the tabernacle in the old testament of the Bible it was the place where the presence of God was symbolized by the ark of the covenant and through it he guided the people of Israel. But that place was only a shadow of what was to come, Christ the lamb who takes away the sin of the world.
What is the tabernacle according to the Bible
In the Bible in the old testament the tabernacle is shown as a tent that contained the presence of God, which remained in the midst of his people. To guide him during his journey through the desert, after God brought them out of slavery in Egypt.
It was therefore a mobile sanctuary and where the people of Israel presented their sacrifices, prayers and praises to God through the priests.
This tabernacle was built with the people's voluntary donations, out of love for God. Following the Lord's specific instructions given to Moses regarding the design and materials to be used for its construction. In the Bible, you can read all this in chapters 25 through 40 of the Book of Exodus.
Through the Tabernacle God taught, guided and directed his people, showing his presence with a cloud by day and fire at night.
Éxodo 40: 38 (NASB): For the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and by night there was fire there in the sight of all the house of Israel in all their journeys.
In the Bible, Jesus Christ is also shown as a representation of the Tabernacle of God:
Juan 10: 9: I am the door; whoever enters through me will be saved; and he will go in, and he will go out, and find pasture
Hebrews 9: 11: But being already present Christ, high priest of the goods to come, the largest and most perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is, not of this creation,
Juan 1: 29:-Behold the Lamb of God, that takes away the sin of the world-.
God says in his word: -I will dwell in their midst- (Exodus 25:8), so the tabernacle was only a shadow of what was to come. God made man in the person of Jesus:
John 1:14: And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
The Bible also speaks of how Christians are called in these times to raise up the fallen tabernacle of David, as will be seen later. But first, it is necessary to understand what God's tabernacle was like for the people of Israel.
structure of the tabernacle
According to specific instructions given by God to Moses, the tabernacle was built. Which was structured in two main parts: the atrium or outer patio and the sanctuary store. The latter was made up of the holy place and the holy of holies.
The atrium: Here the offerings were made, it was also the only space to which the people could have access, to offer their sacrifice to God. It was the only way for the people to be in the presence of God.
the holy place: Place through which the Tabernacle Tent was entered. It was separated from the court by five pillars built of gold. The separation was represented by a veil, through which the enclosure was entered. Inside it was the altar of incense, the table of the Proposal and the candlestick.
Holy of Holies: After the Holy Place and a second veil. Inside was the Ark of the Covenant. The Holy of Holies was where God's presence dwelt. Here, the high priest entered once a year, to make the sacrifice for the expiation of sins.
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Tabernacle Bible Study
The biblical study of the Tabernacle gives an explanation about its meaning, as well as its parts. Much of the symbolism contained in the tabernacle was part of the prophecy and promise of God in the Old Testament about the Christ, Jesus of Nazareth.
the tabernacle
It represented the presence of God in the midst of Israel. It can also symbolize the following:
- To Jesus Christ God with us, Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23
- Presence of the Lord in the midst of the praises of his people, Psalms 22:3
- The church of Christ, as the temple and dwelling place of his Holy Spirit, 1 Corinthians 6:19 and John 14:23
Admission
The tabernacle had a single entrance located on the east. The only way into God's presence was through this door. It symbolizes Christ, who is the only way to reach the Father. John 10:9, John 14:6, Romans 5:1-2, Ephesians 2:18.
The bronze altar
The bronze altar where animals were sacrificed for the atonement of sins. This altar also has a symbolic connection with Jesus, the slain lamb, the perfect and sinless sacrifice. Hebrews 9: 13-14.
the bronze fountain
The bronze laver was the basin where the priests performed the ceremonial washing of hands and feet for purification before entering the holy place. This laver symbolizes the baptism of the new covenant, the new birth by water and the Spirit. Juan 3: 5.
The proposal table
The table of shewbread or the table of twelve loaves was used to remind Israel that God was their provider, not only of food, but also of his presence and protection. It also symbolizes the bread of life, Jesus. Juan 6: 35.
The candelabrum
The Lampstand was placed to the left of the entrance to the Holy Place, on the south wall of the Tabernacle. It was a lampstand made of a single piece of pure gold and hammered (Exodus 25:31). This piece of the tabernacle also symbolizes Christ as the light of the world, Juan 8: 12, his word, Psalm 119:105 and his glory, Revelation 21:23.
the altar of incense
The Altar of Incense was located before the veil dividing the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, Exodus 30:6. It was made of acacia wood overlaid with pure gold, Exodus 30:1-3. On this altar the priests presented the prayers of the people and burned fragrant incense continually. It symbolized prayer, praise, and worship, and also represents Jesus as the best intercessor between God and man. John 17:9 and John 14:16. It also symbolizes the prayers and praises of all his saints, Revelation 8:3-4.
The veil of the tabernacle
The tabernacle had two veils, one dividing the courtyard from the Holy Place, and the second between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. They were made of red and blue cloth, as well as white twisted linen with cherubim, Exodus 26:31. The veil symbolized the separation between man's sinful nature and God's holiness. Only the high priest, after performing acts of purification, could enter God's presence, and only once a year.
This was the same veil that was rent when Jesus gave up his spirit before his resurrection, Matthew 27:50-51. Through the sacrifice of Christ the heavens were opened and his church has free access to the throne of grace, being able to be in his presence at any time through praise or prayer.
The Ark of the Covenant
The Ark of the Covenant was located in the Most Holy Place, beyond the second veil. It was made of acacia wood and overlaid with pure gold inside and out. Above the ark was a mercy seat of pure gold with two cherubim facing forward, their wings outstretched, facing the ark.
Inside it rested the stone tablets that God gave to Moses on Mount Sinai with the Ten Commandments, Aaron's rod and a golden pot of manna. This ark represented the presence, the throne of God on earth, there God spoke to Moses, Exodus 25:22 and Numbers 7:89.
It was also the place where the high priest performed the sacrifices for the atonement of the sins of the people, who spilled the blood of the animals on the ark. This act symbolically represents the shed blood of Jesus. The blood that washed away our sins, 1 John 1:7.
The Tabernacle of David
The Tabernacle of David represents the foundation of Christian worship. King David created a new sacrifice. The sacrifices that were made there were for joy, with tambourines, dances and songs of praise. On that site a new form of worship was established, David ordered the presence of both choirs and musicians to worship and praise the Lord, see 1 Chronicles 16: 4 and 1 Chronicles 23: 4-6.
But David's tabernacle was only a small tent made of curtains, see 2 Samuel 7:2, unlike Moses', which consisted of three sections: the Courtyard, the Holy Place, and the one designated for the ark or presence of God, the Most Holy Place. God prophesied the restoration of this place of worship and the presence of the Lord in Amos 9:11.
The time has come!
Today, we are in that time when Spirit-led worshipers know how the Father is asking to be worshipped:
John 4: 23-24 (TLA): God is spirit, and those who worship him, so that they adore him as they should, they have to be led by the Spirit. The time is coming when those who worship God the Father will do so as they should, led by the Holy Spirit, because that is how the Father wants to be adored. And that time has already come!
If we meditate on what the world is experiencing today, we can realize that God wants our homes to be His lamp in these times of the COVID-19 pandemic. While it's true that sometimes we can't understand what's happening, the best thing we can do in the face of this situation is to seek the Lord, to seek in Him the answers to this situation.
In these moments of quarantine, all God's people in all nations long to gather again in their churches. But the important thing is not what the people of God long for but what God is doing, what God is speaking. If God is leading us to stay in our homes, it's for a reason.
If the Tabernacle of David is the foundation of Christian worship. So God wants today to erect living tabernacles in each of our houses. So, as the quoted verse says And that time has already come!
A time where those who are led by the Spirit of God will know how to worship him, will know how to minister to the heart of God. We have the task, now where God has us; To watch over our homes, we need to raise up the fallen tabernacle of David.
It is necessary to lift it today
If even one rises up in his own house, the presence of God will be there (Matthew 18:20). Brothers and sisters, we don't know how long we'll be living this way, confined to our homes, but how good it is that we can count on the guidance of the Holy Spirit to know what to do in the name of Jesus in these times.
In the voice of the prophet Amos and quoted in Acts, God sets David as an example for the end times, where he will restore his tabernacle
Facts 15: 16-17: 16 After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tabernacle of David that has fallen And I will rebuild its ruins, and I will raise it up again, 17 so that the rest of men seek the Lordand all the gentiles who are called by my name.
God is showing David, not as an example of perfection, because in fact neither David nor his family were examples of perfect people. But if he shows it as an example of an imperfect looking for the perfect. In the same way we are all of us today, some imperfect looking for the perfect one, who is Jesus Christ. In fact the perfect one found us and today for his glory we are with him, walking hand in hand with him.
So God is speaking to us of something as powerful as a time when all men seek the Lord! And he certainly is speaking that today we are that fallen tabernacle, a living tabernacle of the God of heaven.
David was a man who experienced God's grace in a profound way, and who was also able to establish a worship plan that didn't exist in his time. David erected a tabernacle where worship was held 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, giving glory to God in that place at all times.
place of restoration
David's tabernacle is a place of restoration, it is the restoration of God's eternal purpose. That is what the Lord is doing with our lives, with each family, with each home. Worship is not only manifested with songs to the Lord, true worship is a fragrance that emanates from a life that sustains what lives in Christ (read 2 Corinthians 2:14-17 LBLA). This brings us to Jesus' parable about the lamp:
Matthew 5:14-16: 14 you you are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 I don't know light a lamp and it is put under a bushel, but on the lampstand, and enlighten all who are in the house. 16 So let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father which is in the heavens.
Do you want to know more about this and other parables of Jesus? We invite you to enter this article: The best parables of Jesus and its biblical meaning. These biblical texts are brief stories with which the Lord taught the people and his disciples. So that they could understand the message of God and his Kingdom, through comparative, symbolic, reflective and credible stories.
The first thing that you as a lamp are going to light is the family, your home and once the whole house is lit, the surroundings of it, the people who live around it will receive that brilliant light that is the call of God, that conviction of sins in their lives will make them run to the feet of the Lord.
We must be convinced that this is a time of manifestation, of restoration, a time of glory. Because what God is looking for is a heart that he believes and if your heart believes, you will see powerful things from the Lord.
What God wants today is for his people to rise up and believe him. He has placed in you precious gifts and he wants to use you, beginning with bringing light into your home. If the only believer in the home is you, it's up to you to be that light.
And how can you be that light?
You can be that light today, if you support what you say with your life. What comes out of your mouth must be supported by a life that lives it, by a life that walks in the light of Christ. Thus, those who still do not walk in the salvation of Christ, will be enlightened to come to the ways of the Lord.
God is delivering this beautiful revelation, so that each one of us understands that David's tabernacle had a purpose that man receive his presence, contain it and share it.
That tent that David erected manifested the presence of God. Today, that presence of God is visible in our homes, in our houses. But God is looking for people who contain His presence, He is looking for lives that sustain His presence, He is looking for people who believe in Him. Blessed be the Lord! If we want this, let us say to the Lord:
Lord, I want my life to contain your presence!
I want my life to walk in your truth!
To be that light for my house
Being able to be that lamp on
light up my home
To be that living tabernacle
of your presence in my family
In the name of Jesus
Amen
Let's be that living tabernacle
Being that living tabernacle is necessary, especially in these times we are living in. For this reason, it would also be interesting for you to read about Cherubs and their meaning: What is it?, meaning, definition, and much more. Because at one time we too were separated from Christ and belonged to the world and therefore it is time to no longer live without God, not one more day.
