The Tabernacle Speaks Of Christ!

Feature 1 –November 2016 — Grace & Truth Magazine

The Tabernacle Speaks Of Christ!

“And they shall make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.” —Exodus 25:8 JND

It has often been remarked that God has taken two chapters (Gen. 1-2) to tell us of the creation of the world and sixteen chapters (Ex. 25-40) to tell us of the construction of the tabernacle – the sanctuary in which He would dwell in the midst of the children of Israel. This shows us the importance of the tabernacle in God’s thoughts.

The tabernacle was made up of three sections. First there was an enclosed courtyard with a gate for entrance. This was called the “court of the tabernacle.” The altar of burnt offering and the bronze laver were located there. Then inside the courtyard was a tent-like structure consisting of two sections: the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. The table of showbread, candlestick and altar of incense were in the Holy Place. The ark of the covenant with the mercy seat was alone in the Most Holy Place. Hebrews 9:6-7 tells us that the priests went daily into the Holy Place, but only the high priest entered the Most Holy Place – and that only once a year.

What does the tabernacle represent? We would suggest that there are (at least) three lines of truth we can see in the tabernacle.

1. The tabernacle speaks of Christ. This is the aspect we want to focus on in this article.
2. The tabernacle speaks of heaven. Hebrews 9:23 tells us that the tabernacle was a pattern of things in the heavens, and that while the blood of bulls and of goats was sufficient to cleanse the earthly tabernacle, the heavenly tabernacle required a greater sacrifice: that of God’s own beloved Son!
3. The tabernacle speaks of the Church today. In Ephesians 2:21-22 two figures are used to describe the Church. One is a temple, of which Solomon’s temple was a picture. The other is “a habitation [or dwelling place] of God in the Spirit.” The tabernacle was a type of the Church in this aspect.

The Materials
A number of different materials were used in the tabernacle.

• Shittim (acacia) wood (and trees and wood generally in Scripture) speaks of humanity (see Jud. 9:8; Mk. 8:24; Ezek. 17). Shittim wood is from a tree that grows in the desert, reminding us of Isaiah 53:2: “For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground.” The Greek translation of the Old Testament says, “incorruptible wood,” which reminds us of the holy humanity of the Lord Jesus who was without stain or spot. He knew no sin (2 Cor. 5:21), He did no sin (1 Pet. 2:22), and in Him there was no sin (1 Jn. 3:5).
• Pure gold speaks of His deity. He is “our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Ti. 2:13). “He is the true God and eternal life” (1 Jn. 5:20). He is the One whom Thomas worshiped as “My Lord and my God” (Jn. 20:28). There would seem to be a distinction in the tabernacle between “pure gold,” which speaks of the deity of Christ and “gold,” which speaks of what is divine in general – in particular God’s glory and God’s righteousness.
• Silver is a metal that speaks of redemption – used as “redemption money” for the children of Israel (see Ex. 30:11-16). We know that today we have not been redeemed by corruptible things like silver or gold but by the precious blood of Christ (1 Pet. 1:18-19).
• Bronze is a material that can withstand the heat of fire. Fire in the Word of God speaks of judgment (see Lev. 10:1-2; 1 Cor. 3:13; 2 Pet. 3:10). This represents the Lord Jesus as the One who could endure the wrath and judgment of God in our place.

The Ark And The Mercy Seat
It is striking to see how God begins to describe the tabernacle. We might have thought that He would begin at the gate and then describe how people can approach Him where He dwells. Instead, He began with the piece of furniture called the “ark of the covenant” which was kept in the Most Holy Place. When we remember the Scripture, “In all things He must have the preeminance [the first place]” (Col. 1:18 KJV), we are not surprised to see that this ark speaks of the Lord Jesus Himself. As we begin to look at the details, this is confirmed. God always begins with Christ!

The ark was made of shittim wood overlaid with pure gold. As we have seen it speaks of the true humanity and the true deity of the Lord Jesus. He is the eternal Word who became flesh (Jn. 1:1,14). He is “God ... manifest in the flesh” (1 Tim. 3:16). The two tablets of the law were kept inside the ark; so Christ could say prophetically, “Yea, Thy law is within My heart” (Ps. 40:8).

The mercy seat was like a lid upon the ark. It especially speaks of the result of His work on the cross. In the New Testament the Greek word used to describe the mercy seat in Hebrews 9:5 is elsewhere translated “propitiation.” It speaks of His work as that which has satisfied all the claims of a holy and righteous God. It was made only out of pure gold, reminding us how essential His deity was to the work He had to do. If He were not God, how could He have met all of God’s claims? Yet the wood of the ark also reminds us that if He were not man, His work would have been no value to us.

There were two cherubim upon the mercy seat. The cherubim are first seen guarding, in Genesis 3, the way to the tree of life. They are the executors of God’s government and judgment. Their faces were looking down upon the mercy seat, where, once a year, the high priest would sprinkle the blood shed on the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16). In picture, the cherubim look down upon the blood and see all of God’s righteous demands met. Judgment was executed upon the Lord Jesus so it would never come upon His people (Jn. 10:11). God is satisfied as a result of the work of the Lord Jesus. “There is ... no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1 JND).

The Table Of Showbread
The table of showbread was also made of pure gold and shittim wood. We have again emphasized to us the deity and humanity of the Lord Jesus. The table would bring before us thoughts of fellowship and food. Our own tables are places where we enjoy fellowship with family and friends and a nice meal. The thought is similar in the Word of God. When Martha, Mary and Lazarus made the Lord a supper in Bethany, Lazarus sat at the table with Him (Jn. 12:1-2). It is also a place of privilege: David gave Mephibosheth a place at his table as one of the king’s sons (2 Sam. 9:9-13).

However the picture of the table of showbread for us is that we might have fellowship with the Lord and have food from Him in order to be strengthened to serve as priests. As holy priests we worship in spirit and in truth. As royal priests we bring testimony to others of what Christ has done, and how He has brought us out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Pet. 2:5,9; Jn. 4:23-24).

The Candlestick
The candlestick was made entirely of pure gold. We believe that it also speaks of Christ as the Light-giver. Earlier we saw the pure gold which speaks of His deity combined with the shittim wood that represented His holy humanity. Why the absence of the shittim wood here? Our suggestion would be that in this dark world so filled with man’s thoughts and ideas we need, by contrast, divine light: God’s light to shine into our hearts. In other words, we need God’s thoughts and ideas presented to us, whether for salvation, gathering as Christians, Christian living or service. Therefore, the emphasis is on the gold.

Who is it that has brought that light to us? All reading this article are probably familiar with what the Lord Jesus said: “I am the light of the world” (Jn. 8:12). Yet here in the candlestick it is not so much a question of bringing light to this dark world in testimony, but it is light for the sanctuary – the dwelling place of God and for His priests. Christ gives light to His people (Eph 5:14). How can we apply this for us today? In the Old Testament Asaph wrote in Psalm 73 about how he was troubled by the success of the wicked. He wrote: “But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked ... Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end” (vv.2-3,17). Where did Asaph find help? By going into the “sanctuary of God.” There he realized that the prosperity of the wicked was only for a short time. God’s judgment will surely overtake them – if not before death, then after it.

Using the picture of the candlestick, the light of God’s truth was shining in the sanctuary and gave Asaph the right perspective. Like Asaph, we need this light to adjust our thoughts and bring them into line with our God and Father’s thoughts. No matter what difficulty we may be struggling with, we can find help in the sanctuary! In other words, we need to be alone with our Bibles in the presence of the Lord Jesus and our God and Father, allowing the light to shine into our souls. We also need this light as we gather together with other believers. Once the light shone into our hearts for our salvation (2 Cor. 4:6). Now we still need this light as God’s people for our public meetings and for our everyday walk and our service here in the world.

The Brazen Altar
The brazen [bronze or copper] altar speaks of the Lord Jesus and His work at the cross. We again have the shittim wood that speaks of His perfect, sinless humanity, but now we have bronze, which can endure the fire. He endured the fire of God’s judgment for us. How solemn a thought that the One who is God would become Man in order to go to the cross to redeem our souls! As we have already stated, who else could endure the consuming fire of God’s wrath (Heb. 12:29)? Another has well said that all the animal sacrifices of the Old Testament were consumed by the fire. but our Sacrifice has consumed the fire of judgment in our place. All glory to His name! We will praise and adore Him forever!

The grate of brass was in the midst of the altar. It is where the animal was placed and where the fire burned. It was not on top of the altar, or at the bottom of the altar, but directly in the middle of the altar. Isaiah 53:10 tells us that “His soul [was made] an offering for sin.” His sufferings were not simply on the surface, but in His soul, in the depths of His being. Beloved fellow believer, He fully felt and entered into all that He had to endure in my place and yours. “Behold and see if there be any sorrow like unto My sorrow, which is done unto Me, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of His fierce anger” (Lam. 1:12).

Following the description of the brazen altar is the court, which surrounded the tabernacle, and the beautiful gate. Since Christ has glorified God on the cross, there is a way for you and me into His presence! The Lord Jesus Himself said He is the Door (Jn. 10:9) and the Way to the Father (14:6).

The Altar Of Incense
In the altar of incense we again see Christ, now as the basis of all of our worship. The shittim wood and the pure gold would again remind us of His sinless humanity and His true deity – God and man in one blessed Person. The fact that these two truths are emphasized again and again shows us how important that they are!

The sweet incense was offered on this altar. We believe that the different components of this incense all speak of the perfections of Christ, of what He was to the Father. May we learn the lesson: If we desire to worship in spirit and in truth (Jn. 4:23-24), then we must bring Christ to God. Many things today are called worship which are not really so according to the Word of God. Of course we worship both the Father and the Son. This is done by occupation with the person and work of Christ and speaking of these while addressing the Father and the Son.

The Brazen Laver
The brazen laver was composed wholly of bronze. It would seem to correspond with the brazen altar with this difference: While the brazen altar speaks of Christ enduring the judgment of God, the brazen laver speaks of our judgment of ourselves when we sin. Scripture tells us that if we refuse to judge ourselves we will come under the discipline of the Lord (1 Cor. 11:31-32).

Notice that the altar was made of the mirrors of the women who came to the tabernacle (Ex. 38:8). The mirrors – looking at ourselves – would emphasize this thought of self-judgment. However, what is the basis of our self judgment? Our own thoughts can sometimes be wrong. Notice that the priests were to wash in the water in the laver. As another has helpfully said, in the Holy Scriptures, water for drinking speaks of the Holy Spirit. Water for cleansing speaks of the Word of God. Here is another reason we each need to be reading the Word of God every day. It cleanses us and helps us to see if there is anything in our lives or service that is inconsistent with Christ and His work on the cross.

Building And Growing
We have looked briefly at some of the articles in the tabernacle described in Exodus 25-30. Notice that in chapters 35-39 the children of Israel are engaged in building the various items. We would suggest that we are each building as we “grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18). We each should be daily learning more of Him, speaking more of Him, and living out more of Christ in our service both toward God, toward other believers and toward this world. May the rich treasures found in the Word of God stimulate us as worshipers and servants while we wait for the Lord Jesus to come.

By Kevin Quartell