From Tabernacle to Temple: A Trilogy of Worship- Part 1

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Romans 12:1 (KJV)

We are to offer ourselves, living to worship God. We see this principle through the Tabernacle of Moses, the Tabernacle of David, and the Temple of Solomon.

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. II Corinthians 5:1 (KJV)

We are the tabernacle that now houses God. In this post, let’s look at the Tabernacle of Moses and how it corresponds to us today. Moses tabernacle was a place of service and sacrifice.

The Outer Court

The Brazen Altar

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. 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. Exodus 27:1-2 (KJV)

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? Hebrews 9:14 (KJV)

We offer ourselves to God because Christ our Sacrifice offered Himself to God. We’re made clean by the blood and sacrifice of Christ. We can live holy unto the Lord.

The Brazen Laver

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein. For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat: When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the Lord: Exodus 30:17-20 (KJV)

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. John 17:17 (KJV)

The laver speaks of the washing of the water of the Word of God (Ephesians 5:26). Jesus said we’re clean by the Word spoken. The Living Word spoke the Living Word. As we read God’s Word, it comes alive and “lifes” us, cleansing us.

The Inner Court/ Holy Place

The Table of Shewbread

Thou 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. Exodus 25:23 (KJV)

Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. John 6:32 (KJV)

The Table of Shewbread, also called the Bread of the Presence, was positioned in the Inner Court, in the Holy Place. It portrays God giving us our daily bread to feed us and make us strong in Christ. Jesus Christ is the Divine Bread that came down from Heaven to give Himself to us. All who partake of His bread and blood will live. He is the living Bread, the Word made flesh.

The Lampstand

And 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. And 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:… And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it. Exodus 25:31-32, 37 (KJV)

For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: Ephesians 5:8

The Holy Spirit illuminates to us who Christ is. As we feed on the Word, we see Christ in the Word. God is light and He lights us. We are now children of Light, and we are now the light of the world. We shine for Jesus so others may see Him.

The Altar of Incense

And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: of shittim wood shalt thou make it. A cubit shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof; foursquare shall it be: and two cubits shall be the height thereof: the horns thereof shall be of the same. And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, the top thereof, and the sides thereof round about, and the horns thereof; and thou shalt make unto it a crown of gold round about…. And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it. Exodus 30:1-3, 7 (KJV)

And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. Revelation 8:3 (KJV)

Incense is symbolic of prayer (Revelation 5:8). We offer up prayer to God continuously, just as Christ, our Intercessor, offers up prayer for us continuously. Read John 17 for Jesus’ prayer for us. God uses prayer to achieve His purposes.

The Most Holy Place/ Holy of Holies

Mercy Seat

And 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. And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat. Exodus 25:17-18 (KJV)

But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. Hebrews 9:11-12 (KJV)

The Mercy Seat was the lid on the Ark of the Covenant. Blood was sprinkled on it from the brazen altar, a type of Christ’s shed blood. We obtain mercy now by the shed blood of Jesus.

Ark of the Covenant

And 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. And 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. Exodus 25:10-11 (KJV)

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16 (KJV)

The ark was a picture of God’s throne and presence. We now come boldly to the throne of grace and obtain mercy. Inside the ark were the Ten Commandments, a container of manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded. The rod was a picture of resurrection life. Christ resurrected to give us new life.

Cherubims

And 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. Exodus 25:19 (KJV)

And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. Revelation 5:13 (KJV)

The cherubims on the ark were images of angels that surround Gods throne and His presence. We can join the angels in heaven and worship God. In the Holy of Holies, we experience God and His presence. This is where we live now: in God’s presence. We live out our days as living sacrifices, offering ourselves in holy worship to God.

Tomorrow we’ll explore worship demonstrated by David.