EXODUS LESSON 64
We will begin this lesson in Exodus 40:1 "And the LORD spake unto
Moses, saying," Exodus 40:2 "On the first day of the first month shalt
thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation."
This first month is approximately April on our calendar, so this
was approximately April 1. I say approximately, because the Hebrews
change months with the new moon. Here, we see after Moses' inspection
of all the items, God told Moses to set up the tabernacle on the
first day of Abib.
Exodus 40:3 "And thou shalt put therein the ark of the testimony,
and cover the ark with the veil."
The ark must not be open to public view. This ark was to be kept
in the Holy of Holies, and no one could go into the Holy of Holies but
the high priest. This beautiful veil kept the ark hidden.
Exodus 40:4 "And thou shalt bring in the table, and set in order
the things that are to be set in order upon it; and thou shalt bring
in the candlestick, and light the lamps thereof." Exodus 40:5 "And
thou shalt set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark of the
testimony, and put the hanging of the door to the tabernacle."
The Holy Place was 30 feet long and 15 feet wide. As we discussed
in an earlier lesson, the candlestick, the table for the shewbread,
and the altar of incense were all in the Holy Place. The Holy Place
and the Holy of Holies made up the tabernacle. This tabernacle was
forbidden to the congregation. They could only go into the outer
enclosure. Read chapter 3 and 9 of Hebrews to see how this tabernacle
was a miniature of the one in heaven.
Exodus 40:6 "And thou shalt set the altar of the burnt offering
before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation."
Exodus 40:7 "And thou shalt set the laver between the tent of the
congregation and the altar, and shalt put water therein." Exodus 40:8
"And thou shalt set up the court round about, and hang up the hanging
at the court gate."
Verses 6 through 8 were describing what was in the outer court, or
outside enclosure. We find the altar of burnt offering and the laver
with water, here, just inside the gate.
Exodus 40:9 "And thou shalt take the anointing oil, and anoint
the tabernacle, and all that [is] therein, and shalt hallow it, and
all the vessels thereof: and it shall be holy."
We see that even though these items were specifically made for
the use of the tabernacle, they still needed to be dedicated to God by
anointing them and setting them aside for this specific service.
Exodus 40:10 "And thou shalt anoint the altar of the burnt
offering, and all his vessels, and sanctify the altar: and it shall be
an altar most holy." Exodus 40:11 "And thou shalt anoint the laver
and his foot, and sanctify it."
We see, here, that even though these items were not in the Holy Place
or Holy of Holies, they still needed to be anointed and set aside for
God's service. This tells us that in our churches everything used in
God's service should be set aside and dedicated for this purpose.
This includes small items, as well as large.
Exodus 40:12 "And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the
door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water."
There are several indications from this water. Aaron and his sons
should be baptized (washed in water). This could also mean clean (free
from sin). The high priest is symbolic of Jesus, and the priests are
symbolic of all Christians.
Exodus 40:13 "And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and
anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the
priest's office."
Here, again, we see that not only the tabernacle and the items
would be anointed, but the high priest would put on the garment of
righteousness. He would carry the congregation on his shoulders and on
his heart. His dedication would be forever. The anointing was to
separate him for God.
Exodus 40:14 "And thou shalt bring his sons, and clothe them with
coats:" Exodus 40:15 "And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint
their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office:
for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood
throughout their generations."
We see, here, that these were set aside (anointed) people for God's
service. This was not a temporary priesthood, but was forever. Remember
one more time, that the priests are symbolic of all the believers.
Exodus 40:16 "Thus did Moses: according to all that the LORD
commanded him, so did he."
This just meant that Moses anointed and dedicated all these
people, the tabernacle, and all the items to the service of God.
Exodus 40:17 "And it came to pass in the first month in the
second year, on the first [day] of the month, [that] the tabernacle
was reared up."
We see that it took a year to prepare, set up the tabernacle, and
get everything dedicated.
Exodus 40:18 "And Moses reared up the tabernacle, and fastened his
sockets, and set up the boards thereof, and put in the bars thereof,
and reared up his pillars." Exodus 40:19 "And he spread abroad the
tent over the tabernacle, and put the covering of the tent above upon
it; as the LORD commanded Moses." Exodus 40:20 "And he took and put
the testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark, and put the
mercy seat above upon the ark:"
This was just explaining in detail that the silver sockets were set
on the ground, the boards were stood upright in them, and the bars
were put across to keep them upright, and then the tent material was
draped over that and attached. As we said, the ark of the covenant,
which held the tables of stone, was put in the Holy of Holies; and
the pure gold mercy seat was put on top of the ark.
Exodus 40:21 "And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set
up the veil of the covering, and covered the ark of the testimony; as
the LORD commanded Moses." Exodus 40:22 "And he put the table in the
tent of the congregation, upon the side of the tabernacle northward,
without the veil." Exodus 40:23 "And he set the bread in order upon it
before the LORD; as the LORD had commanded Moses."
Now, that the tabernacle was built and all the vessels ready, Moses
was setting it up properly as God had shown him. Even to the bread on
the table of shewbread, it was set up. Every little detail had to be
exact .
Exodus 40:24 "And he put the candlestick in the tent of the
congregation, over against the table, on the side of the tabernacle
southward."
You can see that the candlestick was on the opposite side of the
room from the table of shewbread.
Exodus 40:25 "And he lighted the lamps before the LORD; as the
LORD commanded Moses."
Once the light was lighted, it must never be allowed to go out.
This was one of the important jobs of the priest: to keep this light
burning perpetually. This Light was to never go out. We know that
Jesus is the Light of the world. We, also, know that we, Christians, must
keep this flame burning forever. We, too, must not allow the Light of
Jesus to go out.
Exodus 40:26 "And he put the golden altar in the tent of the
congregation before the veil:" Exodus 40:27 "And he burnt sweet
incense thereon; as the LORD commanded Moses."
Remember, this was just outside the Holy of Holies and was to be
burned twice a day, morning and evening. This symbolizes the prayers
of the saints.
Exodus 40:28 "And he set up the hanging [at] the door of the
tabernacle." Exodus 40:29 "And he put the altar of burnt offering [by]
the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation, and
offered upon it the burnt offering and the meat offering; as the LORD
commanded Moses."
Here, again, we see Moses setting up the hanging for the
tabernacle door. This altar of the burnt offering, as we have said a
few times before, was outside the tent of the tabernacle in the
enclosure. We see, here, Moses offering burnt and meat offerings just
as the Lord had commanded him to do.
Exodus 40:30 "And he set the laver between the tent of the
congregation and the altar, and put water there, to wash [withal]."
Exodus 40:31 "And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and
their feet thereat:" Exodus 40:32 "When they went into the tent of the
congregation, and when they came near unto the altar, they washed; as
the LORD commanded Moses."
This washing was symbolic in one way. It showed how the minister
of God had to stay clean from all world pollution. The literal use was,
also, significant in that walking in sandals got the feet dirty. The
hands had to be clean to keep all of this beautiful linen clean, as
well. The ministers of the Lord today could see in this that their
walk must be clean (holy), and that their ministering hands must be
free of pollution, as well.
Exodus 40:33 "And he reared up the court round about the
tabernacle and the altar, and set up the hanging of the court gate. So
Moses finished the work."
The court was the last thing to go up. Actually, part of its
purpose was to shut out the world. "So Moses finished the work"
needs no explanation.
Exodus 40:34 "Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation,
and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle."
Now that Moses had dedicated the temple and followed all of God's
commands to the letter, we see God entered the Holy of Holies. The
presence of God was in this cloud. This was the same cloud that the
children of Israel followed in their wilderness wanderings. The Lord
will not enter a polluted temple (then or now). This presence of the
Lord was over the mercy seat.
Exodus 40:35 "And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the
congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the
LORD filled the tabernacle."
The close presence of God, as we have read all through this book,
is a very dangerous place to be, unless the person in question is
summoned by the Lord. The Lord was pleased with this temple, and the
glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. As long as this presence was
there, Moses or no one else was to say it was time to go. The presence
or absence of the Lord determined when it was time to move.
Exodus 40:36 "And when the cloud was taken up from over the
tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys:"
Exodus 40:37 "But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed
not till the day that it was taken up." Exodus 40:38 "For the cloud of
the LORD [was] upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by
night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their
journeys."
This cloud led the children of Israel, and they set the tabernacle
and the court of the congregation wherever they stopped. In another
study of a later book, we will study about building a permanent temple
in Jerusalem to house this same ark of the covenant. David's son,
Solomon, would be called of God to do the task. For all the journeys of
the Israelites the tabernacle and its court was their place to meet
with God.
Exodus 64 Questions
1. What month and day did the Lord tell Moses to set up the
tabernacle?
2. In the author's explanation of verse 1, why does she say the date
was approximately?
3. What kept onlookers from gazing at the ark of the covenant?
4. Where was the ark to be placed?
5. Who was the only one who could enter there?
6. What kept the ark hidden?
7. Where was the table of shewbread placed?
8. Where was the candlestick placed?
9. How long and wide was the Holy Place?
10. Where was the altar of incense placed?
11. What made up the tabernacle?
12. What New Testament book has a great deal to say about the
tabernacle?
13. Where was the altar of the burnt offering to be set?
14. Name 2 things that were found in the outer court.
15. What was Moses to anoint?
16. What does anointing do?
17. What does all of these items being anointed, tell us about our
churches today?
18. What was Moses to do to Aaron and his sons at the door of the
tabernacle?
19. What is one spiritual meaning we might see in all of the washing?
20. What was Moses to do to them next?
21. What was said about the priesthood?
22. How long had it taken to get everything ready?
23. As soon as the candlestick was in its right place, what did Moses
do?
24. How long was this light to burn?
25. What was to be burned on the golden altar inside the tent?
26. How often?
27. What did the washing of the feet and hands of the priest
symbolize?
28. What was part of the purpose of the enclosure?
29. When the Lord saw that Moses had finished it, what did the Lord
do?
30. How did the people know when the Lord was in the tabernacle?
31. When were the children of Israel allowed to move?
Home