Transcript

The Tabernacle, Explained

Introduction

The record of the tabernacle appears dry and boring. It’s pages and pages of verbal blueprints about how long the curtains would be, what types of wood to use, and how many couplings would be needed to hold it all together. But when you actually pay attention to its position in the biblical narrative, you’ll discover a simple yet incredible story about God’s plan to dwell in the midst of his people. In this video, we’ll answer all your questions about the Tabernacle, including what it was, why it’s so significant, and how it’s meant to radically change your relationship with God.

What the Tabernacle Was

Have you ever found yourself skipping over the chapters of the Bible that have to do with the building of the tabernacle? That’s probably because in its most basic sense, those chapters are filled with pages of instructions for how to build a tent. Boring, right? Well, not entirely.

The English word ‘tabernacle’ comes from the Hebrew word ‘Mish-kan’, which simply refers to a dwelling place. In fact, the Israelites had a special feast called the Feast of Tabernacles, where they would make tents out of tree branches as a reminder of where they had come from. But this tabernacle was a little different. It wasn’t just any dwelling place — it was God’s dwelling place, in the very centre of the camp of Israel.

Its layout can be broken down into three major parts, each one more exclusive than the last: the outer court, the Holy Place, and the Most Holy Place. The outer court was an outdoor area enclosed by a wooden fence which contained the laver for washing and the altar of burnt offering, where sacrifices were made. This outer court was accessible to any of the Israelites. Then there was the Holy Place, located inside “the tent”, which was only accessible to the priests. It contained the lampstand for light, the table of shewbread, and the altar of incense (for offering incense to God). Finally, the most exclusive area: the Most Holy Place. The most holy place was separated from the Holy Place by a large veil, and was only entered once per year by the High Priest of the nation on the Day of Atonement. The Most Holy Place contained just one item: the ark of the covenant.

What makes these chapters so difficult to read is that every aspect of the construction of the tabernacle, including its dimensions, materials, coverings, and the exact way it was to be used, is all intricately outlined, down to the smallest detail. Reading about the tabernacle can feel like sitting down to read an instruction manual. So why are we given so much detail?

Well, the writer to the Hebrews says that God warned Moses to strictly follow the instructions, because they pointed forward to more important things to come. For example, we mentioned that the Most Holy Place was reserved for the High Priest once per year on the Day of Atonement so that the Israelites could be forgiven of their sins. At the death of Jesus, we’re given this obscure detail that the veil of the temple was ripped in two; in other words, the way to the Most Holy Place was opened. And so what we learn is that the perfect sacrifice of Jesus took away the previous restrictions in place for the forgiveness of sins. But, unless we had an understanding of the Tabernacle, we would never pick up on these key lessons.

What the Tabernacle Represents

So that’s what the tabernacle was, but surely there’s more to the story than understanding what each part symbolized.

In order to understand its significance, we first need to understand its place in the overall story. The book of Exodus can be broken down into three main sections. Chapters 1-15 make up the first section, where God reconnects with his people and saves them from their lives of slavery in Egypt. Here you'll find the very familiar stories of the 10 plagues and crossing the Red Sea. Chapters 15-24 make up section two, in which the Israelites start to learn about what their God is like. God helps them when they are lacking food and water, saves them from their enemies, and gives them the 10 commandments so they can understand what He expects of them. The last section, Chapters 25-40, tell the story of the tabernacle blueprints and the revelation of God’s character to the people.

So in section one, God re-connects with his people and redeems them from Egypt; in section two God shows who he is to his people and invites them to be a part of his covenant family; and then in section three, based on the covenant he has made, God provides the tabernacle as a way for him to “live” or “dwell” in their midst. So not only is every last part of the tabernacle symbolic, but the whole building itself is a symbol. A symbol that God chooses to dwell with his people and invites us into his presence. 

Of course, God is not limited to dwelling in this one space. In fact, the Apostle Paul takes it one step further when he refers to our bodies as tabernacles, implying that God’s vision isn’t just to dwell among us, but to dwell IN us. That means that we live lives that reflect his characteristics, so that when people see us, they see just a small glimpse of what God is like.

The End Story

But the tabernacle story doesn’t end with the tabernacle. It all points forward to a future time. A time when all of God’s people will have direct fellowship with God himself. “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.” (Revelation 21:3)

So when we read about the tabernacle, we’re reading about a powerful symbol. A symbol about how God wants to dwell in the midst of his followers, how he wants them to emulate his characteristics to those around them, and how one day in the future they will have direct fellowship with God himself, the creator of the universe.