Məqalələrə qayıt

Məsih Çadırda: Allahın Xalqı Arasında Məskəni

Alfred Bouter
25 iyn 2023
13 Dəqiqə oxu

A Sanctuary For Me

“Christ in the tabernacle” is an amazing topic, vast in scope with many themes. In this article we limit ourselves to a few introductory remarks for our encouragement with the desire that these few thoughts may produce worship praise. He is worthy!

Adam enjoyed communion with God in the garden of (). But then, because of Adam Eve’s fall (), God could no longer have fellowship with them or their descendants. Only on the basis of a sacrifice acceptable to God – combined with true repentance, faith obedience – was fellowship restored (see , ; ). In other words, before a holy righteous God could have dealings with people in this world, the shedding of innocent blood was needed.

Exodus shows that only after their salvation was God able willing to dwell among His people. This dwelling was introduced right after Israel’s rescue from Pharaoh’s bondage, when Moses the Israelites, through faith, spoke of God’s habitation, or dwelling, among His redeemed people (). In this first song recorded in Scripture, such a place for the Lord among His people was linked with His praise worship – an important theme throughout the Bible. After some time Moses was with God on Mount Sinai for 40 days nights (), where he received detailed instructions for God’s willing people to prepare a dwelling place for Him (). However, this project was only realized after the debacle with the golden calf (for details see ).

The Materials Used To Build The Tabernacle

Sixteen materials were needed for the construction of the tabernacle, to be contributed by God’s people as free-will offerings. These supplies symbolize specific qualities of Christ when “the Word became flesh” (), they will keep their value forever. These may be divided into four categories:

METALS SUGGESTED MEANING

GOLD Godhead glory displayed in Christ’s life on earth now in Him in heaven

SILVER God known in redemption; money for atonement the price of redemption

BRASS God’s rights maintained in Christ’s life death, as Judge

CLOTHS WOOD SUGGESTED MEANING 1

BLUE Christ’s heavenly character, the Man from heaven (John)

PURPLE Christ’s royal moral dignity (Luke)

SCARLET/WORM Christ’s humiliation glory (Matthew, )

FINE LINEN/BYSSUS Christ’s perfect righteousness in service toward Jew Gentile (Mark)

GOAT’S HAIR Holy separation as God’s Prophet

RAM SKINS DYED RED Devotion unto death

BADGER SKINS Protection separation

ACACIA WOOD (SHITTIM) Incorruptible nature

OILS & SPICES SUGGESTED MEANING

OLIVE OIL Entirely in tune with the Holy Spirit

SPICES FOR ANOINTING OIL Public witness as King, Prophet Priest, for God’s delight

SWEET INCENSE Pleasing to God; the incense was only for God

STONES SUGGESTED MEANING

ONYX God revealed in Christ, reflected in the believers

PRECIOUS Christ’s qualities in the glory displayed in the believers on earth

The three metals – gold, silver brass – represent qualities found in the triune God as revealed through Christ in manhood.

  • The seven materials for cloths display a fullness of perfections of the Lord Jesus in His humanity, on earth now in heaven. These textiles were made of blue, purple, scarlet, fine twined linen, goats’ hair, ram badger skins. An eighth material was a very special wood – acacia. Being incorruptible, it represents His sinless nature – one of an entirely new order: He knew no sin, was apart from sin, never committed any sin in Him was no sin.
  • The third group – olive oil for the light, with spices for the anointing oil sweet incense – displays qualities in Christ as related to the activities of the Holy Spirit in Him through Him.
  • The onyx stones precious stones for the ephod breastplate represent what the Holy Spirit produces of Christ in the lives of the believers with His support.
  • All of these 16 materials display various aspects of Christ’s life work, including the cross, as well as features of His present work in us through the Holy Spirit. We should not forget that these things were shown to Moses while he was on the mount with God () – an illustration of the Lord Jesus as He is now, a Man in heaven with God.

The number 16 represents a new order of things (number 8) in testimony (number 2), which is in contrast to things linked to the first man. It is striking that the numerical value of the name “Jesus” is 888 – in marked distinction to what man represents, who, created on the sixth day, cannot reach higher than his own glory (666, see ).

It is important to understand that the qualities in Christ that are listed in the tables refer not only to His perfect life on earth but also to what He is now as a Man in the glory. These qualities are to be reflected in the believers representing Him on earth. Also, we should not separate the four aspects of His life on earth in a manner that is too rigid. Rather, we need to understand that each gospel emphasizes a certain aspect of Him without setting aside other aspects or qualities.

God’s Habitation His Glory

When all was made ready set up according to God’s instructions under Moses’ leadership, the Lord came to dwell among His people (). This is also where God would meet His people. These things remind us of Christ in whom the fullness of the Godhead was dwelling while He was on earth (). Furthermore, since His ascension (), the fullness dwells in Him now forever (). God’s dwelling on earth was called a tabernacle or tent, it was covered filled with the glory of the Lord (). God’s grace was evident in the fact that He was willing to dwell with among His redeemed people. They lived in tents, but at the same time He showed that important differences existed between their tents His tent – a topic of study I leave with you.

The cloud that filled the tabernacle covered it is sometimes referred to as the Shekinah – a Hebrew word that is linked to the word for dwelling (mishkan), indicating that God was residing there. The New Testament records that “the Word became flesh, dwelt2 among us” (). The Lord Jesus is God blessed over all () He is the Creator (). He came to this earth in the fullness of time (), sent by God, conceived by the Holy Spirit born of the Virgin Mary () – an unfathomable mystery () – in order to accomplish the work of redemption (). Christ is now seated at God’s right hand, from where the Holy Spirit was sent to dwell in every true believer (; ) as well as in God’s house, formed by all true believers () who are living stones linked with Christ ().

In contrast to the tabernacle in Moses’ day, God’s present dwelling among His people means that He (through the Holy Spirit) has come to live not only among but also in the believers on earth. Acts 2 describes the birth of this other great mystery it continues until the rapture (), after which He will dwell in us forever ().

God’s present house is very different from the one Moses prepared, but in both cases God’s glory is linked with His dwelling. God’s glory was mentioned in connection with the Word who became flesh () – which was a great mystery then () forever will be. Today, God’s glory is linked with Christ glorified with His Assembly () – which is also called a great mystery – based on the incalculable value of His shed blood the once forever accomplished sacrifice ().

God Comes Out – Man Goes In

The tabernacle was God’s dwelling among His earthly people, but it was also a place of meeting between God Israel. In this context we have two essential points: God comes out to meet man – on the basis of the sacrifice through priestly service – man can come into God’s presence where He dwells. Here also everything speaks of Christ.

God in grace comes out to meet the sinner, to save him to bring him to Himself – a major theme in Scripture. In general we can say that God comes out to meet man where he is, lost in sin in bondage, not able to free or change himself, not even willing to do so. When Christ came into the world it was to save sinners () to bring them to God (). Thus the saved sinner meets God revealed in Christ, who is the Word that became flesh.

Christ’s perfect life represents a new order. His holy life by itself would condemn us even because now God could say to humans in their lost condition, “This is how you should have lived.” On the basis of Christ’s sacrifice, but God can draw us to Himself because He found full satisfaction in a Man – of the same human race as we are, but without sin – who perfectly honored Him. Then He gave Himself, through this sacrifice, offered once for all – implying that it was absolutely perfect sufficient – God was fully satisfied in His holy righteous claims on us. In fact, God received through the perfect life sacrifice of the Lord Jesus as a Man than what the first man, Adam, the whole human race had robbed from Him.

Christ honored God in every way in all areas where man had dishonored Him. Therefore, God opened the heavens to proclaim His satisfaction in the Lord Jesus as a Man on earth – at the beginning toward the end of His public ministry, after Jesus’ accomplished work on the cross (). God showed His satisfaction further by raising Jesus from among the dead giving Him “the name above every name” (, literally), for He gave Him the place of honor at God’s right hand (). This is how the Man Christ Jesus went in up (): How great He is!

Christ’s Sacrifice

Without sacrifice there is no access to God, whether in the old or the new order of things. Many sacrifices were offered according to God’s instructions but they needed to be repeated for they could not bring lasting satisfaction to God. Ultimately, the only sufficient sacrifice was introduced: "> ... How much will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" ( NASB).

Comparing the Old Testament types with their New Testament fulfillment, we notice both remarkable parallels tremendous contrasts. One parallel is that a sacrifice acceptable to God is needed, so the problem of sin(s) can be settled God’s holy righteous requirements satisfied. The blood of the Old Testament sacrifices covered them for the moment: Even though the offerer brought a sacrifice for his sin as God instructed was accepted by Him on one day (see ), he might have to go back repeat it the next day. However, Christ’s sacrifice settled the sin question once for all.

Furthermore, all the sacrifices could not bring one repentant person into God’s immediate presence because the entrance was closed. But through Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice believers have been brought to God already. Although we are still on earth we have free access into His presence to serve worship Him (, , ).

The contrasts between the Levitical priesthood the new priesthood to which we belong are immense. The book of Hebrews explains how Christ is seen in the details of the tabernacle its service while at the same time it expounds the enormous differences of the two priesthoods. Briefly, through that letter we understand that Christ in heaven is the High Priest, greater than Aaron, but on earth He functioned thus only once: on the cross. Being of the tribe of Judah () He could not function on earth as a Priest since that line from Israel was through Levi. On the cross He did () was the Sacrifice – the sin-offering, the burnt-offering the peace offering (,28, ,12, 14, ,12,20). Therefore, He is the Leader of salvation leading many sons to glory (), He guarantees their safe arrival because He is the great Shepherd of the sheep (). It is through Him that we may offer a continuous sacrifice of praise, He is the One we present to God in worship adoration (v.15), now forever.

Man Going In

This last point applies to Christ, who entered heaven as we just saw. “Man going in” also refers to the fact that the Lord Jesus brings3 many sons to glory (, ). God’s eternal purpose was that redeemed human beings would be adopted as sons for Himself that they would be with Him forever (; compare with ). In the meantime God provides free access for them () so His redeemed ones may enjoy fellowship with Him now. This enjoyment will be perfect after the rapture, when we will be with like Christ ().

Thus God has brought us to Himself, through His Son our Lord Jesus, the great Leader who brings us has brought us to God (). Our privilege is that we have free access (; ) to enter God’s presence as worshipers (; ). Let’s note once again before we close that Christ is the One through whom with whom biz ibadət edənlər olaraq Allahın hüzuruna daxil oluruq. O, bizim Allaha təqdim etdiyimiz tərif qurbanıdır.

« çadırda» – bu icmalın başlığı – mübarək bir həqiqətdir, çünki Allahın Əhdi-Ətiqdə verdiyi çadırın bir çox təfərrüatları, istər paralel, istərsə də ziddiyyət təşkil etsin, İsa, Rəbbimiz İsa haqqında danışır. Allaha şükürlər olsun!

SON QEYDLƏR

  1. Fokusdan asılı olaraq, bu təsvirlərin bəziləri ilə bağlı başqa perspektivlər də ola bilər.
  2. Yunan feli İbrani felinin «məskən salmaq» sözünün transliterasiyasıdır, bu da Kəlamın Öz xalqı arasında məskən salmaq – «çadır qurmaq» – üçün bədənə gəldiyini göstərir. izzət buludu çadırın üzərində dayandı və onu doldurdu, çünki Allah o zaman Öz üzündəki xalqı arasında belə məskən salmışdı. Eynilə, Allahın izzəti üzündə İsa ilə, göydə O'nunla və indi də bizimlə eyniləşdirildi.
  3. Onların qurtuluşunun Rəhbəri (Kapitanı, Müəllifi, Başçısı) Levit kahinliyindən fərqli olaraq, başlayan və bitirən Şəxsdir.

Alfred Bouter tərəfindən″ }

Əlaqəli məqalələr

Əvvəlcə GTPress ünvanında dərc olunub. Süni intellektlə tərcümə edilib, Müqəddəs Kitab sitatları da daxil olmaqla — istənilən istinadı açın və Azərbaycan Bibliyası 2008 tərcüməsində oxuyun.

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