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Pastor: We are here to worship! To give praise and honor and glory to whom?

People: “To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father – to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.”

God’s Tent: the ministries of Jesus and His people

Part 4 – into the Holy Place and the Table of Presence

“Tabernacle” (means “dwelling) AKA Tent of the Testimony/the LORD/Meeting.  It was a portable sanctuary/ meeting place for God and His people. It was used from shortly after the Exodus until the Temple’s construction, approximately 400 years. The Tabernacle was replaced by the similar but larger and more permanent Temple.

Three areas:      

1.courtyard  150’ x 75’

(Fenced off with 7 ½’ high white sheets)

One door on the East end

Altar of Burnt Offering (bronze)

Water Basin/Laver

2.Holy place   (2/3)   30’ x 15’

Table of Presence/Showbread

Lampstand

Altar of Incense (gold)

 (Separated from Most Holy Place by the veil)

            Ark of the Covenant, and inside the Ark are:

                                                                         Two foundational Scripture truths:

Hebrews 8:5

They (the Jewish priests) serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” (Exodus 25:40)

 John 1:14

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling (tabernacled) among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Three lessons (x,y,z) to learn each week:

The Table of Presence details:

• This table was gold covered inside the Tabernacle proper (vs. the courtyard); on the right (north side)
• The first area within the Tabernacle proper is “the Holy Place” (the second is “the Most Holy Place”)
• Only priests were allowed in the Holy Place to serve at the Table, the Lampstand, the Altar of Incense
• The furniture outside (the altar of burnt offering and water basin) were bronze; now everything is gold
• There were 12 loaves of bread on this table representing the 12 tribes (all of the people) of Israel
• These loaves were always present. They were replaced each Sabbath and eaten by the priests
• Along with the bread, there were utensils on this table for the drink offering as well – the similarities to the Sacrament of Holy Communion are obvious and have been noted throughout Church history
• The Table of Presence represented (at least) God’s provision as well as God’s people in His presence

^{John 6:27} Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”²⁸ Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”²⁹ Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”³⁰ So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? ³¹ Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”³² Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. ³³ For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” ³⁴ “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”³⁵ Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

Three lessons (x,y,z) to learn each week:

x.  What does this element of the Tabernacle, the Table of Presence, reveal about the ministry of Jesus?

• Jesus is the bread of life through whom the Father is always present and faithfully provides

 y.  In light of this insight into Jesus’ ministry, how should I live?

“²⁷Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”²⁸ Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”²⁹ Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

• Do not work for that which will not truly satisfy; rather trust (believe in) Jesus, God’s gift of true life.

z.   How might this element of the Tabernacle and of Jesus’ ministry inform and influence our worship?

⁵³ Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. ⁵⁴ Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. ⁵⁵ For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. ⁵⁶ Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. 

• Holy Communion is not magic but rather it is a God-appointed means (sacrament) through which we stay intimately connected to Jesus by celebrating salvation, confessing sin, and committing to service

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