Series: Victory in the Wilderness
Message # 7 "The Garrison of God"
Exodus 26
INTRODUCTION: Last week we saw that the Tabernacle portrays three primary truths.
First of all it is a description of deity describing and prophesying the Lord Jesus
Christ. Secondly it is a blueprint of the believer. Since the Tabernacle is a house
of three rooms it corresponds to our body. There is an outer court, corresponding
to our body, an inner court corresponding to our soul and an innermost court corresponding to our spirit. Thirdly the Tabernacle is a symbol of salvation. The furnishings in the Tabernacle describes the person and work in Jesus Christ for our salvation. Today we will look at the Tabernacle in detail focusing upon the major structure.
I. THE FOUNDATION OF THE TABERNACLE - Exodus 26:19, Exodus 38:25-27
A. The strength of the silver
1. There was more than five tons of silver that made the foundation of
the tent. 100 blocks of solid silver each weighing 100 pounds
2. This silver foundation was not for structural purposes but for spiritual
purposes
B. The source of the silver - Exodus 30:11-15
1. The silver came from a tax that was levied
2. Sudden death was upon those who refused to pay this tax
C. The symbolism of the silver - Exodus 30:15, 1 Peter 1:18-19
1. It symbolizes the atoning blood of Jesus Christ
2. It symbolizes pure redemption through the blood of Jesus Christ
D. The significance of the silver
1. Without the silver foundation the Tabernacle would have rested on the
desert floor - the sand. Jesus said "a man who builds upon the sand
is foolish."
2. The Tabernacle was built on the solid rock of silver - representing the
blood of Jesus Christ
3. The Tabernacle was built upon silver and silver was atonement money -
ransom money speaking of the silver of the precious blood of Christ
II. THE FRAMEWORK OF THE TABERNACLE - Exodus 26:15-30
A. The cutting of the boards - verse 15
1. Cutting boards symbolizes humanity - Psalms 1 "A righteous man is like
a tree planted by the rivers of waters
2. This is a symbol of the humanity of Christ - Isaiah said that Jesus
would be like a "root out of dry ground"
3. The boards symbolized the humanity that will rest upon the silver foundation
B. The covering of the boards
1. The covering of gold speaks of glory and deity
2. The wood overlayed with gold speaks of those of us who have rested
upon the silver foundation (Calvary) and received the golden covering
that God gives us
3. The covering of gold pictures the Lord Jesus Christ taking upon him-
self the wood of our humanity that we might take the gold of his glory
4. The covering of gold speaks about our new nature. We were cut off
from our old life and when we rest upon his blood atonement we are
covered with the gold of the new nature in Christ
C. The configuration of the board- - Exodus 26:19
1. The boards that were cut off are now standing. They are no longer
rooted. in' the earth but now they stand on his silver foundation representing the stand that we have in Jesus Christ
2. All the boards are two feet in height picturing our equality in Christ
when we are all resting upon him
D. The connection of the boards - Exodus 26:26
1. They are horizontal bars' fastened to perpendicular boards to keep them
standing side by side
2. The boards, representing believers who have been born again, are held
together by five unifying bars that go along the side of every board to
hold them all together
3. These five bars that hold the boards, that represent the redeemed, are
described in Ephesians 2:21 and Ephesians 4:11 - They stand for God's
chosen ministries to the church. Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors
and teachers. God has given these leaders to the church that they might
be a unifying force