You are invited to journey with us through the Tabernacle of old and to experience its connection with Jesus – God’s ultimate sacrifice that enabled us to walk with Him for eternity! By using this model as a prayer, it invites God’s children into a deeper relationship with Him and provides us with a place to rest in his presence. To go from Tabernacle to Throne Room… from death to LIFE!
Each of the Tabernacle furnishings will be discussed below with an explanation, Bible verses, and a voice note prayer. Enjoy the journey!
Introduction
4000 years ago, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob gave Moses specific instructions to build a Tabernacle – the Tent of Meeting. This was where God came to meet with His people, the Israelites, as they wandered through the desert for 40 years, leaving their life of slavery in Egypt and looking forward to freedom and abundance in the Promised Land of Canaan.
The Lay-out
The Tabernacle was divided into 3 sections, with each area containing specific items for sacrifice and worship. Each area also had strict instructions regarding who was allowed to enter:
- The Outer Court – All Israelites were allowed here. This is where they brought their animals to be sacrificed for the forgiveness of their sins. These sacrifices were performed by the priests on the Brazen Altar. There was also a wash basin where the priests had to wash themselves before they could enter the Holy Place inside the Tent.
- The Holy Place – Only the Levites were allowed into this first room in the Tent. They were the tribe of Israel dedicated to God for special service in the Tabernacle and, later in history, in the Temple in Jerusalem. They had to keep holy lamps burning daily, were provided with special bread to eat and burnt incense as a fragrant offering to God.
- The Most Holy Place – Behind a thick curtain was the second and final room in the Tent. This was where the Ark of the Covenant was kept – a most holy item that represented the very Presence of God with His people. Only the High Priest was allowed to go inside once a year. On this Holy Day, he would take blood from an animal into the Most Holy Place and ask for forgiveness of the sins of the whole Israelite community.
This video gives a glimpse of what the Tabernacle looked like.
When Jesus came 2000 years ago, His life and death fulfilled the meaning of every item inside the Tabernacle and opened up the way to God for every nation, tribe, and tongue. Walk through with us and read the ancient words about Jesus and those spoken by Jesus Himself. May you see that He became Emmanuel, God with us, that He paid the ultimate price for our sins through His sacrifice on the cross, and that through Him we can walk out of slavery, guilt and separation, and into freedom, joy and everlasting life with the Creator of the Universe, forever!
When Jesus came 2000 years ago, His life and death fulfilled the meaning of every item inside the Tabernacle and opened up the way to God for every nation, tribe and tongue. Walk through with us and read the ancient words about Jesus and those spoken by Jesus Himself. May you see that He became Emmanuel, God with us, that He paid the ultimate price for our sins through His sacrifice on the cross, and that through Him we can walk out of slavery, guilt and separation, and into freedom, joy and everlasting life with the Creator of the Universe, forever!
Ready for your journey?
You can listen to the prayer for the Outer Court here:
The Way
(Entrance to the Outer Court)
Only Israelites were allowed into the Outer Court of the original Tabernacle.
When Jesus came, He declared that HE was now the way to the Father, enabling both the Jews and all other nations to have a relationship with God.
- Prayer: Jesus, open the eyes of my heart as I enter this space. Thank you for opening this door, even to me.
Bible Verses:
John 14:6: “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
John 1:12: “To all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.”
John 10:9: “I am the gate; whoever enters through Me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.”
Brazen Altar
(Representative of the Cross)
This is where the Israelites brought their sacrifices to ask forgiveness for their sins. On Good Friday, Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of the world when He willingly laid down His life and was crucified. Just as the blood of animals was necessary for the forgiveness of the Israelites’ sins, so the blood of Jesus became the perfect sacrifice for the forgiveness of the sins of the world. In order for us to enter into this relationship with God, we need to accept the sacrifice of Jesus for OUR sins.
- Prayer: Jesus, thank you for the sacrifice of Your life. Thank you for Your death, which was the doorway, opening up the way for us to have a relationship with God the Father.
Bible Verses:
John 1:29: “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
Heb 9:22: “The law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”
Isa 53:5: “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.”
The Wash Basin
Here, the priests and Levites washed themselves before entering the Holy Place to perform their duties there. In the same way, Jesus washes away our sins when we accept His sacrifice for us. New believers also get baptized in water when they make a public declaration of their faith in Jesus.
The basin was made of polished bronze, said to be as reflective as a mirror, and could identify any spot of uncleanness that still remained.
We also need to examine our lives daily to check if we are still aligned with God in what we do and say. The Bible, God’s Word, helps us with this, acting like a mirror and showing us the Father’s heart and will.
- Prayer: Father God, thank you for Your Word, teaching us how to live lives that honour You. Thank you for washing away our sins, never to think of them again. Help me to spend regular time in Your Word and to do what it teaches.
Bible Verses:
John 13:5,8: “He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples’ feet. “No,” said Peter, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “unless I wash you, you have no part with Me.”
Matt 3:16: “As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on Him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.”
Eph 5:25-27: “Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.”
You can listen to the prayer for the Holies here:
The Truth
(Entrance to the Holy Place)
In a society where Truth has become very relative, we can hold on to the absolute Truth found in God’s Word. The Bible teaches that God wants His children to worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. Inside this section of the Tent, we will find foundational truths about who Jesus is and what He came to do.
- Prayer: Holy Spirit, walk with me and settle absolute truth in my heart so that I may know how to live. Thank you that Your truth never changes.
Bible Verses:
John 14:6: “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
John 3:21: “Whoever lives by the truth comes into the light.”
John 4:24: “God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
John 8:32,36: “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free… So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
John 18:37: “Jesus answered… The reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to Me.”
The Lampstand
This was the only source of light in the Tabernacle and the 7 lamps were kept burning permanently. Here we think of the role the Holy Spirit has in our lives. He is the One who testifies to the truth of who Jesus is, He opens our hearts to understand what the Bible teaches, and He is the still, small voice that guides us.
- Prayer: Jesus, thank you that You are the Light we can fix our eyes on. Holy Spirit, thank you for guiding us in all truth and for lighting the path ahead of us when darkness seems to close in.
Bible Verses:
Ps 119:105: “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”
John 1:9: “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.”
John 8:12 “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 15:26: “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father – the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father – He will testify about Me.”
The Table of Showbread
On the table, 12 special loaves of bread were arranged, 1 for each tribe of Israel. Only the High Priest and his sons were allowed to eat these. Aaron and his sons did not receive any land when they settled in Canaan, had no means of creating a livelihood for themselves, and were 100% reliant on God to provide for their daily needs.
Here we are reminded of God’s provision for His children, but also of Jesus, the Bread of Life, that sustains our spirits for eternity.
- Prayer: Father God, thank you that You know what I need even before I ask. Help me to trust You with every aspect of my life. Jesus, thank you that You give me everything I need to live a life worthy of Your sacrifice.
Bible Verses:
John 6:35: “Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever come to Me will never go hungry, and whoever believe in Me will never be thirsty.”
Matt 4:4: “Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Matt 6:31: “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’… your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
You can listen to the prayer for the last items in the Tabernacle here:
The Altar of Incense
Our prayers are fragrant offerings before God. Here is where you can bring whatever is on your heart before the Throne Room of God.
- Prayer: Father God, thank you that You promise us that Your ears are not deaf to hear our prayers. Jesus, thank you that You stand on the right hand side of the Throne of God, interceding for Your people, day and night. Holy Spirit, thank you that you pray on our behalf when our words fail us.
The Lord’s Prayer (Matt 6: 9-15)
Our Father in Heaven, Hallowed by your Name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, On Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us today our daily bread, And forgive us our debts, As we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, forever and ever. AMEN
The Names of God
- Elohim – God the Creator
- El Roi – The God who sees me
- Jehovah Jireh – The Lord will provide
- Yahweh – Lord, the God who redeems
- Jehovah Nissi – The Lord is my banner
- Jehovah Rapha – The Lord who heals
- Adonai – Lord, the One we choose to serve
- El Shaddai – Almighty God
- Jehovah Shalom – The Lord is peace
- Yahweh Tsuri – God our Rock
- Yahweh Tsebaoth – Lord of Hosts
- Yahweh Rohi – The Lord my Shepherd
Bible Verses:
2 Cor 2:14: “But thanks be to God, who uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of Him (Christ) everywhere.”
Rev 5:8: “They were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.”
Rev 8:4: “The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand.”
The Life
(Entrance to the Most Holy Place)
The beauty and mercy of this final entrance, is the fact that it doesn’t exist anymore! The moment Jesus let out His final breath on that Good Friday, this curtain in the temple (said to be 20m in height and 10cm thick) tore from top to bottom. As if God Himself tore the veil in two, destroying the barrier between a Holy God and sinful humanity once and for all.
The sacrifice of Jesus was the only thing necessary to give us access to God our Father, for an eternity of living, free from the sting of death for all time.
- Prayer: Jesus, test my heart and show me who is sitting on the throne of my life. With your sacrifice, the veil was torn, and You opened up the way to a relationship with the Creator God. I want the abundant life you are offering.
Bible Verses:
John 14:6: “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
John 3:36: “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son wil not see life.”
John 10:10: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
Matt 27:50-51: “And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, He gave up His spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.”
Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat
This was the room where God would come down and meet with the High Priest on behalf of the Israelites. The Ark and the Mercy Seat were most holy symbols of God’s presence with His people.
Today, we don’t need to go into a building to find God. We don’t need to ask a holy person to talk to God on our behalf. He is available to all of us, freely, through what Jesus did for us on Good Friday and through His Holy Spirit that now lives in everyone who believes in Jesus.
God IS with us. Do you want to be with Him?
- Prayer: Lord Jesus, may we say with the Christians of the ages: I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. AMEN
Bible Verses:
Ex 25:22: “There I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat which is on the ark of the Testimony.”
Heb 4:14,16: “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
Matt 28:20: “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Step out into
LIFE
Thank you for going on this journey with us! Please do not hesitate to reach out if you would like to talk to someone about what you experienced today.
“The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” James 5:16
Heb 13:20-21: “Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”