Tabernacle Experience Notebook Handout · 2019. 5. 1. · Where did Moses receive the plans for the...
Transcript of Tabernacle Experience Notebook Handout · 2019. 5. 1. · Where did Moses receive the plans for the...
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TabernacleTHE
Experience
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Welcome to
THE
Tabernacle
Experience
Youareabouttoembarkonajourneyofalifetime.AjourneythroughalifesizeTabernacleofTheWilderness.Yourguide:TheLordGodHimself.
Weinviteyoutorelax,settleinandtakeyourtimeasyoureadthroughthisbookletofabriefbiblicalhistoryleadinguptotheTabernacleoftheWilderness.
ScriptureconfirmsthatitisGod’sdesiretodwellwithmanandproviderestoration.TheTabernacleisevidenceofHisgreatdesire.
YouwilldiscoverthatallscripturepointstoandfindsitsfulfillmentinChrist,evenwithintheCourtyardwallsofTheTabernacle.
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Justafewnotesbeforeyoubeginyourjourney:
● Theticketyoureceivedwillensureyourplaceinline.● Youwillbecalledtobeginyouraudiojourneyaccordingto
thenumberonyourticket.
● Theaudiojourneyis47minutes.● Youwillbepairedwithafriendorfamilymember.● Eachpairwillbegintheirjourney90secondsaftertheother.● Tocalculateyourwaittimesubtractyournumberfromthe
lastnumbercalled.Eachnumberrepresentsapproximatelyoneminute.
● Kindlyturnoffyourcellphones● Photosarenotpermittedasitwouldbeadistractionto
others.Youarewelcometotakephotospriortoopeninghours.
● Ifyouhavesmallchildrenpleaseberespectfulofotherswhoareontheirjourney.
● Strollersarepermittedwithinthecourtyardwallsbuttheyarenotpermittedinthetent.
● IfyouwillbereadingthisBooklettochildrenwesuggestyoureadPages6,7,11,12and14.
AndnowweaskthatyouapproachTheTabernacleExperiencewithasenseofaweandreverence.
Thankyou,
TheTabernacleExperienceGroup
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What was God's original design for humans?
WhenGodcreatedhumans,HemadetheminHisownimage,formingthemfromthedustofthegroundandbreathingintothemHisownbreathoflife.Humansareacomposite:partearth(nature)andpartspirit.WeweremadetosurviveonplanetEarth,butwewerealsoequippedwithacapacityforrelationshipwithGod
(Gen.1:26-30;2:7,15).
Godplacedthefirsthumansinagardenparadiseandgavethemtheresponsibilityoftendingit.Healsometwiththeminthegardenandspoketothemdirectly.TheidealrelationshipwithGodentailsthekindofintimacytheyexperiencedwithHiminthegarden.IntimacywasthekeythemeoflifeintheGardenofEden.ThefirstcoupleenjoyedintimacywithGod-theirCreator-intimacywiththecreatedworldaroundthem,andintimacywitheachother."Themanandhiswifewerebothnaked,andtheyfeltnoshame"(Gen.2:25).IntimaterelationshipandcommunicationwasGod'soriginaldesignforhumans.
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What happened to God's original design?
CouldhumanslivewithGodifdoingsorequiredthemtosurrenderthemselvestoHiswill?Ifso,theywouldenjoyintimacywithHimforever.
Themanandwomanweregivensimpleinstructions:Enjoythefruitofeveryplantandtreeexceptone.TakecareoftheGarden,Godtoldthem,it'syours,butyou"mustnoteatfromthetreeoftheknowledgeofgoodandevil,forwhenyoueatofityouwillsurelydie"(Gen.2:17).
ThereisnorecordofhowlongAdamandEvelivedinthisidealsituation,butonedayEvewasseducedbytheenticingpromiseoftheserpent.HetoldheragodlikeknowledgewashersifshewentagainstGod'scommandandatetheforbiddenfruit.Unfortunately,AdamandEve,therepresentativehumanbeings,failedthetest.TheirfailureiscalledTheFall.ThewholehumanracesufferedtheconsequenceoftheiractionsandfellfromtheirprivilegedstatuswithGod.
ThenewthemeofGenesisbecamealienation.AdamandEvewerealienatedfromGod,whobanishedthemfromEdenandHispresence;alienatedfromtheworldofnature,whichnolongerfedthemasgenerouslyasbefore(Gen.3:17-19);andtheywerealienatedfromeachother(Gen.3:7,16).Alienationreplacedintimacy,andthetranquillifeoftheGardenwaslostforever.
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How did the people of Israel become the slaves of Egypt?
Timepassed,andGodhadHishandintheflowofhistoryasitdid.Heproducedcertaineventswiththepurposeofleadingpeopletosalvation.Thissalvationincludestheforgivenessofsin,repairingthedamagesofTheFallandrestoringustointimacywithHim.Thisplanreacheditsclimaxinthelife,deathandresurrectionofJesusChrist.
Indevelopingahistoryofsalvation,Godchoseonefamilyanditspatriarch,Abraham.FromthedescendantsofAbrahamasmallnationwasformed.AbrahamandhisclanlivedintentsasBedouinsinthearidlandofCanaan(presentdayIsrael).Hisgreat-grandson,Joseph,wasbetrayedbyhistenolderbrothersandsoldtotradersontheirwaytoEgypt.GodworkedthroughaseriesofeventsthatresultedinJosephbecomingtheGrandVizierofEgypt(Gen.41-49).
WhenfaminespreadfromEgypttoMesopotamia,thebrothersofJosephhadtotraveltoEgypttopurchasegrain.TheywereeventuallyreunitedwithJosephandthewholeclanmigratedtoEgyptinordertosurvive.SincetheywerewellcaredforinEgypttherewasnoreasonforthemtoreturntoCanaan.
However,withinafewgenerationstheEgyptianshadforgottenJosephandthefactthathehadsavedtheirnation.ThedescendantsoftheIsraeliteswhohadimmigratedtoEgyptwereforcedintoslavery.AstheIsraelitesincreasedinnumber,theEgyptiansbecameuneasyabouttheirgrowingstrengthandsobeganacampaignofoppressionagainstthem(Ex.1).
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How did God enable the Israelites to escape from Egypt?
GodintervenedonIsrael'sbehalfinwhatisperhapsthemostfamousanddramaticescapestorytheworldhaseverknown.GodbroughtaseriesofplaguesagainstEgypt,breakingdowntheirresistancetoHisdemand:"LetMypeoplego."Throughthisradicaldeliveranceoftheslavepeople,GodsentamessagetotheworldregardingHimself:HispowerisunrivaledandHeisuniqueamongallgods.
ThefinalplagueonEgyptwasthesuddendeathoftheoldestsonineveryfamily.InordertoprotecttheIsraelitesfromthisplague,Godcommandedeachfamilytoperformasacredritualthatcalledforthesacrificeofalamb.Thebloodofthelambwassplashedonthedoorframesoftheirhomeswithaleafybranchofhyssop.Becausedeathpassedoverthehomeswherethedoorsweremarkedwithblood,sparingthefamilywithin,thecommemorationofthiseventiscalledPassover(Ex.12:1-13,21-23).
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What is the Tabernacle?
OncetheIsraeliteswerefreeofEgypt,Godinstructedthemtoconstructanationalshrinethatcouldtravelwiththemontheirjourneys.ThewordTabernaclesimplymeansadwelling.TheideabehinditwasthatGodwouldhaveHisowntentamongtheirtents.GodwouldcausethegloryofHispresencetoresidewithintheTabernacle.TheTabernaclewasGod's"dwelling"amongHispeople(Ex.25:8-9).
ButtheTabernacleisalsoknownbyothernames.ItisGod'ssanctuary(sacredplace);thetentofmeeting(becauseGodmetwithHispeoplethere);andthetentoftestimony(becausethearkofthecovenant,whichcontainedthetestimonyofGod'srelationshipwithIsraelwasstoredintheTabernacle-engravedonstonetablets).
TheTabernaclewasIsrael'snationalshrineandtheplacewhereGodrevealedHispresenceinavisibleform(Hisradiantglory).
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Where did Moses receive the plans for the Tabernacle?
WhenIsraelwasinthedesert,theycametoMountSinai(alsocalledHoreb).GodcalledMosesupthemountainintoadarkcloud,whichcoveredthesummitandwasconstantlyflashingwithlightning.ItwasthereonthemountainthatGodrevealedtoMosesthelayoutoftheTabernacle.EverydetailwasveryimportantsoGodemphasizedthatMosesmakesureitwasbuilt“exactlylikethepattern”whichHewasshown(Ex.25:9).
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How was this slave nation able to construct such an expensive structure?
BeforetheIsraelitesleftEgypt,theyaskedtheirEgyptianneighborsfor"articlesofgoldandsilver"andsotheyeffectively"plunderedtheEgyptians"whentheymadetheirescape(Ex.12:35-36).WhenGodgaveMosestheplansfortheTabernacle,HetoldhimtohavethepeopleofIsraelbringanofferingofallthevaluablesthattheyhadbroughtwiththemfromEgypttoconstructthetentanditsfurniture(Ex.25:1-7).TheIsraelitesgavesogenerouslythattheyhadtobetoldtostopgivingbecausetheworkcrewhadenoughtofinishtheproject(Ex.36:3-7).
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What role did artistic design have in the Tabernacle?
SomeChristiansholdtheviewthatGodisopposedtopaintingsandsculpturebecauseoftheprohibitionagainstmakingan"idolintheformofanythinginheavenaboveorontheearthbeneath"(Ex.20:4).Butanidolisdifferentfromapieceofart.AnidolisanobjectthatpeopleworshipwhilearthasitsplaceinworshipasitisanexpressionofGodgivenskills.(Ex.20:15)
Infact,Godcommissionedcertainpeopletousetheirartisticskills-skillsHegavethemthroughHisSpirit-tomakebeautifuldesignsandevenpiecesofartfortheTabernacle(Ex.31:1-5).Includedinthosepiecesofartwerethesculpturesoftwocherubim(aclassofangelswhoserveasguardiansofGod'sholiness)andtapestry-likecurtainswithcherubimwovenintotheirdesign(Ex.36:8).
ThusGodtheCreator,whoinHiswisdomandartisticskill,designedtheuniverseinallitsbeautyandgavecertainartiststheabilitytomaketheTabernaclebeautiful.ThegloryofGodrevealedinnaturewasechoedinthehandiworkofthosewhoconstructedtheTabernacle.TheirartbroughtpraisetoGod,theGrandArtist.
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How was the Tabernacle transported from one campsite to another?
Ofthe12tribesofIsraelonlyonetribe,thetribeofLevi,wasdevotedtothetaskoftearingdown,transportingandsettinguptheTabernacle.TherewerethreemainclansinthetribeofLevi,andeachclanwasgiventheirrespectivejobs(Nu.3-4).
ThetribeofLeviwaschosenbecausetheyhaddistinguishedthemselvesthroughtheirloyaltytoGodatMountSinai(Ex.32:25-26,29;Numbers3:5-9).
SomepartsoftheTabernaclecouldbetransportedincartssuchasthecurtains,thepost,andtheropes(Nu.3:23-26,36-37).TheinteriorarticleslikethearkandthealtarshadtobecarriedontheshouldersoftheLevites(Nu.7:9).WhenevertheLevitesarementionedintheOldTestamentitisinreferencetotheircallingtoserveGodandthepeopleofGod.TheirserviceincludedteachingthepeopleGod'slawandhelpingwiththeworshipintheTabernacle.(De.17:9-11;33:8-11).TheLevitesservedinmusicandsingingduringtheTempleperiod.
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What took place inside the Tabernacle?
TheTabernaclewasthecenterofIsrael'sspirituallife.Infact,itwaspitchedinthemiddleoftheirencampmentwiththreetribescampedtothenorth,threetothesouth,threetotheeastandthreetothewestallencirclingtheTabernacle(Nu.2:1-33).Godwasattheheartofthenation,andIsraellivedinorientationtoHimandHisworship.
ThefirstpriestdesignatedtotendtotheTabernaclewasAaron,thebrotherofMoses.Onlyhisdescendantsweresetapartastheordainedstaff'intheTabernacle.TheywereIsrael'sprofessionalclergyinregardtosacrificeandtheministryofGod.TheywereresponsibleforhandlingalloftheritualinteractionsbetweenGodandHispeople.Theyofferedthevarioussacrifices,setoutthebreadeveryweek,burnedtheincense,kepttheoillampslit,keptthewickstrimmed,keptthefiresburningonthealtars,kepttheTabernaclecleanandcarriediteverywhereIsraelwent.TheyweremediatorsbetweenGodandthepeople.
TheLevitesactuallycampedonall4sidesoftheTabernacle,creatinganotherbarrierbetweenGodandman.
TheprimaryworshipoftheTabernaclewassacrificial.Sacrificeswereofferedeverydayinthemorningandevening,everySabbath,everynewmoonandduringthegreatfeasts.Sacrificewasalsomadeforritualpurity,foratonementofsinandforthanksgivingandpraise.
TherewasonlyoneHighPriest.Hewassetapartfromtheotherpriestsinseveralwaysincludinghisuniqueclothing.OneimportantdistinctionisthathewastheonlyhumanallowedintheMostHolyPlaceoftheTabernacle,andhecouldgointhereonlyonceayear.ThisdayisreferredtoastheDayof
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Atonement.TheHighPriesttookthebloodofthesacrificeintotheMostHolyPlaceinfrontoftheArk.
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How did God reveal His presence in the Tabernacle?
GodrevealedHispresenceintheTabernacleinseveralways.First,therewasacloudthatGodusedtoleadIsraelfromEgyptthroughthedesert.ThatcloudrepresentedGod'spresencewiththepeopleandprovidedthemshadefromtheblisteringdesertsun.WhentheTabernaclewascompleted(Ex.40:34-35),theclouddescendedontheTabernacle.FromthenonthecloudremainedovertheTabernacle.Atnightthecloudappearedasfire(Ex.40:36-38)andprovidedwarmthfromthechillydesertnights(Psalm105:39).Secondly,God'sglory(aradianceorshininglight)appearedintheTabernacleonseveraloccasions(i.e.,Le.9:23).Third,GodspoketoMosesfromovertheArkoftheCovenant(Ex.25:22;Le.16:2),whichservedasathroneforHisdivinepresence.
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What happened to the Tabernacle?
AfterwanderingintheSinaiDesertfor40years,IsraelenteredthePromisedLandandgavetheTabernacleamorepermanenthomeinShiloh.EventuallytheTabernaclewasmovedsouthtoJudahwhereitstooduntilthetimeofKingDavid.DuringDavid'sreign,theTabernacleismentionednumeroustimesinthebooksofSamuel,KingsandChronicles.KingDaviddesiredtogivetheLORDapermanenthome,andtheLORDhonoredhisrequestandgavehimthedetailedplanstobuildtheTemple.DavidcollectedallthematerialstobuildtheTempleandhadeverythingassembledandpreparedforhisson,Solomon.In2Chronicleschapter1,SolomongoestoGibeon.SolomonledtheentireassemblytothehillatGibeonwhereGod'sTabernaclewaslocated.ThiswastheTabernaclethatMoses,theLORD'Sservant,hadconstructedinthewilderness.DavidhadalreadymovedtheArkofGodfromKiriathJearimtothespecialtenthehadpreparedforitinJerusalem.ThereinfrontoftheTabernacle,SolomonwentuptothebronzealtarintheLORD'Spresenceandsacrificedonethousandburntofferingsonit.AfterDaviddied,Solomonbuiltthetemple.ThelastmentionoftheTabernacleisin1Kings8whereSolomonsummonedtheleadersofallthetribesandfamiliesofIsraeltoassembleinJerusalem.TheyweretobringtheArkoftheLORD'ScovenantfromitslocationintheCityofDavid(alsoknownasZion)toitsnewplaceintheTemple.ThenthepriestsandLevitescarriedtheArkoftheLORDwiththeTabernacleandallitssacredutensilsuptotheTemple.
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A note from the founder of The Tabernacle:
Myfellowtravelers,
WhenthechildrenofIsraelescapedbondagefromEgypt,
MoseswasinstructedbyTheLORDtobuildTheTabernacle.The
TabernaclewasthedwellingplaceforGodandaplacefor
worshipandsacrifice.AtthedirectionoftheLORD,this
vagabondnationtransportedtheTabernacleastheywandered
intheSinaiDesertfor40years.WhentheIsraelitesenteredthe
PromisedLandtheywereinstructedbyGodtogivethe
TabernacleoftheWildernessamorepermanenthomeinShiloh.
Intheyear1996,myfirsttriptoIsrael,Iwashumbledtostand
inthefieldofShilohtoworshipandgivethankstomyLord.As
onewouldexpect,thisjourneytoTheHolyLandwas
impressionable.Amongthemanyhistoricalandspiritually
significantsites,ourLORDchosetorevealhimselftomeina
forsaken,rock-ladenfieldwherethetownofShilohonce
thrived.
DuringmytourourgroupsettledinatShiloh.Onthat
particularlywarmautumnday,thisbarrenfieldbecameour
placeofworship.WegatheredaboutourPastorChuckSmith
Jr.ashebegansharingthefamiliarstoryoftheyoungboy
Samuel,whohadbeenpromisedtotheserviceoftheLORDby
hismother,Hannah.TheyoungboylivedinShilohandserved
attheTabernacleunderthedirectionofthePriest,Eli.Our
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pastorbeganreadingthescripture:"Nowinthosedays
messagesfromtheLORDwereveryrare...whileSamuelwas
sleepingtheLORDcalledtoSamuel,'Samuel!Samuel!'he
thoughtitwasEliwhocalledhisnameandreplied,'HereIam'.
TheLORDcalledSamuelagainandSamuel,stillthinkingitwas
Elireplied,'HereIam.'WhentheLORDcalledtoSamuelthe
thirdtime,attheinstructionofEli,Samuelreplied,'HereIam
LORDyourservantislistening."AtthatmomentourPastor's
voicefadedandthecryofmyownheartresoundedinmyheart
andears.Withheadinhands,IcriedaloudtotheLORD.'Give
meearslikeSamuel.IdesiretohearfromYOU!'Immediately
deepwithinmybeingIheard,'Jeanne'.LiftingmyheadI
responded,'Yes?'Onceagain,'Jeanne'.wasthistheLORD?
ReluctantlyIwhispered,'HereIamLORD,yourservantis
listening.'Silence...Iwaited…Silence.Ileanedforwardand
tiltedmyheadasiftoensurebetterreception.Silence..Was
thisit?Themessagewassimplymyname?YetlikeSamuel,my
sleephadbeendisturbed.TheLORDhadawakenedmysoul&
spiritjustatthecallofmyname.Irestrainedfromskippingback
toourtourbus,yetfounditquiteimpossibletohidethe
schoolgirlgrin.Hecalledmyname!Nowwhat?Iknewfor
certainacommafollowed'Jeanne,'whenwouldIhearthe
completedsentence?Whatwouldthemessagebe?
InregardstoShiloh,myquiettimeswiththeLORDremained
justthat;quiet.WhileattendingourWomen'sBibleStudymy
co-leaderinquiredaboutourupcomingwomen'sretreat.
JokinglyshesuggestedsinceIsraelmadequiteanimpressionon
methatIshouldtakeallofthemtoIsrael.Whileponderingthis
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impossibletaskI'heard'awhisperfromwithin,'BringIsraelto
them,buildmyTabernacle".Thistimemyreplydidnotecho
thatofSamuel'snordiditechomyreplytotheLORD2years
earlierinthefieldatShiloh.WithallduerespectIwhispered,
'Excuseme?'OnceagainIdistinctlyheard,'Buildmy
Tabernacle.'Ijumpedtomyfeet.Thiswasit!Thiswasthe
completedsentencethatbeganinShilohyearsbeforeandit
wastobethethemeofourwomen’sretreat!Withaheartfilled
withjoyandexpectationIresponded,'HereIamLORD,your
servantislistening!'
HisTabernacle?Ireallywasn'tquitesurewhatIhadjustsaidyes
to.Ilookedaroundourimmensesanctuarywonderingifthe
Tabernaclewasbiggerthanthis?Orsmallerthanabreadbox?I
beganthegameofmultiplequestions,yetHehadjustone
answer,'BuildmyTabernacle.'Irushedstraightwaytomy
husband'soffice.Iflungopenhisdoorandannounced'We're
goingtobuildtheTabernacleforthewomen'sretreat.''What?',
Hereplied.'It'sonlyfourweeksaway.''Iknow,areyouready
fortheadventure?'Hissmileandtheslowshakeofhishead
fromsidetosidegavemetheanswerIwaslookingfor,'You
cancountonme'.Ispentprecioussleeplessnightstraveling
throughtheScriptureswithourHighPriest,Jesus.Heledme
withinthewallsoftheCourtyard,usheredmeintotheHoly
PlaceandsolemnlybeckonedmebeyondtheCurtainto
worshipHimintheHolyofHolies.AteveryturnHerevealed
HimselfinthemysteryofHisTabernacle.
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Faithfulfriendsembracedtheproject.Ireceivedtheblessing
andendorsementofmypastorandtogetherwewrotethe
detailsofeachaspectoftheTabernacle.Ihandedovermy
scribbleddrawingsandmeasurementsoftheTabernacle
furnishingstomyhusband,Craig,andtoourdearfriend,Dan.
TheTabernacleoftheWildernessstoodinallitsglorywithinthe
confinesofadesertedrundowntenniscourtwithinweeks.
Somethingspirituallysignificanthappenedwhenwesetaside
meagerelementsanddesignatedthem'HolyuntotheLORD'.
Sheetsofplywood,piecesofcardboard,blanketsmarkedfor
clearance,cansandcansofgoldspraypaint,asimplerented
tent,alltheseitemstranscendedtheirearthlyfunctionsand
becameHolyforHisintention.
Asyouembarkonthisunforgettablejourney,reachouttoHim.
PlaceyourhandinthehandoftheMasterArchitectandallow
HimtogiveyouthegrandtourofHishome.Youwillfindthat
HeisquitethehostandHeisextremelyfondofyourcompany.
Thejourneyispowerful,soholdontight!
JeanneWhittaker, FounderofTheTabernacleExperience
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*AllmeasurementsofthisTabernaclearebasedonthedescriptionswefindintheBibleinthebookofExodus.
*AccordingtoScriptureTheTabernaclePropermeasured15'inheight.TheTabernacleExperiencePropermeasures11'.5inheight.Otherwiseallotherdimensionsareaccurate.
*TheBibledoesnotmentionthedimensionsoftheLampstandorTheLaver.
TheTabernacleExperienceisanon-profitministryof
CapoBeachChurch 25975DomingoAve.
CapistranoBeach,California92624
(949)493-2006
Visitusonourwebsite www.tabernacleexperience.com
formoreinformationandafreedownloadofthisbooklet.
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