was taken up in the morning, they traveled. Or even if it continued up both day and night, when the cloud was up, they traveled. Whether it was two days, a month or a year that the cloud remained over the tabernacle, staying on it, the people of Isra'el remained in camp and did not travel; but as soon as it was taken up, they traveled. At ADONAI's order, they camped; and at ADONAI's order, they traveled -they did what ADONAI had charged them to do through Moshe.” Numbers 9:15-23 (CJB).
The prophets tell us that eventually the temple and the freedom and peace of Israel were lost because God's chosen people did not honor the spiritual principles illustrated by “God's house of symbols.”
God had chosen Solomon to build the temple which took a huge workforce seven and a half years to complete. Then Solomon himself violated God's standards. (Deuteronomy 17:14-20) when his heart was turned aside to the pagan gods of his many wives. (I Kings 11:1-10)
In one way or another his spiritual lapse would be repeated time after time when “the kings, priests, and congregation of God dishonored the sacrifice (altar) and refused to wash themselves (basin) from the filth of the surrounding nations. They didn't surrender to God's terms of mercy (mercy seat). They didn't honor the laws (tables of the law) nor depend on God's daily provision (jar of manna), nor obey the leaders God gave them (staff of Aaron).” As a result, they lost the protection and provision of God.
Bronze Altar of Sacrifice – Christ's sacrificial death on the cross
Bronze Basin – purify our hearts
The Holy Place
Golden Menorah– God's light to and through His people
Golden Table of Showbread – our daily needs provided
Golden Altar of Incense – our prayers lit from the fires of Christ's sacrifice for us
Ark of the Covenant
Tablets of the Law – God's teachings
Mercy Seat – God's mercy in providing the ultimate sacrifice.
Cherubim – look at the atoning blood on the mercy seat rather than at the sinner
