The Tabernacle
Reading: Exodus chapter 40.
Ill:
• After going on a diet, a woman was really feeling good about herself;
• Especially when she was able to fit into a pair of jeans she had outgrown long ago.
• "Look, look!" she shouted while running downstairs to show her husband.
• "I can wear my old jeans again!"
• Her husband looked at her for a long time,
• Obviously struggling with knowing what to say.
• Finally, he just had to say it,
• "Darling, I love you, but those are my jeans."
Sometimes in life we get it wrong:
• So it is always good experience when we actually get it right!
• In Exodus chapter 40 Moses got it right!
• And as we look at the passage we will see;
• That there is nothing hard or complicated as to why he got it right;
• He just applied a couple of very obvious simple principles to the situation!
• And lo and behold it produced the right results!
Note:
• 3 Key words to divide up this chapter:
• 2 of those words are the simple principles he practiced;
• And 1 word to describe the end results.
Key word No 1: Instructions (vs 1-16):
Ill:
• Most of us live by the unwritten rule; “When all else fails read the instructions”.
• Occasionally it can be worth reading the instructions:
• e.g. On a Boots hairdryer: Do not use while sleeping.
• e.g. On Asda’s frozen dinners: Serving suggestion: Defrost.
• e.g.On Tesco’s Tiramisu dessert: (printed on bottom of the box) - Do not turn upside down.
• e.g. On Marks & Spencer Bread Pudding: Product will be hot after heating.
• e.g. On packaging for a Rowenta iron: Do not iron clothes on body.
• e.g. On Boot’s Children’s cough medicine: Do not drive car or operate machinery.
• e.g.On Nytol sleep aid: Warning: may cause drowsiness.
• e.g. On a food processor: Not to be used for the other use (Now I’m curious.)
• e.g. On Sainsbury’s peanuts: Warning: contains nuts.
• e.g. On an American Airlines packet of nuts: Instructions: open packet, eat nuts.
• e.g. On a Swedish chainsaw:
• Do not attempt to stop chain with your hands - (Raise your hand if you’ve tried this...)
• e.g. On a child’s Superman costume: Wearing of this garment does not enable you to fly.
• e.g. On a hotel provided shower cap in a box: FITS ONE HEAD.
• e.g. On B&Q Christmas lights: For indoor or outdoor use only.
• e.g. On a Korean kitchen knife: Warning: keep out of children.
In verses 1-16: God gives Moses instructions regarding setting up the Tabernacle:
• Unlike the examples I have just given you;
• I am glad to say that these instructions are clear, practical and they work!
Notice:
• God tells Moses how to assemble everything.
• Scan the passage with me (let your eyes do some work!)
• Verse 1: “Then the Lord said…”
• Verse 3: “Place the ark of the testimony…”
• Verse 4: “Bring in…and set out…”
• Verse 4: “Bring in…and set up…”
• Verse 5: “Place the gold…”
• Verse 5: “Put the curtain at the entrance…”
• Verse 6: “Place the altar…”
• Verse 7: “Place the basin...”
• Verse 7: “Put water in it”
• Verse 8: “Set up the courtyard around it…”
• Verse 9: “Take the anointing oil…”
• Verse 9: “Consecrate it…..”
• Verse 10: “Then anoint….”
• Verse 10: “…and the altar…”
• Verse 11: “Anoint the basin…”
• Verse 12: “Bring Aaron and his sons …”
• Verse 12: “Wash them with water…”
• Verse 13: “Then dress them…”
• Verse 13: “Anoint him…”
• Verse 13: “Place the ark of the testimony…”
• Verse 13: “And consecrate him…”
• Verse 14: “Bring me his sons…”
• Verse 14: “…dress them in tunics
• Verse 15: “Anoint them…”
• I make that 24 instructions, 24 commands in just 16 verses;
• If you look harder you probably find a few more;
• The passage is just one instruction after another.
In these instructions God tells Moses 3 things:
• Verses 1-5: How to arrange the furniture within the tabernacle.
• Verses 6-11: How to arrange the items in the courtyard.
• Verses 12-16: How Moses is to anoint Aaron and his sons to minister as priests.
• Got that?
• 24+ instructions that break down in to three sections;
• Verses 1-5: How to arrange the furniture within the tabernacle.
• Verses 6-11: How to arrange the items in the courtyard.
• Verses 12-16: How Moses is to anoint Aaron and his sons to minister as priests.
Note:
• Moses started by putting up the tent;
• Then working outward from the holy of holies,
• He put the furniture in place.
• When that was done he set up the outer court;
• With everything placed exactly where it ought to be.
• Moses then anointed the structure and its contents;
• Then he consecrated Aaron and the priests.
• Verse 16: Is such a key verse:
• “Moses did everything just as the LORD commanded him”.
The point is this;
• God could not and would not dwell in the tabernacle;
• Unless everything was done according to the instructions he spoke to Moses.
Application: God speaks to those who listen.
• Too many Christians try to do God’s work their way;
• And then ask God to bless it!
Ill:
• A Church Pastor received a call from another church;
• They offered him a salary four times what he was receiving.
• They offered him a company car, and the use of a house complete with swimming pool.
• Oh…….and the Church was based in the Bahamas!
• When one of his Church leaders heard that he had received such an offer;
• He straight away popped round to speak to the pastor
• He knocked on the door of the Pastors house and the Pastors son opened it;
• “Is your dad in”, asked the Church leader.
• The son replied, “Yes, but he is in the study praying for guidance!”
• “Well, is your mum in”, asked the Church leader.
• The son replied,
• “Yes, but she is upstairs, packing the suitcases!”
Ill:
• Think back to Exodus chapter 3:
• Moses tried to do God’s will his way’.
• Instead of freeing his people;
• He ended up a murder and a man on the run!
• Too many Christians try to do God’s work their way;
• And then expect God to bless it!
• So often if the truth be told;
• It is their ideas and plans and they hope by praying about it afterwards;
• Somehow God will approve of it!
But ministry does not work that way:
• First we need to finds out what God wants us to do.
• We need to know his mind and his will on the matter.
That comes in a twofold way:
(1). As we pray.
Ill:
• I like the story of the 72 year old woman;
• Who went to bed one night and prayed this prayer;
• “Please God give me the skin like a teenager’s”
• The next morning she woke up covered in acne!
Ill:
• A more series story is told about a particular region of Africa,
• Where the first converts to Christianity were very diligent about praying.
• In fact, the believers each had their own special place;
• Outside the village where they went to pray in solitude.
• The villagers reached these “prayer rooms”
• By using their own private footpaths through the brush.
• When grass began to grow over one of these trails,
• It was evident that the person to whom it belonged was not praying very much.
• Because these new Christians were concerned for each other’s spiritual welfare,
• A unique custom sprang up.
• When ever anyone noticed an overgrown “Prayer path,”
• He or she would go to the person and lovingly warn, “Friend, there’s grass on your path!”
(2). As we listen:
Quote: An unknown writer said,
• This Book is the mind of God, the state of man,
• The way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers.
• Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding;
• Its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable.
• Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, practice it to be holy.
• It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you.
• It is the traveller’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass,
• The soldier’s sword, and the Christian’s character.
• Here paradise is restored, heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed.
• Christ is its grand subject, our good its design, and the glory of God its end.
• It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet.
• Read it slowly, frequently, prayerfully.
• It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure.
• Follow its precepts and it will lead you to Calvary,
• To the empty tomb,
• To a resurrected life in Christ; yes, to glory itself, for eternity.
Key word No 2: obedience (vs 17-33):
The outline for these verses is simple:
• Verses 17-19: The tent of meeting goes up by setting up the boards,
• And covering with the curtains.
• Verses 20-21: The Ark of the Covenant is set in the Most Holy Place,
• And the veil is set in place.
• Verses 22-23: The table of showbread is put in the Holy Place.
• Verses 24-25: The lampstand is put in Holy Place.
• Verses 26-27: The golden altar of incense is put in the Holy Place.
• Verses 28: The screen is hung at the entrance of the tabernacle.
• Verses 29: The brazen altar is put in its place.
• Verses 30-32: The laver for washing is put in between the altar and the tent.
• Verses 33: The outer court is set up.
That outline gives you the cold facts – what Moses did;
• But look a little closer and see the obedience of Moses:
• Once again just scan these particular verses:
• In the previous chapters Moses is the overseer;
• In this chapter he is the main worker.
• Verse 17: “So the tabernacle was set up…”
• Verse 18: “When Moses set up……”
• Verse 18: “..he put…he erected…he inserted…and he set up the posts”
• Verse 19: “Then he spread the tent…”
• Verse 19: “He put the covering over the tent…”
• Verse 19: “…as the Lord commanded him”
• Verse 20: “He took…”
• Verse 20: “And he placed it....”
• Verse 20: “He attached the poles…”
• Verse 21: “The he brought the ark...”
• Verse 21: “He hung the shielding curtain…”
• Verse 21: “…as the Lord commanded him.”
• Verse 22: “Moses placed the table….”
• Verse 23: “Moses set out the bread….as the Lord commanded him”
• Verse 24: “He placed the lampstand…”
• Verse 25: “He set up the lamps….as the Lord commanded him”
• Verse 26: “Moses placed the gold altar…”
• Verse 27: “…as the Lord commanded him”
• Verse 28: “Moses put up the curtain…”
• Verse 29: “Moses set the altar of burnt offering…”
• Verse 29: “Moses offered on it burnt offerings etc… as the Lord commanded him…”
• Verse 30: “Moses placed the basin…”
• Verse 31: “Moses and Aaron and his sons…”
• Verse 32: “They washed…”
• Verse 32: “…as the Lord commanded him…”
• Verse 33: “Then Moses set up…”
• Verse 33: “And so Moses finished the work.”
Application:
True obedience is not an act, but an attitude.
• The fact is, a person is either obedient in God’s eyes or he is disobedient.
• You see, God does not measure obedience like we do.
• We look on the outward appearance;
• God looks on the heart.
Ill:
• Rebellious small boy in car;
• “I may be sitting down in my body, but in my heart I’m standing up!”
True obedience is a right attitude leading onto right actions.
• Ill: John chapter 14 verse 21:
• “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me”
• Ill: John chapter 14 verse 23:
• "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching
Ill:
An F16 fighter jet is an amazing aircraft with incredible capabilities.
• But there is one thing that a jet pilot requires above all else.
• That the aircraft reacts completely to his control.
• If it were to have "a mind of its own" regardless of how remarkable that might sound,
• It would end up doing as much flying as a door stop.
• In the same vein, even if we had all the gifting under the sun,
• God still must be the ultimate "pilot" of our lives,
• Only then can we do amazing and remarkable things with our lives;
• If we are fully under his control.
• If we insist upon taking our lives into our own hands at every opportunity;
• We will find ourselves as effective as a preverbal door stop,
• And a less gifted by more humble man or woman will be used in our stead.
• Obedience is the golden key to a life of joy and excellence – just ask Peter!
Key word No 3: Glory (vs 34-38):
• No matter how expensive the tabernacle was:
• And it was very expensive (ill: chapter 38 verses 21-31):
• We are told the people gave 1 ton of gold, 4 tons of silver and 3 tons of copper.
• Chapter 36 verse 7 tells us they brought so much they had to be stopped!
• Without the presence of God;
• It was just another tent!
• Ill: Without its contents Tesco’s is just another shop building.
• Ill: Without its cars Rolls Royce is just another factory building.
• Ill: Without teams Wembley Stadium is just another construction.
• It is the content that makes it what it is!
• The Hebrew word translated as ‘Glory’ is often transliterated “Shekinah”;
• Transliteration is when you adopt a word into your language e.g. ‘Rendezvous’ or ‘Baptism’.
• ‘Glory’ or “Shekinah” her both refer to the “dwelling of God”.
• This is the ‘glory’ Moses caught a glimpse of at the beginning of chapter 3;
• This is the ‘glory’ that descended on Mount Sinai in chapter 19.
• This is the ‘glory’ the passed by Moses in chapter 33;
• Now this ‘glory’ descends and dwells in the midst of God’s people.
• Note: So bright is this glory that verse 35 says;
• Not even Moses could enter the ‘Tent of the Meeting’.
The appearance of God’s glory in the tabernacle;
• Was to the Hebrew wanders the assurance God’s presence among them.
• Their God was not distant and uninterested – he was present and close to them.
• God’s presence assured the Israelites;
• That he would be among them, in their centre, in spite of their sin.
Note:
The book of Exodus seems to finish very abruptly;
• The Hebrew people have been rescued out of Egypt;
• They have been provided with food in the desert;
• And they have spent about one year travelling around the wilderness.
• Question: We might ask the question; “What next?”
• Answer: The story has not finished. ill: Remember batman films ‘to be continued…’
• The story is continued in the very next book – the book of Leviticus.;
• This book tells us what happens next.
• Note: The first five books of the Bible are not five separate books;
• But one unit – ‘The Law’ or ‘The Torah’.
• They are meant to be read and seen as a whole;
• They are not really separate books.
If you turn the page to the very fist line of the book of Leviticus:
• You read; “The LORD called to Moses and spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting”.
• Once again a very simple principle comes to light.
• When God’s people obey him and live in his presence;
• He clearly speaks to them!
• And they experience his presence in a very special way.
Application:
As you read Jewish history as recorded in the Old Testament:
• You discover the glory that once dwelt in the tabernacle;
• Departed when the priests sinned against the Lord in 1 Samuel chapter 4 verses 21-22.
• Ill: At that very time a baby was born and given a descriptive name; ‘Ichabod’.
• Which means; “The glory of the Lord has departed”.
• Later, when Solomon dedicated the temple (1 Kings chapter 8 verses 10-11);
• God’s glory once again came to dwell
• But once again the nations sins drove God’s glory away;
• Ezekiel chapters… 8:4, 9:3, 10:4, 10:18, 11:23)
• The next time the glory of God came to planet earth;
• Was in the person of Jesus Christ!
“There he was transfigured before them. 3His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 4And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.”
Ill:
And the gospel writers describe what happened to Jesus in slightly different ways.
• Matthew says (verse 2):
• “His face shone like the sun and his clothes became as white as light”.
• Luke says (chapter 9 verse 29):
• “The appearance of his face changed and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning”.
• Mark says (chapter 9 verse 3):
• “His clothes became dazzling white”.
