Sanctuary

This week's Sabbath reading deals with establishing the tabernacle, and is titled T'rumah, or "offering". The tabernacle account brings us insights about God, His Son, and our relationship with them. God made no secret to Pharaoh of His purpose in bringing His people out of Egypt: "Let My people go that they may serve Me." (Ex. 3:18, Ex. 7:16, Ex. 8:1, Ex. 9:13 Ex. 10:3). The word "serve" used here is the Hebrew word abad. It means slave, bondservant, worshipper, labor, serve, serve as a subject. The same Hebrew word used to describe service to God is used for Israel's slavery to Pharaoh (Ex. 1:14). The people who had once been in service to Pharaoh would now be in service to God. God illustrated this service to Him through the tabernacle. In Exodus 25, which is part of this Sabbath's reading, the revelation of the tabernacle is brought forth. Its very beginning is in a free will offering from the hearts of the people. Only those who had the sincere desire to give, would be called upon to contribute to the supplying of the tabernacle: "Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering. From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart you shall take My offering." (Ex. 25:2). Then the LORD told Moses, "And let them make Me a sanctuary (holy place, consecrate) that I may dwell among them. According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern (likeness, image, similitude) of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it." (v. 8-9). The tabernacle was to follow a specific pattern which God showed to Moses. We know now that the tabernacle and each of its unique furnishings represent Christ: the brazen altar, the lamp, the table of bread, the altar of incense, etc. There is a book titled, "Gem of the Tabernacle" by Rev. B.R. Hicks, which goes into great detail concerning the furnishings of the tabernacle and the image of Christ created by them. The placement of the furnishings associated with the tabernacle is in the shape of a cross. I believe there is also another image that pertains personally to us as believers that we can learn from the tabernacle, which we will see later. The tabernacle and its furnishings were designed by God to be transportable. Its parts were to be borne (carry, carry away, lift up, exalt, sustain, bear continuously, forgive, pardon, marry, magnify) upon the Israelites' shoulders wherever they went (Ex. 25:14). Jesus also told us "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up (raise up, elevate, lift up, bear, to carry, to carry away with one) his cross, and follow Me." (Mt. 16:24). We can see that the same idea of carrying the tabernacle, is reflected in the command of Jesus to "take up" our cross. Exodus 25 also gives the details of constructing the ark, which would be placed in the innermost part of the tabernacle, called the holy of holies. It was to be made of shittim/acacia (thorns, a scourge, a flog, scourging thorns, to pierce) wood, but completely covered inside and out with pure gold. The ark would contain the testimony (witness, revelation, evidence, say again and again, restore, relieve) which God gave to Moses, the tablets. Exodus 25 also describes the construction of the lamp, which was also to be covered with gold, and whose seven lamps were to be arranged so as to give light in front of it (Ex. 25:37). This description seems to differ from the traditional image we have of a Menorah, whose arms spread to either side, rather than frontward. Another Torah reading for this week is from Ex. 27. It deals with the construction of the brazen altar to again be made of shittim/acacia wood (see above), but this time covered with bronze/brass/brazen (fetters, chains, filthiness, lust, money; root meaning: to shine, the red throat of a serpent). The brazen altar, according to its Hebrew meaning here, deals with sin and its roots. It was to be placed in the court of the taberncle before the entrance to the two inner chambers. We know from the scriptures that the tabernacle consisted of its court, which contained the brazen altar (and also the bronze laver for washing). The first inner room, called the holy place, contained the lamp, the table of bread, and the altar of incense for prayers. The most inner room, called the holy of holies contained only the ark of the covenant, covered by the mercy seat and the two cherubim angels. The glory and presence of God was located above the mercy seat. The high priest could only enter this innermost chamber once a year to apply sacrificial blood upon the mercy seat (Yom Kippur, the Feast of Atonement). We can easily see how the tabernacle reflected Christ, His sacrifice, and His work of salvation. I believe the tabernacle is also meant to be the pattern for our own purpose and walk with God. The taberncle consists of three parts, as we do: the court to deal with sin or the flesh, the holy place to deal with the transforming and joining of our souls to Christ, and the holy of holies to deal with the spirit of man joining eternally with the Spirit and covering glory and presence of God. In our case, the testimony of Jesus Christ, or the witness, the revelation, dwells within us, as it dwells within the ark of the covenant in the tabernacle. I also find this in Rom. 12:1-3: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that your present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service/spiritual worship (see abad, above). And do not be conformed (patterned) to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind (soul), that you may prove (in other words: witness, evidence) what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." God is Spirit. In another place, Paul tells us that we are the living temples or tabernacles of God, for God to dwell within (1 Cor. 3:16-17, 2 Cor. 6:16). There is a song, "Sanctuary" that includes the lyrics: "Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary, pure and holy, tried and true. With thanksgiving, I'll be a living sanctuary for You." We don't just visit the sanctuary of God, we are to BE the sanctuary of God, following the same pattern, which is Christ. The brazen altar of our outer court is where we offer ourselves as a living sacrifice. The sins of the flesh and the world are burned and washed away there. We then become the holy place when we are transformed by the Light, the Word, and the intercessory prayers of Christ, so that we are no longer conformed to the world, but we allow ourselves to be transformed according to the pattern of the Son of God (1 Cor. 11:1, Eph. 4:13). If we will continue on our sacrificial journey through the tabernacle, we will become the holy of holies, where we are one with the will of God, where the Word or testimony of Christ has been written into our hearts in the same way that the testimony was placed into the ark: "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them." (Heb. 10:6). Jesus said that not everyone who claims to know Him will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of the Father (Mt. 7:21). Jesus also said that whoever does the will of His Father is His true intimate family member (Mt. 12:50). Most of us are content to say that we know Jesus, but Jesus said that more was required of us. There was another chamber to enter: the holy of holies. This is the same will of God that Paul mentioned above in Romans 12. We become the holy of holies when we fulfill the purpose that God intended for us from the beginning when He brought us out of bondage to sin to serve Him. The haftarah reading for this Sabbath comes from 1 Sam. 15. It carries the notation "Zachor", meaning "Remember". God's purpose for His tabernacle is so that He can dwell with us. It is not just about the religious sacrificing of animals, but the sacrificing of self to become an abad bondservant/worshipper. This reading is a reminder to us to consider Saul, who convinced himself that his purpose was to keep the people happy, and to do his own will to please the LORD, even against the specific Word of the LORD that had been given to him by Samuel. God rejected Saul that day as king of His people because of it. Although Samuel cried to the LORD all night on behalf of this first king of Israel, the LORD's judgment would stand: "Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king." (1 Sam. 15:22-23). The LORD wasn't looking for a religious sacrifice from Saul in order to please the people, but a sacrifice of self in order to please God. God was looking for an abad servant. May the LORD show us the pattern of His tabernacle in our own lives, so we may be His servants and worshippers in Spirit and Truth, and so we may be His living tabernacles after the pattern of His Son, Jesus. Our Father establishes a sanctuary with His people. If you would like to begin your walk as the sanctuary of the Lord, you can pray: "Heavenly Father, by the living pattern of Your Son, Jesus, I want to fulfill Your plan for me to be Your living sanctuary. I believe that Jesus died for my sins, and rose from the dead for me. As Your Son, Servant and King, I believe He is coming back. Fill me with the Holy Spirit so I can be the living sacrifice that You desire. Transform me, so that I will do Your will in the earth. Let Your Word, Jesus, dwell in my heart and mind. Your word, LORD, I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against You. I give You thanksgiving in the name of Jesus, Amen."