23. THE FURNITURE OF THE TABERNACLE

"Look that thou make them after their pattern, which was showed thee in the Mount"

Aim

A description of the furniture of the Tabernacle, its use and where it was placed

In this lesson we will consider six important items of furniture, four inside the Tabernacle and two outside, within the walled enclosure known as the outer court, or courtyard. The six items are:

1. The Altar of Burnt Offering

2. The Laver

3. The Lampstand

4. The Table of Shewbread

5. The Altar of Incense, and

6. The Ark of the Covenant

Exodus 37 and 38

1. THE FURNITURE IN THE COURTYARD

THE ALTAR OF BURNT OFFERING: Exodus 38:1-7

In the eastern end of the court stood first an altar, called the Altar of Burnt Offering. It was made of shittim wood overlaid with brass. It had a brass network underneath so that the fire would burn more easily and the top was finished with four horns coming out from the corners. The animal sacrifice was placed on the altar and tied to the horns. The fire under the altar was lit by God (Lev. 9:24), Who also commanded that "the fire shall ever be burning upon the altar continually; it shall never go out" (Lev. 6:13). A ramp of earth led up to the large square altar on the south side. There were also pots, basins, and shovels used in the sacrifice of the animals, and these too were made of brass.

THE LAVER: Exodus 30:18-21

Between the Altar of Burnt Offering and the door of the Tabernacle stood the Laver. It was a large basin made of brass in which the priests washed their hands ands and feet, when performing their duties, either in the courtyard or in the Holy Place. Washing in water was very important. God required His servants to be both clean in body and mind. Washing with water cleans our skin, but it takes the Word of God to cleanse our hearts and minds (see John 15:3 and compare Eph. 5:26 and Psa. 119:9).

2. THE FURNITURE IN THE HOLY PLACE

There were three articles of furniture in this room, called the Holy Place.

THE LAMPSTAND: Exodus 37:17-24

Through the curtain-doorway of the Tabernacle on the left hand side of the room was the Lampstand made of pure gold. It had a centre stem and six branches, three on each side bending upwards making seven lights in all. The lamps were fed with olive oil supplied by all the children of Israel and they had to be filled night and morning (Ex. 27:20-21; Lev. 24:2). It was the only light in the dark room and gave light for the priest who entered each day to carry out his duties. Jesus said he was "the light of the world" and God wants us to be bright shining lights, glowing with the goodness that comes from one who loves the Lord (Matt. 5:14-16). The Word of God is the Light that guides us (Psa. 119:105).

THE TABLE OF SHEWBREAD: Exodus 37:10-16

This was a wooden table overlaid with gold and decorated with a border or crown of gold. It stood on the right hand side of the room. Upon this table were placed twelve unleavened loaves. These loaves, called the "shewbread", were arranged in two piles and above them were placed two small bowls full of frankincense. Each week the priests ate the shewbread. The frankincense was used upon the Altar of Incense, and new loaves and frankincense replaced them.

The twelve loaves represented the work of the twelve tribes of Israel. They had planted the grain, God had made it grow and when it was ripe they harvested it and made it into loaves. God had blessed their labours. He will bless us too if we work diligently in His service, trying hard to understand His Word and making an effort to live obedient lives.

THE GOLDEN ALTAR OF INCENSE: Exodus 37:25-28

At the end of the room called the Holy Place, and close to the dividing curtain or vail, stood the Golden Altar for burning incense. Ifr was much smaller than the altar in the courtyard. It was made of shittim wood covered with gold. It had four horns and was decorated around the top with a golden crown. The priests burned incense here morning and evening with the coals of fire brought in from the Altar of Burnt Offering. When the incense was placed upon the hot coals it gave off a sweet scent and God was pleased when the smoke went upwards with the beautiful perfume. The incense was burned twice daily, and Luke 1:8-10 says it was a time of prayer. When we pray, our words reach to heaven like a sweet smelling odour to Yahweh (Psa. 141:2).

C. THE FURNITURE IN THE MOST HOLY PLACE

This room was a very special place with walls overlaid with gold. No one could see in here because the vail divided it from the Holy Place. It contained one glorious piece of furniture. It was here that God dwelt and His voice was heard. The High Priest was the only one allowed in the Most Holy Place and then only once every year on the Day of Atonement. Special preparations were made on this special day so that he could go in and speak with God.

THE ARK OF THE COVENANT: Exodus 37:1-9

This was a simple box made of shittim wood, overlaid with gold inside and out. It had a crown around the top and the lid of the box was made of pure gold with figures each end, called Cherubim, made of the same piece of gold. The lid of the box was called the Mercy Seat. The wonderful Glory of God shone there, but it was only seen by the High Priest once a year when he took in some blood from the sacrifice and sprinkled it on the "Mercy Seat". God then spoke to him as a sign that the sins of the people were forgiven. The Mercy Seat was God's meeting-place with Israel (Ex. 25:21-22). God instructed Moses to place the following three things inside the Ark:

1. 1. 1. 1. the tables of stone upon which the ten commandments were written.

         2. a golden pot of manna which was preserved by God for many years to remind them of God's care for them in the wilderness.

         3. Aaron's rod that budded (Num. 17:10).

LESSON FOR US

In all the details of the Tabernacle and its furniture we see that God gave exact instructions for making them and how to use them. These had to be followed, so that Israel's worship might be acceptable to God. In the same way He has given clear instructions in His Word, how we must worship Him today. Let us read the Bible carefully so that we can learn His ways now, for Jesus said, "They that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24).

QUESTIONS

Short Answers

1. Name the two pieces of furniture in the outer court of the Tabernacle.

2. What were the horns of the altar used for?

3. What was the haver used for?

4. What is it that cleanses our hearts and minds? (Eph. 5:26)

5. Name the three pieces of furniture in the Holy Place.

6. Who supplied the oil for the Lampstand?

7. Who said, '7 am the light of the world"?

8. How many loaves of shewbread were there?

9. Where did the Priest get the fire to burn the incense on the Incense Altar?

10. What was in the Most Holy Place?

11. What was the Mercy Seat?

12. What was the Ark of the Covenant made of?

13. What did worshippers do at the time of incense?

14. Where in the Tabernacle was the Glory of God revealed?

Detailed Answers

1. Tell what the Altar of Burnt Offering looked like and what it was used for.

2. Describe the three items of furniture in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle.

3. What did the Ark of the Covenant look like? What three things were inside it?

Additional Answers

4. (a) Describe the three items of furniture in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle.

(b) What lessons do we learn from these three things?

5. Name the six items of furniture in the courtyard, Holy Place and Most Holy Place and draw a plan to show where each was placed.