Introduction
God directed the people of Israel to construct a dwelling place for Himself in the midst of the people so they would know of his abiding presence and guidance. Moses was given the particulars on Mt. Sinai and construction began shortly after. Exodus 36:8ff; 40
For Further Study See: Building the Tabernacle
Names of the Tabernacle
An understanding of the names of the tabernacle will provide an understanding of its purpose. There are three groupings of names for the Tabernacle. There is the ideas of a dwelling place for God, a meeting place for the people of God and a holy place.
Dwelling Place
The term tabernacle means dwelling, and it is also called a dwelling place, tent, house and palace of God. All of these terms reflect the condescending friendly nature of Jehovah's approach to the people of God. It indicates that God dwelt in the midst of His people. When the people of God were on the move then God dwelt in a tent, but when the Israelites settled in Canaan then he dwelt in a house or palace.
Tent of Meeting
The Tabernacle was commonly called the Tabernacle of the congregation, or tent of meeting. Exodus 33:7 Now this idea was not that Israel met together in the tabernacle but rather that God met with His people here as a congregation. Exodus 29:42
Sanctuary
The word Sanctuary comes from a root meaning holiness. The Tabernacle was a holy place indicating the separateness and sinlessness of God. It also showed not only that God was holy but also that those who approached him were to be holy as well. This was the place where God displayed himself as holy and all of the ceremony surrounding the Tabernacle conveyed that very notion.
The Tabernacle was to be a place where God met with His people, and they were to give sincere, reverent worship to a Holy God.
Symbolism and the Tabernacle
Symbolism
A symbol is a representation of a contemporary truth. What the tabernacle meant to the Israelites as they sacrificed and worshipped was its symbol.
Typology
This is the representation of future redemption. It is God drawing a picture for Israel of His future salvation. It points to how God will save His people in the future.
Now the items of the tabernacle must have a symbolical meaning and use for the Israelites before it can have a typical significance for the future. Because the tabernacle was constructed after the meaningful pattern which God gave Moses on Mt. Sinai all of its distinctive parts can possess symbolical and typical significance.
It becomes nothing more than speculation as to the types if any in some of the minor elements of the tabernacle such as the hooks, boards and even the colors used. What is known for certain is the major elements such as the furniture and sacrifices. First the use of the particular element of the tabernacle must be established for the Israelites and then it can be typical for our present understanding. The hooks, board and colors simply provided a utilitarian purpose for Israel. They kept the tabernacle together and added beauty but served no further religious purpose and so cannot provide a typological meaning. They do not teach doctrine but rather hold the Tabernacle together.
Beyond these major sacrificial and ceremonial elements in the tabernacle Scripture suggests nothing about the symbolism and typology of the structure and ornamentation which was for the purpose of making the Tabernacle work and adding beauty to God's house. If the structure and ornaments of the tabernacle only had operational and aesthetic significance to Israel then it can not have more significance to us.
Area's of Worship
There were three areas of worship called the Outer Court, the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies.
The Outer Court
The outer court was open to all of Israel when they brought the proper sacrifices to worship. The dimensions were 100 cubit by 50 cubits, equivalent to about 150 X 74 feet. This rectangular shaped enclosure was really no part of the tabernacle proper but was rather a public meeting place which was fenced. It was always set up with large moveable pillars 5 cubits high joined by fancy rods over which were draped curtains made of a woven linen. The poles and pillars were decorated with silver and bronze. It was always set up pointing East and West with the entrance on the East side. Here was placed the altar of burnt offering and the laver or washing basin.
The Holy Place
The Holy Place was the area of the priests for the purpose of performing their daily duties. It differed from the outer court in that the walls were not cloth but wooden. Board covered on both sides with gold and held in place by rods to gave them support. The boards were 10 cubits high and 1.5 cubits wide. (The boards were narrower on the end corners to make up the exact measurement.) cubits.
The Holy of Holies
The Holy of Holies was only open to the High Priest once a year on the Day of Atonement when he made the atonement sacrifice for all of Israel. The structure of the Holy Place extended out to the west to include the Holy of Holies. It was built of the same material as the Holy Place. The two chambers were separated by the veil or curtain. This was no ordinary drape. It was more like a number of thick and heavy blankets sewn together and supported by four pillars of wood covered in gold and planted in silver sockets.
Following the crucifixion when it is said that the veil in the temple was torn from top to bottom (not bottom to top) it indicates that this was clearly a divine action making access into the very presence of God now accessible to all who believe. Mark 16:38; Hebrews 10:19-25 The curtain not only kept out the people of God but also kept out the light. The candlesticks were only permitted in the Holy Place. The thick layers of curtain would have made it pitch black in the Holy of Holies. The way was illuminated by the shekinah glory of God's presence as he resided on his throne, the mercy seat, in the midst of His people.
Furniture of the Tabernacle
Outer Court Furniture
Brazen Altar
A sacrifice of a lamb was offered here each morning and evening by the priests. It symbolises the fact that God may be approached only by the way of sacrifice. Leviticus 17:11 It typifies the substitutionary death of Christ. Hebrews 8:3; 9:12
Laver
The priest must wash his hands and feet before he does any work in the tabernacle. Exodus 30:21 It symbolises the necessity of purity in approaching God. The typology points to the washing of regeneration and sanctification in Christ. Titus 3:5; Hebrews 9:10
For Further Study See: Building the Tabernacle
Holy Place Furniture
Table of Showbread
Twelve cakes were placed on the table before the Lord. Leviticus 24:5,8 It represents the meal offering symbolising the consecration of the activities of life to God. The typology is found in closer fellowship with God, which is to be realised in the heavenly and future kingdom of God. It is brought to expression in our communion with God. Luke 14:15
Lampstand
The people must bring a sacrifice of oil in order that the lamps might burn. The lampstand had three protruding arms from each side all holding a lamp which burned within the Holy Place to provide light. Leviticus 24:3
It symbolises the perfection (7 lamps) with which God's Old Testament people must shine forth before Him as enabled by the oil of the Holy Spirit causing its light to shine in the darkness of this world. Zechariah 4:2-6 The shining forth indirectly results in the praise of God.
The typology can be found in the present day as light and truth that radiates from the heart of the consecrated Christian, through Jesus Christ. Matthew 5:14; John 8:12
Altar of Incense
The priest would place incense on this altar to burn as a sweet smelling offering to the Lord. The symbolical and typological meaning of the altar is to be found in the believer's communion with God in prayer. Psalm 14:1,2; Luke 1:10; Revelation 8:4
For Further Study See: Building the Tabernacle
Holy of Holies Furniture
Veil
The veil was a large colourful curtain which separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. The symbolic reference was that the way to God was not clear and accessible for all of God's people. Hebrews 9:8 The typology is the pointing to Christ who would remove the veil as He tore the veil in two from top to bottom making the way to God accessible through Christ as His very flesh is symbolical of the veil now. Matthew 27:51; Hebrews 10:20
Ark
The ark served to hold the two tablets of the Law or Decalogue Exodus 25:21, the pot of wilderness manna Exodus 16:33, and Aaron's rod that budded Numbers 17:7. Along side the ark was placed Moses' Book of the Law Deuteronomy 31:26. It was called the Ark of the Testament. Numbers 10:33 This was the place of God's Revelation to Israel. The remembrance of the Covenant with Israel is to be found in these three objects. Here also was found the Kapporeth: the mercy seat or atonement covering made of pure gold.
The ark was not merely symbolical of the indwelling of God among Israel, but actually contained Him. The cloud of God's glory, the manifestation of God's presence, rested over the Ark of the Covenant. The Kapporeth or mercy seat sprinkled with the blood of sacrifice was the grace of God intervening between the holiness of God's presence in the cloud and the witness of man's sin in the law underneath the mercy seat.
The typology is found in God's presence in the believer's inward fellowship with the person of Christ again symbolised in the Lord's supper. 1 Corinthians 10:16 Also there is the type of the presence of God in heaven itself. Psalm 11:4 heaven was the pattern which the earthly tabernacle was copied. Hebrews 9:24
Beyond these major sacrificial and ceremonial elements in the tabernacle Scripture suggests nothing about the symbolism and typology of the structure and ornamentation which was for the purpose of making the Tabernacle work and adding beauty to God's house. If the structure and ornaments of the tabernacle only had operational and aesthetic significance to Israel then it can not have more significance to us.
For Further Study See: Building the Tabernacle
History of the Tabernacle
The Tabernacle mentioned in Exodus 33 may well have been a temporary tent as the real tabernacle was finished and put up on the first day of the first month of the second year of the Exodus 40:2. Upon entering the land of Canaan the tabernacle was erected in Gilgal and then in Shiloh. Then there is not much mention of it although it is thought to have stayed here at Shiloh until the time of the Judges.
The Ark of the Covenant was sometimes removed when Israel went to war to lead the people into battle. David brought the ark up from Oded-edom's house to Jerusalem and placed it in the tabernacle. 2 Samuel 6:17 This tent may well have been the one made by David and not the original tabernacle. Whether all of the elements of the Tabernacles furniture were present in David's day is also not known.