People’s Part in Worship at God’s Tabernacle
People take part in using the Alter
People are able to come into God’s presence in the Courtyard
People able to bring God oil for the lampstand
DBF Sunday Sermon, 2/23/03, Exodus 27
We in Dillingham are part of Bristol Bay, which is part of the South Central Region of Alaska, and part of Alaska, which is part of the United States of America, and part of North America.
We are connected to other people of differing areas by rules and laws that govern our nation, by nationality, culture and by many other factors.
It would be difficult to survive in Bristol Bay today without outside assistance in the form of groceries, clothing, and machinery.
In fact from what I have heard, it has always been somewhat difficult to survive in this region, and those that have managed have only been able to do so by continually working on subsistence.
Gathering the things that God made available in their proper seasons and times.
People here understand that blood is required to be shed for their existence. Without the blood of salmon, caribou, moose, wolf, beaver, otter, coyote, and other animals, life would be almost impossible.
It was the same in the time of Moses, and today we will walk with God as HE directs Moses to set of the man-ward side of the tabernacle.
The Courtyard was where common man would come to learn and be a part of the worship that God ordained to give Israel a view of what would come and give us a view of where we have come from.
Let’s walk with Moses today and glean for our lives as God directs the nation of Israel’s common worship and daily interactions with him, while pointing forward to Jesus Christ and our worship today.
People take part in using the Alter
Exodus 27:1-8 (KJV)
And thou shalt make an altar of shittim wood, five cubits long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be foursquare: and the height thereof shall be three cubits. [2] And thou shalt make the horns of it upon the four corners thereof: his horns shall be of the same: and thou shalt overlay it with brass. [3] And thou shalt make his pans to receive his ashes, and his shovels, and his basons, and his fleshhooks, and his firepans: all the vessels thereof thou shalt make of brass. [4] And thou shalt make for it a grate of network of brass; and upon the net shalt thou make four brasen rings in the four corners thereof. [5] And thou shalt put it under the compass of the altar beneath, that the net may be even to the midst of the altar. [6] And thou shalt make staves for the altar, staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with brass. [7] And the staves shall be put into the rings, and the staves shall be upon the two sides of the altar, to bear it. [8] Hollow with boards shalt thou make it: as it was shewed thee in the mount, so shall they make it.
And thou shalt make an altar of shittim wood, five cubits long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be foursquare: and the height thereof shall be three cubits…God again starts by commanding Moses that the nation will make an alter from the Hebrew word
mizbeach (258a); from H2076; an altar:—altar (349), altars (52), from the root word zabach (256d); a prim. root; to slaughter for sacrifice:—made (1), offer (12),
offer a sacrifice (2), offer to a sacrifice (1), offer sacrifices (3), offered (11), offered
sacrifice (1), offering (2), offering sacrifices (1), offers a sacrifice (2), sacrifice (47),
sacrificed (33), sacrifices (3), sacrificing (9), slaughter (3), slaughtered (3).
What do you bring to God’s alter in your life today? What sacrifice…offering…?
We see that the nation of Israel was commanded to make a Brazen Altar, let’s see what the purpose of it was.
The courtyard had two principal vessels: the laver and the altar of burnt-offering.
Here the vessels were made of bronze rather than of gold.
In the court before the tabernacle, where the people attended, was an altar, to which they must bring their sacrifices, and on which their priests must offer them to God.
Here the sinner laid their hand on the offering to transfer their sinfulness to the sacrificed animal.
This offering was placed on the altar it was of wood overlaid with brass.
A grate of brass was let into the hollow of the altar, about the middle of which the fire was kept, and the sacrifice burnt.
It was made of net-work like a sieve, and hung hollow, that the ashes might fall through.
This brazen altar sacrifice was a type of Christ dying to make atonement for our sins.
Just as the wood would have been consumed by the fire from heaven, if it had not been secured by the brass: nor could you and I who have called upon the name of Jesus Christ have borne the wrath of God, if it had not been supported by Divine grace and power.
The altar of burnt offering was the first article of furniture outside of the Holy place from the side of man. It was called the brazen altar because it was covered with bronze.
It was at this altar that the people had a part. It was the foundation of man’s part in the tabernacle worship process.
No priest could not enter into the holy place before they had presented a sacrifice on the brazen altar.
By this symbolic act, the children of Israel were taught, and we too are taught, that the first thing a sinner must do before they can pray or present themselves successfully is to avail themselves of the atonement which God has provided. HE continues this now through Christ Jesus our Lord.
This altar was available to all. The atonement God provides is also available to all, who accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior today, once for all.
No other part of worship was accepted until the blood had been offered on this altar.
The great underlying doctrine of the gospel is found here, “Accepted in the Beloved.”
What is cleansed by blood and how?
Heb 9:14-16; How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
What = conscience - (defiled by sin guilt) - sin - leads to guilt (aware of the wrath of God)
How cleansed = by blood of Christ due to wages of sin = death - life is in the blood - Christ’s death paid sin debt once for all, Christ’s resurrection provided life!
Evidence = death has taken place = penalty paid
The conscience may now be cleansed and free.
I Jn 2:1-2; My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Heb 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ cleanse the conscience to serve..."
We may come only on the basis of the "blood of Christ." That is why "... the body that thou hast prepared for me..." (Heb 10:4) was sacrificed. How did this sacrifice differ from the OT sacrifices?
OT---- New Testament
1. animal (continually needed)---- Christ--human body--Once for all
(What did animal know about sin?) Man knows sin in their hearts.
Many people today want to live like animals.
Humanist today do not believe in sin and want to live by instinct.
SINS are not just "bad deeds" but transgressions against God’s HOLY LAW.
As man loses his sense of sinning against God, he begins to live like an animal (he loses his relationship and responsibility to God.) Much as King Nebuchadnezzer did, and became as a wild beast for a time.
This from a creature created to do God’s will for God’s pleasure!
Only one human body (Christ’s) came to fully do the will of God. At Gethsemane Christ would say "Not my will, but thy will be done."
Our prayers, our tears, our repentance, our faith, our words, our actions, our labors, our sufferings, our vows, our giving, our sermons—all have worth or merit as they stand in their relationship to the sacrifice Jesus offered on the cross, God’s grace to sinners
Heb 10:1; For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
Heb 9:9; Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience.
The law and animal sacrifices could not clear conscience of guilt.
They required continual repeating day by day and year by year.
"remembrance of sin" = legal term used by God the righteous Judge - He looks into the Book of Life or the Book of Death and says "guilty sinner" = remembrance or Child of God who is written in the Lambs book of Life.
Heb 10:9-12; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man (Jesus Christ), after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
David had forgiveness but not "conscience made perfect" and could not go into "holy of holies".
Yet now under the New Convenant, the conscience is cleansed once for all!
Why is Christ’s cleansing good after only one time? The righteous judge will never bring up sin charges again to one cleansed by Jesus’ blood.
Heb 10:14-19; For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Christ
Christ is able to make your conscience perfect, if you accept him and follow HIS commandments.
Do you have complete forgiveness of sins?
Setting people free in Christ is the true purpose of the gospel. It produces a conscience made free.
People are able to come into God’s presence in the Courtyard
Exodus 27:9-19 (KJV) And thou shalt make the court of the tabernacle: for the south side southward there shall be hangings for the court of fine twined linen of an hundred cubits long for one side: [10] And the twenty pillars thereof and their twenty sockets shall be of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets shall be of silver. [11] And likewise for the north side in length there shall be hangings of an hundred cubits long, and his twenty pillars and their twenty sockets of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver. [12] And for the breadth of the court on the west side shall be hangings of fifty cubits: their pillars ten, and their sockets ten. [13] And the breadth of the court on the east side eastward shall be fifty cubits. [14] The hangings of one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits: their pillars three, and their sockets three. [15] And on the other side shall be hangings fifteen cubits: their pillars three, and their sockets three. [16] And for the gate of the court shall be an hanging of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework: and their pillars shall be four, and their sockets four. [17] All the pillars round about the court shall be filleted with silver; their hooks shall be of silver, and their sockets of brass. [18] The length of the court shall be an hundred cubits, and the breadth fifty every where, and the height five cubits of fine twined linen, and their sockets of brass. [19] All the vessels of the tabernacle in all the service thereof, and all the pins thereof, and all the pins of the court, shall be of brass.
And thou shalt make the court of the tabernacle: for the south side southward there shall be hangings for the court of fine twined linen of an hundred cubits long for one side…God commanded that a courtyard be established.
The tabernacle was enclosed in a court, about sixty yards long (180’) and thirty broad (90’), formed by curtains hung upon brazen pillars, fixed in brazen sockets.
Within this enclosure the priests and Levites offered the sacrifices, and here the normal Jewish person came as close to the presence of God as was allowed.
Isn’t it great that you and I can come into God’s very presence today, we don’t have to wait outside…Praise God.
These distinctions represented the difference between the visible nominal church, and the true spiritual church, which alone has access to God, and communion with him.
People able to bring God pure oil
Exodus 27:20-21 (KJV)
And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always. [21] In the tabernacle of the congregation without the vail, which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before the Lord: it shall be a statute for ever unto their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel.
The pure oil signified the gifts and graces of the Spirit, which all believers receive from Christ, the good seed, and without which our light cannot shine before men.
This is virgin olive oil, the very best, just as God HIMSELF came down and gave us HIS very best. Do you bring purity to your relationship with Christ?
The priests were to light the lamps, and tend them. It is the work of ministers, by preaching and expounding the Scriptures, which are as a lamp, to enlighten the church, God’s tabernacle upon earth.
Are your ministers providing the light that God calls them too?
Blessings be to God, this light is now available to all who have called upon the name of Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, it is a light to shine upon the gentiles to draw them unto salvation, and for all men and women everywhere as a light unto salvation unto the ends of the earth.
God designed a place for man in HIS mansions, are you preparing yourself to be pure when you arrive?
The first step however is to come and partake and to regain a right standing in God’s presence. You see God wants you to be right with Him today, tomorrow, and each day of your life. HE sits and watches—ever searching for the wanderers to return to what they have left.
Are you seeking that place of peace?
Are you seeking that place of serenity?
Are you seeking that place of love?
Are you seeking that place of belonging?
Are you seeking that place of comfort?
God is waiting and watching, ready to dash out—caring less what the world would think about you, caring only for your salvation. That’s how much our heavenly father loves you, HE invites you past HIS courtyard and into HIS very presence today.
If you would like to ask Jesus Christ into your life today, please come forward or let someone know. We would love to pray the sinners prayer with you.
If you have any prayer needs we ask you to come forward or let us know, we would appreciate praying for you.
Closing prayer.
