Furnishing of the Tabernacle
The Ark
The Table
The Lamp stand
Exodus 25:10-40
DBF, Sunday Sermon, 2/2/03
Furnishing is important, ask any newlywed couple and they will tell you it is very important.
Last week, brother Voddie Baucham spoke of the joy of having even hideous furniture as a newlywed.
He explained how much they loved this one couch that was given to them by his mother and how it was such a blessing when he first received it.
Initially it fit in really well, because there really wasn’t any furniture around it, then as they accumulated more and more furniture, the old couch started looking out of place.
Because it represented the first piece of furniture that he and his wife owned, it was moved around the house from various rooms to the study, then one day it’s usefulness was gone and they had to take it out.
Because of the place this furniture played in the very important framework of their life and marriage, Voddie did not want to leave the furniture out overnight before the trash man would pick it up.
So he waited until he heard the garbage truck, then piece-by-piece he carried out this furniture of great value in their lives.
You see it had outlived it usefulness and as the family grew and acquired more and more things, this object of great worth in their early years of marriage, lost its place of appeal and usefulness.
In this weeks lesson we will look at the furnishing of the Tabernacles Inner Sanctuary or the Holy of Holies, and see that God understands that furniture is not needed to make a place a home.
He simple required the ark, a table, and a lamp stand for the home HE would make with man.
I look at this as a challenge in my life and it should be a challenge to most of us today. When we go into our homes in America, we see lavish furnishing even in the homes of our most modest brothers and sisters.
What is the furniture in our lives? What are the furnishings we could do without?
Let’s explore these issues today as we walk with Moses as he continues to receive instruction on God’s Home among the nation of Israel.
The Ark
Exodus 25:10-22 (KJV)
And they shall make an ark…overlay it with pure gold…make upon it a crown of gold round about…cast four rings of gold…in the four corners…make staves…put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, that the ark may be borne with them….they shall not be taken from it…put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee…make a mercy seat of pure gold…make two cherubims of gold…ends of the mercy seat…toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be…put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee... And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat…
Remember last week we spoke about the glorious placement of God’s word in the midst of the Tabernacle.
We asked if you think that God was serious about the placement of HIS word in our lives?
God set up everything upon and around the word of HIS testimony given to Moses.
Was this important to the nation of Israel?
Do you think this should be important to us as under the Covenant of Grace in and through Jesus Christ our Lord?
Absolutely, it is God’s immense pleasure to let us know that HIS word should be centermost in our lives. How else are we truly able to come to know and do the “Good and Perfect” will of God?
We can plainly see that in HIS requirements around the Tabernacle God sets HIS “word” apart.
Do you think this was just something God arbitrarily?
Did you notice that the word of God was always ready to move? Is it moving in your life today? Are you yielding it to stop the fiery darts that are hurled your way? I pray that you are using it in the manner that God shows us is HIS intent, both for Israel and for you and I today.
NO, God knows as HE shows us throughout HIS word the value and center place of the “Word of God” and where HE seeks for it to be in our lives if we are to truly be witnesses for HIM.
You see, as we have often said, God shows us through the life and walk of Moses the pattern for the better Covenant, tabernacle, and Word to come in and through Christ Jesus, Our Lord.
Jesus is the means by which we receive the merciful grace of God. Jesus has become for us the living Word of God.
Is HE alive in your heart and life today? I pray he is. HE seeks to be, HE sits and knocks at your hearts door continually, and only you can let Jesus into your life. Please do.
The angels that or described do not look after themselves or after man as the world would have you believe. No, notice that the eyes of the angels, even in the tabernacle are God-ward, striving to accomplish what is that “good and perfect” will of God.
The foundation of our life in God is Christ, the living Word of God.
The Table
Exodus 25:23-30 (KJV)
Thou shalt also make a table of shittim wood: two cubits shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof. [24] And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, and make thereto a crown of gold round about. [25] And thou shalt make unto it a border of an hand breadth round about, and thou shalt make a golden crown to the border thereof round about. [26] And thou shalt make for it four rings of gold, and put the rings in the four corners that are on the four feet thereof. [27] Over against the border shall the rings be for places of the staves to bear the table. [28] And thou shalt make the staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be borne with them. [29] And thou shalt make the dishes thereof, and spoons thereof, and covers thereof, and bowls thereof, to cover withal: of pure gold shalt thou make them. [30] And thou shalt set upon the table shewbread before me alway.
Thou shalt also make a table…of pure gold…The table is fantastic, the artistry described is superb, yet, and the bread is centermost on the table.
We see that all the furniture is overlaid or wrought of gold. Gold symbolizes through the purity of gold the life and light that HE seeks for us to show through the heat that comes into our lives in our purification or “sanctification” process after we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord.
Again, we see that it is ever ready to move. It is not something that is static or meant to be static in our lives.
The crown of the King is upon the table.
Who is your King of Kings and Lord of Lord’s today? Jesus is the only one who can fulfill the requirements of the office as set out by God our Father and Creator of all.
There was always twelve loaves of bread representing the twelve tribes of Israel. To Israel this was the appropriate offering.
The bread of offering would become symbolic of the bread of life that would be broken for all mankind.
It was foretold in the word, it is the word that has became flesh, it is the word that was slain “once for all” for mankind.
You see the showbread was a type of Christ, the Bread of God, nourisher of the Christian’s life as a believer.
These Old Testament types represented the same truths we have today in the communion service, or Lord’s Supper, under the new covenant. Both tables are supplied with the same simple elements of necessary food; with the same reference to the body and blood of Christ. This was a mystery under the old covenant. Today all those who are members of the body of Christ partake of communion because the people of Christ are all priests to Him. All true Christians are invited to this table. We find the order and meaning of the Lord’s table under the new covenant in 1 Corinthians 11:23-34.
1 Cor. 11:23-34 (KJV) For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: [24] And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. [25] After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. [26] For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. [27] Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. [28] But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. [29] For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. [30] For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. [31] For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. [32] But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. [33] Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. [34] And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.
Jesus Christ calls us to the knowledge that we and our lives given as HE gave HIS life are to be for “show bread” before God continually.
Are you living up to what Jesus Christ means for your life to be before God today?
The Lamp stand
Exodus 25:31-40 (KJV)
And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same. [32] And six branches shall come out of the sides of it; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side: [33] Three bowls made like unto almonds, with a knop and a flower in one branch; and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, with a knop and a flower: so in the six branches that come out of the candlestick. [34] And in the candlestick shall be four bowls made like unto almonds, with their knops and their flowers. [35] And there shall be a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, according to the six branches that proceed out of the candlestick. [36] Their knops and their branches shall be of the same: all it shall be one beaten work of pure gold. [37] And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it. [38] And the tongs thereof, and the snuffdishes thereof, shall be of pure gold. [39] Of a talent of pure gold shall he make it, with all these vessels. [40] And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.
And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold…We may see in this several things. The light of God, the light of Christ, the light of the World, the pure light that has been slain so that man may see in truth and in light.
The light is from the beginning unto the end.
Rev. 1:12 (KJV)
And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks
Rev. 2:5 (KJV)
Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
The candle stand or “Menorah” was in the shape of a tree.
This is significant in that we are called to be growing, nourished branches of the one true vine flowing from God.
Numbers 8:4 (KJV)
And this work of the candlestick was of beaten gold, unto the shaft thereof, unto the flowers thereof, was beaten work: according unto the pattern which the Lord had shewed Moses, so he made the candlestick.
Exodus 37:18 (KJV)
And six branches going out of the sides thereof; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side thereof, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side thereof
Are you receiving the life giving flow that is offered through Christ in your life?
It is the reason that Jesus Christ came, to give HIMSELF as ransom for all who have sinned and would call upon Jesus’ name as Savior and Lord.
The lamp stand and implements were made to symbolize the almond tree, a symbol that would later let the prophet Jeremiah know that God was always watching over HIS people.
Jeremiah 1:11-12 (KJV)
Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree. [12] Then said the Lord unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.
And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount…God next challenges Moses as HE challenges you and I today to do things after the pattern that HE has laid our before us.
Are you following the pattern that God has called for you to follow today?
Do you even know of the pattern that God has called you too?
These questions can only be answered if you have taken the first step in regeneration, the first step is to realize the key to this foundation.
The greatest foundation that the nation had of course was its belief in God.
We likewise must come to a point in our walks that we understand that we reap what we sow. And we will receive the rewards of what we reap and sow in life and in death.
God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit never would have you believe that there are not eternal consequences for a life spent not in their will.
There are numerous places in the bible that tell you that you will face the very pits of hell and damnation for your sinfulness if you live a life apart from what God calls you too.
The only way out of this reaping is to turn and believe on Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, believe that HE is the Son of God who has come and given Himself so that all who believe might not die but have eternal life.
Oh what a glorious day, that saw my Saviors face, I could not, would not, should not have been allowed, but for calling upon His righteous name I have life, when indeed I knew I deserved not only death but death and hell.
I pray that you have made this very important decision in your life today and that people are seeing the fruits of Christ in your life.
If not, you are invited to come forward and we would love to pray the sinner’s prayer with you to start your walk in newness of life today.
If you have any prayer requests or concerns we ask you to bring them forward or let us know, we would love to pray for you as you continue to strive for the light that is in Christ Jesus Our Lord.
Closing prayer.
Donations for this Alaska Native Ministry may be sent to:
Dillingham Bible Fellowship
PO Box 1042
Dillingham, AK 99576
