The Way to Glory
Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. (Exodus 40:34 NKJV)
From the top of Mount Sinai the Lord instructed Moses in building a sanctuary so that He “could dwell among them.” Moses and the children of Israel built it to the specifications that the Lord gave. When everything was completed and arranged as the LORD had commanded, then the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle, and the Lord dwelt among His people.
Is there a lesson to be learned? We know that the things in the tabernacle were copies of heavenly things (Ex 25:40, Heb 9:23-24). Through the tabernacle God revealed the way that He was to be worshiped. The way into the sanctuary is the way we may approach God.
Imagine approaching this place of worship with me. There are seven stops along the way:
1. First, we come to the bronze altar--that place where atonement is made. The sacrificial offerings would be offered here—the sin offering, the burnt offering and the peace offering. This speaks of our way through the cross and the blood of Jesus Christ. He is our sin offering whose blood makes atonement for all our sins. He is our burnt offering, who offered Himself completely as “the Lamb of God.” And He is our peace offering who makes peace between God and us. It is meditation upon this complete work of atonement that gives us confidence in approaching God.
2. Second, we come to the laver or wash basin. Here the priests would wash their hands and feet before entering the sanctuary. Sacrificing animals was a bloody business, and it was necessary that they be washed clean before they could come near God. This points to the washing with water through the Word of God (Eph 5:26). Jesus told His disciples that they were clean by the Word He spoke to them (John 15:3). It is exposure to the Word that cleanses our thoughts, convicts us of sins, and shows us the way we should walk.
3. Next, we enter the sanctuary through the outer veil. Jesus said, “I am the door.” We cannot come to the Father except through Him.
4. As we enter the sanctuary we find the golden lampstand on the left. This provided light for the priests while they were ministering before the Lord. This represents the sevenfold Spirit of God (Isa 11:2, Rev 4:5) who shows us where to walk, providing us wisdom, counsel and power. His flame must never go out in our lives, for it is “not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord” (Zech 4:6).
5. On our right hand we find the table of showbread, which pictures our Lord who is the Bread of Life. We realize that above all He delights to eat and commune with us (Rev 3:20). We pause here to rejoice in the blessed fellowship we have with Him.
6. Next, we come to the altar of incense, representing the prayers we offer to God. They are a sweet smelling aroma to Him and are to be offered daily (Ex 30:7, Ps 141:2, 1 Thess 5:17, Rev 8:4). Moreover, God delights in receiving them (Prov 15:8).
7. Finally, we come through the inner veil into the Most Holy Place where we find the Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat. Only the high priest was allowed to enter here, and then only once a year on the Day of Atonement. We know that the thrice holy God (Rev 4:8) resides here over His Law, and so we see Him revealed in perfect justice. Yet we also find him above the Mercy Seat where the blood from the sin offering was sprinkled seven times on the Day of Atonement. Thus, we see God revealed in perfect mercy. It is here on the Mercy Seat that mercy triumphs over judgment. It is also here that the Shekinah, the glory of God, dwels among the people.
When Jesus died on the cross this veil was rent from top to bottom, thus opening the way into the Most Holy Place to every believer in Christ. Here we can meet with our Father at any time, communing with Him, casting our cares upon Him, and receiving from Him wonderful counsel and answers to our prayers.
When Moses and the children of Israel arranged all the furnishings of the tabernacle in their proper place the glory of God filled the temple. Likewise, as we meditate on these things and make them our prayer, the stage is set for true worship, and the Father can fill us with His glory.
If you find yourself struggling in how to approach God or in knowing what to pray, may I suggest that you approach Him through the way He has provided through the tabernacle? You may find that His glory will soon come and fill your temple to overflowing!
Pastor Daryl
From the top of Mount Sinai the Lord instructed Moses in building a sanctuary so that He “could dwell among them.” Moses and the children of Israel built it to the specifications that the Lord gave. When everything was completed and arranged as the LORD had commanded, then the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle, and the Lord dwelt among His people.
Is there a lesson to be learned? We know that the things in the tabernacle were copies of heavenly things (Ex 25:40, Heb 9:23-24). Through the tabernacle God revealed the way that He was to be worshiped. The way into the sanctuary is the way we may approach God.
Imagine approaching this place of worship with me. There are seven stops along the way:
1. First, we come to the bronze altar--that place where atonement is made. The sacrificial offerings would be offered here—the sin offering, the burnt offering and the peace offering. This speaks of our way through the cross and the blood of Jesus Christ. He is our sin offering whose blood makes atonement for all our sins. He is our burnt offering, who offered Himself completely as “the Lamb of God.” And He is our peace offering who makes peace between God and us. It is meditation upon this complete work of atonement that gives us confidence in approaching God.
2. Second, we come to the laver or wash basin. Here the priests would wash their hands and feet before entering the sanctuary. Sacrificing animals was a bloody business, and it was necessary that they be washed clean before they could come near God. This points to the washing with water through the Word of God (Eph 5:26). Jesus told His disciples that they were clean by the Word He spoke to them (John 15:3). It is exposure to the Word that cleanses our thoughts, convicts us of sins, and shows us the way we should walk.
3. Next, we enter the sanctuary through the outer veil. Jesus said, “I am the door.” We cannot come to the Father except through Him.
4. As we enter the sanctuary we find the golden lampstand on the left. This provided light for the priests while they were ministering before the Lord. This represents the sevenfold Spirit of God (Isa 11:2, Rev 4:5) who shows us where to walk, providing us wisdom, counsel and power. His flame must never go out in our lives, for it is “not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord” (Zech 4:6).
5. On our right hand we find the table of showbread, which pictures our Lord who is the Bread of Life. We realize that above all He delights to eat and commune with us (Rev 3:20). We pause here to rejoice in the blessed fellowship we have with Him.
6. Next, we come to the altar of incense, representing the prayers we offer to God. They are a sweet smelling aroma to Him and are to be offered daily (Ex 30:7, Ps 141:2, 1 Thess 5:17, Rev 8:4). Moreover, God delights in receiving them (Prov 15:8).
7. Finally, we come through the inner veil into the Most Holy Place where we find the Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat. Only the high priest was allowed to enter here, and then only once a year on the Day of Atonement. We know that the thrice holy God (Rev 4:8) resides here over His Law, and so we see Him revealed in perfect justice. Yet we also find him above the Mercy Seat where the blood from the sin offering was sprinkled seven times on the Day of Atonement. Thus, we see God revealed in perfect mercy. It is here on the Mercy Seat that mercy triumphs over judgment. It is also here that the Shekinah, the glory of God, dwels among the people.
When Jesus died on the cross this veil was rent from top to bottom, thus opening the way into the Most Holy Place to every believer in Christ. Here we can meet with our Father at any time, communing with Him, casting our cares upon Him, and receiving from Him wonderful counsel and answers to our prayers.
When Moses and the children of Israel arranged all the furnishings of the tabernacle in their proper place the glory of God filled the temple. Likewise, as we meditate on these things and make them our prayer, the stage is set for true worship, and the Father can fill us with His glory.
If you find yourself struggling in how to approach God or in knowing what to pray, may I suggest that you approach Him through the way He has provided through the tabernacle? You may find that His glory will soon come and fill your temple to overflowing!
Pastor Daryl
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