We have come to the end of seeing how each piece of the Tabernacle pointed toward Jesus. Today, as our final devotion in this series, I would like to look at how the Israelites communed with God through the Tabernacle and how we commune with God through Jesus. I want us to see the importance of the Tabernacle then and now. Once more, we will be reminded that before the beginning of time, God already had everything in place. He was not caught off guard by the sin of Adam and Eve. He did not have to go into emergency mode and make a plan. God loved us before creation, and He made a way possible for us to be redeemed.
For the Israelites, God’s dwelling place was the Tabernacle. They sacrificed animals on a bronze altar. Today, we are God’s dwelling place. Our sacrifice was His Son dying on the cross for our sins. In I Corinthians 6:19, Paul teaches us “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” This places greater importance on living a holy life.
For the Israelites, they were ceremonially cleansed by washing in the bronze laver. Today, we find cleansing through confessing our sins and repenting. I John 1:9 was written to Christians to remind us that to keep a close relationship with God, we need to confess our sins. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
The Israelites used the Golden Lampstand to physically see in the Tabernacle. According to Exodus 27:20, it was to burn always: “And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always.” When Jesus left to go back to the Father, He sent the Holy Spirit to enlighten us. He now dwells within each believer and is there to enlighten us by bringing God’s word to our memory when we need it. He, like the light, never goes out. He is always with us. He teaches us this in Hebrews 13:5 “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” In John 14:26 we have the assurance that He will teach us. “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
The Israelites were spiritually fed by the priest and the keeping of the law. Today we are fed by the living Word. We are part of a priesthood. I Peter 2:5 “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
On the Altar of Incense, a sweet smell was constantly going up to God. Today, we come into His presence with prayers to talk to God and to intercede for others. In Acts 10:3, an angel appears to Cornelius, and the angel is comparing Cornelius’s prayers and righteous deeds to the temple offering of fine flour and oil that is burned with frankincense on the altar, producing a sweet-smelling “pleasant aroma.” Our prayers are a sweet-smelling aroma to God.
Acts 10:3-4 “About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.”
As Christians, we no longer have to confess to a priest, because Jesus is our High Priest; we can enter into His presence anytime. We can come boldly to the throne. However, the Tabernacle does show us a pattern of worship prescribed by God.
Hebrews 10:19-25 “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
We are to enter with confidence because the One who paid it all was the only perfect sacrifice. He wants us to draw near to Him with a sincere heart and unwavering confidence in Him. The shedding of Jesus’ blood was a perfect sacrifice which allowed us to have a pure conscience. The Jewish cleansing or sprinkling with blood related only to what was external, and could not make the conscience perfect. We are instructed to hold fast, or as we would say, “hang on.” Persecutions and trials will come, but we have no need to fear or look elsewhere for comfort. Just keep trusting in Him and encouraging one another to stay the course. He is so worth it, then and now!
