Exodus 25
The Tabernacle THE FIRST notice of the tabernacle is in Exodus 25. Here we learn that the materials of which the tabernacle and its furniture were made were from the offerings of the people — from “every man that gave willingly with his heart.” Thus at the very outset we are reminded of One who not only gave of His substance “willingly with His heart,” but gave Himself and that with all His heart. Nor did He only give Himself all through life, but gave Himself even unto death! — and that not a coon death, but the most shameful death of the cross!
What a whole-hearted gift! Yes, every step of His from first to last, every word, every thought, every act, every impulse, everything in and of and about Him — His whole self was one great free, whole-hearted, precious gift to God His Father — right down to death, even the death of the cross.
Then again not only does the matter of giving remind us of the Lord Jesus, but as we shall see more fully as we go on, the things given also speak of Him, as well as all that was Afterward made out of them. But bore entering upon this, the most important part of the subject, we must try to give a general idea of what the tabernacle was like.
A framework of gold-covered boards was first set up, each board standing on end in two sockets of silver, and the whole united by gold-covered bars passing through golden rings in the boards. Over this frame work four sets of coverings were thrown, and so a kind of four-cornered tent was made, flat at the top and sides, about 54 feet long, 16 feet wide, and 18 feet high, of a form which is called oblong rectangular This sanctuary was closed in front b: a curtain, and divided within by veil into two parts or rooms, the first of which from the entrance was called the Holy Place, and the inner room the Most Holy.
Around the tabernacle a space of open ground of the same oblong form was fenced off by curtains, and caller the Court of the Tabernacle, being about 175 feet in length, and 87 ½ feet in width. This court was also closed by a curtain, and within stood first the Brazen Altar of Burnt Offering, and then the Laver containing water for the priests to wash their hands and feet in whenever they approached the tabernacle.
Outside the court were the tent of the priests and Levites, and then at a distance from these the tents of the people of Israel, arranged in order according to their tribes. This was the camp.
ML-04/26/1970