Hebrews 9:1-5 The tabernacle – God’s infinite patience in bearing with the sins of men
Hebrews 9:1-5
1 Now even the first covenant had regulations of divine worship and the earthly sanctuary. 2 For there was a tabernacle prepared, the outer one, in which were the lampstand and the table and the sacred bread; this is called the holy place. 3 Behind the second veil there was a tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies, 4 having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod which budded, and the tables of the covenant; 5 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat; but of these things we cannot now speak in detail.
Background
The tabernacle was a place that people go to for divine guidance, to make restitution for sins and to present prayer requests. The tabernacle was also a vehicle through which God dwelled in the midst of the people. The tabernacle layout as well as the articles therein displayed God’s desire to be close to a rebellious people, to answer their prayers and to forgive their sins. In fact, the tabernacle is a personification of Christ, who is a refuge from the reality of this harsh and haphazard world. Christ spoke of His body as being the tabernacle of the new covenant (John 2:21). The tabernacle and the regulations of divine worship kept the Israelites from the judgment of sin, until the coming of Christ, the Lamb that took away the sins of the world.
How is the knowledge of the tabernacle relevant to us today? It helps us understand the extent God would go to in order to be close to a rebellious people and to forgive them. In the first covenant, the sins of the people were transferred to a holding place, the tabernacle by a system of sin sacrifices. The tabernacle was a mechanism that God used to spare the punishment of the wicked while awaiting Christ’s coming. The first covenant is indeed the brainchild of God who desires none to perish but all to be saved. The tabernacle and the articles therein also taught us the various characteristics and disciplines of abundant living.
Observation
The Tabernacle
The tabernacle was divided into the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies, surrounded by the courtyard. The courtyard was a place where animals were sacrificed and the priest sanctified by the washing of water. The tabernacle was not only a meeting place with God, it was a container of men’s transgressions. The whole compound was surrounded by a high fence with only one entrance. Upon entering the gate, the worshiper arrived at the courtyard where he was to present his animal offering to the priest who would slaughter and sacrifice it at the altar of burnt offering. Having made the atonement, the priest would take the animal’s blood and enter the tabernacle, the Holy Place to make intercession for the worshiper. The act of sacrificing the animal and entering the tabernacle with the blood effectively transferred the sins of the individual to the tabernacle. But the Holy of Holies was out of bounds except once a year, on the Day of Atonement when the high priest entered to atone for sins accumulated in the tabernacle. In a nutshell, the courtyard was a place where God saw the sacrifices and forgave the people. Within the tabernacle was a place of worship and intimacy with God.
The various articles in the tabernacle symbolize the various elements and disciplines of abundant living.
The Golden Lampstand
The golden lampstand stood at the left side of the Holy Place. It was hammered out of one piece of pure gold. The priests were instructed to keep the lamps burning continuously. The lampstand was the only source of light in the Holy Place, so without it, the priests would have been moping around in the dark. The golden lampstand illuminated the sacred bread and so God illuminates His people. The golden lampstand symbolized God’s willingness to illuminate the dark mind of man to the knowledge of God and to His ways. As the priest approached the Lampstand, the Spirit of God illuminated his mind enabling him to provide divine guidance to the people.
Table and the sacred bread
The table of sacred bread was a small table made of acacia wood and overlaid with pure gold. It stood on the right side of the Holy Place across from the Lampstand and held 12 loaves of bread, representing the 12 tribes of Israel. The priests baked the bread with fine flour and it remained on the table before the Lord for a week; every Sabbath day the priests would remove it and eat it in the Holy Place, then put fresh bread on the table. Only the priests could eat the bread, and it could only be eaten in the Holy Place, because it was holy.
The table and the bread was a picture of God’s willingness to fellowship and commune with men who were His children. It was like an invitation to share a meal which consisted of the Word and the revelations of God. God was willing for man to enter into His household of truth, and this invitation was always open.
Golden altar of incense
The golden altar of incense, sat in front of the curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. It was made of acacia wood and overlaid with pure gold. Four horns protruded from the four corners of the altar. God commanded the priests to burn incense on the golden altar every morning and evening, the same time that the daily burnt offerings were made. The incense was to be left burning continually throughout the day and night as a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
The incense was a symbol of the prayers and intercession of the people going up to God as a sweet fragrance. God wanted His dwelling to be a place where people could approach Him and pray to Him. Every time the priest approached the golden altar with the petitions of the people, God would hear from heaven and answer them.
The Ark of the Covenant
Within the Holy of Holies, shielded from the eye of the common man, was one piece of furniture comprising two parts: the Ark of the Covenant and the mercy seat on top of it. The ark was a chest made of acacia wood, overlaid with pure gold inside and out. It was 3 feet, 9 inches long and 2 feet, 3 inches wide and high. God commanded Moses to put in the ark three items: a golden pot of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the two stone tablets on which the Ten Commandments were written.
The mercy seat was the lid for the ark. On top of it stood two cherubim (angels) at the two ends, facing each other. The mercy seat was God’s dwelling place in the tabernacle. It was His throne, flanked by angels. The ark of the covenant and the mercy seat represent the justice and the mercy of God.
Every year, the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement and sprinkle blood on the mercy seat to make atonement for the holy place. The atonement of the sins of individuals were not done on the Day of Atonement, but through daily sin offerings where the priest took the blood of animals (that symbolically contained the sins of individuals) into the Holy Place and left there until the Day of Atonement (see Leviticus 4). Therefore, in sin offerings, the sins of individuals were transferred to the tabernacle. It is only on the Day of Atonement, as the priest entered the Holy of Holies and sprinkled blood on the mercy seat (Leviticus 16:15-16) that the sins accumulated in the tabernacle were atoned for. Hence, the purpose of the Day of Atonement is to atone for sins accumulated at the tabernacle due to the daily sin offerings of the people. The ark of the covenant and the Day of Atonement reminds us of God’s love when Christ carried the sins that are committed on a daily basis by every men and women. In resurrecting Christ from death, the Father approved of Christ’s offering that resulted in the atonement of every sin that was committed (Romans 4:25).
Truth
1. Personal discipline is the foundation of communion with God. People without personal discipline is at the mercy of their haphazard circumstances; they will constantly be distracted and not be able to persist in the favor and refreshing presence of God. They read the word and obey God only when things go well with them. However, communion with God must be driven by love and discipline, which is the fear of God. The tabernacle with its regulations of divine worship requires the discipline of studying the Law, of tithing, of prayer, of fellowship of the priesthood and of personal holiness. The divine regulations of worship in the tabernacle are meant to create in each individual a discipline towards communion with God and abundant living. When the priest ministered at the tabernacle, he had to discipline himself by accomplishing the rituals at each station. What are these disciplines?
– The discipline of living life that befits a son of God. A son of God lives a life of love and obedience to the Father’s commands. Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” John 14:15. Jesus Himself love and obeyed the Father, “but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me.” John 14:31.
In the Old Covenant, the Ark of the covenant was where the blood of an animal was sprinkled upon to atone for sins. In the New Covenant, the blood of Christ is remembered through the sacrament of the Holy Communion. Jesus took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me” 1 Corinthians 11:25. In the discipline of taking the Holy Communion as a church, believers are reminded of the covenant through which God made us His children. As children of God, we discipline ourselves to live life befitting of a son of God.
– The discipline of listening to the Spirit’s voice and doing His will. The golden lampstand is where the light and revelation of God was released to men. Divine light and revelations are needed to provide direction and clarity to the ways of God. Jesus said, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.” John 14:26. The discipline at this station is to always be sensitive to God’s voice and walk in His ways.
– The discipline of speaking and hearing the truth in a fellowship of believers. As the table represents the fellowship of believers, and the bread represents the Word. The table and the sacred bread represents the fellowship of believers that is centered on the word of truth. The discipline at this station is the commitment to fellowship and growing together in the knowledge of the truth. If the fellowship of believers is not based on the word of truth, there will be strive, gossip, disunity and wickedness festering within. Therefore, the study and sharing of the word must be the main feature of every formal or informal meeting of believers.
– The discipline of dependence on God through prayer. The golden altar of incense is the station of prayer and petition. Its presence in the tabernacle testifies of God’s ears being constantly open to the prayers of His children. Psalm 34:15 says, “The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and His ears are open to their cry.” In the new covenant, Jesus took this a step further when He said, “Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it” John 14:13-14.
2. Patience is bearing with injustices committed against you until the time of God’s vindication. People want vindication and justice every time they are hurt by their enemies and they want it immediately. They want their enemies crushed and cursed in front of their eyes. However, the first covenant and the tabernacle taught us God’s incessant patience in bearing with the injustices done against Him and the innocent. For 1400 years, He bore with the sins wickedness, rebellion and hypocrisy stored up in the little tabernacle since it was set up by Moses until the time of Christ. In the same way, we ought to bear with our enemies and not to take revenge. But instead, we should pray for them so that they may repent. Jesus said, “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven” Matthew 5:44-45.
Application
1. The tabernacle and the regulations of divine worship show us the discipline of living a life of love in the fear of God, of listening to the Spirit’s voice, of being in fellowship with a godly community, and of prayer. Which of these discipline are you lacking in? These disciplines when lived out enable us to obtain the promises of Abraham.
2. Do you often harbor thoughts of anger and injustice? If you wish to live a life of peace and freedom, open your heart and express the following prayer:
Dear Lord, I believe you have seen the injustices done against me and my family. I am upset that no one can help us and stand up for us. But I believe that you are my present helper and vindicator. I open my heart to receive your assurance that what I have lost will be restored to me. I now pray for the person who has done this harm to me. That you turn him back from this evil so that he may be saved. Take away this emotion of hurt. anger and injustice from my heart. And fill me with your Spirit of peace, joy, love and patience. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.