It is strange how we can read the same scriptures time and time again, but suddenly, a new thought will occur that we had never thought before. I knew that the ark, the tabernacle, and the temple, were designed to show us many things about our Lord's church which would come under a totally new covenant.
When Noah was told how to build the ark, God was very clear that it was to be built according to his pattern in measurements and materials. Noah had never seen such a strange thing, and this must have brought much ridicule upon him. Still he did exactly as God told him, though it took him a hundred years to complete the task and to call upon mankind to repent and come into the ark.
Again when Moses oversaw the construction of the tabernacle, he followed in every detail, how it was to be built, and the materials to use, right down to the greatest detail.
Solomon's temple, eventually replaced the temporary tabernacle. It was a permanent building, built to last, but every detail in its construction was given by God. And the plan was followed.
Looking, back, we see that had Noah not followed every detail, the human race, along with all animal life would have been totally obliterated from the earth. We would not be here. God knew what would be needed, and he designed the perfect plan for Noah to use. The purpose of the ark was to save mankind.
The tabernacle was to be a foreshadowing, a picture, and a divine plan for the church. It too, would be for the salvation of all mankind. It too, would be rejected by most people, but that does not change the perfection of the plan.
Both the ark, and the tabernacle, came to be, because of God's great love. God loves those who are faithful to him, and Noah was faithful. If he was not a man of great trust and faith, he would have given up long before the hundred years of preaching, without even one convert, and the hard labor to build something so strange in the eyes of those all about him. Everyone thought it strange when a man built an ocean going yacht in his backyard in Johannesburg, some four hundred miles from the ocean. In the end, he had to have it moved by a huge "eighteen wheeler" If I recall right, it was damaged in transit. That seemed strange, but Noah was building the equivalent of a passenger liner, many miles from water. Both cases were a test of faith, and both men passed with flying colors.
I was reading Hebrews, chapter nine the familiar description of the tabernacle. "For there was a tabernacle made: the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the showbread; which is called the sanctuary. And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid roundabout with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded. And the tables of the covenant; and over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercy seat; of which we cannot now speak particularly." Thus is described the basic layout of the tabernacle, omitting the huge laver, and the altar outside, as well as the incense altar next to the curtain which separated the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies. The full details are given in the original instructions found in Exodus 25 and chapters following.
I knew the symbolic significance of the burnt altar, representing the final blood sacrifice of Christ Jesus, the laver, representing the cleansing of the priests before they entered the holy place to care for the showbread, the candlestick and the prayers at the altar of incense. I recalled the significance of the diving curtain separating the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies which contained the ark, containing the Law of Moses. These things are basic, but what are they a picture of, and who is involved in each area?
The altar outside represents the death of Christ for all mankind. Some will accept, and some will reject. The giant laver represents baptism when we "put on Christ", and become a part of his body, the church, The Holy Place represents the church. Only the priests could enter the Holy Place. But now, Scripture speaks of Christians as being saints, and a Holy priesthood. They have direct access to God in prayer as they did in the tabernacle. They partake of the bread and the wine of the communion, and they are enlightened by the receiving of the word. In the tabernacle only the high priest ever entered the Holy of Holies, representing heaven, the dwelling place of God Himself. Even he was only able to do so once a year, but here is the thought that I realized. The veil was torn by God at the crucifixion of Christ, and Christ precedes us into the very presence of his Father God. We have access as far as the altar of prayer, and we can converse with the Lord there, but we can also see and know what lies ahead, for that is revealed in the last chapter of the book of Revelation. "Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God, But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:" Hebrews 9:2-7.
There are certain things that we dare not change. Cultures differ, different personalities will express themselves differently, but these are of God who is the same yesterday, today and forever. They must never change.
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