The Court of the Tabernacle

                                                                  Exodus 27:9-19

 

October 9, 2024

 

The Court of the Tabernacle

“You shall make the court of the tabernacle. On the south side, the court shall have hangings of fine twined linen a hundred cubits long for one side. Its twenty pillars and their twenty bases shall be of bronze, but the hooks of the pillars and their fillets shall be of silver.  And likewise, for its length on the north side, there shall be hangings a hundred cubits long, its pillars twenty and their bases twenty, of bronze, but the hooks of the pillars and their fillets shall be of silver.  And for the breadth of the court on the west side, there shall be hangings for fifty cubits, with ten pillars and ten bases.  The breadth of the court on the front to the east shall be fifty cubits.  The hangings for the one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits, with their three pillars and three bases.  On the other side, the hangings shall be fifteen cubits, with their three pillars and three bases.  For the gate of the court, there shall be a screen twenty cubits long, of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, embroidered with needlework. It shall have four pillars and with them four bases.  All the pillars around the court shall be filleted with silver. Their hooks shall be of silver, and their bases of bronze.  The length of the court shall be a hundred cubits, the breadth fifty, and the height five cubits, with hangings of fine twined linen and bases of bronze.   All the utensils of the tabernacle for every use, and all its pegs and all the pegs of the court, shall be of bronze.

 

How good is your ability to recall something you were told that was important last week, or what about three days ago?  Remember, Moses and Joshua were on the Mountain with God for 40 days, and God had not only given Moses the 10 Commandments, but also all the details of how to build the Tabernacle and the furniture.  Plus, the details on the Holy of Holies.

 

Now, if you are like me, you understand God is doing a mighty work at this moment in Moses and the life of Moses and the young man who will later be leading the people of Israel.  I also hope you see the need to mentor younger men, and ladies, younger ladies.  Moses pours his life into Joshua, and we see the result in Joshua and his friend Capela, the only spies that came back with a God is with us, and He will fight for us.

When you read about all the designs and instructions that God gave Moses, God also gave him the ability to recall every detail.

 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

 

The Bronze Altar

  

Exodus 27:1-8

 

October 8, 2024

 

The Bronze Altar

“You shall make the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long and five cubits broad. The altar shall be square, and its height shall be three cubits.  And you shall make horns for it on its four corners; its horns shall be of one piece with it, and you shall overlay it with bronze.  You shall make pots for it to receive its ashes, and shovels and basins and forks and fire pans. You shall make all its utensils of bronze.  You shall also make for it a grating, a network of bronze, and on the net, you shall make four bronze rings at its four corners.  And you shall set it under the ledge of the altar so that the net extends halfway down the altar.  And you shall make poles for the altar, poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with bronze.  And the poles shall be put through the rings so that the poles are on the two sides of the altar when it is carried.  You shall make it hollow, with boards. As it has been shown you on the mountain, so shall it be made.

 

It may not be hard for a person who is an architect to grasp what God has shown Moses on the Mountain, but for him to have all of this fixed in his mind, one more shows me the greatness of our God.

 

In our day to effectively show a customer what a house will look like, an architect typically uses computer-aided design (CAD) software to create detailed 2D and 3D drawings, including floor plans, elevations, and sections, which can then be rendered into realistic visualizations using specialized rendering software; additionally, tools like virtual reality (VR) can provide an immersive experience for clients to "walk through" the design virtually.

 

We have no understanding of what God did to show Moses these designs, but whatever it was, He did something for Moses that all the tools above could not do for the architect customer.  He gave Moses the ability to recall every detail.

 

Do you understand God has given you and me a new covenant, we also have an altar, the Cross, where Jesus pays for sin, all sins.  Hebrews 13:10-14,  ^“We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat.  For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp.  So, Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood.   Therefore, let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured.  For  here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.“

 

We are told in Hebrews Galatians 2:20,  ^“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”  Crucified, they die, so what death took place in you, was it not the old man, the one who wanted to do it his way?  By dying unto self and living for Jesus.  Our flesh has been trained by the world to get its needs met outside of Christ, and that is why one must study God’s word to seek Him and to listen to the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 6:14 tells us to put no faith in self, “But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”  God has given us Sacrifices Pleasing to God.  In Hebrews 13:1-8, let brotherly love continue.  Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.  Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.  Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.  Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  So, we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

The Veil

 

Exodus 26:31-35

 

October 7, 2024

 

The Tabernacle Part 5

 

“And you shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. It shall be made with cherubim skillfully worked into it.  And you shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold, with hooks of gold, on four bases of silver.  And you shall hang the veil from the clasps, and bring the ark of the testimony in there within the veil. And the veil shall separate for you the Holy Place from the Most Holy.  You shall put the mercy seat on the ark of the testimony in the Most Holy Place.  And you shall set the table outside the veil, and the lampstand on the south side of the tabernacle opposite the table, and you shall put the table on the north side.

 

This, veil was a barrier, and no priest could go beyond the veil into the Most Holy place except the high priest. He could only enter once a year, and that on the Day of Atonement.

ii. Spiritually speaking, in dying for our sins Jesus with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:12).

iii. In the temple, this veil was torn from top to bottom at the death of Jesus (Matthew 27:51), showing that through His death, there is no longer a barrier to the Most Holy place.

iv. Now the Most Holy Place is open to us: brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is His flesh(Hebrews 10:19-20). The torn veil of Matthew 27:51 also symbolizes the broken body of Jesus, through which we have access to the Most Holy Place.

v. “When at last the Man in whom all perfections were realized, had made full atonement for sins, the symbol of separation was destroyed.” (Morgan)

a. Put the mercy seat upon the ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy: The Ark of the Covenant (here called the ark of the Testimony) was behind the veil in the Most Holy place.

b. Set the table outside the veil: The table of showbread was on the north side of the tabernacle (on the right as one entered the tabernacle) and the lampstand was toward the south (on the left as one entered the tabernacle).

i. The furniture in the holy place spoke of three great obligations of walking with God: prayer (the altar of incense), fellowship (the table of showbread), and to receive illumination (the lampstand).  (Taken from Enduring Word)

The Veil is no longer a barrier between God and man, Jesus has given us assess to His Father, even greater He intercedes for us sitting at the right hand of the Father.

 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

 

 

 

The Tabernacle Part 4

 

Exodus 26:26-30

 

October 6, 2024

 

 

The Tabernacle Part 4

 

“You shall make bars of acacia wood, five for the frames of the one side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the frames of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the frames of the side of the tabernacle at the rear westward. The middle bar, halfway up the frames, shall run from end to end.  You shall overlay the frames with gold and shall make their rings of gold for holders for the bars, and you shall overlay the bars with gold. Then you shall erect the tabernacle according to the plan for it that you were shown on the mountain.”

a. And you shall make bars of acacia wood: Each bar was made of acacia wood and overlaid in gold. Seemingly, the bars ran the entire length of each side, linking together each board into one system.

b. The middle bar shall pass through the midst of the boards from end to end: Four bars ran horizontally on each side, linking each board. One bar – the middle bar – was invisible, running in the middle of each board.

i. This speaks to both the visible and the invisible unity among God’s people. The system of linking bars was both visible and invisible.

c. According to its pattern, which you were shown on the mountain: The repetition of this phrase (Exodus 25:9, 25:40, 26:30) suggests that Moses received a vision of exactly how the Tabernacle should look. He had to communicate this vision to the craftsmen who did the actual building.

i. God works the same way in leaders today. He gives them a vision of what His work should be, and the leader passes it on to others who will do much of the actual work. Moses could not have remained silent about what God had shown him, or the work would never have gotten done.”  (From Enduring Word)

As a mentor, often the Lord will put on my heart something I need to share with the man I’m mentoring.  It is normally an insight from the Scripture.  One of the greatest needs in today’s Church is for older men and ladies to be encouragers and guides in their Spiritual growth.  You will find that in Titus 2:2-12.

 

From the Back Porch, 

Bob Rice

 

`Who am I

 

 

`Who am I 

 

 

As I explored my Identity, I had to begin with who I was and why I am the person I am today.  I was a liar, a thief, a person of little value to the community.  Something changed all of that; it happened long before I was born, and I am not unique, no, not extraordinary; it has happened to millions of people since that one event took place.

 

Often, as I look into the mirror of my true identity, I understand how blessed I am, for who I am today is a gift that cost me nothing; I could not acquire it, it was not for sale, and it could not be earned, and I did not earn or deserve the gift.

 

It was a gift designed in heaven before the foundation of the world came into being.  God saw before creation, and the Creator saw me long before I was.  As I said, I’m not unique, but this is my story, and it must be told.

 

Before I was, God the Father saw me and loved me, and His Son, His only Son, was asked to come to earth and die on the cross and shed His blood to cover my sins that were many.  On that day in history, Jesus Christ not only conquered sin but death and the grave!  In three days, the Godman arose in victory, and the gift was mine for the taking.  At the age of 27, in a hotel room in Victoria, Texas, I bowed my knee to a Holy God and asked for His forgiveness for wanting to be in control of my life.  That night, around 10:30 p.m. I received my new identity.

 

I am free from the control of sin; it has no hold on me, no authority over my choices.  Am I sinless? No, but it is a choice, and each time I choose to sin, I break fellowship with my Father, but I never break our relationship.  I’ve been sealed, I’ve been adopted into the family of God, I am His, and He is mine.  To restore our fellowship, I must confess my sin with a broken and contrite heart.

 

As I stated, I’m not exceptional, just forgiven, and it is a grace gift that has eternal value.  My friend Bill worked up a list of Scriptures; this is just one of many, Gal. 4:7, “So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.”

 

What does that verse mean to me?

WOW!  I’m family

 

 

From our Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

The Tabernacle Part 3

 

Exodus 26:15-25

 

October 5, 2024

 

The Tabernacle Part 3

 

“You shall make upright frames for the tabernacle of acacia wood.  Ten cubits shall be the length of a frame, and a cubit and a half the breadth of each frame.  There shall be two tenons in each frame, for fitting together. So shall you do for all the frames of the tabernacle.  You shall make the frames for the tabernacle: twenty frames for the south side;  and forty bases of silver you shall make under the twenty frames, two bases under one frame for its two tenons, and two bases under the next frame for its two tenons;  and for the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side twenty frames,  and their forty bases of silver, two bases under one frame, and two bases under the next frame.  And for the rear of the tabernacle westward, you shall make six frames.  And you shall make two frames for corners of the tabernacle in the rear;  they shall be separate beneath, but joined at the top, at the first ring. Thus shall it be with both of them; they shall form the two corners.  And there shall be eight frames, with their bases of silver, sixteen bases; two bases under one frame, and two bases under another frame.

 

a. For the tabernacle, you shall make the boards of acacia wood: Each board was made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold. Each board was 15 feet (5 meters) high and 2 feet 3 inches (about .75 meters) wide.

b. Twenty boards for the south side: The north and south sides of the tabernacle had 20 boards each. The back (westward) side was six boards wide with two corner boards, for a total of eight boards across the back.

i. Scholars debate whether the surrounding boards made a solid wall around the tabernacle or were more of a frame with the fabric coverings providing the wall. The idea of a solid wall seems more likely.

c. Coupled together at the top by one ring: Each board was joined together by a system of tenons (tabs) with rings, through which ran bars. Each board had four rings through which the bars ran, and the corner boards had eight rings, four on two sides to accommodate the corners.

d. So there shall be eight boards with their sockets of silver; sixteen sockets: Each board rested on two sockets of silver, each socket made with one talent of silver. Therefore, each board rested on a base of 264 pounds (120 kilos) of silver.

i. Silver is the metal associated with redemption and payment for sin (Exodus 21:32, Leviticus 5:15, 27:3, 27:6, Numbers 18:16, and Deuteronomy 22:19). Jesus was betrayed for silver (Matthew 26:15). The tabernacle’s foundation was silver – pointing to the redeeming work of Jesus Christ.

ii. Perhaps the dual nature of the foundation had to do with the two sources of revelation – the Old and New Testaments.

iii. The silver of redemption also separated the tabernacle from the dirt of the desert floor. This is an illustration of the truth that Jesus’ redeeming work separates us from the world.

 

From the Back Porch, 

Bob Rice

 

The Tabernacle Part 2

 

Exodus 26:7-13

 

October 3, 2024

 

The Tabernacle Part 2

“You shall also make curtains of goats' hair for a tent over the tabernacle; eleven curtains shall you make.  The length of each curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits. The eleven curtains shall be the same size.  You shall couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and the sixth curtain you shall double over at the front of the tent.  You shall make fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that is outermost in one set, and fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that is outermost in the second set.

“You shall make fifty clasps of bronze, and put the clasps into the loops, and couple the tent together that it may be a single whole.  And the part that remains of the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that remains, shall hang over the back of the tabernacle.  And the extra that remains in the length of the curtains, the cubit on the one side, and the cubit on the other side, shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle, on this side and that side, to cover it.  

a. Make curtains of goats’ hair: The second covering was made of goats’ hair, producing a fabric dark, thick, and coarse – somewhat like felt. This covering was made by joining together five or six strips of fabric, with each strip being 45 feet (15 meters) long and 6 feet (2 meters) wide.

and. According to Kaiser, this goat hair “Came from long-haired goats and most likely was black in color. It was a coarse material that was often used to weave tents. Felt would be a modern equivalent.”

b. Couple the tent together, that it may be one: The set of five strips and the set of six strips were joined together with a series of loops and bronze clasps. The inner covering or curtain used gold clasps, but the second covering used bronze.

c. The remnant that remains… shall hang over the back of the tabernacle: Since the goats’ hair layer was six feet (2 meters) longer than the fine linen layer, the extra length covered over the back portion of the tent.

d. A cubit on one side, and a cubit on the other side: Since the goats’ hair covering was wider by 3 feet (2 meters), this layer completely covered over the fine linen layer.

i. Therefore, the fine linen layer – the “heavenly” set of coverings – was completely obscured and overlapped by the dark covering of goats’ hair. It was not open to observation, even in part. Heaven remained hidden to all except those who entered in through the door of the Tabernacle.  From Enduring Word

The door was the only way to enter the Tabernacle, and in the book of John's gospel the chapter 14 the sixth verse, Jesus tells us about another door.  “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Many a person will stand before Jesus after physical death wanting to enter that door.  The key will not be your acts of righteousness to be seen by man, but your dependence on what Jesus did on the cross.  I do not believe anyone who understands what hell is going to be like would wish it for anyone but the devil and his demons.  These are the words of Jesus: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  On that day, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’  And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Today is the day of Salvation, so by grace and faith, God will give you, the Lord, to forgive your sins and come into your life as Lord and Master.  That is the key to the door.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice