The Gate
The Old Testament Tabernacle has always been intriguing to me. I led a women’s retreat several years ago and we discussed each part of that Tabernacle and how we can relate the parts of it to our lives today. As we prepare for Easter, I would like to talk through those parts through this blog series.
Exodus 25:8-9 says, “And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it.”
Simply, the Tabernacle consisted of a rectangle structure with beams and curtains for the walls because it had to be mobile. One would walk through the gate and encounter the bronze altar, then the bronze laver or basin. Next, was another structure consisting of 2 rooms. The first room held the Lampstand, the Table of Showbread, and the Altar of Incense. The inner room was called the Most Holy Place, where the Ark of the Covenant was placed. Exodus 40 tells us how God told Moses to erect the “tabernacle of the tent of meeting.” I do love that phrase! It speaks to me of God’s willingness to meet with us.
So, in this series, I want to start with the outer structure and the outer gate of the Tabernacle.
Revelation 19:8 says, “Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.”
The structure was surrounded by white linen curtains which represents cleansing and purity.
If you wanted to have fellowship with God, there was only one way to get there…through the outer gate. The one and only gate is a representation of Christ as the only way through which one could fellowship with God and worship Him. To do this, one must enter in through the gate to the place where God dwelled. Jesus said in his famous “I am” statements:
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) and “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.” (John 10:9)
He also said:
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14)
The act of entering the gate to the tabernacle was significant to the Israelites. By entering, one could find forgiveness of sin and fellowship with God.
To get to have that fellowship with God, you also had to bring something to the altar; an offering was required. The people had to bring an animal to the priests for sacrifice to atone for sin. Today, we know that Jesus is that sacrifice for us. 1 John 2:1-3 tells us, “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him if we keep his commandments.”
This all is simply put and there is really so much more in connecting the Old Testament Tabernacle to today. Just like the Israelites learned, that they could only come to God in the way He prescribed, so it is with us that we can only come to Him through the way He provided for us – Jesus.
