Author’s Note: This is the first in a three article series. We will explore the Old Testament tabernacle and how it relates to New Testament living today.
In Old Testament times, God wanted a place where He could dwell with His people. He commanded the Israelites to construct a tabernacle, which means tent, or dwelling. God gave the Israelites specific dimensions, materials, and a specific layout for the tabernacle. Moses was the overseer of the construction and was in charge of inspecting the tabernacle after it was completed. After the completion of the tabernacle, Moses inspected it, and then it was suited for use for sacrifices and communion with the Lord.
The tabernacle of the Old Testament was a tent with two rooms, (the Tent of Meeting), surrounded by a curtained off courtyard. The courtyard contained items for purification after sacrifices to God were made. The laver, or washbasin, was in the courtyard, called the outer court. The Brazen Altar was also outside; this altar was used for animal sacrifices unto the Lord. From there the high priest would enter the tent, the first room in the Tent of Meeting. This room was called the Holy Place. Inside the Holy Place were three items, the Menorah, the Table of Showbread, and the Golden Altar of Incense. These items were used to please the Lord. After finishing in the Holy Place, the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies, the place in the tabernacle where God met His people. The only items in the Holy of Holies were the Ark of the Covenant and the Atonement Cover. God met His people between two angels on the Atonement Cover. God’s Presence was known to His people as a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of smoke by night. Exodus 25:8. Now that you have a small grasp of the layout of the tabernacle, we will examine in a bit more depth.
As the high priest entered the outer court, he would remove his footwear, as a sign of reverence, for he was standing on holy ground. He would bring his sacrifices to the Brazen Altar, which is where he would slaughter his sacrifice. He would sprinkle the blood of the animal around the altar and also on the horns of the altar. “For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life”, Leviticus 17:11. The Brazen Altar was the Old Testament altar of sacrifice. The New Testament sacrifice was Jesus Christ on the Cross. The blood of goats and bulls had to be sacrificed annually to atone for the sins of the people. “In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness”, Hebrews 9:22. The single sacrifice of Jesus made atonement for our sins now and forever. The one time shedding of blood on the Cross eliminated the need for the annual sacrifices to atone for Israel’s sins. In addition, the death and resurrection of Jesus covered more than just the sins of Israel, but atoned for all who would believe and confess Him as Lord and Savior. Hebrews 9:11-12 says, “When Christ came as the High Priest of the good things that are already here, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but He entered the Most Holy Place once and for all by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption”. Jesus Christ eliminated the need for many future generations to have to sacrifice animals for atonement with this one act of selfless love. Now our sacrifices do not have to involve the shedding of blood, but believing in the redemptive power of His.
Following the Brazen Altar, the high priest would proceed to the Laver, a bronze basin full of water, which he would use to wash himself following the sacrifices. The Laver was located halfway between the Brazen Altar and the Holy Place. The Laver was a reminder to the Israelites that we must cleanse ourselves before approaching God. There is no change in regard to being cleansed before we approach God from Old to New Testaments. The difference is the method in which we cleanse ourselves. Instead of washing in a basin, we today are washed by the water of the Word. “Husbands love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her, to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the Word, and to present her to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless”, Ephesians 5:25-27. The truth is that Christ made the path to God easier for us than for the Israelites. Our sacrifices and paths to Him are made in prayer and in study, not through slaughter and procedure. This is another demonstration of God’s love for us.
Tomorrow, we will enter the Holy Place and compare how they worshipped then, and how we worship today. Until next time, may God bless and keep you, and may His face shine upon you.
In Old Testament times, God wanted a place where He could dwell with His people. He commanded the Israelites to construct a tabernacle, which means tent, or dwelling. God gave the Israelites specific dimensions, materials, and a specific layout for the tabernacle. Moses was the overseer of the construction and was in charge of inspecting the tabernacle after it was completed. After the completion of the tabernacle, Moses inspected it, and then it was suited for use for sacrifices and communion with the Lord.
The tabernacle of the Old Testament was a tent with two rooms, (the Tent of Meeting), surrounded by a curtained off courtyard. The courtyard contained items for purification after sacrifices to God were made. The laver, or washbasin, was in the courtyard, called the outer court. The Brazen Altar was also outside; this altar was used for animal sacrifices unto the Lord. From there the high priest would enter the tent, the first room in the Tent of Meeting. This room was called the Holy Place. Inside the Holy Place were three items, the Menorah, the Table of Showbread, and the Golden Altar of Incense. These items were used to please the Lord. After finishing in the Holy Place, the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies, the place in the tabernacle where God met His people. The only items in the Holy of Holies were the Ark of the Covenant and the Atonement Cover. God met His people between two angels on the Atonement Cover. God’s Presence was known to His people as a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of smoke by night. Exodus 25:8. Now that you have a small grasp of the layout of the tabernacle, we will examine in a bit more depth.
As the high priest entered the outer court, he would remove his footwear, as a sign of reverence, for he was standing on holy ground. He would bring his sacrifices to the Brazen Altar, which is where he would slaughter his sacrifice. He would sprinkle the blood of the animal around the altar and also on the horns of the altar. “For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life”, Leviticus 17:11. The Brazen Altar was the Old Testament altar of sacrifice. The New Testament sacrifice was Jesus Christ on the Cross. The blood of goats and bulls had to be sacrificed annually to atone for the sins of the people. “In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness”, Hebrews 9:22. The single sacrifice of Jesus made atonement for our sins now and forever. The one time shedding of blood on the Cross eliminated the need for the annual sacrifices to atone for Israel’s sins. In addition, the death and resurrection of Jesus covered more than just the sins of Israel, but atoned for all who would believe and confess Him as Lord and Savior. Hebrews 9:11-12 says, “When Christ came as the High Priest of the good things that are already here, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but He entered the Most Holy Place once and for all by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption”. Jesus Christ eliminated the need for many future generations to have to sacrifice animals for atonement with this one act of selfless love. Now our sacrifices do not have to involve the shedding of blood, but believing in the redemptive power of His.
Following the Brazen Altar, the high priest would proceed to the Laver, a bronze basin full of water, which he would use to wash himself following the sacrifices. The Laver was located halfway between the Brazen Altar and the Holy Place. The Laver was a reminder to the Israelites that we must cleanse ourselves before approaching God. There is no change in regard to being cleansed before we approach God from Old to New Testaments. The difference is the method in which we cleanse ourselves. Instead of washing in a basin, we today are washed by the water of the Word. “Husbands love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her, to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the Word, and to present her to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless”, Ephesians 5:25-27. The truth is that Christ made the path to God easier for us than for the Israelites. Our sacrifices and paths to Him are made in prayer and in study, not through slaughter and procedure. This is another demonstration of God’s love for us.
Tomorrow, we will enter the Holy Place and compare how they worshipped then, and how we worship today. Until next time, may God bless and keep you, and may His face shine upon you.
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