LESSON 46
THE FINISHED WORK & THE GLORY OF THE LORD
By E. L. Bynum, Pastor
Memory Verse: Ex. 40:38————Lesson: Ex. 40:17-38
“God, will dwell with those who prepare. Him a habitation. Where God has a throne and an altar in the heart, there is a living temple in which the Spirit will be manifested””Keith L. Brooks.
Note also in this lesson that “as the Lord commanded Moses” is repeated seven times; v. 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 32.
I. THE TABERNACLE ERECTED. v. 17-33
A. Names Applied To The Tabernacle.
1. Sanctuary. Ex. 25:8. From the Hebrew word “miqdash,” a consecrated place.
a. Set apart to the worship of Jehovah.
b. To be regarded as a holy place.
2. Dwelling place. Ex. 25:9; 40:21. From the Hebrew word “mishkan,” a residence; dwelling place, habitation.
3. The tent of meeting. “Tent of congregation.” v.22. Tent in from the Hebrew “ohel,” a tent; dwelling place.
a. A place to meet with others. Ex. 25:22.
b. A sanctified place, a sanctified people. Ex. 29:42-46.
c. A place for all the congregation to gather. Lev. 8:3
4. The tent of witness. Num. 17:7-8
a. A witness to the chosen priesthood. Ex. 28:1-2.
b. A witness to God’s sovereignty in choosing the priest. Deut. 18:1-3
c. A witness to God’s covenant with His people. Ex. 34:27; Deut. 7:6-8
B. Symbolic Lesson On The Erected Tabernacle.
1. God made a covenant with Israel at Sinai. Ex. 24:12-13.
a. Under this covenant Israel had the privilege to come near and worship God.
b. We now have a new covenant and another mount. Heb. 12:18-24, For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
2. The first covenant required a sacrifice.
a. One acceptable to God (a sin offering.) Ex. 29:1,14,18,22.
b. The “one sacrifice for sin forever” acceptable to God. Heb. 10:1-18,
3. The first covenant required a mediator. Ex. 20:18-19.
a. The mediatorial responsibility was later place upon Aaron and his sons after him. Ex. 28:12,29; Lev. 16:1-14.
b. A type of the mediatorial work of Jesus our High Priest. Heb. 8:1-6; 9:13-16; 12:20-27.
II. THE GLORY OF THE LORD APPEARS. v. 34-38
A. Divine Acceptance And Manifestation. v. 34-35
1. The two-fold manifestation.
a. Without the tabernacle as a cloud.
b. Within the tabernacle as a glory.
2. As a cloud to guide and protect.
a. A visible presence. Ex. 14:19,10; II Cor. 5:19, To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
b. A valid promise. Num. 9:15-23; Matt. 28:20, Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Heb. 13:5, Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
3. As a glory to radiate His presence. Lev. 9:23-24
4. Others to whom the Lord revealed Himself in a glorious manner.
a. Abraham-“a smoking furnace and a burning lamp.” Gen. 15:17
b. Israel at Sinai. Ex. 19:18.
c. Isaiah- “the whole earth is full of his glory.” Isa. 6:1-4, In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
B. Divine Administration And Attention. v. 36-38.
1. The cloud to be an administrator for Israel’s actions.
a. It had been on the temporary tabernacle. Ex. 33:9
b. It now was permanently with the tabernacle built according to pattern. v. 38
2. The glory revealed Divine presence.
a. Israel was limited as to how much of God’s glory they could endure. Lev. 9:24
b. This revelation of His glory is only a foretaste of that to come. Rev. 21:22-23, And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
c. Then His glory will no longer be unapproachable. Rev. 22:3-5, And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name [shall be] in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
III. SOME BASIC TRUTHS.
A. God Is Pleased To Dwell Among His Own.
1. In the garden of Eden. Gen. 1:26-28; Gen. 3:9
2. In the ark. Gen. 7:1, And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.
3. In the tabernacle. Ex. 25:8; Ex 40:34
4. In the temple. I Kings 8:10-11, And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD, So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD.
5. In Christ Jesus. Matt. 1:23, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
6. In the church. Col. 1:27, To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Eph. 3:21, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
7. In eternity. Rev. 21:3, And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
B. Sinful Man Is Unfit To Dwell With God.
1. The promise. Isa. 11:10, And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. Isa. 9:6-7, For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace [there shall be] no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. Matt. 1:21, And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
2. The provision. Acts. 4:12, Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
3. The product.
a. Present: I John 3:2, Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. Rev. 1:5-6, And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
b. Future: Rev. 20:6, Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. Rev. 21:4-6, And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
—by E. L. Bynum
STUDY QUESTIONS
1. Give the order of the erection of the Tabernacle.
2. What are the symbolic lessons that are seen in the erected Tabernacle?
3. Who are Aaron and his sons a type of in their office as High Priest?
4. In what manner did the Lord manifest Himself in the Tabernacle?
5. How was Israel to know when to move and when to stay?
6. Give some examples of others to whom the Lord revealed Himself.
7. Give seven instances that prove God desires to dwell among His own.