The Tabernacle – Part 7
The Outer Court
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
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SERMON TIMELINE
· The Book of Genesis
· The Exodus
· The Tabernacle
· Introduction
· The Ark of the Covenant
· The Table and the Lampstand
· The Tabernacle Construction
· Tabernacle Framework
· The Bronze Altar
· The Outer Court
INTRODUCTION
Up to this point we have examined the giving of the laws, the construction of the Ark of the Covenant, and the beginning construction of the Tabernacle, where God would dwell among His people.
Today we are going to look at the instructions for the Bronze Altar. But before we do, because we took a break from this series for the holidays, and I missed last week because of being ill, lets play a little catch up.
I will read today’s scripture, then look back for a review of where we were and then we will talk about where we are at.
This is important. As we have looked at the scriptures in Exodus, even going back to Genesis, it is plain to see that everything that takes place is being used by God for teaching, and a foreshadowing for what will come.
Why we need saving, who will save us, how they will save us, and what will take place after the last of us is saved.
1 Timothy 2:3-4 “This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the full knowledge of the truth.”
What is good and acceptable in the sight of our God and Savior? Verse 1.
1 Timothy 2:1 “First of all, then, I exhort that petitions and prayers, requests and thanksgivings, be made for all men,”
God desires that “all men be saved.”
And there will come a day when the last one who will be saved, is saved.
2 Peter 3:9-10 “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some consider slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be found out.”
When there is none left to save, the Lord will come like a theif in the night.
Today we examine the Outer Court of the Tabernacle
SCRIPTURE READING
Exodus 27:9-21 (Legacy Standard Bible)
“You shall make the court of the tabernacle. On the south side there shall be hangings for the court of fine twisted linen one hundred cubits long for one side; and its pillars shall be twenty, with their twenty bases of bronze; the hooks of the pillars and their bands shall be of silver.
Likewise for the north side in length there shall be hangings one hundred cubits long, and its twenty pillars with their twenty bases of bronze; the hooks of the pillars and their bands shall be of silver.
For the width of the court on the west side shall be hangings of fifty cubits with their ten pillars and their ten bases. The width of the court on the east side toward the sunrise shall be fifty cubits. The hangings for the one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits with their three pillars and their three bases.
And for the other side shall be hangings of fifteen cubits with their three pillars and their three bases. And as for the gate of the court there shall be a screen of twenty cubits, of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen, the work of a weaver, with their four pillars and their four bases.
All the pillars around the court shall be furnished with silver bands with their hooks of silver and their bases of bronze. The length of the court shall be one hundred cubits, and the width fifty throughout, and the height five cubits of fine twisted linen, and their bases of bronze.
All the utensils of the tabernacle used in all its service, and all its pegs, and all the pegs of the court, shall be of bronze.
And you shall command the sons of Israel, that they bring you clear oil
of beaten olives for the light, to make a lamp burn continually. “In the tent
of meeting, outside the veil which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons
shall keep it in order from evening to morning before Yahweh; it shall be a
perpetual statute throughout their generations for the sons of Israel.”
TODAY'S MESSAGE
I. THE OUTER COURT
a. Surrounding the Holy Place which housed the Most Holy Place
i. This was approximately 150 feet long by 75 feet wide
ii. Bronze pillars supporting the woven linen curtain walls
iii. The East wall had a gate in the middle. The only entrance.
b. Holy has two meanings in scripture
i. Holy means “set apart” or “different”
1. God is holy because He is absolutely different, completely set apart from everything else. He is completely different from all other things that are called “gods.”
2. He is also completely set apart from sin, which is probably the concept that most people associate with God’s holiness.
ii. An example would be the word “Bible,” it too has two meanings
1. Bible is Latin for “book”
2. This is why most Bibles will say “Holy Bible” on the cover
3. To distinguish it from other books as holy, or set apart.
iii. So the Holy Place, and Most Holy Place are places “set apart” or different from any other place.
c. Only One Entrance
i. Surrounded by the Outer Court, there is only one way in.
ii. When you enter the Outer Court, you are greeted by Priests and the Bronze Altar for burnt sacrifice where the priest makes an offering to God for you.
II. THE TABERNACLE AS A WHOLE
a. The Outer Court Surrounding it all
i. You know that this is where God dwells among the people
ii. You desire to be right with and obedient to God, so you go to the Tabernacle
iii. The priests and Levite minister in the Outer Court
iv. You are met by a priest who makes a sacrifice in the Bronze Altar for you
b. The Holy Place
i. This place which is holy (set apart) from the rest of the Tabernacle only allows priests to enter it
c. The Most Holy Place (Holy of Holies)
i. In the back of the Holy Place is the Most Holy Place, the Holy of Holies
ii. This small room housed the Ark of the Covenant
iii. On top was the Mercy Seat
iv. This was seen as the Throne of God
v. While God is omnipresent, this location was determined by God to be a meeting place for Him to dwell among His people.
vi. This place could only be entered by the High Priest once per year
1. Once per year is significant
2. It could only be entered on The Day of Atonement
3. And ONLY with a blood sacrifice
III. IT IS ALL ABOUT JESUS, SALVATION AND ETERNITY WITH GOD
a. The Outer Court
i. Represents the entrance through a single door
ii. Jesus says He is that door
iii. When you enter the court, there is the Bronze Altar of burnt sacrifice
1. The sacrifice is Jesus
2. The fire represents the judgement placed upon Him for our sake
iv. The priests in the courtyard serve those entering.
v. This courtyard in Christianity
1. We are the priests
2. Are we calling those outside the Outer Court to enter?
3. Are we explaining the sacrifice to them so that they too can be forgiven?
b. The Holy Place
i. Only the Priests may enter the Holy Place
ii. Who are the priests?
1. We, who belong to God are all in the Priesthood!
iii. To enter the Holy Place from the Outer Court one must ceremonially wash ion the basin before the Holy Place door
iv. This is symbolic of the washing of the Holy Spirit through baptism.
v. The Holy Place (place set apart) IS the CHURCH
vi. This is where the Menorah (seven spirits of God-the lampstand where Jesus is present) is
vii. Across from it is the table of showbread and wine (communion)
viii. This represents the foundation of the church which is the sacrifice of Jesus
ix. Celebrated and remembered in communion
x. And before the opening to the Most Holy Place, incense burning
xi. And for the door, the great curtain
1. When Jesus died on the cross, three Gospels report that the curtain of the temple, that barrier between the Holy Place and Most Holy Place, was supernaturally torn in two
2. (see Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38; and Luke 23:45).
3. The torn curtain symbolized that the way to God was now open to all through the death of Christ. The blood of an animal was no longer needed.
4. Hebrews 10:19–22a explains, “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings.”
c. The Holy of Holies (The Most Holy Place)
i. Only the High Priest can enter once a year on The Day of Atonement
1. Passover (1st Holy Day)
a. Death of Firstborn (Jesus)
b. Saved from death by blood over doorstoop (Blood of Christ)
c. Celebrated with unleavened bread and wine (Communion)
2. Festival of Unleavened Bread
a. During Passover week (or because of salvation)
b. Live 7-days without leaven (remove sin from your household)
3. Feast of First Fruits
a. After the second day celebrate first fruits (Christ’s Resurrection)
b. First day of 50 day countdown to Pentecost
4. Feast of Weeks (Pentecost)
a. Celebrates the 7 Sabbaths plus one day after the Exodus when The Law was given to the people and God declared He would reside among them in the Tabernacle.
b. We are that Tabernacle and God resides with us in the Holy Spirit
c. Pentecost was the Day the Holy Spirit was given to those who belong to God
d. The Day of Pentecost was the Birth of the Church
5. Feast of Trumpets
a. Ten day period of repentance
b. On day ten an examination of their lives before God
c. On the completion of the tenth day, The Day of Atonement
6. Day of Atonement
a. Judgment Day, the final verdict delivered
b. The day God would forgive sins through sacrifices
c. Traditionally they would wear white garments to represent burial clothing
d. At the end of the 25 hour fast came the feast of the tabernacles
7. Feast of the Tabernacles
a. A seven day feast (feast of booths or shelters)
b. This is the “harvest” feast
8. The Eighth Day
a. Although mentioned separately, the Eighth Day is simply the last and greatest day of the Feast of Tabernacles. This day is a Sabbath (even if it doesn’t fall on Saturday) and is more spiritual than the previous seven joyful days of the Feast of Tabernacles.
CONCLUSION
Jesus, our High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16) entered the Most Holy Place (the Mercy Seat of God), putting His Blood on the altar as the sacrifice on the Day of Atonement for the salvation of those who have come into the Holy Place.
Removing the curtain that separates the Holy of Holies (presence of God) from the Holy Place (the Church).
And we will be reunited with God, through the Holy Spirit within us and Christ Jesus as our mediator.
Therefore, as those who are within the Holy Place (Church), and are called members of the priesthood (Christians), are we calling those from beyond the Outer Court to enter through the narrow gate?
Are we explaining the offered sacrifice in the Bronze Altar?
Are we telling them to be washed ceremonially by the Holy Spirit so that they too may be called priests and enter into the Holy Place (the Church).
Are we living as Holy “set apart” or “different” than the world we live in?
The Outer Court is a Picture of those who have been Called by God
Unto Salvation
NEXT WEEK
The Priests’ Garments
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