Prophetic Lessons From The Tabernacle - Part 1 - Brazen Alter - Laver - Veils - Holy Place - Table Of Shewbread Series

The Tabernacle is 'mishkan' in Hebrew and means 'dwelling-place' where God chose His Shekinah Glory to dwell. The word 'Shekinah' comes from the Hebrew word 'shakan,' which means to reside or permanently stay. The Tabernacle was a portable tent/sanctuary in the wilderness to house the Shekinah Glory, God's indwelling holy presence. It would constantly remind the people of His power and that His presence was with them, watching over them day and night through their struggles and triumphs on their journey to the promised land.

The permanent structure of the Temple in Jerusalem was a magnificent building that served as the dwelling place of God, who desires to 'tabernacle' with His people and relate to them through His gracious goodness and covenant love (1 Kings 5-7). It had the form of both a home and a palace.

Because God is love, He desires a relationship with us. That is why we were created and is the central theme throughout the Bible, starting in the Garden of Eden, which had Tabernacle-like qualities and where God dwelt relationally with Adam and Eve, who had unrestricted access to Him. Adam's roles in Eden were like that of a Priest in the Tabernacle. The Shekinah Glory of God was also present in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve until they ate the forbidden fruit and were banished from there (Genesis 3:1-24).

God still longed to have a relationship with His people and dwell among them, so He spoke to His prophet Moses to lead His people out of Egypt and gave Him detailed instructions on building the portable Tabernacle that was structured with seven statements just like the Creation account in Genesis. The plans describing the Tabernacle began with "And God said..." and ended with the Sabbath command, inspection, and blessing (Exodus 25-31; 35-40; 39:43). God also specified what furniture was to be placed in it, the procedures to be followed in worship and transportation, and who was allowed to enter as they traveled 40 years in the wilderness from Mount Sinai to the Land of Israel. The completion of the Tabernacle construction closely parallels the completion of Creation (Genesis 2:1-3).

The Tabernacle was the way God could continue His desire to commune with His people outside of Eden. It is a place where God makes and renews His covenant. Going to the Tabernacle was to go "before the LORD" to worship and share communion with Him (Leviticus 1:3 ESV). However, because sin has entered the DNA of the human race, unrestricted communion could only be possible by divine grace and appointment in the Eden like Tabernacle. God built His dwelling in the midst of His people to be a symbolic model of the Garden sanctuary of Eden and as a revelation of Heaven. The Tabernacle was a "copy and shadow of the heavenly things" and describes Heaven and the ministry of Jesus with Tabernacle imagery (Hebrews 8:1-5, 9:11, 23-28, 10:19-22 ESV).

God is omnipresent and is everywhere in Creation at all times. The Tabernacle was where He revealed Himself more clearly and powerfully to make Himself directly and personally accessible and for His Priests to receive special revelation (Exodus 25:22, 29:42-43, 30:6,36; Leviticus 1; Numbers 7:89; 12:1-9; Deuteronomy 31:14-21; 2 Chronicles 1:6-13). He would meet with His people there, and it would be sanctified by His visible glory cloud that descended into it (Exodus 13:21, 14:19,24, 29:43, 40:34; Leviticus 9:4-6,23; 1 Kings 8:10-11; 2 Chronicles 7:1-3).

The Tabernacle served as a blueprint for how the children of Israel were to approach God in holiness, purity, and reverence. To worship at the Tabernacle was to come to the house of God to draw near to His remarkable presence and to know the communion with Him that is the purpose and fulfillment of His covenant with His people. There, the high Priest would offer sacrifice once a year to atone for the people's sins.

"And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the Tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it." "There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel." (Exodus 25:8-9,22 ESV)

The language used of the Tabernacle in the Bible is to show how Jesus, the Word of God, became incarnate and "dwelt (Gk: 'skénoó' is related to 'skéné' or 'tent') among us" (John 1:14). God prescribed how to worship Him on His terms. Human Beings cannot build a 'temple' and observe 'rituals' to gain access to somehow manipulate Him by 'faith' to guarantee His favor over their lives. God desires to tabernacle with His people and manifest His Shekinah Glory on His terms alone (Exodus 29:43).