The Invitation/ Prepared/ Holy Spirit as Personal Guide

The Trinity Revealed in the Tabernacle

Ex 25-26 December 1, 1997

Throughout the Old Testament period the nation Israel was a living reminder of and witness to the reality of “the One True God”. The Almighty created this people and raised them up to be a shining light to the rest of the world. All the other nations were steeped in the darkness of polytheism, the worship of many gods. The sons of Jacob, descendants of Abraham the father of all true believers – they alone, amid the rising and falling dynasties, the extensive empires, the diverse and fascinating cultures, the impressive shrines and temples erected to a pantheon of deities – the Jews alone stood firm on the Biblical revelation that “the Lord our God is one Lord”. Deut. 6:4

For all their intellectual insight and practical knowledge the ancient peoples, including the sophisticated Greeks and Romans of classical fame, never grasped this essential characteristic of God’s unity. The Chosen People were singled out to treasure, guard and witness to three fundamental aspects of true religion: the unity of God, the Messianic hope and the revelation in the Holy Scriptures. But in their attempts to stand for monotheism, the worship of One God, against the universal acceptance of many gods, the Jews themselves erred and were blinded to God’s full revelation of His nature and character. God progressively unfolded the truth about His nature through the names He called Himself. Even in the Old Testament there are a number of indications of God’s triune personality – Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Among these important Old Testament indicators are Jacob’s three-fold reference in Genesis 48:14-16; the many mentions of “the Angel of the Lord”; the personification of “Wisdom” in Proverbs; as well as the continuing allusion to that Personality known as the “Spirit of God (or of the Lord”).

The tabernacle’s overall shape was in the form of a large rectangle. It was a temporary and portable dwelling place for God. Later, the two temples that were built followed the same basic pattern. These were meant to be permanent structures and were more elaborate. We know the Bible gives exact dimensions for these buildings and precise instructions for the quality and placement of their furnishings. Here I’m mainly concerned with their general design, function and spiritual application, especially as they connect with the wonderful life-giving work of the Holy Trinity.

The large rectangular shape of the entire tabernacle was bordered by an enclosure that had a curtained opening only at one end, the eastern entrance. This doorway opened onto a rectangular courtyard in which was placed the ominous bronze altar of sacrifice and the large brazen laver or wash basin. Behind these two objects stood the roofed Tent of Meeting which contained two rooms. The first room, rectangular in shape, was called the Holy Place. The furnishings of the Holy Place were the seven-branched golden candlestick, the gold-plated table containing the twelve loaves of shewbread and the golden altar of incense. The Holy of Holies was the innermost room, perfectly square in shape, and held the ark of the covenant with its mercy seat guarded by two cherubim. Here the very presence of God resided. Originally the box part of the ark contained three very important items: the tables of the Law, a jar of manna and the rod of Aaron that budded. Note that in each of the three separate areas of the tabernacle – the courtyard, the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies – that there are three prominent objects or furnishings in each place. In the Courtyard there is the entrance, the altar of sacrifice and the bronze laver. In the Holy Place: the golden candlestick, the table of shewbread and the golden altar of incense. In the Holy of Holies is one object, the ark of the covenant. It held three items: the tables, the manna and the rod.

Now that we’ve seen the overall pattern and the particular furniture of the tabernacle, let’s look at its spiritual function and the symbolic connection to the acts and operations of each Person of the Blessed Trinity – the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.

The Old Testament worshiper was drawn from the outside world through the opening into the courtyard by the demands of the Law. Periodically he was required to bring an offering to the altar of sacrifice for ritual cleansing. If his oblation was an animal or bird, the worshiper brought it to the altar, killed it and then handed it over to the priests. Under the Old Covenant that was as close as the believer got to the presence of God unless God visited him in some way. Only the Levites and priests could handle the holy things. So even though the worshiper understood that the priests took care of the sacrifices, washed themselves at the laver, lit the golden candlestick, consumed and replaced the loaves of shewbread and offered incense at the golden altar, the ordinary person could take no personal part in these priestly functions. Of course the Holy of Holies was strictly out of bounds to all, except the High Priest alone, who was permitted to enter once a year on the Day of Atonement to sprinkle blood on the mercy seat.

The Courtyard
The tabernacle and its appurtenances are now things of the distant past, of a different dispensation, of a religion now fully realized in spiritual relationships. But the symbolism of the tabernacle and the instruments of grace it stood for still endure. Like the worshiper of old, the sincere seeker after Truth is drawn from the world by the Father into the Entrance of the arena of salvation. The altar of sacrifice is now replaced and fulfilled by the Cross of Calvary and its atoning blood. There the seeker becomes a believer, meets the Lord Jesus as his personal Savior and is washed in the Blood of the Lamb. Then, as a priest of the living God, he uses the laver under the guidance of the Holy Ghost to remove those stains and defilements – the dust accrued by concessions to the world, the flesh and the devil. The operation of the Trinity is so apparent. The Father draws him to Jesus. The Lord Jesus, the Sacrifice who is both Victim and Victor, meets him at the altar of sacrifice, the Cross. The Holy Ghost leads him to the laver to confirm salvation and carry on the redeeming work of sanctification.

The Holy Place
In the area of the Holy Place this blessed program continues but the order of influence is reversed. The only light in this enclosure comes from the seven-branched candlestick symbolic of the Holy Ghost. The one source of nourishment there are the twelve loaves of shewbread containing the fragrance and flavor of the One who calls Himself “the Bread of Life”, even Jesus. And it is the Father who receives our prayers as we stand at the golden altar wafting heavenward the petitions and intercessions that penetrate the unveiled Presence. “Seeing that we have a great high priest that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God… let us therefore come boldly into the throne of grace.” Heb. 4:14,16

The Holy Of Holies
Yea, we are not only permitted but we are urged to enter the very Holy of Holies. There we find the Father, represented by the tables of the Law; the Son, signified by the manna from heaven; and the Holy Ghost, typified by the rod of Aaron. The first two objects and their Representatives are patently clear. The third, Aaron’s rod and its connection to the Holy Ghost, merits a brief explanation.

According to Exodus and Numbers the rod of Aaron was associated with two differing miracles. It was used by Moses to discredit one of the many hideous gods of Egypt, the serpent. Under God’s power and direction this rod turned into a serpent that devoured the reptiles spawned by the magicians. Later, in Numbers, the reaction of the whole wilderness company against the just punishment God inflicted on Korah and his rebellious crew further challenged the divine authority that resided in Moses and Aaron alone. The people were instructed to place twelve rods, each engraved with the name of a tribe, in the presence of the Lord. Aaron’s name was inscribed on the rod reserved for the tribe of Levi. Overnight it was Aaron’s rod alone that budded with almond blossoms. This miracle confirmed God’s approval of His appointed leaders. How representative are these two miracles of the diverse manifestations of the Spirit: convicting of sin, on the one hand; and supplying effective anointing and sure direction through God-gifted leaders, on the other.

Many years ago I drew a blueprint of the tabernacle design. In its appropriate area I marked a place for each object and added Scripture references that pertained to the individual pieces of furniture. I encourage the reader to make a similar investigation for himself. I’ll cite just a few appropriate Scriptures to give you an idea of how I went about it. Maybe the ones you select will be even more fitting. As an overall theme in keeping with the general design I chose Psalm 27:4 “One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple (tabernacle)”. At the entrance to the tabernacle I applied Leviticus 26:11-12: “And I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you. And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.” I closed my diagram with a depiction of the ark of the covenant and its three symbolic objects. Beside it I wrote John 16:8 “And when he is come (the Holy Ghost), he will reprove the world of sin – the convicting power of the Law represented by the tablets of stone. Of righteousness – the jar of manna symbolizing Christ and His righteousness. And of judgment” – Aaron’s rod which was used to bring judgment against rebellion and sin.

From my limited study of the tabernacle I saw how efficiently it was constructed and how relatively easy it was to carry about and re-assemble. God designed it to be simple in construction, symbolic in shape and portable in practice. I hope this explanation of the tabernacle will encourage the believer to carry in his innermost heart the Blessed One it so beautifully and clearly represents