Exodus Chapter 26

Exodus 26:1 Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work shalt thou make them.

God created light and beautiful colors. He never meant for us to live in a drab, dull colorless world. The earth He created is full of color. There are colors in heaven. He created beautiful things so we must never assume holiness means dull or ugly. He is not against art as we see that cherubim mentioned as being part of the decoration. He does forbid the worship of any images or bowing down to them.

All things were done as an exact pattern that God gave Moses. There is probably meaning to every symbol, color and plan of this tabernacle.

Curtains where chosen to provide covering for the ark and the holy of holies. Only those persons chosen by God could enter into these holy places and they had to go through ceremonial cleansing. Because God is so holy, the natural man could not enter into His presence at that time.

After Jesus came the way was made to bring us into the presence of God through the shed blood of Jesus covering the sins of the person who believes in and receives Jesus into their lives. When Jesus died on the cross the veil of the temple was split telling us that the way into the holiness of God was made.

It only counts for those that believe in Jesus to the point of being willing to turn from sin. Jesus never saves mankind as a whole without the individual receiving and believing in Him. Babies of course that have not sinned and died before the age of accountability would not be lost. Faith in Jesus is not true faith if we claim we believe but still want to live our own way and not accept God's way.

Exodus 26:2 The length of one curtain shall be eight and twenty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and every one of the curtains shall have one measure.

Each curtain was 8 ft 4 in by 58 ft 4 in.

Exodus 26:3 The five curtains shall be coupled together one to another; and other five curtains shall be coupled one to another.
4 And thou shalt make loops of blue upon the edge of the one curtain from the selvage in the coupling; and likewise shalt thou make in the uttermost edge of another curtain, in the coupling of the second.
5 Fifty loops shalt thou make in the one curtain, and fifty loops shalt thou make in the edge of the curtain that is in the coupling of the second; that the loops may take hold one of another.

They didn't make a building in the wilderness because their stay in the wilderness was only temporary. They lived in movable tents. Their stay was long enough though that they needed a tabernacle. A place of worship.

Exodus 26:6 And thou shalt make fifty tacks of gold, and couple the curtains together with the tacks: and it shall be one tabernacle.
7 And thou shalt make curtains of goats' hair to be a covering upon the tabernacle: eleven curtains shalt thou make.
8 The length of one curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and the eleven curtains shall be all of one measure.
9 And thou shalt couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and shalt double the sixth curtain in the forefront of the tabernacle.
10 And thou shalt make fifty loops on the edge of the one curtain that is outermost in the coupling, and fifty loops in the edge of the curtain which coupleth the second.
11 And thou shalt make fifty tacks of brass, and put the tacks into the loops, and couple the tent together, that it may be one.
12 And the remnant that remaineth of the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that remaineth, shall hang over the backside of the tabernacle.
13 And a cubit on the one side, and a cubit on the other side of that which remaineth in the length of the curtains of the tent, it shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle on this side and on that side, to cover it.
14 And thou shalt make a covering for the tent of rams' skins dyed red, and a covering above of badgers' skins.
15 And thou shalt make boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood standing up.
16 Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and a cubit and a half shall be the breadth of one board.
17 Two tenons shall there be in one board, set in order one against another: thus shalt thou make for all the boards of the tabernacle.
18 And thou shalt make the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards on the south side southward.
19 And thou shalt make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for his two tenons, and two sockets under another board for his two tenons.
20 And for the second side of the tabernacle on the north side there shall be twenty boards:
21 And their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
22 And for the sides of the tabernacle westward thou shalt make six boards.
23 And two boards shalt thou make for the corners of the tabernacle in the two sides.
24 And they shall be coupled together beneath, and they shall be coupled together above the head of it unto one ring: thus shall it be for them both; they shall be for the two corners.
25 And they shall be eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
26 And thou shalt make bars of shittim wood; five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,
27 And five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the side of the tabernacle, for the two sides westward.
28 And the middle bar in the midst of the boards shall reach from end to end.
29 And thou shalt overlay the boards with gold, and make their rings of gold for places for the bars: and thou shalt overlay the bars with gold.
30 And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according to the fashion thereof which was showed thee in the mount.
31 And thou shalt make a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made:
32 And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver.
33 And thou shalt hang up the veil under the tacks, that thou mayest bring in thither within the veil the ark of the testimony: and the veil shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.
34 And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.
35 And thou shalt set the table without the veil, and the candlestick over against the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south: and thou shalt put the table on the north side.
36 And thou shalt make a hanging for the door of the tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework.
37 And thou shalt make for the hanging five pillars of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, and their hooks shall be of gold: and thou shalt cast five sockets of brass for them.

We see from this study that the tabernacle was not any ordinary tent but was prepared as the place where God was to dwell among them. It was not thrown up without order and purpose but all things were instructed by God to perfection. All the spoils of the Egyptians and goods of the people were given willingly as materials to construct this dwelling.

Since the beginning of creation God has wanted to dwell among us but our sins have kept that from happening. The study of the bible as a whole reveals to us God's plan for man ending with the study of Revelation when the New Jerusalem comes down from heaven and God finally is able to dwell with His creation.

This tabernacle was a witness of God's presence among them. It was proof that was something they could see. The books of Hebrews tells us of a permanent way.

Hebrews 9:1 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.
2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.
3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;
4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.
6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.
7 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:
8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:
9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

The perfect way of faith that would reach all of mankind was not yet made until the 1st coming of Jesus the Christ or Messiah. They were given a tabernacle to remind them of the presence of God among them. Now we can all have the presence of God within us which is His Holy Spirit given to those that come through faith in Jesus Christ.

God's instructions reminds me of the strait and narrow way which leads to everlasting life. There is only one way to God and that is through Jesus. All these precise instructions show us how holy God is and that we cannot take Him lightly. -DC

Exodus 27

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