THE TABERNACLE- A PORTRAIT OF CHRIST (3)

I preached this message on Sunday night. It was supposed to be blogged then but for some reason it wasn't so here it is!

EXODUS 27

Pastor Rick Jackson

We have been studying for the last few weeks about the Tabernacle, “…a 15 by 45 foot house, constructed of 3 tons of gold, 5 tons of silver, 4 tons of brass, and an assortment of jewels, fine wood, and fancy tapestries. This… portable house of worship(’s)… unique structure and value… command our attention. Never before nor since has there been such a costly prefab structure, the epitome of simplicity to dismantle and to reassemble. According to the design of the Master Efficiency Expert, it could be moved quickly by 8,500 carriers when the cloud of His presence moved forward.” -Sumner Wemp

I. THE ALTAR OF BRASS [v. 1-8]

Wood=Humanity, Brass=Judgment

1. The size & shape of the altar [v. 1-2]

2. The Utensils for the altar [v. 3]

3. The grate of the altar [v. 4-5]

4. The staves & boards of the altar [v. 6-8]

The brazen altar was a hollow “box,” 7 ½’ wide and 4 ½’ high, made of acacia wood covered with bronze. …2 ½’ from the top, inside the “box” was a bronze grating on which the priests kept a fire burning and through which the ashes of the wood and the sacrifice fell. … The brazen altar takes us immediately to Calvary where the Son of God died for the sins of the world. -W.W.Wiersbe

II. THE COURTYARD “WALL” [v. 9-18]

Silver=Redemption, Brass=Judgment, Fine Linen-the righteousness of Christ,

Colors:

Blue=Heavenly, Red=earthly/death/sacrifice, Purple=royalty (as a blend of red & blue), White=perfect purity

1. The South & North “walls” [v. 9-11]

2. The West “wall” [v. 12]

3. The East “wall” and the gate [v. 13-16]

4. The Dimensions of the Courtyard [v. 17-18]

When a worshiper came to the tabernacle to offer sacrifice the first thing he met was a white lined fence, 150’ long and 75’ wide, that surrounded the tabernacle and created a courtyard area where the priests ministered. The tabernacle proper stood at the west end of this courtyard, and at the east end was a 30’ entrance to the enclosure. Here the priests met the people who came to offer sacrifices and examined each animal to make sure it was acceptable. … There was only one entrance to the enclosure and therefore only one way to get to the altar of God. When God puts up a fence and assigns the way in, nobody has the authority to question it or change it. Jesus claimed to be the only door and the only way to God. … In today’s pluralistic society, many people like to think that every way is acceptable to God, but that attitude leads to death. -Wiersbe

III. VESSELS, PINS & LIGHT [v. 19-21]

1. Vessels & Pins [v. 19]

2. Olive Oil [v. 20] Oil=Holy Spirit

3. Keepers of the Light [v. 21]