What is the significance of the tabernacle furniture?

There are seven pieces of furniture in the tabernacle. Each item of furniture was designed by God to teach some aspect of His character.

1. The Altar of Sacrifice.

The first piece a worshipper would encounter as he came through the door was the altar. It was where the blood sacrifices of clean lambs and goats would be offered for atonement (Exodus 27:1-8, Leviticus 17:11). This tells us that judgment on sin and forgiveness must come first in one’s approach to God. It was sacrifice of Jesus on the cross that takes away the sin of the world. (John 1:29).

2. The Laver of Washing.

The second piece of furniture was a washing basin for the priests called the laver. It came after the altar of sacrifice and before the entrance to the sanctuary. This second piece tells us that God is not only interested in the forgiveness of our sin but also our daily cleanliness in living for Him. As the Christian daily learns God’s Word, the Bible, he or she is cleansed from wrong thinking and ways, so his service is acceptable to God.

3. The Golden Lampstand.

On the south side of the holy place stood the pure golden lampstand. They were designed to hold seven bowls filled with olive oil to provide light. Light and life merged together in one unit. John 1 presents the Jesus as both light and life. “In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.” He alone as God in the flesh gives life eternal and the light to understand and know God.

4. The Golden Table of Showbread.

Directly opposite the lampstand stood the table of showbread on the north side. During the week the bread was to be displayed before God. On the Sabbath the priests were to eat it. We read of the “Lord’s table” in the New Testament where the Christian breaks the bread and eats it in the fellowship of the body of Christ (1Corinthians 10:16-21). Here God and man are in harmony over the same thing: the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. His death was pleasing to the Father as an acceptable offering for our sin and His death is precious to us as the means by which we are forgiven and know God’s love (Romans 5:8).

5. The Golden Altar of Incense.

The third and last piece of furniture in the holy place was the altar of incense with its four horns. This stood by the veil, which separated the holy place from the holiest of holies. This altar was for burning incense, not sacrifice. The incense was a special God-prescribed formula, which sent out a rich fragrant smoke when the priest lit it at morning and evening. Incense pictures prayers to God (Psalm 141:2, Revelation 5:8, 8:3).

6&7 The Golden Ark and Mercy Seat.

This was in the Holiest of Holies. It contained the Ark of the Covenant covered with a special lid called the mercy seat. This was where God’s presence resided and where He communed (talked) with Moses (Exodus 25:22). The veil or curtain blocked the way so others could not enter in. However, the minute the Lord Jesus died on the cross the veil, then in the temple, was split in two showing the way was now made for all to come into the communion with God (Matthew 27:51, Hebrews 9:7-8, 10:19-21).

The Mercy Seat was the cover of the ark. The mercy seat tells us that there is mercy with God. The sacrifice of Christ is God’s mercy seat (Romans 3:25). “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He [the Lord Jesus] entered in once into the holy place [heaven], having obtained eternal redemption for us [all believers]” (Hebrews 9:12).

When we follow the signs in the tabernacle, they lead us to Jesus Christ the Lord.

Application Questions:

Our study of the tabernacle should both deepen our worship of Jesus and make us all the more thankful that Jesus accomplished for us what the tabernacle could not. Spend time thanking the Lord for His sacrifice on the cross making it possible for us today to come into His very presence.

Quote:

Is it not wonderful news to believe that salvation lies outside ourselves? - Martin Luther

Prayer:

Lord, I thank you that because of your supreme sacrifice, the curtain has been rent in two and I can come into the holy of holies. I do not deserve it, but I thank you for your grace that made this possible. Amen