2002-01-01
Good Morning Dear Ones,
Today, I am led to continue looking at how the arrangement of furniture in the Tabernacle in the Wilderness reveals hidden messages which foreshadow the Covenant of Grace. That is the new covenant that was instituted by Christ’s death on the cross and sealed by His blood [1 COR 11: 23-26]. Yesterday in the prayer I offered, God led me to refer to His infinite wisdom in gradually revealing His truths according to what mankind was ready to accept. I believe that is why God didn’t reveal His entire plan all at one time when He first established Israel to be set apart from all other nations by their belief that He is their One and Only God. DT 6: 4, “Here O Israel, the Lord Your God, the Lord is One” [also known as the Shema]. We have the advantage of hindsight and of all the teachings that God has given mankind throughout its history to the present, as well as prophecies of the future that our Abba has made available to us in the Scriptures. What a privilege! Now, we can go back to the Torah where the descriptions of the Tabernacle in the Wilderness are found and take a second look. Therein, it is my contention that God reveals to us hidden truths about the new covenant that are so crucial to our lives today.
The very first thing that an ordinary Hebrew sees upon entering the outer courtyard of the Tabernacle in the Wilderness is the brazen altar. It’s described in EX 27: 1-8 as being 7 ½ feet wide by 7 ½ feet long. It has projections on each of its four corners which are made from animal horns. Reconciliation or consecration offerings are made on it. You will remember that this ancient old covenant system of worship involved animal sacrifices. Not just any animal could be used. It had to be a healthy one with no spot or blemish, i.e. the best of the herd or flock. When one thinks about it, isn’t God worth the sacrifice of mankind’s very best? That is why Abel’s sacrifice was acceptable when Cain’s was not [GN 4: 2-6]. This brazen altar box had hot coals inside it. The hidden message foreshadowing the new covenant is the picture of the Lamb [Christ] offered as the perfect and sufficient sin sacrifice for us [RO 3: 24-25; JN 3: 16; 1 COR 5: 7-8]. His blood shed for us brought us eternal forgiveness. LV 17:11 and HE 9: 22 reveal the significance of this blood sacrifice. To best understand what God is directing me to say, be sure to refer to the citations given here.
Just beyond the brazen altar still in the courtyard is a bronze Laver [basin] with water in it. EX 30: 17-21 describes it. Aaron and the other priests were to wash their hands and feet in it as a form of purification. God promised them they will not die if they and their descendants do this. It is interesting to note that bronze is a symbol of judgment in the Scriptures. The priests were to wash there daily. If we examine the hidden new covenant truths here, we can see JN 15: 3, “You have been made clean already by the teaching I have given you.” JN 8: 31-32, “If you obey Me, then you are My disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.” EPH 5: 26, “He [Christ] did this [told wives to submit to their husbands, and husbands to love their wives just as Christ loved the church and gave his life for it] to dedicate the church to God by His word, after making it clean by washing it.”
Once a priest entered the Holy Place, he saw a piece of furniture to his right along the wall called the Table of Showbread. Like the Ark of the Covenant, it was made of acacia wood overlaid with a layer of gold. This is described in EX 37: 10-16 as being 36 inches long by 18 inches wide by 27 inches high. It too had gold rings at its four corners which held poles for carrying it. We must remember that the Tabernacle was entirely portable and was taken from place to place at God’s will when He directed the people to move by a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night [EX 13: 21-22]. Dishes were made of pure gold for the Table of Showbread, as were cups, jars, and bowls to be used for the wine offering. There were 12 loaves of bread, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel. On the Sabbath [Shabat], these loaves were to be replenished. Two loaves were allowed to be eaten by the priests. The hidden new covenant message is that Christ is the Bread of life. JN 6: 47-48, “I am telling you the truth: he who believes has eternal life. I am the Bread of life. JN 6: 51, “I am the living Bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats this bread, he will live forever. The bread that I will give him is My flesh, which I give so that the world may live.”
It never ceases to amaze me how much compassion and love our Abba has. Here we were His enemies and He sacrifices His only Son for us! How many of us would give his own life for an enemy? Christ tells us that the greatest sign of our love for a friend is for us to give his life for a friend [JN 15: 13]. Imagine doing that for an enemy!
PRAYER: O Lord, You wanted us to know the messages hidden from the ancient Jews that were in the brazen altar, the laver, and the table of showbread for us. What powerful messages they are. It is through the Holy Spirit that You allow us to go back to the Torah and see it with the advantage of our hindsight and the Holy Spirit’s teaching. You must love us more than we can comprehend to allow us to have this knowledge and the comfort that comes from it. Your Son’s blood shed seals the Covenant of Grace. That brazen altar and laver of bronze brings our attention to Christ’s role as our rightful Judge and reminds us that He is Your Lamb, a perfect and sufficient sacrifice for our sins, one without spot or blemish. The laver foreshadows how Your word purifies us personally and corporately as the Body of Christ. The table of showbread is a reminder to us that Christ is the Bread of life and that it is through faith in Him that we hold the promise of eternal life with You. We are truly a blessed and privileged people to be Your children and to receive such love from You. Our lives are not easy here on earth, but You have told us that we are tent-dwellers awaiting eagerly the time when You will direct Christ to take us up with You in heaven. Through Him, You have promised us a place with You [JN 14:2] and told us we will be joint-heirs to Your Kingdom with Him [RO 8: 17]. This deeper understanding of the Tabernacle from the Torah is simply more evidence of Your profound love for those who love You. For that and so much more, especially Christ’s death on the cross and the gift of the Holy Spirit, we humbly offer You our adoration, worship, loyalty, diligence, trust, obedience, glory, honor, praise, and thanksgiving. In Christ’s name, amen.
Tomorrow, I’m directed to continue on this very special tour of the Tabernacle in the Wilderness. We must never take the Scriptures for granted or tire from reading them over and over. Each time we revisit a Scripture, God has another layer of revelation about it for us. This is prime evidence of the patience, compassion, and love He has for us. Peter and I send you our love too.
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn