“Let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them” (Exod. 25:88And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. (Exodus 25:8)). The redemption of Israel by the might of Jehovah from the slavery and hard bondage of Egyptwas an accomplished and joyous fact (Exod. 14.). It formed the great burden of that first and grand song recorded in history (15.) ―one exceeded only by the yet grander theme celebrated by the redeemed in the courts of heaven (Rev. 5.).
Jehovah of old walked in Eden and held intercourse with Adam. He visited the patriarchs―the fathers of the nation. But He never had a home on earth till the Tabernacle was erected in the midst of His redeemed and happy people. Jehovah might have built a house for Himself―a palace befitting, His glory and august presence. But no, He would have the willing hearted to give, and the wise hearted to build His house. It would be a labor of love on the part of all who gave or wrought. What a touching thought that each redeemed Israelite could have a part in building a sanctuary for Jehovah to dwell in. What rich and wondrous grace on the part of Jehovah to permit His people to build Him a house wherein He would dwell in their very midst, and inhabit their praises (Ps. 22:3). Seraph, cherub, and angel would have esteemed it a favor of the highest order to have had committed to them such a delightful service. But no, the hearts and hands of His redeemed are alone employed: “Let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.” Besides the typical teachings and lessons of the Tabernacle-and these are rich and redolent of Christ―the first and primary use to which it was set apart was a dwelling for Jehovah-the Redeemer of Israel.
Constructed by Divine Command.
The whole work, in its design and execution was of God. The Tabernacle and all that pertained to it, even to the pins, cords, and taches were planned and designed by the Spirit of God (Exod. 31:3-63And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, 4To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, 5And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship. 6And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee; (Exodus 31:3‑6)), Who 15 centuries afterward comments upon His own workmanship (Heb. 9:88The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: (Hebrews 9:8)). Not only was the pattern of the Tabernacle shown to Moses, but the most minute and full instructions were given by God, so that not even the smallest detail, as color, size, or material, was left to human imagination or wisdom. All was according to Divine command. Jehovah was the Architect of His own house. There are three chapters, in all of 98 verses, containing full and precise instructions for the erection of the Tabernacle (Exod. 25., 26., 27.), and three chapters, also of 98 verses, showing how fully and faithfully these Divine instructions were carried out to the very letter (36., 37., 38.) three chapters of command answered by three chapters of obedience.
Constructed from a Divine Pattern.
The Tabernacle was not only constructed by Divine command, but also according to a Divine plan shown to Moses on the mount (Exod. 25:9-40; 26:309According to all that I show thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it. 10And they shall make an ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof. 11And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about. 12And thou shalt cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in the four corners thereof; and two rings shall be in the one side of it, and two rings in the other side of it. 13And thou shalt make staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold. 14And thou shalt put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, that the ark may be borne with them. 15The staves shall be in the rings of the ark: they shall not be taken from it. 16And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee. 17And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof. 18And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat. 19And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof. 20And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be. 21And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee. 22And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel. 23Thou 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. 24And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, and make thereto a crown of gold round about. 25And 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. 26And thou shalt make for it four rings of gold, and put the rings in the four corners that are on the four feet thereof. 27Over against the border shall the rings be for places of the staves to bear the table. 28And thou shalt make the staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be borne with them. 29And 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. 30And thou shalt set upon the table showbread before me alway. 31And 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. 32And 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: 33Three 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. 34And in the candlestick shall be four bowls made like unto almonds, with their knops and their flowers. 35And 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. 36Their knops and their branches shall be of the same: all it shall be one beaten work of pure gold. 37And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it. 38And the tongs thereof, and the snuffdishes thereof, shall be of pure gold. 39Of a talent of pure gold shall he make it, with all these vessels. 40And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was showed thee in the mount. (Exodus 25:9‑40)
30And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according to the fashion thereof which was showed thee in the mount. (Exodus 26:30)). “According to all that I shew thee, the pattern of the Tabernacle and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.” The Tabernacle was the figure of things in the heavens. The Tabernacle was duly built according to the pattern shown to Moses. He alone saw it; not even Aaron beheld it. “See, saith He, that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee on the mount” (Heb. 8:55Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount. (Hebrews 8:5)); hence the pattern was the type, and the Tabernacle and its vessels the anti-type.
The Tabernacle and its sacred vessels were patterns or copies of things in the heavens (Heb. 9:23, 2423It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: (Hebrews 9:23‑24)). In no sense did the Tabernacle typify the Church-the house of God-but rather bore testimony to Christ who tabernacle among us (John 1:1414And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)). Christ was the Tabernacle in which God dwelt. From chapter 25. to 27:19 the main thought is God revealing Himself to man, but inasmuch as “the only begotten Son which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him” (John 1:1919And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? (John 1:19)) so the Tabernacle in all its parts, especially in the portion pointed out, tells the story of Christ, the Revealer of God, His Divine and human natures; also His personal and official glories and offices. “God was in Christ.”
The Tabernacle uttered one name, that name of priceless worth. Every whit of it expressed His glory, and were divinely intended to teach Christ, to shadow forth His sacrifice, His priesthood on high, His glories and beauties in the heavenly sanctuary, also to illustrate various relationships between God and His heavenly and earthly peoples. The Tabernacle also in its various parts figured the whole scene of creation, save the infernal regions.
The Court had its place in the world-the wide domain of Christian outward privilege, morally apart from the world, and set apart for those who would profit by these privileges. Thus the word of Jehovah was here spoken and heard by the assembled people; the Altar, Laver, etc., were also for use in the Court and in the presence of the people. The world proper was the wilderness outside the Court. The Court was a holy place (Lev. 6:1616And the remainder thereof shall Aaron and his sons eat: with unleavened bread shall it be eaten in the holy place; in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation they shall eat it. (Leviticus 6:16)).
Then the first part of the Tabernacle or holy place, was divided from the “holiest” by the beautiful veil rent at the death of Christ, and from the “Court” by the hangings or door at its entrance. Herein rested the Incense or Golden Altar, the Gold-Covered Table of Shewbread, and Seven-branched Golden Candlestick. It was in this holy apartment where the priests daily worshipped and served, which represents the heavenly places, the scene of the Church’s blessing; there as worshippers we burn the fragrant incense in the presence of our God―the merits of Christ’s Person and accomplished sacrifice; there, too, the Holy Spirit exhibits the varied glories of Christ as the lamps shone upon the beautifully carved shaft of the Candlestick, displaying its beauties; and there, too, we feed upon Christ as the priests did upon the Shewbread.
Next the second apartment or the “holiest,” into which the high priest alone entered once a year, and then to make atonement. This was the most sacred spot on earth. He entered with incense and blood, shadowing Christ in His precious Person and infinite sacrifice. This apartment directs us to the immediate presence of God. Now, just as the high priest of old passed through the Court, and trod the whole length of the Tabernacle till he stood with incense and blood before the Mercy-seat, so Christ, our Great High Priest, has gone from the Altar of divine judgment―the cross really-and passed through the heavens in the value of His Person and sacrifice, till He reached the throne at the right hand of which He sits. To this Heb. 4:1414Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. (Hebrews 4:14) refers: “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest that is passed through (not into) the heavens.”
The Tabernacle and all connected with it was to be an exact likeness of what was shown to the Mediator. All figured heavenly realities. The boards, colors, materials, action, and services in the Court and in the Tabernacle-without and within—are utterly senseless, and but a piece of mere ritual unless Christ is brought in. He lights them all up with meaning; He clothes these shadows with substance―all have their answer in Him. The Altar and the Ark―at the extreme, east and west of the Sacred building―and all lying between, have absolutely no significance unless as they threw their glory on Christ―on what He is and on what He does. The Tabernacle on earth was pitched by man; the true Tabernacle in the heavens is pitched by the Lord (Heb. 8:22A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. (Hebrews 8:2)). The holy places on earth were the figures of the true (Heb. 9:23, 2423It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: (Hebrews 9:23‑24)). The heavenly things were to be purified by the blood of Christ, not beings but things; this cleansing is rendered necessary because of angelic sin in the heavens (Ezek. 28.; Eph. 6.). The heavens have been defiled, for Satan and fallen angels are there, and hence the places needed cleansing. On the other handy the Tabernacle framed after the heavenly model, was purified by the blood of sacrificial animals (Heb. 9:21-2421Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. 22And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. 23It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: (Hebrews 9:21‑24)). The heavens and earth need purification.
The Tabernacle in Hebrews 9. And Its Main Design.
The Tabernacle and its continual services for about 500 years was a silent yet eloquent teacher to Israel. It has also been a fruitful source of study to the devout and spiritual in all ages. The misty and dim apprehensions of the people of old, have given place to a reverent understanding of Tabernacle teaching, for God has put into our hands the key to unlock its meaning. The Epistle to the Hebrews, especially chapters 8.-10., is the key. Christian reader, take it up and use it for your souls’ joy and profit. Our studies in this delightful subject may be greatly helped by careful attention to three expressions employed in chapter 9.: (1) “The Tabernacle” referring to the structure as a whole (first clause of verse 2). (2) “The-first Tabernacle” or holy place, the scene of constant service and worship, figuring the whole Jewish system which was characterized by continual doing and unfinished service, and which necessarily kept man at a distance from God. The veil unrent shut out God from man. The veil rent is God’s opened way for believers to enter His presence in boldness (Heb. 10:1919Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, (Hebrews 10:19)). The veil was not removed, but sufficiently rent for any one to pass through and enter in in all the simplicity of faith (verses 6-9). (3) The “second” Tabernacle or “the holiest” within the veil, and into which the high priest could alone and only once yearly enter. The ineffable majesty and glory of Jehovah was centered in the holiest which figured the immediate presence of God—the Heaven of heavens. There, too, He dwelt between the cherubim, and from thence He governed the world.