The Tabernacle: The Outer Court Hebrews Chapter 9: Part 2

02 December, 2021

Hebrews 9:1-5

Worship in the Earthly Tabernacle

9 Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary 2 A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lamp-stand and the table  with its consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. 3 Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, 4 which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded,and the stone tablets of the covenant. 5 Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.

The full details are written in Revelation. We often think that some of the things God does are unimportant but he always has a specific   intention behind doing everything.

That’s God’s way of doing things!

At that time there were many different types of constructions and God asked them to not follow anything but listen to him and follow his pattern.

If we apply this situation in our lives we must not do anything out of overthinking or worldly thinking because we might not get total satisfaction but instead ask God for a pattern to follow and see how he wants to direct us. So God gave them a pattern which would be easy to dismantle.

In the Bible there were many temples that were built but there is only one temple that remains forever that is the one in heaven.

The temple had a main gate, compound wall that was 180 feet tall, 25 feet wide and once we got in there was the Altar of burnt offerings then there would be a brazen lever and a brazen laver for ritual cleansing and washing.

Then came a tent which was 45 feet by 15 feet.

Once you get into the tent it was divided into two. The first section was called the  Holy place and the second innermost place was the Holy of Holies.

However as soon as you enter the entire compound there is the courtyard or outer courtyard.

People would go to the temple to offer burnt offerings. This happened in the outer courtyard.

Once you pass this and enter into the Holy Place everything there was made out of gold. Inside  was the golden Table of Consecrated Bread, then the golden Lamp-stand, and the golden Altar of Incense.  This place was 30* 15 feet.

When we hear about the things that were kept in the Holy place or the pattern of construction that God had given, it sounds like a simple matter but God always has a divine purpose for everything He does.

The Holy of Holies was like a cube, it’s dimensions were 15*15*15 feet.

In the Holy of Holies, there was only one   thing there, that was the golden Ark or  the Ark of the covenant.

There were 3 things inside the Ark. They were the two stone tablets Moses received, Aaron’s  stick that budded and a golden  jar of manna.

And no one can see these things because they are inside the Ark of covenant.

God instructed Moses to place the tabernacle facing East. So when anyone entered the tabernacle they would have the sun on their back. God did this because in many places including Egypt they worshiped the sun. So God wanted to make sure there wasn’t even a hint of sun worship when His people came to worship Him!

Also in most places there are two doorways,  a way in and a way out but here there is only one entrance and no exit!

John 14:6

6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

One way and one door!

When you enter  you  see the bronze altar of sacrifice! It is made like a box. This is where they offered burnt sacrifices.  However, in today’s context the meaning of it is the sacrifice of Jesus for us, His cross. This is what we see as soon as we enter.

It says we enter God’s courts with thanksgiving,  with praise we enter into the Holy Place, and  we enter the innermost Holy of Holies with worship.

Next in the worship area, worship happens in the innermost area.

So the first thing we see is the sacrifice of Jesus, that is how our life in Christ, our spiritual life must begin.

Then comes  the bronze laver. It is said that it was so reflective that it reflected the face of one who washes his face there. This shows the washing with the word.

Ephesians 5.26

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,

Also the book of James says the Word of God is like a mirror, it gives you clarity about yourself. How long has it been since  you have looked in this mirror?

Now let’s observe the tent. Exodus 25.4-6 This tent is covered with  four layer covers.

They are:-

•Fine Linen.
Once you enter and look around you see this linen inlaid  with intricate embroidery.
This represents the righteousness of Christ.

•Goat’s skin.
This shows that Jesus was used as a scapegoat

•Ram’s skin
This was dyed red. This shows the blood of Jesus Christ.
& finally

• Badger’s skin
The colour is like a dirty brown colour. Like Desert sand.

This represents the reproach of Christ.  This was the outermost layer.

This was how God designed the tabernacle.  Though outwardly it did not look like much, the  inside was richly decorated. Similarly even if our life outwardly seems all broken our inward man should be holy. Our life should reflect the beauty of our inner man.

We will continue tomorrow with the remaining part of the tabernacle.

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Ps. Damien Antony
Born and brought up in a Christian family, Ps. Damien Antony possessed an unquenching quest for truth right from his boyhood days and eventually his relentless search led him to the Bible. He is a Revival Preacher, Bible Teacher, Leadership Trainer, Author and a Life Coach. He moves under the anointing for Prophetic, Healing, Deliverance, Inner Healing and Financial Breakthrough. God has also blessed him with an Apostolic Mandate to take the Universal Body of Christ to the next level of revelation and anointing.