We have been looking at foreshadows of Jesus in the Old Testament over the past several posts. This week we are not looking at a person, but a structure that pictures Jesus. God’s directions for the Tabernacle, and all of the items therein, foreshadow Jesus in who He is and what He would do in the future.
Bible Study Points:
Read Exodus 25-40
Here are some important points concerning the Tabernacle:
- God’s direction to Moses: Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you. (Exodus 25:8-9)
- Key tabernacle pieces:
- Ark of the Covenant (Jesus represents the fulfillment of the Covenant and He is the New Covenant – Luke 22:20, Hebrews 9:15)
- Mercy seat (Jesus stands before us at the judgment providing not only mercy, forgiving our sins, but grace that allows us to live eternally with Him – Matthew 18:33, 1 Timothy 1:16, 1 Peter 1:3, Jude 1:21)
- Veil (The veil of the Temple was torn at the crucifixion so that people would no longer need a priest to go into God’s presence on their behalf – At the Crucifixion Jesus tears down the veil that separates us from God – Matthew 27:51)
- Showbread and Bread of the Presence (Jesus said that He was the bread of life – John 6:32-35)
- Golden Lampstand (Represents the Word of God and Jesus is the Word – John 1:1)
- Light from the Lamp (Jesus is the light – John 14:7, Revelation 21:23-26, 22:5)
- Altar of Incense (Incense represents prayer going up to God – Revelation 8:3-4 – Jesus, as our great High Priest, intercedes with prayer to the Father on our behalf – Hebrews 7:24-25, and He is the fragrant aroma going up to God – Ephesians 5:2)
- Anointing Oil (Jesus anoints us with the Holy Spirit – John 14:25-29, John 20:22, Acts 1:8)
- Altar of Burnt Offering (Jesus is the final offering on behalf of all who will believe on Him – John 3:16, Hebrews 10)
Additional information concerning the prophetic uniqueness of the Tabernacle:
- Each tribe was stationed in relationship to the Tabernacle when they camped: East – Judah, the lion (where the entrance was); North – Dan, the eagle; West – Ephraim, the ox; South – Reuben, man.
- From a teaching by Pastor Skip Heitzig:
“There was only one door into the Tabernacle, just as there is only one way into heaven, through Jesus Christ (see John 14:6). The entrance was on the east side, which meant one had to pass through the camp of Judah to get in (Jesus’ genealogy is from this tribe). From the outside, the Tabernacle wasn’t particularly attractive, but the inside was adorned with ornate hangings and gold. Isaiah prophesied of Christ that “there was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him” (Isaiah 53”2). But Jesus’ life and nature are pure and divine and life-giving. The only light source in the Tabernacle, the golden lampstand, also pointed to Christ, who said, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). Across from the lampstand was a golden table holding the Bread of the Presence, which pointed to Jesus, who is the Bread of Life (See John 6:35).”
- The Glory of the LORD and The Tabernacle – The LORD’s presence:
Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Throughout all their journeys whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the sons of Israel would set out; but if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out until the day when it was taken up. For throughout all their journeys, the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and there was fire in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel. Exodus 40:34-38
- Solomon later built the Temple to replace the Tabernacle where God would dwell with the people. The Tabernacle gives us not only a picture of Jesus as God with them but a picture of what he will do in sacrifice and intercession for us all. Revelation 21 gives us a picture of the “New Jerusalem” and shows us that, in reality, Jesus is the final Tabernacle/Temple:
I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. In the daytime (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed; and they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it; and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. (Revelation 21:23-27)
Going Deeper:
Watch this presentation by Pastor Mark Winger from his series, “Finding Jesus in the Old Testament”
Bible Study Review:
- In what ways do we see the Tabernacle as a foreshadow of Jesus?
- From your reading of the Torah have you found other foreshadows of Jesus through the Law or the Tabernacle?
- Why do you think God gave a picture of Messiah (Jesus) throughout the Old Testament?
- How can we apply this knowledge of foreshadowing in the Old Testament to our lives today?
Join us next week as we continue our “Case for the Old Testament” with a final focus on foreshadowing of Jesus through the role of the Priests!
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Teri Dugan
TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com
1 Peter 3:15
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