The Fervent Fellowship with God — An Overview of the Tabernacle – Part 4

June 20, 2020
Model of inside the Tabernacle in the Wilderness
Model of inside the Tabernacle in the Wilderness, past the second veil - the entrance to the Holy Place.

Every morning and evening, the High Priest would enter through the second veil which was the entrance to the Holy Place. Each time he had to bring fresh hot coals from the sacrificial altar along with a special mix of incense for the golden altar, and he had to refill the crushed, pure oil in the seven lamps of the Menorah and trim the wicks so it would keep burning. Ex.30:6-8; Lev.24:1-4.

The priests, on behalf of the children of Israel, had to daily offer a lamb morning and evening, with a meal offering and a drink offering. Exodus 29:38-42. 

When the priests cleaned out the hot coals and added more wood to keep the fire burning and perform the mandatory morning and evening sacrifices, some of these coals would have been taken to the incense altar.

On Shabbat there were extra duties; two more lambs to be sacrificed, and fresh unleavened bread to be brought to the table and the old bread eaten by the priests.

‘Then on the Sabbath day two male lambs one year old without blemish, and two-tenths [of an ephah] of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering, and its drink offering.  This is the burnt offering of every Sabbath, in addition to the continual burnt offering and its drink offering.’ Numbers 28:9-10.

“Then you shall take fine flour and bake twelve cakes (bread of the Presence, showbread) with it; two-tenths of an ephah shall be in each cake (loaf). You shall set the bread of the Presence (showbread) in two rows, six in a row, on the pure gold table before the LORD. You shall put pure frankincense [in two censers, one] beside each row, so that it may be with the bread as a memorial portion, an offering by fire to the LORD. Every Sabbath day Aaron shall arrange the showbread before the LORD continually; it is an everlasting covenant for the Israelites. The bread of the Presence shall be for Aaron and his sons, and they shall eat it in a sacred place, for it is for Aaron a most holy portion of the offerings by fire to the LORD, his portion forever.” Lev.24:5-9.

The table with the Bread of Presence continually before the Lord represents our covenant meal with the Lord. Yeshua is the Bread of Life. 

Jesus replied to them, “I am the Bread of Life. The one who comes to Me will never be hungry, and the one who believes in Me [as Savior] will never be thirsty [for that one will be sustained spiritually]”. John 6:35. “I am the Living Bread that came down out of heaven. If anyone eats of this Bread [believes in Me, accepts Me as Savior], he will live forever. And the Bread that I will give for the life of the world is My flesh (body).” John 6:51. See also John 6:33&48.

The Menorah, or Lampstand, represents Yeshua is the light of the world, and it represents the Holy Spirit.

Once more Jesus addressed the crowd. He said, “I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will not walk in the darkness but will have the Light of life.” John 8:12. “I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes and trusts in Me [as Savior—all those who anchor their hope in Me and rely on the truth of My message] will not continue to live in darkness.” John 12:46.

The representation of the Holy Spirit is in the seven branches of the menorah and in the oil.

“Then a Shoot (the Messiah) will spring from the stock of Jesse [David’s father], And a Branch from his roots will bear fruit. And the Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him—The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and strength, The Spirit of knowledge and of the [reverential and obedient] fear of the LORD.” Is.11:1-2.

“These are the words of Him who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars.” Rev.3:1.

‘But my horn [my emblem of strength and power] You have exalted like that of a wild ox; I am anointed with fresh oil [for Your service].’ Ps.92:10.

‘how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with great power; and He went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him.’ Acts 10:38.

Now, in Yeshua, we have the Holy Spirit residing in us to remind and teach us. ’But the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you.’ John 14:26.

The Altar of incense represents Yeshua interceding for us.

‘…but, on the other hand, Jesus holds His priesthood permanently and without change, because He lives on forever. Therefore, He is able also to save forever (completely, perfectly, for eternity) those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede and intervene on their behalf [with God].’ Heb.7:24-25.

It also represents our prayer, praise, and worship. In many of the Psalms this is the theme.

‘Through Him, therefore, let us at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name.’ Heb.13:15.

We have fellowship with God through our Lord Yeshua HaMashiach. 

‘Even so, consider yourselves to be dead to sin [and your relationship to it broken], but alive to God [in unbroken fellowship with Him] in Christ Jesus.’ Rom.6:11. ‘but if we [really] walk in the Light [that is, live each and every day in conformity with the precepts of God], as He Himself is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another [He with us, and we with Him], and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin [by erasing the stain of sin, keeping us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations].’ 1 John 1:7.

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Alison Marshall

Alison Marshall is a New Zealand born believer in Jesus and has been a Tour Guide for the Tabernacle in the Wilderness since 1999 at Timna Park in Israel.

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