INTRODUCTION
The sacred furnishings of tabernacle highlighted the coming person and work of Messiah. These items include the altar, menorah, and the ark of the covenant. The gospel is found in these items. Yahweh was the designer of the tabernacle and gave Moses the pattern (Exodus 25:9). Jesus is the fulfillment of the symbolism in the tabernacle that God designed.
ALTAR OF SACRIFICE
In Hebrew altar means place of sacrifice. Presumably, Cain and Abel built altars for their sacrifices (Genesis 4:3-4). Noah certainly did (Genesis 8:20). Abraham, Isaac and Jacob did as well (Genesis 12:7; Genesis 26:25; Genesis 35:7). Altars predate the tabernacle and temple. An altar was like an open-sanctuary where God met with His people. They were like tiny Edenic sanctuaries, claiming land was holy for God. The altar was the place where heaven met earth and God would bless his people (Exodus 20:23-24). For pagan worshippers, their idols were the places where their false gods would meet them and bless them. Old Testament altars were: (1). the place were sacrifices were made which foreshadowed the place of the sacrifice of Christ, (2). the place where God and humanity met which points to Christ uniting us to God, (3). the table (Malachi 1:7) where God fed his people with peace offerings (Leviticus 7:11-36) which leads us to feast with the Lord in communion (1 Corinthians 10:16) as it relates to Christ's sacrifice.
THE BASIN OF BRONZE
Between the altar and the tabernacle was the basin of bronze (Exodus 30:18; Exodus 38:8). When the temple was made this basin was enlarge (1 King 7:23) and called a sea. Then 10 smaller basins were placed around the temple (1 Kings 7:39). They were likely used as places to clean up from the slaughter of animals. Explicitly, they were the places for priest to wash their hands and feet before entering the tabernacle or to wash themselves before offering sacrifices to the Lord on the altar (Exodus 30:19-20). Being dirty and failing to wash up before approaching God meant death. Shoes were considered unclean in the ancient Near East (ANE). Moses removed his shoes in the presence of the Lord as did the priests (Exodus 3:5). Hebrews echoes this OT washing showing that it points to Jesus (Hebrews 10:19-22) who washes us so that we may enter God's presence. Our being washed has connections to the Spirit being poured out on us (Titus 3:5-6) and the Word (Ephesians 5:26).
BREAD OF THE PRESENCE
The table of bread (Number 4:7; Leviticus 24:6) was located on the right side (north side) of the Holy Place. There were always 12 loaves of unleavened bread on this table, along with other items (Exodus 25:29). The 12 loaves represented the 12 tribes of Israel. These loaves were eaten every Sabbath and then replaced (Leviticus 24:5-9). In Hebrew this bread is lechem panim - bread of the face. Being in God's presence is to be before His face. This table was outside the Holy of Holies - before God's presence. This is why it's sometimes referred to as the bread of the presence. Jesus compares what He did to what David did by telling the story of when King David took, ate and gave this special bread to those with him (Luke 6:3-4). In communion we are eating bread that represents Jesus' body that was broken to bring us before the face of God.
LAMPSTAND
On the left side (south side) of the Holy Place was the menorah (Exodus 25:31-40). It resembled a flowering tree with a trunk, a central branch and three branches of light on either side (seven in total). It was to stay lit perpetually with olive oil (Leviticus 24:2). The fruit on these branches was light. The menorah symbolizes: (1). Luminosity - Genesis 1:3-5 says that first created light. In calling us back to the creation account, John tells us that Jesus was the true light that came into the world. From Genesis to Revelation light is used in reference to life, joy, salvation, the gospel and Christ (John 1:1-9). Light is even used to speak of our re-genesis or new birth (2 Corinthians 4:6). (2). the Tree of Life - As Eden's tree gave life, the temple's tree gave light. Both point to Christ. (3). 7 represents wholeness or completion. We are to forgive 70x7 times. The Spirit of God is sevenfold or perfect (Revelation 4:5). Isaiah 11:2 speaks of Spirit in seven ways in relation to the Messiah. In Revelation 1:12-13 Jesus is shown in priestly fashion among 7 lampstands. This represents the church (Revelation 1:20). Altogether, the menorah pictures Christ, the Spirit and His church.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What was the purpose of altars of sacrifice?
2. What was the purpose of the bronze basin?
3. What was the bread of the presence?
4. What was the menorah and what did it symbolize?
5. How do these things speak of Christ?
6. Does this help demystify the furnishings of the tabernacle and temple?
7. What new insights did you gain in this study?
8. Does this help you see another reason why God's OT House was so important?
9. As NT priests, how do we participate in NT temple life with God? Since we have no furnishing, how do we carry out the purpose of OT furnishings?
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