Exo 25:4-7 | KingComments | STEP | The tangible, material tabernacle and the service in it are “the copies of the things in the heavens” ( ). The tabernacle is not the true dwelling place of God, but represents it. God does not dwell in “a holy place made with hands, a [mere] copy of the true one” ( ; ). In Scripture there are three real dwellings of God: 1. heaven ( ), 2. the Lord Jesus ( , where “dwelt” is literally “tabernacled”; ) and 3. the church ( ; ; ). The tabernacle is a tent in the wilderness. This can be applied to the church on earth, in which God the Holy Spirit dwells. The tabernacle is: 1. a picture of the dwelling place of God among His people, 2. a picture of His glory as He revealed it completely in the Lord Jesus and 3. a description of the way of the sinner to God. The description of the tabernacle is given to Moses by the LORD in one long speech in the Exodus 25-31. This speech – interspersed seven times with “the LORD said” or “the LORD spoke” – can be divided into four parts: 1. In Exodus 25-27 the furniture is described which in picture give the revelation of God in Christ to man. 2. In Exodus 28-29 we see the priesthood as the means by which man can approach God. 3. Exodus 30 contains the elements which show in picture how and with what man can approach God. 4. In Exodus 31 we hear who God designates to build the tabernacle. For the construction of the tabernacle the LORD wants to use the means that His people make available for it. Those means must be offered to Him as a heave offering. It is not set as an obligation, but is asked “from every man whose heart moves him” (cf. ). If we bear in mind that the tabernacle is the revelation of God to man, we see that this revelation is linked to the mindset of the heart. Only those who ‘heave’ what they have beyond daily use and offer it to God as a “heave offering” share in God’s thoughts about His dwelling place. In all of the materials something of God and the Lord Jesus becomes visible. In the seven kinds of materials needed, we see a number of features: 1. metals – speak of what characterizes God’s Being and nature; 2. fabrics – speak of the glory of the Lord Jesus as Man on earth; 3. skins – are derived from animals, and speak, like the fabrics, of the Lord Jesus as Man on earth, but more specifically in connection with His work on the cross; 4. wood – speaks of the perfect Manhood of the Lord Jesus; 5. oil – represents the Holy Spirit; 6. spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense – represent the inner, personal glories of the Lord Jesus; 7. precious stones – speak of the glories of God, as they are reflected in the individual believers. All these materials must be used to make a “sanctuary” in which the LORD can dwell among His people. If it is our desire that the Lord Jesus can dwell with His people, the church, we will give Him our total life and everything we possess. The church is His house, but the picture of the construction of the tabernacle shows us how we can experience this in practice. Total surrender to Him is needed to work out the truth of being God’s house to God’s glory in practice in the gathering and living together of the church. What the tabernacle should look like is not left to the imagination of Moses. The LORD shows him the model and he must make it like that. Thus Ezekiel sees in a vision the form and stature of the new temple which he is to present to Israel: “So that they may observe its whole design and all its statutes and do them” ( ; cf. ).

‏ Exodus 25:4-7

Introduction

The tangible, material tabernacle and the service in it are “the copies of the things in the heavens” (Heb 9:23). The tabernacle is not the true dwelling place of God, but represents it. God does not dwell in “a holy place made with hands, a [mere] copy of the true one” (Heb 9:24; 2Chr 6:18).

In Scripture there are three real dwellings of God:

1. heaven (1Kgs 8:39a Psa 115:3 ; 16),

2. the Lord Jesus (Jn 1:14a, where “dwelt” is literally “tabernacled”; Col 1:19 ; Col 2:9) and

3. the church (Eph 2:22; 1Tim 3:15; Heb 3:1-6).

The tabernacle is a tent in the wilderness. This can be applied to the church on earth, in which God the Holy Spirit dwells.

The tabernacle is:

1. a picture of the dwelling place of God among His people,

2. a picture of His glory as He revealed it completely in the Lord Jesus and

3. a description of the way of the sinner to God.

The description of the tabernacle is given to Moses by the LORD in one long speech in the Exodus 25-31. This speech – interspersed seven times with “the LORD said” or “the LORD spoke” – can be divided into four parts:

1. In Exodus 25-27 the furniture is described which in picture give the revelation of God in Christ to man.

2. In Exodus 28-29 we see the priesthood as the means by which man can approach God.

3. Exodus 30 contains the elements which show in picture how and with what man can approach God.

4. In Exodus 31 we hear who God designates to build the tabernacle.

Materials to Be Collected

For the construction of the tabernacle the LORD wants to use the means that His people make available for it. Those means must be offered to Him as a heave offering. It is not set as an obligation, but is asked “from every man whose heart moves him” (cf. 2Cor 9:7).

If we bear in mind that the tabernacle is the revelation of God to man, we see that this revelation is linked to the mindset of the heart. Only those who ‘heave’ what they have beyond daily use and offer it to God as a “heave offering” share in God’s thoughts about His dwelling place.

In all of the materials something of God and the Lord Jesus becomes visible. In the seven kinds of materials needed, we see a number of features:

1. metals – speak of what characterizes God’s Being and nature;

2. fabrics – speak of the glory of the Lord Jesus as Man on earth;

3. skins – are derived from animals, and speak, like the fabrics, of the Lord Jesus as Man on earth, but more specifically in connection with His work on the cross;

4. wood – speaks of the perfect Manhood of the Lord Jesus;

5. oil – represents the Holy Spirit;

6. spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense – represent the inner, personal glories of the Lord Jesus;

7. precious stones – speak of the glories of God, as they are reflected in the individual believers.

All these materials must be used to make a “sanctuary” in which the LORD can dwell among His people. If it is our desire that the Lord Jesus can dwell with His people, the church, we will give Him our total life and everything we possess. The church is His house, but the picture of the construction of the tabernacle shows us how we can experience this in practice. Total surrender to Him is needed to work out the truth of being God’s house to God’s glory in practice in the gathering and living together of the church.

What the tabernacle should look like is not left to the imagination of Moses. The LORD shows him the model and he must make it like that. Thus Ezekiel sees in a vision the form and stature of the new temple which he is to present to Israel: “So that they may observe its whole design and all its statutes and do them” (Eze 43:11; cf. 1Chr 28:19).