Tabernacle 3D view
As part of the orientation to the Philippines short-term team, our missionary hosts shared with them their approaches to prayer and evangelism. She gets up at 3 AM every morning to pray. Her prayer goes through five steps using the five pieces of equipment or furniture in the outer courtyard and Holy Place of the tabernacle or the temple, as follows:
1. Altar of burnt offering – where sacrifices were offered. First there must be death to self, otherwise a sinner cannot approach God.
2. Bronze laver – in which the priests cleansed themselves. Next there must be cleansing through God’s word. Without holiness no one will see the Lord (Heb 12:14).
3. Golden lampstand – which provided light within the Holy Place. After the first two steps a person is already cleansed and is shining.
4. Table of showbread – on which the bread of Presence was placed. She sees this as the person offering his life for others’ benefit.
5. Altar of incense – where burning incense was offered continuously to the Lord. Here our host prayed for the nations until she hears a word from God.
The first two pieces were placed in the outer courtyard. She interprets this as the soul saved, with which we know God in natural revelation with our five senses. The next three pieces were in the Holy Place, and interpreted as the spirit sanctified. Here we know God with our spirit.
There is actually a sixth piece, the Ark of the Covenant, in the Most Holy Place. She believes that if we enter into the Holy of Holies, there will be direct revelation from God, we will see God’s glory, and as we wait upon God, our spirit will be immersed in the Holy Spirit. However, she claimed that she had not entered into God’s presence yet, so cannot tell us from first hand experience.
I might add that some scholars see each “furniture” as one aspect of Christ’s person or work:
1. Brazen altar – the cross of Christ atoning for our sins and saving sinners;
2. Laver – Christ our sanctification (1 Co 1:30) cleansing sinners;
3. Lampstand – Christ as light of the world (Jn 8:12; 9:5) giving light to sinners;
4. Showbread – Christ as bread of life (Jn 6:35, 48) fellowshipping with sinners;
5. Incense altar – Christ our Intercessor;
6. The Ark – Christ the Word personified.
This is a helpful way to think through our relationship with the Lord and go through adoration, confession, thanksgiving and supplication. How’s your prayer life? Maybe this discipline will help your spiritual formation.
Tabernacle floor plan
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