LESSON 43
COURT OF THE TABERNACLE & IT’S FURNITURE
By E. L. Bynum, Pastor
Memory Verse: Ex. 38:8————Lesson: Ex. 38:1-31
I . THE FURNITURE FOR THE COURT. v. 1-8
A. The Making Of The Brazen Altar. v. 1-7 (See Lesson 29)
1. The wood speaks of the humanity of Jesus Christ. v. 1. He was born in a stable. Luke 2:7, And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. He was circumcised in obedience to the law. Luke 2:21, And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. He was subject to Joseph and Mary. Luke 2:51, And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. He was tempted and He hungered. Luke 4:2, Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. He became weary. John 4:6. These and many other things during his earthly life, show forth His humanity.
2. The brass speaks of His righteous judgment, v. 2. Brass is unbending and unyielding. When Christ pronounced judgment this was a manifestation of the brass qualities of His nature. Matt. 11:20-24, Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee. (See Luke 16:19-31.) The brazen altar in typical form sets forth the righteousness, justice, and holiness of God, which was satisfied by the death of Christ. In a very real sense it typifies the cross. Heb. 9:14, How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (See Heb.10:1-14.)
3. The horns were for binding the sacrifice on the altar. v. 2. Christ was nailed to the cross, but it was love that held Him there. Matt. 26:53, Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
4. The vessels and grates were used in making the sacrifices. v. 3-4
5. The pans were to receive the ashes. v. 3. Ex. 27:3, And thou shalt make his pans to receive his ashes, and his shovels, and his basons, and his fleshhooks, and his firepans: all the vessels thereof thou shalt make of brass. The ashes were poured out in a clean place outside the camp. Lev. 4:12, Even the whole bullock shall he carry forth without the camp unto a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn him on the wood with fire: where the ashes are poured out shall he be burnt. They represented the body of the sacrificial animal after the sacrifice was made. They are a type of the body of Christ, which was laid in a clean place after He had paid the sin debt on the cross. His body was placed in a new tomb.
6. The rings and stave made it portable to be taken where there was a need. v. 5-7. A type of Christ’s availability.
B. The Making Of The Layer Of Brass. v. 8 (See Lesson 34)
1. It was a place of sanctification and of cleansing. The priests had been washed all over, but even so they must have their hands and feet washed daily Those who serve God today are to be clean. Psa. 24:3-4, Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. Psa. 119:9, Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. Isa. 52:1, Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.
2. After we are saved, we need daily cleansing to serve Him.
3. The brass was given by the women. Here consecration won over vanity. They assembled at the door of the tabernacle, to serve and worship God. They first gave themselves.
II. THE COURT AND ITS GATE. V. 9-20 (See Lesson 29)
A. The Fence Of The Court Made. v. 9-17
1. The fine twined linen represents the righteousness of Christ. I Cor. 1:30, But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. It also is a type of that righteousness which is imputed to us. II Cor. 5:21, For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Rev. 19:8, And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
2. The pillars are a type of His body (the church) that upholds His righteousness (the linen fence). v. 10
3. The brazen sockets a type of His righteous judgment, which is the basis of upholding righteousness. v. 10
4. The fillets of silver (redemption) are necessary to uphold the fence (righteousness). v. 10
B. The Gate Of The Court Made. v. 18-20
1. The gate sets forth in typical fashion the spiritual beauties of Christ.
2. The gate speaks of Christ the door. John 10:1-7
3. The court suggests separation, one of the great doctrines of the Bible. II Cor. 6:17, Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you.
4. All are shut out from the presence of God, unless they come by the door.
III. THE METAL FOR THE TABERNACLE. v. 21-31
A. It Was Committed To Faithful Men. v. 21-23
1. It was properly counted and cared for. v. 21
2. It was properly used by skilled workmen. v. 22-23
B. The Gold For The Tabernacle. v. 24
We can only estimate the weight and value of the gold, but it was indeed a vast amount. One estimate (not the largest) is that there were approximately 2,206 pounds of gold. At $400 per ounce, this would amount to $14,118,400.00.
C. The Silver For The Tabernacle. v. 25-28
One estimate was 7,604.7 pounds of silver. At $15.00 an ounce this would be $1,825,125.00. Where did they get such vast sums? They had lived in Egypt where gold was plentiful. They borrowed from the Egyptians. Ex. 11:2, Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man borrow of his neighbour, and every woman of her neighbour, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold. To borrow did not suggest that they were promising to take give it back. The Hebrew word for borrow, is translated in the following ways. ( AV – ask 94, enquire 22, desire 9, require 7, borrow 6, salute 4, demand 4, lent 4, request 3, earnestly 2, beg 2, misc 16; 173) They may have gained gold and silver from Amalek. Ex. 17
D. The Brass For The Tabernacle. v . 29-31
1. Brass stands for judgment in the Bible. The Brazen Serpent was lifted up when the people had sinned, and the fiery serpents were biting the people. Num. 21:6-9, And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.
2. That Brazen Serpent was a type of the lifting of Christ on the cross for our sins. John 3:14-16, And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
—by E. L. Bynum
STUDY QUESTIONS
1. Name the two pieces of furniture for the court.
2. Give the typical meaning of both.
3. What is the typical meaning of brass?
4. Where were the ashes from the altar placed?
5. What Bible doctrine does the court point us to?
6. What were the pillars set in?
7. What metal was used in the making of the fillets?
8. What is the typical meaning of the gate of the court?