The Building of the Tabernacle
In the Old testament God had a building for His
people. In the New Testament God’s people are His building.
The church is His dwelling place (Ephesians
2:20,21; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Hebrews 3:6; 1
Peter 2:5).
The Commencement
a) Plan (Exodus 35:4-19)
Willing wise hearted people were to give. God
blesses a cheerful giver. They gave their very shoe leather and
during their journey n the wilderness their shoes never wore done
(Ezekiel 16:10; Deuteronomy 8:4; 29:5).
b) Problem (Exodus 35:20-29; 36:3-7)
They brought too much and had to be restrained
from giving.
The Construction
a) Led by spirit filled workers (Exodus
35:30-36:2)
b) List of each item made (Exodus 36:8-39:31)
The Completion
a) Work finished and presented (Exodus 39:21-41)
Note that the expression ‘As God had
commanded’ occurs 10 times in Chapter 39.
There was a variety of tasks to be done.
Some worked with gold, some with silver while
others collected and spun goat’s hair.
All the jobs were important.
Every believer has a gift from the Spirit (1
Corinthians 12).
b) Work inspected and approved (39:42,43)
As Moses inspected the work that had been done
so the Lord Jesus Christ inspects our labours for Him. How
wonderful to be able to receive His ‘well done’.
The Consecration
a) Setting up of the Tabernacle (Exodus 40:2-11,
17-33)
Everything was put into its proper place.
b) Sanctification of the priests (Exodus
40:12-16; 31,32)
They were cleansed, clothed and consecrated.
c) Sacrifice offered (Exodus 40:29)
d) Supernatural Witness of God (Exodus 40:34-38)
The Tabernacle was still an empty building until
suddenly, supernaturally and sovereignly the Glory of God filled
the House.
The ‘Glory of God’ showed that He had
accepted their work; that He alone is Sovereign and that He
authenticated his servants’ claims.
Apostates were destroyed by that ‘Glory’
(Number 16:12-35)
Unsaved will be destroyed by the Glory of His
coming (2 Thessalonians 1:8; revelation 6:15-17)
We saw the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus
Christ when we were saved (2 Corinthians 4:6).
We continue to see His glory revealed in
scripture (2 Corinthians 3:18).
One day we will see Christ’s Glory when He
returns (Revelation 21:3; 22:4).
In the meantime we ought to pray that His Glory
will fill His Church in revival blessing.
We long for an extraordinary sense of God’s
Majesty and Holiness to be present at our services.
This is not simply a lecture on the subject of
‘What God did in the Tabernacle 3,000 years ago’.
It is a description of what He can still do in
your life and in your church.
May the Glory of the Lord fill
His Tabernacle (Exodus 40:34).
