March 1, 2026
Tabernacle: God’s Presence Among His People
Exodus 40:1-16
Tabernacle = Dwelling
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt [tabernacle] among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” –John 1:14
The tabernacle is a visible sign of God’s heart:
He wants a relationship with us
He removed every barrier
He desires to dwell with His people
Parts of the Tabernacle
1. The Wall – v. 8
To protect us in our sinful condition from God’s all-consuming holiness
“… for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus …” –Romans 3:23-24
2. The Gate – v. 8
A way to come into His presence, the only way
“I am the door (gate). If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.” –Jesus, John 10:9
3. The Bronze Altar – v. 6
Animals were sacrificed as a price for sin
“For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf … He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” –Hebrews 9:24-26
4. The Bronze Laver – v. 7
For public ritual cleansing
“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” –Romans 6:4
Altar – a sacrifice or a price that was paid
Laver – public acknowledgement of the cleaning
5. The Altar of Incense – v. 4
Representing the prayers of the people
“… He [Jesus] is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” –Hebrews 7:25
6. The Table of Bread – v. 4
A reminder of God’s provision
“Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” –John 6:35
7. The Ark and Mercy Seat – v. 3
The throne of God, representing the very Grace of God
“…justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation [the Mercy Seat] by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show… he had passed over former sins.” –Romans 3:24-25
Why is the “Tabernacle” important?
God’s holiness doesn’t push Him away from us
Emphasized that sin is costly but can be forgiven
God desires that our lives be built with Him at the center
A copy of Heaven – Revelation 4
“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” –Revelation 4:8
