We continue in Exodus 25 and 26 for the instructions in building the Tabernacle. As I have taught previously God gave Moses the précised dimensions and materials to build the Tabernacle where God would meet with His people Israel. They had proven to be a rebellious people even after they saw the miracles of Passover and the Red Sea. So, God gave Moses these instructions so that He could be in daily communion and relationship with Israel.
Even from the very beginning in Genesis 1 and 2, God desired a family. An intimate relationship with man. The picture below is how God told Moses for the Israelites to camp.
The Tabernacle is a exact pattern, type, and shadow of the God’s Heavenly Throne. The Tabernacle was God’s presence in His relationship with Israel. During the day there was a pillar of a cloud coming up from the Holy of Holies and at night it was a pillar of fire. If it moved, Israel would move. If it stopped, Israel would stop and camp in the same pattern.
The Table instructions were given starting with the inner most Holy of Holies, going outward to the Tent of Meeting/Holy Place, to the Outer Court where the congregation would gather. Thus a pattern of our walk with the Lord from the most inner place our spirit man moving outward from there to our Holy Place man’s soul, mind, intellect, and will. Then moving to the Outer Court a pattern of man’s flesh.
In this teaching we will teach about the middle section of the Tabernacle called the Tent of Meeting or Holy Place. Exodus 25:31 gives us the pattern God gave Moses to build. In this were two pieces of furniture.
The first piece was the Golden Lampstand. vs. 31-40, 31 “You shall also make a lampstand of pure gold; the lampstand shall be of hammered work. Its shaft, its branches, its bowls, its ornamental knobs, and flowers shall be of one piece. 32 And six branches shall come out of its sides: three branches of the lampstand out of one side, and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side. 33 Three bowls shall be made like almond blossoms on one branch, with an ornamental knob and a flower, and three bowls made like almond blossoms on the other branch, with an ornamental knob and a flower—and so for the six branches that come out of the lampstand. 34 On the lampstand itself four bowls shall be made like almond blossoms, each with its ornamental knob and flower. 35 And there shall be a knob under the first two branches of the same, a knob under the second two branches of the same, and a knob under the third two branches of the same, according to the six branches that extend from the lampstand. 36 Their knobs and their branches shall be of one piece; all of it shall be one hammered piece of pure gold. 37 You shall make seven lamps for it, and they shall arrange its lamps so that they give light in front of it. 38 And its wick-trimmers and their trays shall be of pure gold. 39 It shall be made of a talent of pure gold, with all these utensils. 40 And see to it that you make them according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.
This was the pattern of the seven Spirits of God which let the Tent of meeting/Holy Place. Genesis 26:15-20 gives the instruction of the walls of the Tent of Meeting/Holy Place. The walls were made of acacia wood then pure gold was inlayed completely covering the wooden walls. Making a shiny refection like a mirror of the Golden Lampstand reflecting in the whole room.
It was the only light in the Holy Place. Closed off from the rest of the world the single light from the Golden Lampstand lit up all of the Tent of Meeting.
The Tabernacle Menorah, and its lamps, symbolize the light of the world, Yeshua Hamashiac, the true and pure light. This concept is especially noticeable in Revelation 2 and 3 where the church (the earthly extension of Jesus) is symbolized as a Menorah (a golden lamp stand). And we’re warned that our menorahs will be taken away if we do not adhere to our first love, Yeshua, King Jesus. Our purpose, as Believers, is to be light to a dark world. If we’re not that, then we’re of no use. We’re like menorahs without oil……menorahs that are supposed to be lit day and night but our flames have died out.
The second piece of furniture was the Table of Shewbread. v. 23-30, 23 “You shall also make a table of acacia wood; two cubits shall be its length, a cubit its width, and a cubit and a half its height. 24 And you shall overlay it with pure gold, and make a molding of gold all around. 25 You shall make for it a frame of a handbreadth all around, and you shall make a gold molding for the frame all around. 26 And you shall make for it four rings of gold, and put the rings on the four corners that are at its four legs. 27 The rings shall be close to the frame, as holders for the poles to bear the table. 28 And you shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be carried with them. 29 You shall make its dishes, its pans, its pitchers, and its bowls for pouring. You shall make them of pure gold. 30 And you shall set the showbread on the table before Me always.
The ambient glow of the Lampstand would illumine across the room to the Table of Shewbread. On this table were kept 12 loaves of fresh bread, one for each Tribe as a continual reminder of need for God’s provision. This offering of bread was called, “The Bread of Presence” since it was kept before God’s presence. Since the dessert was not a source of abundant food, God provided all the food for the Israelites to sustain them. The table of Shewbread then, represented an offering to God. They would give an offering of their first fruits of the abundance that He had provided. It was a thanks offering expressing gratitude for God’s abundant blessing. Yeshua, King Jesus said in John 6 said, “I Am the bread of Life, whoever comes to me will never hunger again.” Psalms 34 says, “Taste and see that the Lord, He is good.”
The Third piece of Furniture found in the Tent of Meeting/Holy Place was the Altar of Incense. It represented the daily prayers of the people directed upwards toward God. And those same prayers would be received by God as a sweet aroma and be pleasing to His ear. Exodus 30:1-6, ““You shall make an altar to burn incense on; you shall make it of acacia wood. 2 A cubit shall be its length and a cubit its width—it shall be square—and two cubits shall be its height. Its horns shall be of one piece with it. 3 And you shall overlay its top, its sides all around, and its horns with pure gold; and you shall make for it a [a]molding of gold all around. 4 Two gold rings you shall make for it, under the molding on both its sides. You shall place them on its two sides, and they will be holders for the poles with which to bear it. 5 You shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold. 6 And you shall put it before the veil that is before the ark of the Testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the Testimony, where I will meet with you.
Just beyond the Altar of Incense was the Holy of Holies, called the Tent of Testimony. This dwelling place of God was so solemn and set apart that the veil would only be opened once a year at the day of Atonement.
Once per year, the Golden Altar of Incense was to have sacrificial blood placed on its horns to purify it. Now, exactly WHEN this cleansing of the Altar of Incense occurred, is unsure. One might think it would be on Yom Kippur, that one day per year when the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies and sprinkled blood on the Mercy Seat. I suspect that IS when it happened, because on Yom Kippur ancient writings indicate that the High Priest performed a different ritual concerning the Altar of Incense.
A special incense was to be burnt, continuously, on the Altar of Incense. The smoke of the incense, which curled upward, symbolized the prayers of God’s people. Apparently, it was the High Priest’s job to add incense and hot coals to the Altar, to keep it burning although since it was in the Holy Place (where the regular priests were allowed) the regular priests probably tended this Altar most of the time. God was quite specific about just WHEN the incense was to be added; it was at the time the Menorah’s lamp wicks were being trimmed and oil added. This happened twice a day, in the morning and in the evening.
In Mt. 6, Jesus teaches what we call, “The Lord’s Prayer.” This is to be a example/pattern of how to pray to our Father, Elohim to Him.
Our prayers are the incense in Heaven to God’s nostrils. In Revelation 5:8 says the prayers of God’s people are being stored up in Heaven in bowls for God’s timing to be released.
Rev. 5: “And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.
4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open [a]and read the scroll, or to look at it. 5 But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and [b]to loose its seven seals.”
6 And I looked, [c]and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.
Worthy Is the Lamb
8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
10 And have made [d]us kings[e] and priests to our God;
And [f]we shall reign on the earth.”
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice:
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
To receive power and riches and wisdom,
And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:
“Blessing and honor and glory and power
Be to Him who sits on the throne,
And to the Lamb, forever and [g]ever!”
14 Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the [h]twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped [i]Him who lives forever and ever.”
Worthy is the Lamb, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Lion of the Tribe of Judah, and GLORY
Wellspring Israel 