Tabernacle Set Up (Exodus 40)

How much detail is required to set up a healthy local church? Have we done so exactly as the Lord commanded? Are some things to be treated as holy? Let’s look at Exodus 40.

When was the tabernacle first set up after the Exodus from Egypt?

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “On the first day of the first month you shall set up the tabernacle of the tent of meeting. You shall put in it the ark of the Testimony, and partition off the ark with the veil. You shall bring in the table and arrange the things that are to be set in order on it; and you shall bring in the lampstand and light its lamps. (Exodus 40:1-4 NKJV)

Was there a specific sequence to setting up the tabernacle for the first time? Is there a divine sequence to setting up a new church?

Place the gold incense altar in front of the Ark of the Covenant. Then hang the curtain at the entrance of the Tabernacle. Place the altar of burnt offering in front of the Tabernacle entrance. Set the washbasin between the Tabernacle and the altar, and fill it with water. Then set up the courtyard around the outside of the tent, and hang the curtain for the courtyard entrance. (Exodus 40:5-8 NLT)

Was the tabernacle anointed with oil to sanctify it as holy?

You shall take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it, and shall make it holy, and all its furniture, and it will be holy. You shall anoint the altar of burnt offering, with all its vessels, and sanctify the altar, and the altar will be most holy. You shall anoint the basin and its base, and sanctify it. (Exodus 40:9-11 WEB)

Were the priests washed with water and anointed as a part of their ordination ceremony?

Then bring Aaron and his sons to the meeting tent’s entrance and wash them with water. Dress Aaron in the holy clothes. Anoint him and make him holy so that he may serve me as priest. Then bring his sons and dress them in tunics. Anoint them like you anointed their father so that they may serve me as priests. Their anointing is to the priesthood for all time in every generation. (Exodus 40:12-15 CEB)

Did all this take place in the second year after their freedom from Egyptian slavery?

Moses followed the Lord's instructions. And on the first day of the first month of the second year, the sacred tent was set up. The posts, stands, and framework were put in place, then the two layers of coverings were hung over them. The stones with the Ten Commandments written on them were stored in the sacred chest, the place of mercy was put on top of it, and the carrying poles were attached. The chest was brought into the tent and set behind the curtain in the most holy place. These things were done exactly as the Lord had commanded Moses. (Exodus 40:16-21 CEV)

How did they arrange the table, lampstand and altar of incense?

He put the table in the tent of meeting, on the north side of the tabernacle, outside the veil, and arranged the bread on it before the Lord, as the Lord had commanded Moses. He put the lampstand in the tent of meeting, opposite the table on the south side of the tabernacle, and set up the lamps before the Lord, as the Lord had commanded Moses. He put the golden altar in the tent of meeting before the veil, and burned fragrant incense on it, as the Lord had commanded Moses. (Exodus 40:22-27 ESV)

Where was the altar of burnt offerings placed in relation to the tabernacle?

He put up the screen at the entrance to the tabernacle. Then he placed the altar of burnt offering at the entrance to the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, and offered the burnt offering and the grain offering on it, just as the Lord had commanded him. (Exodus 40:28-29 HCSB)

Where was the basin placed in relation to the altar of burnt offering and the tabernacle?

He put the basin between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water in it for washing. Moses, Aaron, and his sons washed their hands and feet from it. When they entered the Tent of Meeting and approached the altar, they washed, just as the Lord had commanded him. He set up the court all around the tent and the altar, and hung up the screen for the gate of the court. And so Moses finished the work. (Exodus 40:30-33 ISV)

After everything was finally set up, what did the Lord do?

Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys: But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys. (Exodus 40:34-38 KJV)

How much detail is required to set up a healthy local church? Have we done so exactly as the Lord commanded? Are some things to be treated as holy? You decide!