TUESDAY
For the rest of the week, we will work our way through the three areas of the tabernacle and the items in each. For the next three days, we will look at the various areas of the tabernacle. Then on Friday, we will tie it all together and see why the tabernacle was so important as sacred space for God’s people.
A quick word of warning before we dive into this. This topic is super interesting. It combines ancient history, a mystical, sacred spirituality that feels unfamiliar, typological connections to the New Testament, and an identification with this story as it is a part of our story as the people of God. There is a certain appeal to this kind of stuff (an appeal which Indiana Jones captured and monetized) that can be all-consuming. I’ve witnessed a number of Christians in my life become obsessed with the details of the tabernacle/temple and functionally lose sight of the reality that Jesus and the church are a greater tabernacle/temple. They end up spending all their time consumed with the details of the tabernacle/temple, pining after that bygone era, instead of living in the freely given presence of God. I know I’m working through this series slowly, focusing on each iteration of sacred space in the biblical story in order. This approach leaves us even more vulnerable to becoming consumed with these details. So let’s study it together without losing sight of the greater glory that we now experience as the New Covenant people of God.
The description of the tabernacle moves from the innermost sanctuary to the outermost courtyard. So let’s begin in the Holy of Holies. From the graphic yesterday, you’ll see that this is the innermost room of the tabernacle. Exodus 26:33 describes the first room as “the holy place.” The innermost room is called “the holy, holy place.” In English we just say, “The Holy of Holies” or “The Most Holy Place.”
The Most Holy Place housed the most sacred artifact of Israel’s worship—the ark of the covenant.
Exodus 25:10–22 (See also Ex. 37:1-9) The Ark 10 “Have them make an ark of acacia wood—two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high. 11 Overlay it with pure gold, both inside and out, and make a gold molding around it. 12 Cast four gold rings for it and fasten them to its four feet, with two rings on one side and two rings on the other. 13 Then make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. 14 Insert the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry it. 15 The poles are to remain in the rings of this ark; they are not to be removed. 16 Then put in the ark the tablets of the covenant law, which I will give you. 17 “Make an atonement cover of pure gold—two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. 18 And make two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. 19 Make one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other; make the cherubim of one piece with the cover, at the two ends. 20 The cherubim are to have their wings spread upward, overshadowing the cover with them. The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the cover. 21 Place the cover on top of the ark and put in the ark the tablets of the covenant law that I will give you. 22 There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the covenant law, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites.
The dimensions of the ark of the covenant were about 3 3/4 feet long and about 2 1/4 feet high and wide. It contained the ten commandments (Ex. 25:16), a jar of manna (Ex. 16:33), and Aaron’s rod (Nm. 17:10). These were all symbols of God’s provision. It was made of acacia wood overlaid with gold.
On top of the ark was the atonement cover, or the mercy seat. This was made of solid gold with two cherubim touching wings on the top. Again, a picture is worth a thousand words.
Scripture says that Yahweh was enthroned above the cherubim, over the atonement cover (Ps. 80:1; 99:1; Ex. 25:22; 1 Sam. 4:4; 1 Chron. 13:6). The ark was also said to be Yahweh’s footstool (1 Chron. 28:2; Ps. 99:5; Isa. 66:1).
In the Most Holy Place, above the ark of the covenant is where the High Priest met with God. This is where God’s presence dwelt and, therefore, the most sacred space in creation. This is where Moses would hear from God (Num. 7:89; Ex. 25:22). The High Priest would only enter the Most Holy Place once a year on the Day of Atonement to make atonement for God’s people.
The Most Holy Place is where God chose to manifest his presence most intensely in the Old Testament era. The Most Holy Place in the tabernacle reveals God is set apart. He is almost unapproachable. This is the idea of sacred space—it is distinctly set apart from the rest of creation. Therefore, we should approach sacred space with holy fear, reverence, awe, and wonder. It is not to be approached lightly.
Additional Content
We don’t know for sure exactly how the ark of the covenant looked. We have a pretty detailed description but it still leaves room for some differences. I’ve seen some depictions with the poles towards the top of the ark. The cover may have been curved like this or flat. We also aren’t entirely sure what the cherubim looked like. So any depiction you see is an approximation.
Reflection
I know things are different in the New Testament, and we will get there. (It’s tough applying each day when we are slow rolling this campaign). But holy fear, reverence, awe, and wonder are still essential aspects of our worship of the Holy God. Check yourself on those today. Do you still approach God as holy? Is he the most sacred in your life? We must be careful that we don’t take the “Jesus is my homeboy” idea too far and lose sight of the holiness of God.