OPEN: One Sunday morning an old cowboy entered a church just before services were to begin. Although the old man and his clothes were spotlessly clean, he wore jeans, a denim shirt and boots that were very worn and ragged. In his hand he carried a worn out old hat and an equally worn out bible.
The church he entered was in a very upscale and exclusive part of the city. It was the largest and most beautiful church the old cowboy had ever seen. The people of the congregation were all dressed with expensive clothes and accessories. As the cowboy took a seat, the others moved away from him. No one greeted, spoke to, or welcomed him.
They were all appalled at his appearance and did not attempt to hide it. The preacher gave a long sermon filled with fire and brimstone and a stern lecture on how much money the church needed to do God’s work.
As the old cowboy was leaving the church, the preacher approached him and asked the cowboy to do him a favor. "Before you come back in here again, have a talk with God and ask him what He thinks would be appropriate attire for worship."
The old cowboy assured the preacher he would.
The next Sunday, he showed back up for the services wearing the same ragged jeans, shirt, boots, and hat. Once again he was completely shunned and ignored.
The preacher approached the man and said, "I thought I asked you to speak to God about what you should wear before you came back to our church."
"I did," replied the old cowboy.
"If you spoke to God, what did he tell you the proper attire should be for worshiping in here?" asked the preacher.
"Well, sir, God told me that He didn’t have a clue what I should wear. He says He’s never been here before."
APPLY: The Bible repeatedly teaches us –
If God isn’t here… it ain’t church.
If God isn’t here… you’re not worshipping.
If God isn’t here… you’re wasting your time.
The most important thing we can have in worship… is God in our midst.
(pause…)
That was one of the principle messages of the Tabernacle.
The Tabernacle was placed directly in the middle of the Israelite encampment because God wanted His people to continually realize - He was in their midst.
Over the past few weeks we’ve been talking about the tabernacle.
Hebrews tells us that the earthly tabernacle was a copy of one in heaven, and we’ve noted that the earthly tabernacle was used by God to teach heavenly truths. There are things about this tabernacle that can teach us more about God.
In previous sermons we’ve examined the courtyard, the altar of sacrifice and the brazen laver, and now, we come to the Tabernacle itself. It’s a tent-like structure divided into two rooms. The first of those 2 rooms measures about 15 by 30 feet and it’s called the Holy Place.
This morning I want you to put on your sanctified imaginators.
I want you to imagine yourself as a priest in the days of Moses.
You’ve just been ordained… and this is your 1st day on the job.
You’ve offered sacrifices on the altar,
You’ve washed your hands and feet in the brazen laver,
And now you’ve stepped through the curtain into the first room of the Tabernacle.
You’ve just stepped out of the bright sunshine of courtyard.
And the comparative darkness of this inner room is startling.
It’s quiet here.
Outside you could here the voices from the surrounding camp, the lowing of cattle and bleating of sheep. But in here, all the sounds of the world outside are muffled.
You look around and you see the light from the lamp stand shimmering off the gold of the furniture around you. And you smell the odor of bread, and incense and lamp oil.
There’s something comforting and relaxing about being here.
But there’s also something majestic… and even intimidating about this room. You sense that this is truly a “holy” place.
You are very conscious of the fact that the Ark of the Covenant lies just the veil in the next room. In fact, you remember that the Law of Moses declared that what you do here in this room (the Holy Place) is being done “before the Lord”
God is here!
There are three pieces of furniture in this room – and each one has a sacred purpose. Each has been made according to the pattern that Moses received on the mountain.
(One of our members made the lamp stand and altar of incense from Styrofoam that’s was spray painted gold and placed on stage in the general location they would have occupied in the Holy Place. The Table of Shewbread was represented by our communion table which we placed on stage as well).
To your right is the table of “the Presence” (shewbread)
This table is made of Acacia wood covered with gold.
And on its surface are 12 loaves of unleavened bread sprinkled with incense.
Across the room from that table is the lamp stand
It offers the only light in the room.
It was made from a solid piece of gold weighing over 100 pounds.
Its 7 lamps are actually bowls that hold olive oil with a wick floating within the oil, and these 7 lamps are constantly lit. They are tended each morning and evening by the Priests so that the rest of the room is never in darkness.
Then, at the back of the room - standing in front of the veil that leads to the Holy of Holies - is the altar of incense. Again – it’s made of acacia wood, covered with gold. And it’s on this altar that the High Priest offers up special incense to God.
At different times, your responsibility as an Old Testament priest is
… to tend to the lamp stand
… or change the bread on the table
… or place the incense on the altar
And you know that what you do in this room is a special service to God.
But… what does it all mean?
Why are you doing all this?
Well, let’s take each piece of furniture and look at what God meant to say to us.
(I walked over to the communion table/Table of Shewbread).
In Exodus 40, the first item in the Holy Place God draws our attention to is the Table that the KJV calls the Table of Shewbread. The phrase is more literally translated “the table of the bread of the Presence” (JFB)
There are 12 loaves of unleavened on this table and they represent the 12 tribes of Israel. What God is telling His people is: they are always before His PRESENCE. He cared for them and He was constantly remembering them.
In 1Corinthians 10 we’re told that when we take of communion:
“… is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.” I Corinthians 10:16b-17)
When we take of communion we “participate in the body of Christ”.
At the Lord’s Table we “identify” with Christ… and He with us.
And we become ONE in Jesus every time we eat together at this table
At the Table of Shewbread, God was telling His people – I identify with you.
You are mine and I am your God.
The bread was changed every Sabbath, and was eaten by the priests.
As an Old Testament priest you would have eaten of this unleavened bread every Sabbath and you’d always eat of it right here in God’s presence.
ILLUS: Now, I’ve brought the Communion Table up on stage to help us realize that this was part of the symbolism God intended for this table in the tabernacle.
• Just as the Table of Shewbread was a place where God remembered His people, so also the Lord’s table is the place where we realize – in His crucifixion – Jesus remembered us.
• Just as at the Table of Shewbread, the people were in God’s Presence, so also, at the Lord’s Table we are very intimately in the Presence of Jesus.
• And just as the Shewbread was changed every Sabbath so also, we partake of the Lord’s Supper every Sunday.
This is literally the most intimate time of worship that we have with God.
When you go to church on Sundays, you might like the singing, you might appreciate the prayers, and you might really get into the sermon.
BUT at this table – with its focus on the death of Christ for you – this table should always be your 1st priority in worshipping God.
Across from this table is the golden Lamp stand. (I walked over to this item)
Your job is to make sure its lamps are constantly filled with oil and that its wicks are replaced when they burn down.
Every morning and every evening the High Priest lights the wicks (Leviticus 24:3) so that there is always light in the Holy Place. At first glance it would appear that the lamp stand’s primary purpose is to shed light in this room so that you can see to do your service for God.
But on closer examination, we find that it is positioned so that it is directly across from the “Table of the Presence”, and it is designed so that it sheds its light on that table.
It’s made of one piece of pure gold. And when you look closely you’ll see that this lamp stand has minute decorations. There’s a central staff that ends in a lamp at its top, and then there are 6 branches - 3 on each side.
Each branch has a lamp at the top and each lamp has a unique decoration.
According to Exodus 25:33they “…are shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms”
Branches, buds, fruit, and flowers – this lamp stand represents a LIVING thing
Hebrews tells us that “… the word of God is LIVING and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Heb. 4:12
And just as the lamp stand gave light to the worship held in the Holy Place so also God’s Word sheds light on what we need to know about our worship of Jesus.
David wrote: Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Ps 119:105
And the primary purpose of the lamp stand seems to have been to highlight the table of God’s presence. This table (we’ve discovered( represents the table we use for the Lord’s Supper - a table that stands for the sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf.
Thus the Lamp stand’s purpose was to illuminate that table.
Did you realize that without our Bible we wouldn’t know anything about Jesus?
• We wouldn’t know about His life.
• We wouldn’t know about His ministry.
• We wouldn’t know about His death, burial and resurrection.
o We wouldn’t know about the prophecies that declared that He would come, and do all that He did.
The book you hold in your hands is pure and undefiled as the gold that formed this lamp stand, and it’s light makes it possible for us to SEE and understand what God has done for us - and to lead you the eternal life God wants to give you and I. (see footnote for further thoughts).
The last article of furniture in the tabernacle is the altar of incense.
(I walked back to stand beside it)
Your job is to bring incense for the High Priest to burn on the altar.
Every evening and every morning – after the High Priest sees to the lamps - he brings fire from the altar of sacrifice and lights the incense before God (Lev. 16:12-13; Num. 16:46).
This incense was incense was lit both evening and morning so that it would be a continual offering of a sweet smelling odor before God.
This incense is used elsewhere in Scripture to refer to our prayers being lifted up to God.
In Psalm 141:2 David prays “May my prayer be set before you like incense…”
And in Revelation 8 we’re told “Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel’s hand.” Rev. 8:3-4
Every time we pray we are offering up to God a sweet smelling offering.
It’s an “incense” that gives Him great pleasure.
Hebrews 13:15 tells us - as priests of God - “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name.”
That should be the main focus of our prayers - giving praise to God.
Now, I don’t want to take away from the value of our prayers for God to help us in our times of need. The Bible is filled with examples of great saints of God praying just those kinds of prayers. But too often we do those kinds of prayers (appeals to God) while neglecting lifting our hearts in praise and worship. If you look at many of the prayers recorded in Scripture, you’ll find that almost all of them begin with words of praise and thanksgiving. It’s this type of prayer (that focuses on praise) that changes the nature of our requests from being a “wish-list” to becoming the petitions of a grateful and appreciative worshiper.
And notice, this kind of “incense” prayer is done THROUGH Jesus (Heb. 13:15)
Just as the altar of incense was lit by the fires of the sacrifice, so also our prayerful incense is made acceptable to God, because our prayers as Christians are based upon the ultimate sacrifice Jesus made for us.
This Is Worship – to come into God’s presence and focus on the things He considers important:
• The Light of His Word
• The Table of His bread
• And the Prayers of His praise
In fact, that’s exactly what the early church focused on:
Acts 2:42 tells us “They devoted themselves to
• the apostles’ teaching (the lampstand) and to the fellowship,
• to the breaking of bread (table of shewbread)
• and to prayer (the altar of incense)
This is worship: to come into God’s presence and satisfy Him - not ourselves.
We’re not here to be entertained.
We are here to worship God.
To serve Him as His priests, and to do so in HIS presence.
Because if God’s not here… it’s not church
If God isn’t here… we’re really not worshipping.
If God isn’t here… we’re wasting our time.
CLOSE: Bill Gates is one of the founders of Microsoft and the "information age."
I’m not sure of the context, or why he was commenting on religion in the first place, but he said something pretty interesting: "Just in terms of allocation of time resources, religion is not very efficient. There’s a lot more I could be doing on a Sunday morning." (contributed by Paul Odum)
Now, Bill Gates is a very wealthy man and knows many things about many things. But apparently he and God aren’t in the same room. Mr. Gates doesn’t understand the value of worship… but we do.
In fact, someone once wrote a poem and addressed this very issue:
“I dreamed that God took a vacation He did not say where He would go
He just left us to on a journey and where He went I’m not sure that I know
He wearied and tired of much praying and listening to every weak plea.
Two weeks were just what he’d been needing away from the world & me.
Just then I was faced with a crisis - heart was in deep despair,
My preacher, my friend, nor my neighbors could help with answers to prayer
Oh how I longed for His presence, the touch of his soothing calm hand
To feel he was there close beside me, and to know that He’d understand.
I woke up to find out I was dreaming, and fell on my knees and I cried
Oh, how I thanked God up in Heaven that He was still there by my side
And again, it is time for vacations. I may go by land, sea or air,
Wherever I am on the Lord’s Day, I know I shall worship Him there.”
(The Newsletter Newsletter October 1993, author unknown).
(Footnote on “Lamp Stand” and its interpretation)
I know that most commentators identify the Lamp Stand solely with Jesus (Jesus it the “Light” of the world, etc.), and I respect their conclusions. However, since every piece of furniture at the Tabernacle has valid applications to Christ I believed that – because of it’s placement in the Holy Place and its function in the worship activities that it could reasonably be applied to the passages that related to God’s written Word as well.
