That I may dwell among them… Ex 25:8

Part Five: Outer Court

Clarification: Shewbread could not be leavened

1. Picture of Christ and not of Church: 12 pierced loaves. Enough for all.

2. Leaven does not necessarily mean sin. Growth of the Church is symbolized as a hidden leaven.

3. Holy unto the Lord: Lev 24:9 – And it shall be Aaron's and his sons'; and they shall eat it in the holy place: for it [is] most holy unto him of the offerings of the LORD made by fire by a perpetual statute.

Other references to “…Holy unto the Lord”

Sin offering. Lev 6:17. It shall not be baken with leaven. I have given it [unto them for] their portion of my offerings made by fire; it [is] most holy, as [is] the sin offering, and as the trespass offering.

Meat offering. Lev 10:12. And Moses spake unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons that were left,

Take the meat offering that remaineth of the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and eat it without leaven beside the altar: for it [is] most holy:

Reference to leaven bread and its significance

Wave offering (On the day of the Pentecost) Picture: Church- Jew and the Gentile. Sign of sin within the Church Lev 23:16 Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat

offering unto the LORD.

Lev 23:17 Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; [they are] the firstfruits unto the LORD.

Clarification: Ark was covered

• Num 4:5 And when the camp setteth forward, Aaron shall come, and his sons, and they shall take down the covering vail, and cover the ark of testimony with it:

The badger skin (the outer covering) that covered the tabernacle was used to cover the Ark, so that no one saw the Ark of the Covenant during transit.

Clarification: Why no incense now?

References Is 1:13; 66:3 – Taken out of context and are not applicable

to this context.

• It is true that we do not have a need for natural symbols, since we have the spiritual reality in Christ.

Three Parts of the Tabernacle

Exodus 25:40, “And look that thou make them after their pattern

Recap: Location of the seven furniture pieces

Holy of HoliesArk of the Covenant

Mercy

Seat

Holy PlaceTable of

ShewbreadAltar

of Incense

Candle

Stick

Outer CourtBrazen

Altar

Brazen

Laver

Outer Court: Ex 27:9 – “…And thou shalt make the court of the Tabernacle”

• Height: Linen wall that was five cubits high (7.5 feet)– Prevented any wrongful

approach to God– Righteousness of God

• Spacious: Outer Court was 100 L x 50 W Cubits

• Two fold purpose:– Separation from God’s

habitation and the world– Shield, a place of protection

and stability

• Both exclusive and inclusive.– Ps 65:4; Ps 92:13; Ps 100:4 --

Choosest, Planted– Num 1:51; 3:38 – Certain death

to the stranger

The Gate or Door Ex. 27:16. And for the gate of the court [shall be] an hanging of

twenty cubits

• Gate: East side. The one and only approach. The only door (Jn 10:9)• Wide gate: 20 cubits (30 feet) and clearly marked. Blue, Purple, Scarlet and

White.• Three Veils: The Way, The Truth and The Life

– Only the innermost veil was rent.– Life to the ones who approach through the Way to Truth in Christ.

Brazen Altar: Ex 27: 1. And thou shalt make an altar…

• Ex 20:24-26 – Earlier altars were altars of earth or of stone but no steps

– Steps: Picture of works of men which cannot add to the provision of God’s grace.

– Brass: Picture of judgment.

• Altar: Meaning. “Lifted up”; “high or Ascending”; “Slaughter place”.– John 12:32-33  And I, if I be lifted

up from the earth, will draw all [men] unto me. This he said, signifying what death he should die.

Brazen Altar

• Largest piece of furniture:

7.5 ft L x 7.5 ft W x 4.5 ft high

overlaid with brass on acacia wood

– Sufficient for all.

• Horns: Power; Ability

“Christ is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by Him”.

– Secured: Ps 118:27 – Unlike Christ, OT sacrifices were unwilling sacrifices.

– Refuge: 1 Kings 1:50-53; Heb 6:18

• no refuge Ex 21:14; 1 Kings 2:28-34

• 2 Cor 2:16 – Savour of death & Life To one life and to the other death

Brazen Laver: Ex 30:18. Thou shalt also make a laver…

• No specific measurement given

• Made wholly of brass

• Ex 38: 8 – Made of looking glass (polished brass).

– Sins have been judged. Now see your “self” and wash clean daily

– Our feet and hands need to be washed. Upper room ministry. Jn13:8

• Ministry of the Word of God– Eph 5:26 – “That he might sanctify and

cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.”

– Both reveals and cleanses.

Brazen Altar

• Sequence of cleansing:

– Brazen Altar: Cleansing by blood

– Brazen Laver: Cleaning by water

– The two meet at the cross:

1 Jn 5:6 This is he that came by water and blood, [even] Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood.

Jn 19:34-35 – John bears record

• 1 Jn 1:7 – Blood cleanses us from sin

• Titus 3:5 – Water cleanses us from self-defilement

– “Washing (laver) of regeneration”.

– This not “water baptism”. For water baptism is a external sign, done once, not daily.

– Let a man examine himself…

Tabernacle indicates abundant life in Christ

After we enter the Gate, there are SEVEN STEPS to the full and complete life of victory in Christ:

1. Brazen Altar - a picture of the cross - Conversion.

2. Laver - Cleansing from sin -Separation, Daily Cleansing.

3. Table of Showbread - The place of fellowship, to be fed

on Christ and the Word -Bible Reading.

4. Candlestick - Nourished by Holy Spirit -Testimony.

5. Altar of Incense - Prayer and Intercession of believers.

6. Ark - Full surrender of the believer -Surrender, Prayer.

7. Mercy Seat - Completer victory, rest and peace -Victory.

In conclusion

Secret of abounding is abiding.

The secret of abidingis obeying.

The secret of obeying is loving.

The secret of loving is knowing

The secret of knowingis learning

The secret of learning is Christ

Our secret, strength and joy is Christ

1 Peter 1:2-3 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that [pertain] unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: