Jesus, Our Dwelling Place
"But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption." - Hebrews 9:11-12
The tabernacle was a temporary dwelling place where Israel could meet with God and be made right before God through the sacrifices that were carried out. It was the place where the priests performed sacrifices that would represent the people before God and in some way also represent God before the people.
Everything in the tabernacle had to be furnished and set up precisely the way God instructed Moses when He showed him the pattern up on the mountain. Every specification had to be followed and each alteration was provided for a special purpose. This purpose was ultimately fulfilled in the Person of Jesus Christ.
Each furniture item within the tabernacle was to be set apart and anointed with oil and the sprinkling of blood. The sanctuary was divided into two parts: the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies. All of the furniture when put in its place amazingly appeared in the shape of the cross. Many church buildings and sanctuaries throughout church history would also be made in the shape of the cross as well.
Everything that God ordains always points to Jesus:
When the Word became flesh, Jesus came as the saving grace of heaven and He declared various "I AM" statements that pertained to things in the Tabernacle and the heritage of Israel. As one would enter in and move toward the holy of holies, we see that each entrance was fulfilled by Jesus who said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; and no man comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6).
Inside the Ark of the Covenant, we would see:
GOD’S PROVISION - symbolized by the golden pot with Manna
GOD’S AUTHORITY - symbolized by Aaron’s rod that budded
GOD’S LAW - symbolized by the tablets given by God to Moses
...So we see God’s sufficient Provision, Power, and Precepts given to Israel
It is a wonderful thing that God is so intimately acquainted with His creation that He desires to dwell with us continually. Whenever anyone entered into the gates of the tabernacle, they were to enter in with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise. It is interesting that the tribe that Jesus would come from was the tribe of Judah, which means "praise".
David, the God-praising psalmist and shepherd of Israel said, "So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory" (Psalm 63:3) This became David's singular passion as shown in Psalm 27:4, "One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple."
How amazing and comforting it is that Jesus finished the work necessary "that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith" (Eph. 3:17)
Jesus became the perfect High Priest of a perfect tabernacle that He redeemed with His perfect blood. We are NOW the tabernacle that Christ is dwelling in, "having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together FOR A DWELLING PLACE of God in the Spirit" (Eph. 3:20-22).
This Week’s New Covenant Exhortation:
May we learn to be PRESENCE DWELLERS who devote ourselves to draw near to God and fellowship with Him until we become His glorious bride and temple for His glory!
The tabernacle was a temporary dwelling place where Israel could meet with God and be made right before God through the sacrifices that were carried out. It was the place where the priests performed sacrifices that would represent the people before God and in some way also represent God before the people.
Everything in the tabernacle had to be furnished and set up precisely the way God instructed Moses when He showed him the pattern up on the mountain. Every specification had to be followed and each alteration was provided for a special purpose. This purpose was ultimately fulfilled in the Person of Jesus Christ.
Each furniture item within the tabernacle was to be set apart and anointed with oil and the sprinkling of blood. The sanctuary was divided into two parts: the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies. All of the furniture when put in its place amazingly appeared in the shape of the cross. Many church buildings and sanctuaries throughout church history would also be made in the shape of the cross as well.
Everything that God ordains always points to Jesus:
- The Water Laver was fulfilled in Christ as He has "the living water".
- The Brazen Altar was fulfilled as Christ is "the Lamb of God who takes away our sin".
- The Lampstand was fulfilled in Christ as He is "the light of the world."
- The Table of Showbread was fulfilled in Christ as He is "the bread of life."
- The Altar of Incense was fulfilled as He is "the Mediator" and "Our Intercessor".
- The Veil was representative of "His flesh," which was torn to give us access to God.
- The Ark of the Covenant was fulfilled by Jesus, "the Resurrection and the Life."
When the Word became flesh, Jesus came as the saving grace of heaven and He declared various "I AM" statements that pertained to things in the Tabernacle and the heritage of Israel. As one would enter in and move toward the holy of holies, we see that each entrance was fulfilled by Jesus who said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; and no man comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6).
Inside the Ark of the Covenant, we would see:
GOD’S PROVISION - symbolized by the golden pot with Manna
GOD’S AUTHORITY - symbolized by Aaron’s rod that budded
GOD’S LAW - symbolized by the tablets given by God to Moses
...So we see God’s sufficient Provision, Power, and Precepts given to Israel
It is a wonderful thing that God is so intimately acquainted with His creation that He desires to dwell with us continually. Whenever anyone entered into the gates of the tabernacle, they were to enter in with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise. It is interesting that the tribe that Jesus would come from was the tribe of Judah, which means "praise".
David, the God-praising psalmist and shepherd of Israel said, "So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory" (Psalm 63:3) This became David's singular passion as shown in Psalm 27:4, "One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple."
How amazing and comforting it is that Jesus finished the work necessary "that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith" (Eph. 3:17)
Jesus became the perfect High Priest of a perfect tabernacle that He redeemed with His perfect blood. We are NOW the tabernacle that Christ is dwelling in, "having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together FOR A DWELLING PLACE of God in the Spirit" (Eph. 3:20-22).
This Week’s New Covenant Exhortation:
May we learn to be PRESENCE DWELLERS who devote ourselves to draw near to God and fellowship with Him until we become His glorious bride and temple for His glory!
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