Chapter 14
THE TABERNACLE/TEMPLE
Before we begin our study of the Tabernacle/Temple let us pray.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Holy Father we come before You in the Name of Your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Father we ask for You to please bless our study of the Old Testament Temple. Please open our eyes, our ears and our heart and cause us to see how the Old Testament Temple helps us to better understand the church that Your Son Jesus Christ is building unto You.
Amen
INTRODUCTION
In our previous studies we saw that the Old Testament feasts and animal sacrifices were foreshadowings to teach us about the spiritual realities and benefits that resulted from the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. In like manner, He has given us the Old Testament Temple, that is the Tabernacle, to point to and help us understand the spiritual realities of His church. In this chapter we will discover that the physical Temple of the Old Testament was a foreshadowing of the spiritual Temple of God. This spiritual temple, composed of all the born again believers in Jesus Christ, is also known as the body of Christ, that is the church.
To see this we will,
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Since the Old Testament talks about three temples or tabernacles, the following background material is offered to help clarify the chronology or timeline and historical setting of these temples.
The first temple was built under the direction of Moses. It was constructed during Israel’s exodus from Egypt to the promised land of Canaan. This temple was often identified as the Tent of Meeting. It was referred to in this manner because it was the place that God would meet and give direction to the representatives of Israel, that is Moses and the priests (Exodus 25:23). This temple was in actuality a tent composed of wood boards, cloth and animal skins (Exodus 26:1-36). It was used throughout Israel’s exodus in the wilderness of Sinai. Each time the nation was to move from one place to another, the tent was dismantled, carried and reassembled by the Levites (Numbers 4:1-33). This temple was also used by the Israelites during the early years of their stay in the promised land of Canaan. Specifically, it was used throughout the reigns of King Saul and King David.
In approximately 954BC
1, under the direction of King Solomon, a son of King David, the second temple was built in Jerusalem. This temple was fashioned after the pattern of the temple built by Moses. However, it was a permanent structure, that is it was composed of huge quarried stones. This temple was used by the Israelites until the time of the Babylonian invasion, that is for approximately 368 years. In approximately 586BC2, under the authority of King Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian army overran Jerusalem and took the citizens captive. During this military campaign they also destroyed the temple built by King Solomon.After the return of the Jewish people to Jerusalem from their captivity in Babylon, a third temple was constructed. This temple was built under the leadership of Joshua and Zerubbabel. It too was a permanent structure and was completed in approximately 512BC
3. However, even though it was fashioned after the pattern of King Solomon’s temple, it was smaller in stature.Even though it is not part of the Biblical record, it is noted that in approximately 20-19BC
4, King Herod rebuilt the temple. King Herod's rationale for this undertaking was that he felt that the temple of Joshua and Zerubbabel did not measure up to the glory of the one built by King Solomon5. It is noted that it was this temple, the temple built by King Herod, that was standing during the days of our Lord and Savior’s sojourn upon this earth.As Jesus foretold, in approximately 70AD
6 the temple built by King Herod was utterly destroyed. This occurred under the command of the Roman General Titus during the overthrow of Jerusalem. It is noted that even to this day this temple lies in ruin. The reason for this will become evident in the remaining pages of this chapter.THE OLD TESTAMENT TEMPLE WAS DESIGNED BY GOD
At the time that God gave Moses the Ten Commandments along with the rules and regulations for the sacrificial system, He also instructed Moses to build a tabernacle and its associated furnishings, that is altars, lampstand, etc. This Temple was a foreshadowing and type of the Heavenly Temple. To see this let us go to the Old Testament and read what God said to Moses concerning the construction of this tabernacle and its furnishings.
Exodus 25:40
"[40] See that you make them according to the pattern shown you on the mountain."
In other words, the design and construction of the tabernacle and its furnishings was a design given to Moses by God. In a similar fashion, God gave King David the design and plans for the Temple that was to be built by his son Solomon. To see this let us read from,
1 Chronicles 28:11-12
"[11] Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the portico of the temple, its buildings, its storerooms, its upper parts, its inner rooms and the place of atonement. [12] He gave him the plans of all that the Spirit had put in his mind for the courts of the temple of the LORD ..."
In reading how the Temple was designed we find that there were,
THREE MAJOR SECTIONS OR PARTITIONS OF THE TEMPLE
These three major partitions or sections were: (1) the outer court, (2) the Holy Place and (3) the Most Holy Place or sometimes identified as the Holiest of Holies.
To help us receive a clearer picture of the Old Testament Temple let us now review a description for each of the three major sections. To do this we will use the descriptions that God gave to Moses for the construction of the first Tent of Meeting or Tabernacle. For the sake of completion and clarity we will also review the physical description and purpose for the major furnishings that were placed within each of the three sections. It is not the purpose of this chapter to cover the spiritual significance and foreshadowings for these sections and their associated furnishings. The spiritual aspect of the partitions and furnishings is the subject for chapter 15.
With this in mind let us begin with,
The Outer Court or Courtyard
This portion of the Temple or Temple area that surrounded the Tabernacle was 100 cubits in length and fifty cubits wide. This is revealed to us in,
Exodus 27:18
"[18] The courtyard shall be a hundred cubits long and fifty cubits wide, ..."
In the Old Testament days a cubit was the distance from a person's elbow to the tip of their middle finger
(7). In determining distances it is generally accepted that one cubit equates to eighteen inches(8). Thus, the length of the courtyard was approximately 150 feet and its width was approximately 75 feet.It was in the courtyard, in front of the entrance to the Tabernacle itself, where the Brazen Altar was placed. This was the altar upon which the animal sacrifices were burned. Thus it was also called the Altar of Burnt Offering. To see this let us read from,
Exodus 40:29
"[29] He set the altar of burnt offering near the entrance to the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, and offered on it burnt offerings and grain offerings, as the LORD commanded him."
Between the brazen altar and the entrance to the Tabernacle was the Bronze Basin or Laver. Since the Basin was filled with water, during the days of King Solomon it was called the Sea. It was with the water from the Basin that the priests used to wash their hands and feet before they ministered at the Altar of Burnt Offering or inside the Tabernacle. This is described for us in,
Exodus 30:17-21
"[17] Then the LORD said to Moses, [18] "Make a bronze basin, with its bronze stand, for washing. Place it between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water in it. [19] Aaron and his sons are to wash their hands and feet with water from it. [20] Whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting, they shall wash with water so that they will not die. Also, when they approach the altar to minister by presenting an offering made to the LORD by fire, [21] they shall wash their hands and feet so that they will not die. This is to be a lasting ordinance for Aaron and his descendants for the generations to come.""
Let us now proceed to review the design and construction of,
The First Tabernacle, Tent of Meeting or Temple
The original Tabernacle consisted of three walls made of forty eight boards that were overlaid with gold. The width of each board was one and one half cubits. Twenty boards, standing upright, were used for each length. The remaining eight boards were used for the back wall, that is the width. Thus, the Tabernacle that Moses built was approximately 45 feet long and 18 feet wide. A description of this construction is provided to us in Exodus 26:15-29.
The roof of the Tabernacle was made with four coverings: (1) badger skin, (2) ram skin, (3) goat hair and (4) linen. A description of this roof is provided for us in Exodus 26:1-14.
The entrance to the Tabernacle was made from woven yarn and linen thread. This screen was supported by five pillars that were overlaid with gold. A description of this entrance way is provided in,
Exodus 26:36-37
""[36] For the entrance to the tent make a curtain of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen--the work of an embroiderer. [37] Make gold hooks for this curtain and five posts of acacia wood overlaid with gold. And cast five bronze bases for them."
The Temple structure itself was divided into two sections by a veil or curtain woven from yarn and linen thread. One section was called the Holy Place and the other section was identified as the Holiest of Holies or the Most Holy Place. To see this let us read from,
Exodus 26:31-33
""[31] Make a curtain of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen, with cherubim worked into it by a skilled craftsman. [32] Hang it with gold hooks on four posts of acacia wood overlaid with gold and standing on four silver bases. [33] Hang the curtain from the clasps and place the ark of the Testimony behind the curtain. The curtain will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place."
With this division of the Tabernacle in mind let us now see what furnishings were placed within them. Let us begin with,
The Holy Place
The Holy Place contained three major items. One of the items placed in the Holy Place was called the Table of Show Bread. This is sometimes translated to be the Table of the Bread of the Presence. A description of this table is found in,
Exodus 25:23-30
""[23] Make a table of acacia wood--two cubits long, a cubit wide and a cubit and a half high. [24] Overlay it with pure gold and make a gold molding around it. [25] Also make around it a rim a handbreadth wide and put a gold molding on the rim. [26] Make four gold rings for the table and fasten them to the four corners, where the four legs are. [27] The rings are to be close to the rim to hold the poles used in carrying the table. [28] Make the poles of acacia wood, overlay them with gold and carry the table with them. [29] And make its plates and dishes of pure gold, as well as its pitchers and bowls for the pouring out of offerings. [30] Put the bread of the Presence on this table to be before me at all times."
In verse 30 above we are told that the Bread of the Presence was to be placed upon this table. The Bread of Presence was actually twelve loaves of bread. To insure freshness, on each Sabbath, the priests replaced the old loaves with twelve new ones. To see this let us read from,
Leviticus 24:5-8
""[5] Take fine flour and bake twelve loaves of bread, using two-tenths of an ephah for each loaf. [6] Set them in two rows, six in each row, on the table of pure gold before the LORD. [7] Along each row put some pure incense as a memorial portion to represent the bread and to be an offering made to the LORD by fire. [8] This bread is to be set out before the LORD regularly, Sabbath after Sabbath, on behalf of the Israelites, as a lasting covenant.""
The second item that was placed in the Holy Place was the Lampstand or Candlestick. The Lampstand was designed and constructed to hold seven lamps. A description of this fixture can be found in,
Exodus 25:31-40
""[31] Make a lampstand of pure gold and hammer it out, base and shaft; its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms shall be of one piece with it. [32] Six branches are to extend from the sides of the lampstand--three on one side and three on the other. [33] Three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms are to be on one branch, three on the next branch, and the same for all six branches extending from the lampstand. [34] And on the lampstand there are to be four cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms. [35] One bud shall be under the first pair of branches extending from the lampstand, a second bud under the second pair, and a third bud under the third pair--six branches in all. [36] The buds and branches shall all be of one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold. [37] "Then make its seven lamps and set them up on it so that they light the space in front of it. [38] Its wick trimmers and trays are to be of pure gold. [39] A talent of pure gold is to be used for the lampstand and all these accessories. [40] See that you make them according to the pattern shown you on the mountain."
Let us take special note of verse 40. Again we are reminded that the Temple, along with its furnishings, were designed by God.
The Lampstand along with its lamps were to be placed in front of the curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. One of the functions of the priests was to insure that the lamps were lit. To see this let us read from,
Exodus 27:20-21
""[20] Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning. [21] In the Tent of Meeting, outside the curtain that is in front of the Testimony, Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps burning before the LORD from evening till morning. This is to be a lasting ordinance among the Israelites for the generations to come."
The last major fixture to be placed within the Holy Place was the Altar of Incense. A description for it can be found in,
Exodus 30:1-6
""[1] Make an altar of acacia wood for burning incense. [2] It is to be square, a cubit long and a cubit wide, and two cubits high --its horns of one piece with it. [3] Overlay the top and all the sides and the horns with pure gold, and make a gold molding around it. [4] Make two gold rings for the altar below the molding--two on opposite sides--to hold the poles used to carry it. [5] Make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. [6] Put the altar in front of the curtain that is before the ark of the Testimony--before the atonement cover that is over the Testimony--where I will meet with you."
Every morning and evening the priest was to burn incense upon this altar. This was done so that the sweet aroma of the incense was continually present before God. To see this let us read from,
Exodus 30:7-8
""[7] Aaron must burn fragrant incense on the altar every morning when he tends the lamps. [8] He must burn incense again when he lights the lamps at twilight so incense will burn regularly before the LORD for the generations to come."
As we saw earlier, the section behind the curtain or veil within the Tabernacle was called,
The Holiest of Holies or Most Holy Place
It was in this section of the Tabernacle were the Ark of the Testimony, which is sometimes translated as the Ark of the Covenant, was placed. To see this let us read from,
Exodus 26:34
"[34] Put the atonement cover on the ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy Place."
The reason this portion of the Tabernacle was called the Most Holy Place was because this is were God's Presence or Glory resided. More specifically, in the Old Testament days, the Presence of God resided between the two cherubim that was on top of the Ark of the Covenant. We can conclude this fact by reading the account of when the two priests, Hophni and Phinehas, returned the Ark of the Covenant from the possession of the Philistines. This account is recorded for us in,
1 Samuel 4:4
"[4] So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the LORD Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim. And Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God."
With this in mind we can now see that,
THE OLD TESTAMENT TEMPLE WAS THE HOUSE OF GOD
In other words, in the Old Testament days, God's presence resided in the Temple. To see this a bit more clearly let us read what happened after the Israelites completed the construction of the first Tabernacle or Tent of Meeting. This event is recorded for us in,
Exodus 40:33-35
"[33] Then Moses set up the courtyard around the tabernacle and altar and put up the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard. And so Moses finished the work. [34] Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. [35] Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle."
In addition the Bible also teaches us that after King Solomon built the second Temple God filled It with His presence. To see this, let us read what happened after the Temple was completed and all its furnishings were placed in their proper place. It is recorded in,
1 Kings 8:10-11
"[10] When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the LORD. [11] And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled his temple."
It is noted that the Presence or Glory of God residing in the Old Testament Tabernacle/Temple, was also a foreshadowing pointing to the time when God would inhabit another temple.
THE NEW TEMPLE … THE BORN AGAIN BELIEVER
To see this, we begin by reading how Jesus prepared His disciples for this glorious blessing. He did this by telling them that His own body was to be destroyed and resurrected. To make the point He said this by the Temple constructed by Herod after He cleansed it from the corruption of those who were making a profit from its services. This incident is recorded in,
John 2:13-22
"[13] When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. [14] In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. [15] So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. [16] To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!" [17] His disciples remembered that it is written: "Zeal for your house will consume me." [18] Then the Jews demanded of him, "What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?" [19] Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days." [20] The Jews replied, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?" [21] But the temple he had spoken of was his body. [22] After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken."
Since we know that Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit and is the second person of the Godhead we can readily accept His statement when He said that His body was/is a Temple. But, what about us, that is you and I, the born again believer? Can we accept the fact that the Bible teaches that we too are a temple of God?
For us to apprehend and accept the truth of this statement we must accept and take to heart the fact that every born again believer in Jesus Christ is filled with the Holy Spirit. To see this let us read what Jesus said to His disciples during the Feast of
Tabernacles. It is recorded for us in,John 7:37-39
"[37] On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. [38] Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." [39] By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified."
To amplify Jesus' words a bit more, let us now read the following excerpt from the first letter that Paul penned to the Corinthian church. The passage of interest is,
1 Corinthians 3:16
"[16] Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?"
To emphasize the significance of this, let us also read the following passage,
1 Corinthians 3:17
"[17] … God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple."
In addition to each one of us being a temple of God filled with the Holy Spirit, the Bible also teaches us that we are also collectively being built into a Holy Temple of God. To see this, consider,
Ephesians 2:19-22
"[19] … you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, [20] built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. [21] In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. [22] And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit."
The above dwelling identifies in Ephesians 2:19-22, which is the spiritual building composed of all the born again believers is called the body of Christ or the church. To see this let us first recall that every born again believer in Jesus Christ is a member of the body of Christ. This truth is clearly stated in,
1 Corinthians 12:27
"[27] Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it."
This body, that is the body of Christ composed of all the born again believers, is the church that Jesus came to build. To see this, let us read from,
Colossians 1:18
"[18] And he is the head of the body, the church; ..."
Thus, we find that in addition to each individual born again believer in Jesus Christ the New Testament temple is also the church. This church is not a building made of wood, brick and mortar. No! It is a spiritual building composed of you and I, the born again believers. It is a holy habitation of God the Holy Spirit. The church that our Lord Jesus Christ came to build is the fulfillment of what the Old Testament Temple and the people who served it were pointing to. The church is that group of people He bought and paid for with His own body and blood. It is that body of people who have been set apart and made holy through the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. Namely, the church, composed of all the born again believers of all time is the body of Christ. To see this, prayerfully consider,
1 Peter 2:4-5
"[4] As you come to him, the living Stone--rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him-- [5] you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."
Blessed be the Lord forever!
AMEN and AMEN