THE TABERNACLE was God's dwelling place in the Old Testament, and the Church (or the Believers) in the New Testament are God's dwelling place (Eph. 2: 19-22).

[1].The Tabernacle, then, is a picture of what God intends for the Church and US TO BE.
[2]. God gave every detail for the construction:
[3]. Supreme Architect - God (Ex. 25:9).
[4]. General Contractor - Moses (Ex. 25: 1).
[5]. Foreman - Bezaleel (Ex. 31:2-5; 35:30-33; 36-38).
[6]. Assistant Forman - Aholiab (Ex. 31:6; 35:34,35; 36-38)

THE TABERNACLE FRAMEWORK -

[1]. It was oblong in shape; 10 cubits wide,10 cubits high, 30 cubits long (15'x 15'x 45').
[2]. 48 BOARDS; each 10 cubits high and 1 1/2 cubits wide.
[3]. 96 SOCKETS (two under each board).
[4]. 15 BARS (five on each of the two sides, and on the back).
[5]. 2 sets of PILLARS (one with four, and one with fine).
[6]. 4 sets of CURTAINS and COVERINGS.

1. SILVER SOCKETS -

(Ex. 38:25-38; 30:11-16: Matt. 17:24-27; I Pet. 1:18,19).

ALL of the Materials of the Tabernacle were given as FREEWILL OFFERINGS by a WILLING PE0PLE, with the one exception - the SILVER:

[1]. REQUIRED by God when the tribes were numbered.
[2]. RANDSOM (not tax or levy... that there be no plague" (Ex. 30:12).
[3]. Not a plague because they numbered the tribes, for there had been no prohibition to this as yet; but, lest PRIDE in dependence on numbers instead of God.

A. WHY SILVER? - Men were bought and sold for silver.

[1]. Joseph for 20 pieces, and Jesus for 30 pieces.
[2]. CHRIST is seen in the use of silver for sockets.

B. GOD FIXED THE PRICE - (half a shekel).

[1]. God set the price, so no questions of the personal opinion of men.
[2]. All men are equal (rich not to give more, nor the poor give less).
[3]. God's condition of salvation for all is FAITH IN CHRIST (equal price for all.

C. AMOUNT OF SILVER - half a shekel (quarter of an ounce in weight).

[1]. 603,550 men over 20 (plus the Levites).
[2]. Equals to 100 sockets weighing 125 pounds each, and then more:
[3]. 96 sockets (two each under the 48 boards).
[4]. 4 sockets under the four pillars holding the veil before the Holy of Holies.
[5]. Balance used for fillets or hooks, and chapiters.

D. SILVER FOUNDATION - (I Cor. 3: 11)

[1]. There could be no Tabernacle (Church or Believers) without a FOUNDATION (the redemption of Christ).
[2]. Two sockets under one Board (Deut. 19: 15),
[3]. The Law of Two Witnesses (I Jn. 5: 10).
[4]. Two tenons (or feet) on Boards to fit into Sockets,
[5]. Both set on the silver, not one on silver and the other on sand (the world, or the things of the world).

E. "FORMED AND THEE" - MATT. 17:27

[1]. "Piece" was enough for Peter and Jesus.
[2]. Jesus paid for Peter as well as Himself; and His blood is enough for all men.
[3]. THE SUFFICIENT BLOOD OF CHRIST, what a glorious foundation for the Church.

 

II. THE BOARDS - (Ex. 26:15-29; 36:20-34).

The walls of the Tabernacle were WOOD overlaid with GOLD, STANDING in silver sockets.

[1]. SOCKETS - Type of redemptive work of Christ, the blood is the foundation.
[2]. BOARDS - Standing, the believers resting on finished work of the cross.

A. MADE OF SHITTIM WOOD -

[1]. Native of Sinai desert, a tree drawing strength from the earth.
[2]. A picture of the unsaved in the barren world.

B. WERE CUT DOWN -

[1]. Connection with earth was severed symbolizing the severance from the old life at salvation.
[2]. Believers were once in the world until cut off by Christ from the world.

C. WERE STRIPPED -

[1]. Knots and branches were cut off, nothing straight about Shittim.
[2]. Cut unti1 straight! What a suggestion!

D. OVERLAID WITH GOLD - (2 Pet. 1:4)

[1]. Wood is type for Humanity (perishable).
[2]. Gold is type for Divinity (imperishable).
[3]. Imperfections covered over by the righteousness of Christ.
[4]. When we become useful to God after salvation, we will discover that we are different from what we formerly were.

E. "STANDING UP" - How impressive!

[1]. Not sitting at ease, or reclining in indifference.
[2]. Standing on silver, not on sand (these Boards - wood overlaid with gold - also portray the Lord Jesus as the God - Man).

 

III. RINGS AND BARS -

Important in the construction of the Tabernacle were the RINGS AND BARS:

A. THREE RINGS - of gold in each Board to hold Bars.

[1]. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit working for and on our behalf (Rom. 8:26,31,34).
[2]. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Spirit.

B. FIFTEEN BARS -

[1]. Five each on the two sides, and on the back.
[2]. THE FIVE GIFTS OF THE MINISTRY in the Church seen here (Eph. 4: 11,12-16). PASTORS, TEACHERS, EVANGELISTS, APOSTLES, PROPHETS.

[A]. APOSTLES AND PROPHETS (EPH. 3:20)

[a]. Not as foundation of faith, but foundation not beginning of ministry.

[B]. EVANGELISTS

[a]. Wide, far reaching work.

[C]. PASTORS AND TEACHERS

[a]. To shepherd the flock, and to instruct. BARS kept the sides rigid, held up against the winds ("winds of doctrine"). Without this GOD-GIVEN MINISTRY, the flock would be scattered.

 

C. PINS AND CORDS -

The Tabernacle, though portable and constructed without nails, screws, hinges, glue, or supports, was sturdy and stood against the howling storms for 40 years.

[1]. The winds blew, the storms swept, the rains beat - but it stood.
[2]. The most secure place in the camp of Israel, was the Tabernacle (thus David writes Ps. 91:1,2,7,9).

CORDS of LINEN - The love of Christ in His death and resurrection.

PINS of BRASS - Judgment (complete) - THUS, WE ARE ETERNALLY SECURE IN SALVATION.