Notes from October 4/5, 2008

The Tabernacle: Learning to Meet with God/Bringing It Back
Pastor Jim Zippay
Exodus 25:1-9, Exodus 33:12-17

Outline

1. The Tabernacle, or Tent of Meeting, was a place to meet with God.
2. The Most Holy Place, inside the Tabernacle, resembled the Garden of Eden.
3. The Tabernacle was built to look like something eternal, heaven (Hebrews 8:5).
4. The Tabernacle provided a pattern for meeting with God
5. The Outer Court – spoke to our need for forgiveness and cleansing (1 John 1:9)
   i. The altar of burnt offering
   ii. The bronze laver
6. The Holy Place
   i. The lampstand – symbolizes the tree of life (it displayed the stages of life through almond buds, blossoms and almonds)
   ii. The bread of presence – is like food for the soul
   iii. The altar of incense – reflects the prayers of God’s people (Revelations 5:8)
7. The Most Holy Place
   i. The ark of the covenant
8. The Tabernacle was not just a place to meet with God or just a pattern for meeting with God; it was for a people to know how to meet with God.
9. Priests:
   a. Come dressed for worship
   b. Come to the Outer Court and Holy Place
   c. Come to meet with God

Content

1. Meeting and dwelling with His people has been God’s desire since the beginning of time. The Tabernacle was intended to help us get back to what we lost in the garden.
2. The Tabernacle was a shadow, a copy, of heaven (Hebrews 8:5).
3. The Tabernacle, and everything in it, was designed to bring us into God’s presence both spiritually (that we would be acceptable before God) and symbolically (with all the sights, sounds and smells).
4. The Outer Court spoke to our need for forgiveness and cleansing. Ever since the Garden we learned that without the shedding of blood (alter of burn offering) there could be no reconciliation or restoration of our relationship with God.
5. The lampstand depicts spiritual light, discernment, wisdom and insight. It is a depiction of the ministry of the Holy Spirit who explains and reveals the hidden things of God.
6. The Most Holy Place depicts the throne room of God, our presence can only happen through another presenting us, mediating on our behalf, Christ. (Hebrews 9:11-12)
7. God wants us in the priesthood, he wants us to not only meet with him but bring others to him, like the priests of the Tabernacle.
   

Aim
The Tabernacle provided a place and way for God’s people to meet with Him. Jesus Christ provides a way for us to meet with God today.

Application Questions

1. What is the significance of the Tabernacle resembling the Garden of Eden? Resembling heaven?
2. How do the different places within the Tabernacle speak to how we should meet with God? What acts/behavior can we do today that are similar to those in the tabernacle? (Pray, share our faith, seek forgiveness, read the Word, etc.)
3. God has called us to be his priests. Share a time when you were able to be a priest on God’s behalf.
4. Pastor Jim explained that as God’s priest we should be:
   a. Lampstands – share the word, bring the lost to the “food” that they need
   b. Bread of Presence – pray for others, bringing others to the Lord in prayer
   c. Altar of incense – corporate prayer
   
   How can we put these things into practice? What areas are easy/hard for you? What can you do this week to strengthen these areas in your life?