The Tabernacle of Moses

Significance of the Objects

In this study, I’m writing about the articles in the tabernacle in the reverse order of how they are in the Bible. In the Bible, all the articles are described in the order that God sees them. Here, I talk about them in the order of us going to God.

This study only talks about the articles in the tabernacle. The tabernacle itself isn’t mentioned within this study.

In the Courtyard

• The courtyard is the place of salvation and sanctification. This is the first part of our walk with the Lord. Without salvation and sanctification we aren’t able to do anything for or with God.
  

• The first object in the courtyard is the altar of burnt offerings. Altars are the places for everyone to make covenant with God. If we don’t have a covenant with Jesus, it is impossible to come near to God. Every time someone needs to go to God they need to go to the altar. We have to give our lives to God, and allow Him to change us as He needs for His purposes.
  

  • All the offerings to God, whether they are for sins, or fellowship offerings are given here. When we give an offering to God as a burnt offering, it’s impossible to receive any benefit in the natural. The process of burning it, gives it totally to God.
    

  • This altar is made of two materials. The first is wood. In the symbolism of the Old Testament, wood represents man (humans). However, the wood is covered with bronze. Bronze symbolizes suffering. So, this shows that without the suffering of Jesus, it's impossible for us to go to God. We need to be covered with the blood of Jesus before we can be close to God.
    

  • The bronze altar is five cubits long by five cubits wide. The number five stands for grace. Although the altar is a place of suffering, it is also a place of grace. The altar is three cubits high. Three represents the trinity. The two numbers together reminds us that grace is a gift we receive from the trinity of God.
    

  • Jesus went to the altar as the final offering for us. We don’t need the blood of animals on the altar any more. The blood of Jesus is the total offering for us.
    

  • The horns represent strength. The only two objects in the tabernacle that have horns are the two altars. It is through the work of the altar that our strength comes. At this altar, our strength comes from giving our lives as a living sacrifice to God.
    

• The second and only other object in the courtyard is the bronze laver. We come here after the altar. Even though we have been washed in the blood of Jesus, it is possible for us to become dirty again. We need to be washed over and over with the Word of God.
  

  • At the Last Supper, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. During this, Jesus explained to Peter that if we aren’t cleansed, contact with the world makes us dirty. This is why He was washing the feet of His disciples.
    

  • Every time the priests enter into the tabernacle to serve God, they need to wash themselves before they serve Him. We need to wash ourselves as well, every time we go to serve God.
    

  • The laver is filled with water. In the Bible, water is a symbol for the Word of God. We need to be continually washed with the Word of God.
    

  • The blood of Jesus washes us of our sins.

The Holy Place

• The Holy Place is the place of service to God. The three objects in this place symbolize our service to God. Without service, our value to God is limited. The first thing this says about our service is that our service to God is Holy, it isn’t something “normal” (in the manner of the world), it’s holy.
  

• The first article in the holy place is the altar of incense. Incense symbolizes our prayers and worship to God. Prayer and worship are a very important part of our service to God. In the book of Nehemiah, after the repairs to the wall, Nehemiah lists the names of the families that live in Jerusalem. He also wrote the number of people who were in the three divisions of the Levites. There were exactly twice as many people en the division of the singers as there were in the division of those who served in the Temple.
  

  • All of the main articles in the tabernacle had rings for transporting them. This is the only object that has two rings, all the others have four. The reason for this is so that the altar of incense remains vertical all the time. With four rings, when the people of Israel went up or down the hills the altar wouldn’t be vertical. In our lives, there are times when we are ascending to the high places in our walk with the Lord. There are other times when we are going into the depths. However, our prayers and our worship always ascend directly to God’s throne in heaven.
    

  • This altar is the place where the fire of God consumes our prayers and worship. God “eats” our prayers and worship. In this time (the time of the holy fire) these things are no longer ours, but belong to God.
    

  • This altar is one cubit long by one cubit wide, by two cubits high. The number one symbolizes unity, the number two symbolizes fellowship. This altar demonstrates to us that although our God is shown as three different people in His revelation towards us, He is only one God. Our prayers and worship give us the right to the fellowship with this one true God.
    

  • With Jesus, we have the right to prayer and worship God. Without Jesus, the only prayer that God hears is the prayer of repentance and when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
    

  • The horns represent strength. The only two objects that have horns are the two altars. It is through the work of the altar that our strength comes. Here, our strength comes from our prayers and worship to God.
    

• The second thing is the holy place is the golden lampstand. This is a symbol of the light of God in our lives. In the book of Revelations, John wrote that he saw Jesus en the middle of the seven candlesticks that represent the seven Spirits of God.
  

  • This lampstand also symbolizes us as the light of the world. In three of the gospels, Jesus said that we are the light of the world. One part of our service to God is to be a light. What light? The light of Jesus shining in our lives. We need to demonstrate Jesus shining though our actions, love and having virtue that is different than the world. We need to demonstrate to the world the character of Jesus. We need to raise up the glory of God en every place that we are.
    

  • The lampstand is made of gold. In the Bible, gold symbolizes the divinity of God. Without God in the center of our lives, our service to God as a light doesn’t have any value.
    

  • Many people think that this lamp stand is very big. However, the Bible says that the lampstand is made from one talent of gold (about 75 pounds). Since gold is very heavy, it is impossible for this lampstand to be very big. It is probably about one meter tall.
    

  • There are seven lamps on the lampstand. The number seven symbolizes perfection or completion. In this object, the number seven is saying that our service towards God needs to be complete. It isn’t good to complete only one part of our service, or one part of the vision that God gives us. Obeying God in part is sin, God demands us to obey Him totally, with every part of our lives.
    

  • Jesus came in the world for the purpose of providing a light to us. Without this light, it is impossible for us to discover the love of God.
    

• The last article in the holy place is the table of shewbread. This is the place of fellowship with God. In this place, we renew our covenant with God.
  

  • This table holds the bread of God. Another name for this bread is “the bread of the presence.” For two thousand years, this table held the last supper of our Lord (bread and wine), waiting for Jesus to come and celebrate this covenant meal with His disciples.
    

  • Every day, the bread is replaced with new bread. This is a symbol that the things of God never become old. Every day, God has new revelations for us. Every day, the mercy of God is new for us. Every day, the love of God is new for us. Every day, God has a desire to renew His covenant with us.
    

  • This table is one cubit wide, two cubits long, and one and a half cubits high. One symbolizes unity, two fellowship. But, what dies one and a half symbolize? There are no places where parts of numbers have meanings. However, one and a half is the same as three halves. The number three symbolizes the trinity. So, this table reminds us that fellowship with Jesus is the same as fellowship with the trinity. It is impossible to separate Jesus from the other parts of the godhead.

The Holy of Holies

• The holy of holies is the place of the presence of God. It is only when we are saved and sanctified and serving Him that it is possible for us to enter into the presence of God. We need every action that is associated with every object in our lives to prepare us to enter into the presence of the Lord.
  

• There is only one thing in the holy of holies, the ark of the covenant. This is a wooden box covered with gold. Or, symbolically it is a man covered with God. It is impossible for us to enter into the presence of God without the presence of God without the covering and holiness of God in our lives. We receive this through Jesus.
  

  • In the ark there are three objects:
    

    • The tablets of the law of God. In Hebrew the word for law is “torah.” This symbolizes the holiness of God. We need to remain in obedience to Him.

    • A jar of maana. This symbolizes the provision of God.

    • Aaron’s rod. This represents the power and anointing of God.
      

  • Over the ark is the mercy seat, made of pure gold. On both ends are angels, which are formed as part of the seat. This is the throne of God. In the Old Testament, the fire of God inhabited this place.
    

  • There are four rings on the feet of the ark for the poles the Levites used to carry the ark. This is the only article in the tabernacle where the Bible says the rings are at the bottom of the article. For all the others, the rings are near the top. When the Levites carry the ark, the objects within it are at the height of their heads. That’s because it is possible for us to understand the law or even the provision and anointing of God. However, the mercy of God is above our understanding.
    

  • The ark is two and a half cubits long, one and a half cubits wide, and one and a half cubits high. The number five (five halves = two and a half) represent grace; the number three (three halves = one and a half) represents the trinity. The whole ark represents the grace that the trinity of God has for us.

When we look at all the articles in the tabernacle together they have meaning for our lives every day. These things aren’t just a symbol for the Jews, but for us as well.