Wenstrom Bible Ministries Marion, Iowa Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom wenstrom

1. Wenstrom Bible MinistriesMarion, IowaPastor-Teacher Bill Wenstromwww.wenstrom.org

2. Sunday April 8, 2012Journey Through The Bible Series: Exodus 26:1-14-The Design Of The Inner And Protective Curtains And Weather Coverings Of The TabernacleLesson # 30

3. Please turn in your Bibles to Exodus 26:1.

4. Exodus chapter 25 focused upon the furniture in tabernacle whereas chapter 26 focuses upon the tabernacle itself, which symbolized God’s dwelling among His people (25:8; 29:45).

5. The tabernacle protected four pieces of furniture, namely the Ark of the Covenant, table of showbread and the lampstand as well as the altar of incense described in Exodus 30:1-10.

6. There were many synonyms for the Tabernacle in the Scriptures: (1) “Sanctuary” (Exodus 25:8; 2 Chronicles 20:8). (2) “Tent of Meeting” (Exodus 27:21). (3) “Tabernacle of Testimony” (Exodus 38:21). (4) “Tent of Testimony” (2 Chronicles 24:6). (5) “Temple of the Lord” (1 Samuel 1:9; 3:3).

7. (6) “House of the Lord” (Joshua 6:24). (7) “Holy Temple” (Psalm 79:1). (8) “Holy House” (1 Chronicles 29:3). (9) “House of God” (1 Chronicles 29:3). (10) “House of the Lord” (2 Chronicles 23:5, 12; Jeremiah 28:5). (11) “Father’s House” (John 2:16). (12) “House of the God of Jacob” (Isaiah 2:3).

8. (13) “Glorious House” (Isaiah 60:7). (14) “House of Sacrifice” (2 Chronicles 7:12). (15) “House of Prayer” (Isaiah. 56:7; Matt. 21:13). (16) “House of their Sanctuary” (2 Chronicles 36:17). (17) “Holy and Beautiful House” (Isaiah 64:11). (18) “Holy Mount” (Isaiah 27:13). (19) “Mountain of the Lord’s House” (Isaiah 2:2). (20) “Palace” (1 Chronicles 29:1, 19). (21) “Zion” (Psalm 20:2, 48:12).

9. In the book of Exodus, Moses uses four different terms to describe the tabernacle, which emphasize one of its purposes: (1) miq∙dāš (מִקְדָּשׁ) (mik-dawsh´) (noun), “sanctuary” (Exodus 25:8): The word means “place of holiness” and emphasizes the transcendence of God.

10. (2) miš∙kān (miš∙kān) (mish-kawn´) (noun), “tabernacle” (Exodus 25:9): The word means “dwelling place” and emphasizes God’s purpose of dwelling with His people.

11. (3) ʾō∙hěl (אֹהֶל) (o´-hel) (noun), “tent” (Exodus 26:36; 29:42-43; 35:21): Emphasizes the imminence of God. (4) miš·kǎn hā ʿē·ḏǔṯ (מִשְׁכַּ֣ן הָעֵדֻ֔ת), “tabernacle of the testimony” (Exodus 38:21): Indicates that the structure was the repository of the Ten Commandments.

12. The prescribed order for the building of the tabernacle is given in Exodus 25:10-27:19, beginning with the Ark and proceeding outward, whereas in 36:8-38:31 there is a description of its construction, pursuing the reverse order.

13. The Tabernacle was composed of two parts: (1) The Tabernacle proper (Hebrew: mishkan) (2) The “tent over the tabernacle” (ohel, Ex. 26:7).

15. Thomas Constable writes “The tabernacle walls consisted of rigid supports with curtains hung over the boards. These draperies also evidently formed its ceiling. Most commentators believe that the tabernacle was a single structure, but a few believe it consisted of three separate structures one on top of the other.

16. These structures were the tabernacle proper, a tent over it made of goat hair, and another tent of skins that covered both of these structures. The tabernacle as a whole illustrates four different things according to Scripture.

17. It represents the heavens where God dwells and from which He manifests Himself (Heb. 4:14; 9:23-24), the work of Christ (John 2:19-21; Heb. 3:3-4; 8:2; 9:11-12), the individual believer (1 Cor. 6:19), and the church (1 Tim. 3:15; Heb. 3:6; 10:21).” (Notes on Exodus, 2003 Edition, Dr. Thomas Constable; pages 134-135; Published by Sonic Light; www.soniclight.com/)

18. Lawrence Richards writes “The tabernacle was to be constructed of several layers of curtains laid over an intricate wooden frame. There were no windows, and the interior was completely secluded. The outside entrance was covered with a drapery hanging, and inside another drapery, a special, heavy veil divided the interior of the tabernacle into two sections.

19. The outer room, where the lampstand and table of showbread were, was called the holy place. The inner section was the most holy place. This inner room could be entered only once a year, on the Day of Atonement. Only the high priest could enter this room, and he must always come with sacrificial blood.

20. The tabernacle and its carefully divided rooms communicated a unique message. God was present with His people. But God could not be approached freely. The N.T. explains the symbolism of the inner veil: ‘the Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the most holy place had not yet been disclosed’ (Heb. 9:8).

21. How significant then the report in the Gospels that the moment Christ died, the veil of the temple was torn from top to bottom (Matt. 27:51). Through the death of Christ all who believe have immediate, free access into the very presence of God.”

22. Exodus 26:1 “Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twisted linen and blue and purple and scarlet material; you shall make them with cherubim, the work of a skillful workman. 2 The length of each curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits; all the curtains shall have the same measurements.

23. 3 Five curtains shall be joined to one another, and the other five curtains shall be joined to one another. 4 You shall make loops of blue on the edge of the outermost curtain in the first set, and likewise you shall make them on the edge of the curtain that is outermost in the second set.

24. 5 You shall make fifty loops in the one curtain, and you shall make fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that is in the second set; the loops shall be opposite each other. 6 You shall make fifty clasps of gold, and join the curtains to one another with the clasps so that the tabernacle will be a unit.” (NASB95)

25. This pericope makes clear to the reader that the tabernacle was made with ten curtains.

26. The length of these curtains measured twenty-eight cubits, which is equivalent to forty-two feet.

27. It was also four cubits high/wide, which is equivalent to six feet.

28. These curtains were woven with high-quality, twisted linen, which was strong and fine and mixed with yarns which were dyed with three different colors.

29. The colors were blue, purple and scarlet.

30. This passage also teaches that the curtains were connected into two sets of five.

31. The means by which this was accomplished is not identified.

32. However, it was probably by sewing.

33. The two sets of curtains measured forty-two by thirty feet.

34. These two curtain groups were joined temporarily whenever the ark was set up by connecting loops of blue material at their edges.

35. They were joined with special gold rings.

36. There would be fifty loops along the forty-two foot edge.

37. In other words, there would be a loop every ten inches.

38. When the curtains were joined together they formed the tabernacle roof.

39. The tabernacle with this overarching tent was also surrounded by a large courtyard according to Exodus 27:9-19.

40. These curtains measured forty-two feet and by sixty feet.

41. The actual floor space of the tabernacle was forty-five feet long by fifteen feet wide, which is equivalent to six hundred and seventy-five square feet.

42. It was also fifteen feet high.

43. The floor space was of course divided in a two-thirds and one-third split into two rooms.

44. This would have been the holy place and the most holy place.

45. The former took two-thirds of the floor space which is thirty feet by fifteen feet.

46. The latter took the remaining one third of the floor space, which is fifteen feet by fifteen feet.

47. These measurements are calculated by figuring the amount of draping over the back wall required to reach from the top to the ground and counting the width of the individual curtains to the point of the clasps (v. 6) from which the dividing veil curtain hung (v. 33).

48. The ten curtains speak of the sinless life of Jesus Christ (John 8:46; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15; 7:26; 1 Peter 1:19; 1 John 3:5) and the fine linen portrayed His perfect righteousness (Romans 5:17; 2 Timothy 4:8; 1 John 2:1).

49. The blue linen signified that Jesus Christ originated or came from heaven (John 1:1-2, 14; 8:58; 10:30; Romans 1:1-4; 8:3; 9:1-5; Philippians 2:6; Colossians 2:9; 1 Timothy 3;16; Hebrews 1:3; 2:14; 1 John 1:1-4; Revelation 1:8) and the purple linen signifies the fact that He is a king (Matthew 27:11; John 18:37; Revelation 19:16).

50. The scarlet speaks of His substitutionary spiritual (Matthew 27:46) and physical deaths on the cross of Calvary (Matthew 27:47-50; John 19:30).