Exodus 25 - The Tabernacle Described

LINK: Exodus 25

BACKGROUND 

In this chapter, Moses described the materials needed for the building of the Tabernacle. Each person gave according to the prompting of their heart (more on that when we get to the post for Exodus 36-38).

He also describes some important temple furnishings: 

I love the picture above. It is from an illustration in Reverend John Brown's Illustrated Bible from 1873. 

The Ark of the Covenant (25:10-22)

25:10-22 - It is in the background of the picture above in the Holy of Holies (behind the veil that is pulled back for the picture), but here is a close-up picture for you:

from www.templebuildersministry.com

This was also called the "the ark of God" (1 Samuel 3:3), "the ark of the Lord" (Joshua 3:15), "the ark of the Lord God" (1 Kings 2:26), "the ark of the testimony" (Exodus 25:22), "the holy ark" (2 Chronicles 35:3), and the ark of [God's] strength" (Psalm 132:8). The ark contained the two tablets with the Ten Commandments (that will not come until later in Exodus), the rod of Aaron that blossomed, and the pot of manna. It was covered by the mercy seat where the high priest sprinkled the blood on the Day of Atonement. It represented the footstool of the throne of God.


It has Scarlet Thread of Redemption significance in that Christ's blood has "covered" us with mercy (Hebrews 9:4-10:14)! The Greek word for mercy seat means "propitiation."  

. . . Being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.  

Romans 3:24-26 (NASB95)

Table of Showbread (Shewbread)

From: www.templebuildersministry.com

This table, when looking from the Holy of Holies, was on the right. Twelve loaves of bread were baked each week and replaced each Sabbath while burning incense. The old loaves were eaten by the priests in the holy place. The loaves were called "showbread/shewbread" or "presence bread," which means "bread of faces."  The twelve loaves represented the twelve tribes of Israel. 

It had Scarlet Thread significance in that Jesus is the Bread of Life (John 6).

The Golden Lampstand (22:31-40)

From: www.templebuildersministry.com

This was the only source of light in the holy place. Israel was to be a "light to the Gentiles" (Isaiah 42:6; 49:6), but they were not. Jesus came to be a "light to the Gentiles" (Luke 1:79; John 8:12)! Many commentators believe that the oil symbolized the Holy Spirit. We cannot glorify Christ or be effective witnesses for Him without the power of the Spirit (John 16:14, Acts 1:8). 

REFLECTION

"There I will meet with you" warmed my heart as I read it this morning. He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of heaven and earth who is over all, in all, through all; and He promised to meet with and speak to the people of Israel between the two cherubim over the mercy seat.  Pause to think about that for a moment.

Moments waiting. . . .

He wants to meet YOU!

APPLICATION

Stop to meet Him right now and listen to what He says to you! Write it down and act upon what He says to You. 

PRAYER

Thank You that You most holy God desire to meet us at the mercy seat because of the blood of Christ. We come to You to listen and obey. Amen.