We know God gave specific instructions on how He wanted the tabernacle built. But what did it look like? This devotion looks at the tabernacle described in Exodus 26.
Nuggets
- The tabernacle had several different names.
- The tabernacle included a court that encompassed the tabernacle proper.
- The tabernacle frames were made out of acacia wood (Ex. 26: 15).
- The outer covering was made from goat’s hair, and the inner covering was made “… of fine twined linen and blue and purple and scarlet yarns …” (Ex. 26: 1 ESV).
- The outer room was called the Holy Place, and the inner room was called the Most Holy Place.
My Ladies and I are going to start studying in Number on Sunday. Don’t worry. We are not going to do a verse-by-verse like we did with Ephesians.
What we will do is occasionally take a look at topics and people. Let’s start with the tabernacle.
I looked at a couple of resources, and I didn’t find too much consistency in any of them. So, who knows what it really was like?
Let's Put It into Context
Do you remember there was a temporary tabernacle before God gave Moses the directions for the real tabernacle? I had forgotten that.
Look in Exodus 33: 7-11. “Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp; and he called it the tent of meeting” (Ex. 33: 7 RSV). Did that make it a temporary tent? Sorry, I couldn’t resist.
But that verse brings up another point. The tabernacle had several different names. Tent of meeting was one. It was also called “… the Tent of the Lord’s presence, and anyone who wanted to consult the Lord would go out to it” (Ex. 33: 7 GNT).
Ummm. That was a nice little addition on the end (and yes, it makes one wonder how this get added, deleted, and changed). It wasn’t just Moses who could for a consultation — anyone could.
It was also called the tabernacle of testimony. “These are the records of the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the testimony, as they were recorded at the commandment of Moses, the responsibility of the Levites under the direction of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest” (Ex 38: 21 ESV).
Okay, let’s think that through. We usually think of our testimony as the story of how we became a disciple and what God is doing in our lives. When we tell others, we give our testimony.
Now, let’s look at it this way. Witnesses gives their testimony in a court of law. But there were expectations associated with that. “A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established” (Deut. 19: 15 ESV).
So, this tent was a place where the Israelites could gather to meet God. Since there could be more than two or three at a time, there was ample witnesses available to prove that God is real.
It was also called a temple. “So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD” (I Sam. 1: 9 KJV). I has previously thought that it wasn’t called a temple until it was the actual building Solomon built.
To muddy the waters even more, it was also called a sanctuary. “And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst” (Ex. 25: 8 RSV).
And it was called the house of the Lord. “And they burned the city with fire, and everything in it. Only the silver and gold, and the vessels of bronze and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the Lord” (Josh. 6: 24 ESV)
We’re going to focus on the one that God told Moses to build. And we are going to call it the tabernacle. This is how I interpret what is written.
The Tabernacle Described
The tabernacle included a court that encompassed the tabernacle proper. Like the tabernacle, the court was constructed with the curtains.
The altar of sacrifice was placed in the court. On the east side, it was by a water basin. The ark of the law was on the west side (Encyclopaedia Britannica).
Specific Directions Given to Moses
God knew exactly what He wanted in terms of a place of worship, and He gave the specific instruction on how to build it to Moses. “You must build this Tabernacle and its furnishings exactly according to the pattern I will show you” (Ex. 25: 9 NLT).
Moses wasn’t supposed to add anything even in praise to God. God was building this for Himself.
Thankfully, the Israelites got it right. “And so at last the Tabernacle was finished. The Israelites had done everything just as the LORD had commanded Moses” (Ex. 39: 32 NLT).
Description of the frame
The tabernacle frames were made out of acacia wood (Ex. 26: 15). There were 20 frames for each the north side (Ex. 26: 20) and the south side (Ex. 26: 18). There were also eight frames for the back (Ex. 26: 25).
It was carried by 15 bars made of acacia wood (Ex. 26: 26-27). The bars were held to the frames by gold rings (Ex. 26: 29). Both the bars and the frames were overplayed with gold.
The Curtains of Tabernacle
The outer covering was made from goat’s hair. These 11 curtains were considered “… a tent over the tabernacle …” (Ex. 26: 7 ESV). These outer hangings measured 150 feet by 75 feet (Lifeway).
There were separated into a group of five curtains and a group of six curtains. “You shall couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and the sixth curtain you shall double over at the front of the tent” (Ex. 26: 9). They are put together with gold clasps.
The inner covering that covered the tabernacle proper was made “… of fine twined linen and blue and purple and scarlet yarns …” (Ex. 26: 1 ESV). They were decorated with cherubim (Ex. 26: 2). It measured 45 feet by 15 feet (Lifeway).
There were two sets of five curtains each (Ex. 26: 1, 3). The curtains were fastened to the frame by 50 blue loops (Ex. 26: 4-5). Added to this was 50 gold clasps to secure the curtains together.
Resource
Lifeway. (2019). Explore the Bible Leader Guide. p. 146-148. Nashville, TN.
The Rooms Themselves
The Holy Place
The outer room was called the Holy Place. The bread of the Presence was placed on a table here along with the altar of incense and the menorah (Encyclopedia Britannica; Ex. 26: 35).
The Most Holy Place
The inner room was called the Most Holy Place. This is where the Ark of the Covenant was housed.
The Ark of the Covenant symbolizes God’s presence and, thus, is identified by a number of names (Holman Bible Dictionary). God gave Moses directions on how to build the ark at Mt. Sinai (Holman Bible Dictionary). Made of acacia wood by Bezalel, it was overlaid by pure gold, inside and out. Poles were inserted in four gold rings to carry it (Exodus 37:1-5). The Ark of the Covenant included the mercy-seat and the cherubim (Matthew Henry Commentary). Henry stated: “they represent the glory of a holy god, the sincerity of a holy heart, and the communion that is between them, in and by a Mediator.” It contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant (Heb. 9: 4).
Making the Connections
The tabernacle was where God met with His people. He came down to be with His people. Just as He met Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, He meets us today.
Most of all, it is to be a place of worship. God wanted to be in the midst of His people.
Sovereign God. There is a reason why You has the description of the tabernacle recorded. It could be to show us that You desire a place where we can meet You. Lord, we know that You are in our hearts. Still, we need a place where those who are searching for You can come to find like-minded seekers. May we always approach You with the reverence You deserve. Amen.
What do you think?
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