THE TABERNACLE STUDY GUIDE

NOTES AND STUDY GUIDE FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS

 The Tabernacle in the Wilderness:  Its Priesthood and Sacrifices

P. 1 These Tabernacle accompanying  notes are not copyrighted and were donated to us to be freely used for God's glory worldwide.

 

P. 2  And the Lord said unto Moses, Come up to Me into the mountain, etc.  (Ex. 24:12-18)

1.  Given by God. (Ex. 24:12)

2.  Man’s wisdom is not consulted.  (Ex. 25:9, 1 Cor. 1:21, 26-31, Matt. 11:25)

3.  Given to Israel.   A chosen people.  (Deut. 7: 1-7)

A redeemed people. (Deut. 7:8, Ex 12:12-13, 26-28)

A sheltered people.  (Ex. 13: 21-22, Num. 10: 34, Psalm 105:39)

 

P. 3  Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering.  (Ex. 25:2)

1.  Law shuts the sinner out from God.  (Ex. 19:8-13, 21-24)

2.  Grace invites the sinner to come nigh to God. (Isa. 45:22, Matt. 11:28-30, Eph. 2:8-9)

3.  Willingly. (v. 2) God’s salvation is not forced upon man.  Whosoever will may come.

(John 3:16, Rev. 22:17, Isa. 1:18-19)

 

P. 4  And let them make Me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them. (Ex. 25:8)

1.  God’s dwelling place on earth. (Prov. 8:31)

A.  Only on the ground of a blood sprinkled mercy seat. (Ex. 25:22, Lev. 16:15-

16, Lev. 17: 11)

B.  God’s dwelling on earth now. (1 Cor. 1:2, 3:16, 6:19-20, Eph. 2:21-22)

2.  Israel encamped.

A.  God is perfect in order.  Nothing is left to chance.  (Num. 2 & 3, Mark 6:39-40)

3.  A pattern of things in heaven. (Ex. 25:9, 40, Heb. 9:23-24)

4.  A shadow of heavenly things. (Heb. 8:5, Heb. 10:1)

 

P. 5  I have called by name Bezaleel- and I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom, etc. (Ex. 31:1-5; 36:1-6; 37:1; 38:22)

1.  Bezaleel - Type of Christ. Filled with the Spirit of God. (Isa. 11:2)

2.  To work in all manner of workmanship. (John 1:3) Gold - Deity (John 14:11) Silver –

Redemption (John 10:17-18) Brass – Judgment (John 5:22-27) Stones - Believers

(1 Pet. 2:5) Carving of timber – Stately trees brought low (Psalm 29:5-6, 2 Kings 5:1-14,

John 3:1-3, Luke 1:52, Phil. 2:13)

3.  His companions - True believers as laborers together with Christ. (1 Cor. 3:9)

4.  The Blueprints - God's Word. (Ex. 31:11 (last part); Ex. 25:9)

 

 

 

P. 6  And they shall make an ark, etc.  (Ex. 25:10-22)

1.  A perfect symbol of our Lord Jesus Christ as the enthronement of God in humanity.

(Haldeman)

2.  Shittim Wood - His human nature. (John 1:14)

3.  Gold within and without - His Divine nature. (John 1:1; Col. 1:19, Col. 2:3, 9)

4.  Staves - not to be removed. (v. 13-15) His pilgrim character. (Matt. 8:20, John 8:1)

5.  Contained commandments written with finger of God on tables of stone. (v. 16,

John 12:49-53; John 15:10, John 14:31)

A.  Sinful man dare not look upon them. (1 Sam. 6:19-20, Ezek. 18:4)

6.  A mercy seat of pure gold. (v. 17)

A.  Blood sprinkled - Where God and sinner meet. (v. 21-22; Lev. 16:15-16)

B.  Blood stained Calvary is the one and only place where God will meet a sinner. (John 3:14-16; Acts 4:10-12; Heb. 9:22)

7.  Two Cherubim. (v. 18-22, compare Gen. 3:23-24)

A.  They guard the holiness of God against the presumptuous pride of sinful man,

who would dare to approach God by any other means than the blood sprinkled mercy seat.  (Lev. 16:2-14)

B.  The publican's prayer was: "God be to me the blood stained mercy seat." (Luke 18:9-14)

 

P. 7  Thou shalt make a table of shew bread from shittim wood, etc. (Ex. 25:23-30)

1.  Symbolic of Christ the bread of life for His people. (John 6:33-35)

2.  Pure Gold - Divine Glory; shittim wood His humanity.

3.  Two crowns - crowned by God and crowned by His redeemed.

4.  Hand breadth round about. (v. 25)

A.  Nothing to fall to the ground to be trampled under foot.

B.  No truth regarding Christ is to be considered of small value.

5.  Four rings at four corners.  Christ for the whole world. (John 6:51)

 

P. 8  And thou shalt make a Candlestick of pure gold. (Ex. 25:31-40)

1.  Pure Gold - Divine nature. I am the light of the world. (John 8:12)

2.  Of beaten work (v. 31) a talent of pure gold (v. 39)

A.  Hammered by large and small hammers until it branched, budded and

blossomed, (v. 32-36, Heb. 2:10; 4:15)

B.  Gold was just as pure before the hammers began their work, as when formed

into a candlestick. (Heb. 13:8)

3.  In Holy place. (Ex. 40:24)

A.  Light of nature excluded. (1 Cor. 2:14-15)

B.  A constant reminder to God's people that they can only fulfill the services of

God as they walk in His light. (Psalm 27:1, Ex. 27:20-21, 1 John 1:6-7)

4.  Seven lights. (v. 37)

A.  Seven-fold work of God the Holy Spirit. (Isa. 11:2)

5.  Tongs and Snuff Dishes. (v. 38)

A.  Nothing must be allowed to dim His glory or darken the path of those who serve.

 

 

P. 9  Pure Gold - Divine nature - Deity in Manifestation. (Ex. 25:3, 11, 24, 31-40)

1. There was no gold in the outer court – no man hath seen God (Jn. 1:18)

2. The holy place furnishings were overlaid with Gold – only seen by faith from outside the holy place (1 Cor. 5:7)

3. Mere gold was corruptible (1 Pet. 1:18) – The divine nature is eternal (Heb. 1:8)

4. Tools which shaped the gold – Jesus learned obedience through the things He suffered

(Heb. 2:10, 4:15, 5:8)

5. Of beaten work (v. 31) a talent of pure gold (v.39)

A. Hammered by large and small hammers until it branched, budded and blossomed. (v. 32-36, Heb. 2:10; 4:15)

B. Gold was just as pure before the hammers began their work, as when formed into a candlestick. (Heb. 13:8)

 

P. 10 Moreover thou shalt make the Tabernacle with ten curtains, etc. (Ex. 26:1-14)

1.  Fine twined linen, speaks of our Lord's spotless humanity. (1 John 3:5)

2.  Blue - His heavenly origin. (John 3:13, 31)

3.  Purple - Royal son of David. (Luke 1:31-33)

4.  Scarlet - Blood Sacrifice. (Matt. 20:28; 26:28)

5.  Cherubim - God's holiness in Christ. (Gen. 3:23-24)

A.  Seen only by the priests in the lights from the candlestick. (1 Cor. 2:9-14)

6.  Goat's Hair. (v. 7) (Christ as sin offering) A.  Unseen by outsider.

B.  Seen only by the eye of faith. (Lev. 16:15; Isa. 53:10; Heb. 9:26)

7.  Ram's skins dyed red. (v. 14) (Christ as the burnt offering)(Gen. 22:13)

A.  Complete surrender to His Father seen only by the eye of faith. (Gen. 22:9-13)

8.  Badger's skin. (v. 14) (No beauty that we should desire Him) (Isa. 53:2)

A.  Seen by natural eye.

B.  Covering His glory and wealth. (Col. 1:19; 2:3, 9)

 

P. 11 And thou shalt make boards  for the Tabernacle of shittim wood standing  up. (Ex. 26:15-30)

1.  One against another. (v. 17)

A.  Once they were mighty trees, cut down and hewn. (Lk. 18:14, Rom. 6:5-10, Phil. 3:4-10)(Gal. 2:20)

B.  God's redeemed stand together in the unity of the Holy Spirit. (1 Cor. 12:12-18, Eph 4:3-13)(Ps. 133:1)

2.  Sockets of silver. (v. 19)(Silver, a symbol of redemption)(1 Pet. 1:18) A.  Standing on Christ's redemptive work. (1 Cor. 3:11, Rev. 1:5)

B.  All stand on the same foundation. (Ex. 30:15)

C.  Two tenons - both feet firmly planted on Christ's blood sacrifice (Gal. 1:6-9,

Col. 1:14, 23)

3.  Five bars of shittim wood. (v. 26-28)

A.  Five - made to stand by the grace of God (Eph. 2:8-10, Titus 2:11-12)

B.  Four bars - the worldwide means which God has provided for the building up

of the body of Christ. (Eph 4:11-14)

C.  One bar in the midst of the boards. (v. 28, Matt. 18:20)

 

 

D.  And thou shalt overlay the boards with gold. (v. 29) Sharing His glory. (John 17:22)

E.  And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle. (v. 30, Eph. 2:21-22)

 

P. 12 And thou shalt make a veil of blue, etc. (Ex. 26:31-35)

1.  The veil is a type of Christ's flesh. (Heb. 10:19-20, Heb. 9:7-14, Matt. 27:50-51)

2.  The veil barred the way into the presence of God, except to the High Priest who once a year could enter with blood. (Lev. 16:2-15)

3.  To admire the veil and its cunning workmanship did not give entrance. (Heb. 9:7) (Admiring the person of Christ will not save)

4.  Cherubim - probably four. (Ezek. 1:10)

A.  The Holy One of God in human form as revealed in the four gospels.

Matt. - The King - Lion                                  Mark - The Servant - Ox

Luke - Son of Man - Man                               John - Son of God - Eagle

5.  Colors. (See P. 10)

6.  Four Pillars. (v. 32)

A.  Christ is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption. (1 Cor. 1:30)

 

P. 13 And thou shalt make an hanging for the door of the tent.  (Ex. 26: 36-37)

1.  Colors. (See P. 10)

2.  Five Pillars.

A.  Christ as wonderful, counselor, Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  (Isa. 9:6)

 

P. 14 Holy Place with furniture.

1. This view shows the three items of furniture inside the Holy Place.

A. The Golden Candlestick (for light in the Holy Place, Christ the light of the world.)

B. The Altar of Incense (for Incense speaks of Christ’s intercessory work for us.) C. The Table of Shewbread (for loaves of unleavened bread – food for the priests,

speaks of Christ – the bread of life.).

 

P. 15 And thou shalt make an altar  of shittim wood (Ex. 27:1-8) (The Brazen Altar in the

Outer Court)

1.  Shittim wood - His humanity.

2.  Brass - Divine Judgment.

3.  No Gold.

4.  Five cubits. (v. 1) Divine grace to sinful man flows from Calvary.

A. Length and breadth the same – Foursquare – God’s grace to all the world.

5.  Higher than the Mercy Seat. (Three Cubits)

A.  No approach to God's throne except through the sacrifice of Calvary.

B.  God has placed the blood sacrifice of Calvary above His throne. (Rev. 5:6-13)

C.  Calvary meets every righteous demand of God's throne, and gives access to the presence and heart of God. (Rev. 5:1-7, Heb. 12:22-29)

6.  No stepping stones up to the altar, easy of access.  Whosoever will may come.

7.  Word "His" used seven times - foreshadowing Christ's perfect work on Calvary.

 

 

(Heb. 9:11-12; 10:14)

8.  Altar means lifted up - There is life for a look at the Crucified One. (Jn. 3:14; 8:28;

12:32-34)

9.  Made by the hands of man, but by Divine appointment.

A.  Christ was crucified by hands of man but delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God. (Acts 2:23, John 19:11)

10.  Four horns on four corners. (v. 2) - The worldwide sufficiency of His sacrifice.  (John 3:16,

2 Cor. 5:18-19)

11.  His pans, etc. (v. 3)  As Jehovah's servant all His service was rendered in view of His complete sacrifice on Calvary.

12.  Grate of Network. (v. 4, 5)  In the midst of the altar hanging between Heaven and Earth.

A.  Christ crucified is the only mediator between God and man.  He fully satisfied God

and fully satisfies all who accept Him. (1 Tim. 2:5, 1 John 2:1-2)

13.  Staves - to bear it. (v. 6) Carried by Priests.

A. The pilgrim character of Christ and His followers. (1st Pet. 2:11)(Heb. 13:14)

B. Believer Priests’ Commission is “Go ye into all the world, etc.” (Matt. 28:19, 20)

14.  Hollow with boards. (v. 8)  Christ filleth all things. (Eph. 1:22-23)

15.  Its position - At the door of the court. (John 10:9, 14:6)

16.  The hiding of His power. (Hab. 3:4, Heb. 1:3, 1 Sam. 17:40, Rom. 1:16)

 

“Five bleeding wounds He bears, received on Calvary, They pour effectual prayers, they strongly plead for me,

‘Forgive him O forgive’ they cry, ‘nor let that ransomed sinner die!

Nor let that ransomed sinner die!’"

 

P.16 And thou shalt make the court of the tabernacle, etc.  (Ex. 27:9-19)

1.  Fine twined linen. (v. 9) Righteousness. (Rev. 19:8)

A.  Christ's righteousness manifested in His saints. (1 Cor. 1:30; Rom. 8:4)

2.  Five cubits high. (over 7 ft.)(v. 18)

A.  It hid the glories of the tabernacle from those outside. (2 Cor. 3:18)

B.  Natural man cannot see beyond the hanging of court. (1 Cor. 2:9-14)

3.  Sixty pillars. (v. 10, 13) Individual believers.

4.  Brass sockets. (v. 17)(brass speaks of judgment)

A.  Believers stand upon the fact that their sins are judged at Calvary.

(John 5:24, Rom. 3:21-28, 5:6-9)

B.  Believers must constantly judge themselves in the light of God's Word.

(1 Cor. 11:31-32)

C.  If one pillar fails to stand straight in socket, the hangings sag bringing

reproach to Christ and sorrow to His people. (Phil. 2:12-16)

5.  Filleted with silver. (v. 17)(silver speaks of redemption)

A.  Salvation is of the Lord. (from above) (Eph. 6:17)

6.  Hooks of silver. (v. 17)

A.  It is not our own righteousness but by virtue of Christ's redemptive work, that we are clothed in His righteousness. (Titus 3:5, Rom. 3:21-22)

 

"My Hope is Built on Nothing Less,

 

 

Than Jesus' Blood and Righteousness"

 

7.  The Gate of the Court. (v. 16) Only one entrance. (John 10:9, 14:6, Acts 4:12) A.  First to meet the eye is the brazen altar.

B.  Christ is not the door apart from His blood sacrifice on Calvary. (Jn. 10:11)

8.  Four Pillars. (v. 16)

A.  Christ in the four Gospels.

B.  Twenty Cubits. (v. 16) Wide enough for all who will enter. (Jn. 4:14)

9.  Blue, Purple, Scarlet, Fine twined linen - wrought with needlework. (v. 16)

A.  Cannot accept the blue (His Heavenly nature), and reject the scarlet (His

redemptive work)  All or none. (Col. 2:9-10)

 

P. 17 Pure oil olive beaten for the light. (Ex. 27:20-21)

1.  Oil symbol of Holy Spirit. (John 3:34, Heb. 1:9)

2.  Beaten—Suffering through the Spirit. (Isa. 53:2-5, Heb. 9:14)

3.  To light the path of the priests as they served in the Holy place. (1 John 1:5-7, 1 Pet. 2:9)

 

P. 18 Take unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him—that he may minister unto

Me in the priest’s office. (Ex. 28:1)

1.  Called, chosen, and ordained of God. (Heb. 5:1-10, John 15:16)

2.  Minister unto Me.

A.  This is of primary importance, secret of successful ministry—God first, man second

(John 6:38, Eph. 6:6)

3 .Aaron and his sons—A priestly family in earthly things.

A.  Christ and His—A priestly family in Heavenly things (2 Cor. 10:3-4, Eph. 6:12,

1 Pet. 2:9, Rev. 1:5-6, Phil. 3:20-21)

4. Aaron—Type of Christ. (v. 2-3)

A.  Only Aaron could atone (Heb. 9:7) Only Christ could atone for us (Heb 9:11-12)

B.  Sons were priests under Aaron.  Believers are priests under Christ (2 Cor. 6:1, Rev. 1:5-6)

5.  Five speaks of Divine Grace—Four of world-wide ministry (Acts 1:8, Mark 16:15, Rev. 5:9-10)

 

P. 19 And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty. (Ex. 28:2-14, Ex. 39)

1.  As the high priest is a type of Christ, so his garments typify his character and work.

(v. 2)

2.  Aaron ministered under the law which was condemnation.  Christ met every righteous

demand of the law, and now ministers by His Holy Spirit through grace unto salvation. (Rom. 10:4, 2 Cor. 3:7-8)

3.  The ministration of grace exceeds in glory the ministration of law. (2 Cor. 3:9-11)

4.  Aaronic priesthood in contrast to the priesthood of Christ.

A.  Aaron ministered in earthly things. (Heb. 9:23) Christ ministers in heavenly things. (Heb. 9:24)

B.  Aaron offered blood of beasts. (Heb. 9:7) Christ offered His blood. (Heb. 9:11-12)