The Sanctuary - Nov. 18-22
“They are to make a sanctuary for me so that I may dwell among them. You must make it according to all that I show you – the pattern of the tabernacle as well as the pattern of all its furnishings. - Exodus 25:8-9
Much of the readings this past week were about these patterns that Israel would follow to build the tabernacle for God. This portion of scripture is not often thought of as being the most exciting to read, but it of course still has great value to us, otherwise it wouldn’t be in the Bible! One value in particular is that it again points us to Jesus. “How so?” you may ask. Well, let’s look at a scripture that Paul also quotes in Hebrews 8.
“Look, the days are coming”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. This one will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors on the day I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt—my covenant that they broke even though I am their master”—the Lord’s declaration. “Instead, this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days”—the Lord’s declaration. “I will put my teaching within them and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will one teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know me, from the least to the greatest of them”—this is the Lord’s declaration. “For I will forgive their iniquity and never again remember their sin. - Jeremiah 31:31-34
This prophecy in Jeremiah has come to pass, and Jesus our high priest is the one who made it happen. His sacrifice tore the veil in the temple and ushered in the new covenant that Jeremiah had foretold all those years before.
The tabernacle was beautiful, carefully crafted to the most minute detail so that God’s presence might dwell among and lead the Israelites. But through Jesus we (the church) become God’s dwelling, his spirit resides in us, changing us and bringing us closer to Him. Praise the Lord that He has included this description of the tabernacle in His word, so that we might see what a pale shadow it was in comparison to the gift He has given us now!