The Law of Moses: Feb 18, 2015 Moses on Mount Sinai, Tabernacle Items

Lesson 13 Wednesday The Law of Moses: Feb 18, 2015 Moses on Mount Sinai, Tabernacle Items

This lesson requires a lot of reading so we will keep the questions simple!

Our goal for this lesson is to be able to name the items, location and use of the items in the Tabernacle.

1. Ex. 24:1-15, Verse 12 tells us the reason for this trip up the mountain. What was the reason and what was important about what Moses had received?

Ex. 24:16-18 tells us again about the inability to see God and we see that Moses was with God for Forty days and Forty nights.

Ex. 25:1-31:18 contains laws on the means of worship. Our focus today is on tabernacle items.

Ex. 25:1-9 God tells Moses the materials he wants for the temple items. You should keep in mind that the offering is “for me” that is, for God, and not merely for a thing (the Tabernacle). The Tabernacle was symbolically God’s house, intrinsically His property, and not merely a place He and the Israelites could use at their convenience.

2. One verse in Ex. 25:1-9 should stand out to you. Which verse is it and why should it stand out? (Hint: Read 2 Cor 9:7)

Ex. 25:10-22 Contain the laws on construction and use of the ark. The size of the ark is given, how it is to be built, the materials used and how it was to be adorned. The ark symbolized God’s presence, His purity, His superiority and His covenant blessing. The Ten Commandments written by God were to be placed in the ark. Anything that damaged or even threatened to damage the ark, however minutely, was in itself a symbolic threat to these things. The Israelites were to respect the symbols of the realities as a way of showing respect for the realities themselves.

3. A comparative New Covenant requirement of respect in connection with a symbol of a reality applies in the case of______(Hint: 1 Cor 11:20-34)

Ex. 25:23-30 Contain the laws on construction and us of the Table of Shewbread. Again, God gives very specific instruction on the construction of the Table. Another name for Shewbread is “Bread of the Presence.” The bread was supposed to always be present for God. The bread even traveled with the table when the Israelites were in transit from place to place (Num 4:7-8) Levitcus 24:5-9 tells us how the bread was made, how much bread, and how it would be placed on the table. 4. Who was to eat the Shewbread?

Ex. 25:31-40 contains the laws on construction and use of the lamp stand (Golden Candlestick). God’s house needed light since God lived there symbolically and allowed humans to minister to Him there. The lamp stand resembeled a tree but there is a controversy about the type of tree. The strongest argument seems to be in favor of it looking more like an olive tree. What is important is these lamp stands reminded the people that God lived in the Tabernacle symbolically and it was important to know that He was there. He was always present. 5. How many lamp stands were there?

Ex. 26:1-37 contains the laws of construction and use of the Tabernacle. The tabernacle was a rectangular tent in which God lived symbolically in the presence of His people. After being built, it was set up in the middle of the entire Israelite encampment so that all the individual small, simple Israelite tents surrounded the one big tent of God in concentric circles. When He led them in traveling or in going to war He went out in front of them in the form of His angel or the pillar of cloud/fire. But when they camped His home was in their very midst and they gathered their home around His.

6. What was the size of the Tabernacle and how was it sectioned off?

Ex.27 9-19 contains the law of construction and use of the Courtyard. People who live in tents do not cook inside but outside, and typically eat their meals outside as well. Since the Tabernacle was a tent, a portable home for God, it is only logical that He would expect His invited guests to join Him at but not in his tent home. To make a special area for worship, God commanded that His Tabernacle have a courtyard within which worship would take place. The area outside the courtyard would simply constitute normal space like any other in the Israelite encampment, but inside would be Holy ground.

Ex. 27:1-8 contains the laws on construction and use of the main alter. In various ways during Old Covenant times, God taught His people the basic principle of salvation from sin: something that God considers a substitute must die in my place so that I may live. Alter sacrifice was the primary way for His substitution to happen. In preparation for Christ’s death on the cross, which was the ultimate sacrifice to which all others pointed, animal sacrifice was required of all Israelites. By killing an animal, then cooking it on that grill in God’s presence (in front of the entrance to the Tabernacle) then eating in God’s presence (symbolically sharing the meal with Him) the Israelite worshiper learned over and over again the concept of substitution atonement and covenant renewal.

7. What was the purpose of the courtyard?

8. In Exodus 27:20-21 contains the laws of keeping the lamps lit. What were these laws?

9. In Exodus 30:1-10 we see the laws on construction and use of the incense alter. How often did Aaron burn incense on the alter?

Ex. 30:17-21 contains the laws on construction of the Washing Basin which was used for washing both hands and feet. Ex. 30:22-33 contains the law on formulation and use of anointing oil. This passage gives the mix to make the oil and tells us how is is to be used. It was to be used on the items in the temple and the people who were allowed to enter the Tabernacle. Ex.30:34-38 contains the laws of formulation and use of incense. This incense was to be used by the people and was to be put on before the testimony in the Tabernacle of the congregation. It was to be most holy. It was not to be copied for daily wearing. Ex. 31:1-11 contains commandments on the appointment of workmen to do all the work mentioned in this lesson.

10. What two men were appointed to be in charge of making all the items for the Tabernacle?