Long ago, my wife and I moved in with my parents so I could concentrate on college and get moving on my degree. As we made their home our dwelling place, we found out things I never remembered when I was growing up. We got to know them quite well -- and they got to know us also. We knew each other's habits, likes, dislikes, mandates, and all the wrinkles in each other's personalities. While it was a difficult experience to "go home again", it does point out an important truth: when you dwell with someone you will definitely get to know that person intimately. The Tabernacle -- Where God Dwells
God has chosen to dwell with you -- even though He knows you are less perfect and undeserving of such an honor. He has established that a sacred place be used to gather together with others that He might dwell there and privilege us with His holy presence. There, in God's dwelling place, you will get to know Him intimately as never before. In the Old Testament, this dwelling place was called the "tabernacle" -- today it is called the "church".
Scripture: Exodus 25:1-31:18
(Use the BACK buttion on your browser to return to this lesson)Main Thought: God desires that we make a sacred place for Him to dwell with us that we might know and worship Him.
God directs the building of tabernacles through willing gifts of people to establish ownership and commitment to His kingdom work. Because God is holy, He has chosen that our worship of Him should be in a holy place. God meets with us in the tabernacle that we might hear His word and follow Him. 
"And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it" (Exod 25:8-9, NKJV).1. God directs the building of tabernacles through willing gifts of people to establish ownership and commitment to His kingdom work.
God directed the building of a structure called the tabernacle. This was the first tabernacle for the Israelites to use in the wilderness. It was God's desire that the people make this tabernacle and furnish all the materials for it. Therefore these were sacrificial gifts -- for they were living in a wilderness and all the gifts came from their personal possessions. These were free-will offerings -- God did not want to force them to do this:Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering. From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart you shall take My offering. (Exod 25:2, NKJV)Now the people were told to make this tabernacle exactly as God commanded. It was to be according to the heavenly pattern shown to Moses -- "just so you shall make it" (Exo. 25:9, NKJV). God gave precise instructions for the offering (which provided materials) and the workmanship (which resulted in the structure).Consider the challenge of building your own home. Perhaps you have even had this wonderful experience at some point in your life. It is a project which requires time, money, precise blueprints, money, lots of works, lots of money...you get the picture. It is an investment of your life for the time needed to complete the project. Though quite a challenge, in the end you "own" the house in more ways than one. It is a place you cherish.
Just as God directed the building of the first tabernacle by the children of Israel, so He directs us today in the building of churches. As one pundit said, "The gospel is free but someone has to put in the plumbing".
Building a church, a new sanctuary, or renovating what you have is a major challenge for God's people. Yet it can be a time of deep spiritual progress as well. It requires the people of God give their best and work together toward a common goal that honors God. If it is done as the Israelites did it -- with willing, sacrificial gifts -- the end result is not just a physical structure but ownership and commitment to what it represents. Are you providing for God's local church in a way that honors Him? The Israelites were called by God to give their best -- fine linens, gold, spices, oil, and precious stones. What is God's best in your life? Give it to His church that you might become an owner and committed servant in His kingdom work!
"And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it" (Exod 25:8-9, NKJV).2. Because God is holy, He has chosen that our worship of Him should be in a holy place.
Two words are used here regarding this structure. First it is called a sanctuary (Hebrew-- miqdash) which means "sacred place". Second it is called a tabernacle (Hebrew-- mishkan) which means "dwelling place". So God directed the building of a "sacred dwelling place". The basic structure included:That this was a "sacred place" meant that it was set apart to worship God. It was a place for reverance since our holy God graced it with His presence. The glory of God manifested in the cloud would cover the tabernacle on the outside and fill the Holy of Holies on the inside.Holy of Holies -- an inner room which housed the Ark of the Covenant and the place where God would appear to the High Priest once a year (Exo. 26:31-34,40:3). Holy Place -- another room just outside the Holy of Holies which housed the table of showbread, the lampstand, and incense altar (Exo. 26:33; 25:23-40, 27:20-21, 30:1-10). Outer Court -- the surrounding area where animals and grain were prepared and slain to become burnt offerings to the LORD (Exo. 26:1-30, 27:1-19). The tabernacle was a visual illustration that God is holy and unapproachable by human standards and means. Only by humility and blood sacrifice could God be approached -- His terms only. His holiness set Him apart from all the false gods and sinful religious practices used in pagan worship. We are to worship the One true and living God who is holy. Therefore, our worship must be with reverance and holiness. Has a "worship service" grown cold and become meaningless ritual for you today? Then consider the One true and living God who is, who was, and who is to come. Are you genuinely worshiping Him by drawing near to Him on His terms?
"And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it" (Exod 25:8-9, NKJV).3. God meets with us in the tabernacle that we might hear His word and follow Him.
As a place to gather with other believers to worship God, the tabernacle rightly became the central focus in the community of Israel. It was placed in the center of the camp wherever they moved. After all, Israel was a "theocracy" where God was the "King". Most importantly, the tabernacle was the dwelling place of Almighty God. Here God met with the Israelites and proclaimed His word (Exo. 25:21-22, 42-46). Why would God, who is spirit and everywhere-present anyway, choose to meet with the Israelites in this way?Growing up I had a favorite band called "Chicago". It seems I had to go to their concert just to get close to them and hear their songs. I actually had several of their recordings and this was OK -- but it was nothing like being there at the concert with the band!
At the tabernacle, we all gather:
God has established the tabernacle as a place for meeting Him that we might be changed in His presence and move along His path. Let us never neglect the tremendous opportunity to give God thanks for dwelling with us. Yet as wonderful as it is to think of meeting with God and other believers in a tabernacle, the key to the power of the tabernacle is the response of the people to God's word. Meeting with God will tranform your life. It is sort of like the effect of a child on a clean, straight toy room. The presence of the child transforms the room into a vast array of toys all active and out in the floor at the same time. God simply cannot enter your dwelling place and you stay the same. He will move to develop your character and activate your work to maximum potential in Christ. Where God dwells, righteousness prevails. When you enter His dwelling place -- be it a house church, a tumble-down one room church building, or a beautiful new sanctuary -- enter with gladness and praise for God chose to meet you in the tabernacle.to worship God to meet Him there to give our love and devotion to Him to hear His word sung, prayed, proclaimed, and obeyed. 1 Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. 3 For the LORD is the great God, and the great King above all gods. 4 In His hand are the deep places of the earth; the heights of the hills are His also. 5 The sea is His, for He made it; and His hands formed the dry land. 6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. 7 For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. (Psalm 95:1-7a, NKJV)Meet Him, Hear Him, and follow Him!
Reflect on YOUR life: The tabernacle was the place for public worship. But it was just a tent, after all. It was a nicely decorated tent -- but just a tent with a dirt floor. What made it a special place of worship? The fact that God chose to dwell in it. The tabernacle was a place of worship because God dwelt there! For believers in Christ, this has profound implications. Since in Christ you are made into a new creation on the inside and indwelt by God the Holy Spirit, what does that make you? Yes, in Christ you are a tabernacle of God. Because God has chosen to make you His dwelling place, how will you conduct your life? You will purify your thoughts, cleanse your words, and sanctify your actions for you are a tabernacle of God. He is holy and you are to be holy in your living. Thank God, you enjoy the personal presence and power of God no matter where you go and no matter what you do. As His dwelling place in Christ, you belong to Him.
"Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's"
(1 Cor. 6:20, NKJV).
Our Creator God loves you and wants you to know Him! If you would like to contact this ministry for further information or questions, please send your e-mail to:
Email: ministryrequest1@WordTruth.Com
Web Site: WordTruth.Com
