The Tabernacle
Exodus 40
God Dwells in the Midst of His People
 “And they heard the
sound of the Lord God
walking in the garden in
the cool of the day, and
the man and his wife hid
themselves from the
presence of the Lord
God among the trees of
the garden.” Exodus 3:8
 “O Lord my God, you are
very great! You are clothed
with splendor and majesty,
covering yourself with
lights as with a garment,
stretching out the heavens
like a tent. He lays the
beams of his chambers on
the waters; he makes the
clouds his chariot; he rides
on the wings of the wind…”
Psalm 104:1-3
“And let them make me a sanctuary, that
I may dwell in their midst. Exactly
as I show you concerning the pattern of
the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so
you shall make it.”
– Exodus 25:8-9
“…a perpetual priesthood throughout the
generations…”
- Exodus 40:15
Court of the Tabernacle
**All photos taken from the ESV Study
Bible
Exodus 27:1-8;
- The ephod was a
colorful woven garment
with ‘the breast plate of
judgment’ holding 12
stones symbolizing 12
tribes. On the shoulder
there were two onyx
stones with the tribe’s
names engraved on each
(6 names per stone).
- The priest wore a fine
linen turban with a
golden band that said,
“Holy to YHWH”.
Exodus 30:1-8; 38:8;
- Highly polished pieces
of bronze likely taken
from Egypt.
- The basin (laver) would
be the place where the
priests would wash their
hands and feet before
entering the Tabernacle.
Exodus 27:1-8;
- Acacia wood plated with
bronze. 3 ft high x 7.5 ft
wide x 7.5 ft long.
- The place where God
promised that sin could
be atoned by the blood of
the sacrifice.
Inside the
Tabernacle
Two separate rooms.
1)
Holy Place – Front
Room. 2/3 of the
Tabernacle. Held the
lampstand, altar, &
bread table.
2)
Most Holy Place or
‘Holy of Holies’ – Back
Room. Contained the
Ark of the Covenant.
Only High Priest could
enter on the Day of
Atonement (Lev 16).
Exodus 25:23-30
- Acacia wood covered in
pure gold. 3 ft long x 1.5 ft
wide x 2.25 ft high.
- Twelve loaves of bread
were continually set out
each Sabbath.
- Sign of the Covenant
between God and the 12
tribes of Israel.
Exodus 25:31-40
- One solid piece of pure
gold formed in the shape
of a flowering almond
tree.
- Provided light within the
Tabernacle and
symbolized the life giving
presence of YHWH.
-A reminder of God’s
creation and the tree of
life that stood in the
midst of the garden.
Exodus 30:1-10; 37:25-28
- Acacia wood covered in
pure gold. 3 ft tall x 1.5 ft
wide x 1.5 ft long.
- Twice daily burning of
incense on it by the High
Priest.
- Symbolized the prayers
of the people before the
presence of the Lord.
The Tabernacle
Exodus 25:10-22
- Acacia wood covered in
pure gold. 3.75 ft long x
2.25 ft wide x 2.25 ft high.
-The footstool of God where
he met with Moses and the
representatives of Israel.
- Symbol of the presence of
God among His people.
- The area between the
wings of the cherubim was
known as the ‘mercy seat’.
It was here that the blood of
the sacrifice was sprinkled
on the day of atonement
(Lev 16).
- Held the tablets of the
law, a container of manna,
and Aaron’s rod.
- Only furniture in the
“Holy of Holies”.
The Gospel in the Tabernacle
God dwelling in the midst of His people…
“And the Word became flesh
and dwelt among us, and
we have seen his glory, glory
as of the only Son from the
Father, full of grace and
truth.”
– John 1:14
The Gospel in the Tabernacle
Tabernacle
 Tent in the wilderness
where the presence of
God dwelt.
“And let them make me a sanctuary,
that I may dwell in their midst.
Exactly as I show you concerning the
pattern of the tabernacle, and of all
its furniture, so you shall make it.”
– Exodus 25:8-9
Jesus
 Jesus’ body is the new
temple where all the
glory of God resides.
“Jesus answered them, “Destroy this
temple, and in three days I will raise
it up.” The Jews then said, “It has
taken forty-six years to build this
temple, and will you raise it up in
three days?” But he was speaking
about the temple of his body.”
- John 2:19-21
The Gospel in the Tabernacle
Tabernacle
Altar: A sacrifice of an
animal done yearly to be
reconciled to God.
“He shall lay his hand on the head of
the burnt offering, and it shall be
accepted for him to make atonement
for him. Then he shall kill the bull
before the Lord, and Aaron's sons the
priests shall bring the blood and
throw the blood against the sides of
the altar that is at the entrance of the
tent of meeting.”
– Lev 1:4-5
Jesus
Jesus’ Death: One time
offering to permanently
reconcile God’s people.
“And every priest stands daily at his
service, offering repeatedly the same
sacrifices, which can never take away
sins. But when Christ had offered for all
time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat
down at the right hand of God, …For by
a single offering he has perfected for all
time those who are being sanctified.”
Hebrews 10:11-14
 Table of Bread:
Jesus in the
Tabernacle
“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me
will not hunger, and whoever believes in me
shall never thirst.” John 6:35
 Lampstand:
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows
me will not walk in darkness, but will have the
light of life.” John 8:12
“And the Word
became flesh and
dwelt among us,
and we have seen his
glory, glory as of the
only Son from the
Father, full of grace
and truth.”
– John 1:14
 Altar of Incense:
“…[Jesus] is able to save to the uttermost those
who draw near to God through him, since he
always lives to make intercession or them.”
Hebrews 7:25
 Basin
“…but you were washed, you were sanctified,
you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus
Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Cor 6:11
Jesus in the
Tabernacle
“And the Word
became flesh and
dwelt among us,
and we have seen his
glory, glory as of the
only Son from the
Father, full of grace
and truth.”
– John 1:14
“Then the cloud covered the tent of
meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled
the tabernacle. And Moses was not able
to enter the tent of meeting because the
cloud settled on it, and the glory of
the Lord filled the tabernacle.
Throughout all their journeys, whenever
the cloud was taken up from over the
tabernacle, the people of Israel would
set out. But if the cloud was not taken
up, then they did not set out till the day
that it was taken up. For the cloud of the
Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and
fire was in it by night, in the sight of all
the house of Israel throughout all their
journeys.”
- Exodus 40:34-38
An Eternal Temple
“And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is
the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And
the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for
the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the
Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings
of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates
will never be shut by day—and there will be no night
there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of
the nations. But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor
anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only
those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.”
– Revelation 21:22-27
The Tabernacle
Exodus 40