Exodus 40:17

THE TENT OF MEETING

‘The Tabernacle was reared up.’

Exodus 40:17

I. There was no such thing as approaching the ‘the tent of meeting’ in the wilderness except by passing by an altar baptised in blood.—So for humanity to-day there is no successful approach to God possible save by that way of access opened for sinners by the precious sacrifice of Christ. The old-time Jew passing by the altar came to the laver, which indicated symbolically that a man when forgiven must proceed to be freed from sin, and that justification logically implies and demands sanctification.

II. Then, inside the Holy Place, stood the altar of incense, whose aromatic fumes ascended by the veil of testimony and even entered the Holy of Holies, thus fittingly symbolising prayer, which is the Christian’s vital breath and his always acceptable offering to God. Yet the incense required to be kindled with a coal from the altar of burnt-offering, which aptly teaches that prayer is acceptable only when it is based upon the sacrifice of Christ and offered in His name.

III. Opposite the incense altar stood the lampstand of beaten gold with its seven branches, typifying the perfect illumination afforded by the Holy Spirit, the light of the church, which in turn is the great light of the world. Only pure olive oil was used for the lamp-stand, only the pure oil of Christian grace and zeal enlightens humanity.

IV. Then there was the table of ‘presence-bread,’ so called because the shew bread was placed directly before the veil. This bread, together with the bowls of wine which it seems were placed in position near it, symbolised communion, man’s dependence upon God for daily food, and the giving of the ‘living bread’ from Heaven which is a necessity for the nourishment of the spiritual life.

V. The sanctuary veil sharply distinguished between the place where men might come and the inner shrine where God would dwell alone.—Beyond the veil, in a little room on which the Jew looked with unutterable awe, was situated the ark of testimony, a chest of acacia wood, containing the stone records of the Sinaitic law. The solid gold slab covering the ark was surmounted with cherubic figures with over-arching wings. Within the chest were the treasured tokens of the Law, above it hovered the ineffable glory associated with the ‘mercy seat’ of golden promise. So far, in this description, we have followed the order which the Jew would take in thought, passing from without inward, but the logical order is that of the text, which begins with God, and works outward from the ark of the testimony to the altar of burnt-offering, thus teaching that salvation proceeds from God as its originating source.

Even the tabernacle required to be anointed with consecrating oil, since everything must be hallowed that bears the name of God, and for a like reason Aaron and his sons were washed with water at the door of the tabernacle. Priests must be pure. Sanctity becomes God’s sanctuary. The Lord must be worshipped in ‘the beauty of holiness.’

Illustration

(1) ‘There is a beautiful story told of the plan by which Strasburg Cathedral was built. The architect, Erwin von Steinbach, who was given the commission to build it, was greatly troubled lest he should not get his plan sufficiently noble. He had a daughter named Sabine, who was skilful in drawing, and one night, after they had wept together over the plans, she said to her father, “Don’t despair; God will help us.” After she fell asleep she dreamt that an angel came, and, when she had told her story, said, “You shall make the plan for the minster.” The angel and Sabine then set to work, and soon the plan was done. When she awoke there was a paper before her covered with drawing. Her father exclaimed, “Child, it was no dream. The angel really visited you, bringing the inspiration from heaven to help us.” He built the cathedral after the plan, and it was so beautiful that the people believed the story.’

(2) ‘God’s Tabernacle is set up as He commands. There is a tent, pitched among the tribes, which is His special dwelling. A prophecy the tent was of the Incarnation, when in Jesus Christ God lived among men: I remember how He spake of the Temple of His body. Yes, but a prophecy too of what I should be. In me, in my unworthy heart and life, the most high God may have His home. And oh, that it may be so!

Then, when the holy tent has been set up, it is sanctified; it is consecrated; with the anointing oil all its contents and furnishings are sprinkled. And should there not be something similar in my spiritual history? I ought to write Holiness to the Lord over all that I am and have.’