Tabernacle
Jan/25/2008 12:20 Filed in: Sermon Notes
The
tabernacle - I have never thought there was so much
symbolism hidden in it. You read the chapters in
Exodus and think 'that's just a bunch of blueprints
that told Moses how to build the tabernacle'.
When you take a look at the pictures others have drawn and the minitiature models that have been made, things begin to make sense.
First, things I didn't notice begin to draw my attention. The colors, for example: scarlet - that bright red color is everywhere in the tabernacle: in the entrance curtain, in the high priest's robes, in the curtains that hide the Holy Place and the Holiest Place from view, and in the roof.
The white fence does not isolate God's place from the real world but makes it clear that approaching God is special - a privilege. Just the fact that God wanted to live among his people and that he made himself accessible to sinners is a sign of his grace! Just read the history of Israel described in the books of Exodus and Numbers and you know how patient God was. The same is true for us.
Read more about this in the second sermon in the series...
Click
the tabernacle image to go to the sermons page that
contains all the tabernacle sermons.
When you take a look at the pictures others have drawn and the minitiature models that have been made, things begin to make sense.
First, things I didn't notice begin to draw my attention. The colors, for example: scarlet - that bright red color is everywhere in the tabernacle: in the entrance curtain, in the high priest's robes, in the curtains that hide the Holy Place and the Holiest Place from view, and in the roof.
Holy
Then there is white linen: this definitely tells you about God's holiness. Israelites who approached the tabernacle were immediately confronted with it: the tabernacle was fenced off by a white linen curtain. It told everyone: God is perfect and holy; you can't approach him just like that. You have to admit you are a sinner. Do you do this when you pray to God? Or do you just come to him without humbling yourself and do you submit your list of desires?The white fence does not isolate God's place from the real world but makes it clear that approaching God is special - a privilege. Just the fact that God wanted to live among his people and that he made himself accessible to sinners is a sign of his grace! Just read the history of Israel described in the books of Exodus and Numbers and you know how patient God was. The same is true for us.
Come in!
You probably notice the white curtain-fence in the picture below. Do you also see the colorful curtain at the front? That's the entrance. It is made of the same fine linen, but they are embroidered with bright colors: scarlet, blue, and purple . These colors symbolize what Christ has done for us. He is the payment for our sins (scarlet), he is our king (purple) whom we are called to obey, and he gives us a place in heaven (blue). You can enter with Christ as cover!Read more about this in the second sermon in the series...