The Tabernacle

by Dr. James Modlish

 

Lesson Two
THE FENCE AND THE OUTER COURT
Exodus 26; 27:9- 18; 38:9-20

"WHOSOEVER WILL MAY COME"

The most costly building, for its size, ever erected, was the TABERNACLE

[1]. It was only 15 ft. wide, 45 ft. long, 15 ft. high (675 sq. ft. of floor space, only two rooms).

[2]. The cost of materials was over $10,000,000.00 (not counting labor).

[3]. It stood WITHIN A COURT which was the size of an average city lot (75 x 150): and was enclosed by a FENCE (7 1/2 ft. high).

I. THE TABERNACLE WAS ALWAYS IN THE CENTER OF THE CAMP

A. See "The Camp" in the Introduction pictures, diagrams.

[1]. God is, and always has been, the GOD OF ORDER (Tribes around Tabernacle).

[2]. The beauty and significance of this arrangement is GOD IS THEIR "CHIEF" (as the Bedouin camps in the desert).

[3]. The CENTER, then was a PLACE OF SAFETY (Psalms 91).

 

B. The TABERNACLE - Always faced EAST - looking toward the SUNRISE (Matt. 24:27)

[1]. It is not suggested by tints that our churches face East today, but our hearts should!

[2]. The Tabernacle floor was sand - all the beauty was up (Col. 3:2 ) church is also in the wilderness.

[3]. The temple floor was gold (I Kings 6:30) (speaking of Christ on earth during the millennium).

II. THE MATERIALS OF THE FENCE

The FENCE was of FINE, TWINED LINEN suspended on sixty pillars (posts) of brass resting on sockets of brass, caped with chapiters (crowns of silver), held in place with linen cords and pins of brass.

A. One of the more prominent materials - (fence, gate, door, veil, covering).

[1]. Approximately 6,000 sq. ft. used in the Tabemacle and priest robes.

[2]. Linen suggested two things:

    (a). The righteousness of God (Heb. 7:26; Rev. 19:8).

    (b). "Good Works" of the saved (Eph. 2: 10) Both thoughts are Joined in (Is. 61:10).

[3]. What a wonderful exhibition of RIGHTEOUSNESS.

[4]. How the LINEN FENCE must have stood out in CONTRAST to the hundreds of BLACK TENTS (Solomon 1:5) pitched around it - Christ's RIGHTEOUSNESS in a perverse and crooked generation (Deut. 32:5; Phil. 2:15).

B. THE HARVEST OF LINEN -

[1]. For seven years the soil is prepared before the flax seed is sown for this high grade, finely twined linen (other crops are raised and plowed back into the soil - this is the work of the Holy Spirit preparing our hearts to receive the Word (seed) of God.

[2]. The special seed is sown (flax will grow anywhere, in contrast to cotton or silk: God's righteousness is universally available). (The blood of Christ can meet the needs of any sinner anywhere).

[3].Harvesting is done by hand, (flax has been sown closely together ) to preserve the fine texture (individual salvation) and laid in pools of water for the flax plant to die and the linen fibers to "come alive-separated" (baptism of the believer).

[4].Cleansing and combing come next, much rough treatment, but many short hairy bits are removed (testing, trials).

[5].Finer, and finer combing brings soft, silky finish (Rom. 5:3-51).

[6].Spun into thread, wetted and spread in the sun to bleach. (1 Pet. 1:6-7).

C. THE PILLARS - (posts)

Sixty in number, made of brass sockets, silver chapiters.

[1]. 60 - composed of five twelves.

[2]. 100 cubits long.

[3]. 50 cubits wide (Lev. 25:5-17).

[4]. Brass - divine judgment - Christ took the divine judgment of sin for us (2 Cor. 5:21).

[5].The CHAPITERS of SILVER (Ex. 30:11-16). Silver is discriptive of REDEMPTION, although condemned and deserving of death, the believer has been judged and redeemed in Christ's death.

 

III. THE PURPOSE OF THE FENCE

The Fence was continuous, except for the One Gate in front.

A. It was a BARRIER - Unlawful entrance is prevented.

B. It was PROTECTION - Kept enemies of righteousness at a distance, but inside you are surrounded by righteousness.

C. It was a LINE - The camp outside, the Tabernacle inside; a positive mark (righteousness) separating the Church and the World.

D. It was a WAY OF APPROACH - man must come God's way, God's provided way in Christ.

IV. THE GATE

There was only ONE OPENING in the FENCE - THE GATE

A. THREE ENTRANCES - Gate, Door, Veil -

[1]. VEIL - Downward from God.

[2]. DOOR - Outward from God to man.

[3]. GATE - Upward from man to God.

[4]. ALL THREE equal in size - 100 cubits square; Gate (5x20); Door, Veil (10x 10).

[5]. EXTRA WIDE - WHOSOEVER WILL.

 

B. DESCRIPTION OF THE GATE -

[1]. 20 cubits wide, 5 cubits high, supported on 4 pillars.

[2]. Fine twined linen embroidered with blue, purple and scarlet.

[3]. BLUE - Heavenly origin, nature (JOHN - Son of God).

[4]. PURPLE - Royalty (MATTHEW - King of the Jews).

[5]. SCARLET - Sacrifice, death (MARK - suffering servant).

[6]. LINEN - Righteousness (LUKE - (Perfect) Son of Man).

[7]. FOUR PILLARS - (North, East, South, West) - The WORLD NUMBER (three openings In pillars - The WAY, The TRUTH, The LIFE).

 

C. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE GATE -

[1]. It was an ONLY GATE - One way (Acts 4:12).

[2]. It was a WIDE GATE - "Whosoever will" (Rom. 10:13).

[3]. It was an ACCESSIBLE GATE - No locks, no bars, (no cherubims).

[4]. It was an ATTRACTIVE GATE - A beautiful blend of colors.

[5]. It was a WELL SUPPORTED GATE - Holding forth God's righteous demands.

 

THE GATE is the FIRST STEP TO GOD: "WHOSOEVER WILL MAY COME"

 

MULTIPLES OF FIVE IN THE MEASUREMENTS A large number of the measurements are multiples of fives. What does this mean? FIVE is the number of Death!

ESTIMATED VALUE (Exodus 38:24-31)

With the change in monetary values, it is difficult to accurately evaluate the Tabernacle.

However, the Scriptural listing was: GOLD 29 talents 730 shekels = 1 1/4 tons SILVER 100 talents 1,775 shekels = 4 1/4 tons BRASS 70 talents 2,400 shekels = 4 tons

A talent of gold was about 120 pounds, a talent of silver about 100 pounds, a shekel was one-half ounce.

Adding to this the cost of the wood, fabrics, priestly garments, precious stones, it has been estimated to be valued at $10,000,000.00 without labor.

Where did they get this wealth? (Exodus 12:35,36)

-Page Navigation-

1. Introduction | 2. Outer Court | 3. Brazen Altar - Laver | 4. House of Blood | 5. Covers, Curtains | 6. The Furniture
7. Ark & Mercy Seat | 8. The Priesthood | 9. Contributions of The People | 10. The Glory of The Cloud