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Exodus Chapter Twenty-Five

1. Chapter Twenty-Five begins a long section in which the Lord reveals to Moses the pattern for Old Testament worship—the blueprints for the Tabernacle.
2. The section begins with a call for an offering (Ex. 25:1-7).
   1. The offering is to be collected on the basis of grace.  No specific amount is set for the gift (Ex. 25:2).
   2. Only those believers with the spiritual capacity to give on the basis of grace will do so (Ex. 25:2).
   3. The contributions were to be of a variety of precious items (Ex. 25:3-7).
      1. gold, silver, & bronze
      2. blue, purple, and scarlet material
      3. fine linen & goat-hair linen
      4. rams skins & porpoise skins
      5. acacia wood
      6. oil
      7. spices
      8. onyx stones & setting stones
   4. The contributions are designed for the construction of a tabernacle, and the outfitting of the Levitical priesthood (Ex. 25:7,8).
   5. The Tabernacle is to be constructed according to heavenly blueprints that Moses is given on the mountain (Ex. 25:9).
   6. Sanctuary (Ex. 25:8). מִקְדָּשׁ miqdāsh ^#4720: sacred place, sanctuary, holy place.
      1. From קָדַשׁ qādash ^#6942: to consecrate, sanctify, be holy.
      2. For the purpose of dwelling among Israel. שָׁכַן shakan ^#7931: to dwell, reside.
   7. Tabernacle (v.9). מִשְׁכָּן mishkan ^#4908: tabernacle, dwelling place.  Even as the Lord was pleased to tabernacle among Israel, the Lord Jesus Christ will also be pleased to tabernacle among Israel (Jn. 1:14).
3. The tabernacle’s construction is spelled out step by step, item by item (Ex. 25:10; 27:21).
   1. The first item to be constructed—the ark of the covenant (Ex. 25:10-22).
      1. The ark is a picture of Christ as acacia wood overlaid with gold (Ex. 25:11,12).
      2. Acacia wood was a hard, incorruptible, indestructible wood native to the Sinai desert.  It portrays Christ’s sinless humanity (2nd Cor. 5:21; Heb. 4:15).
      3. Overlaid with gold portrays Christ’s deity (Jn. 1:1; 10:30-33).
      4. The ark was capped by the mercy seat, the place of propitiation, where the blood was sprinkled, and where God was pleased.  Christ is our mercy seat, who gave His blood, for the satisfaction of God the Father (Rom. 3:25; Heb. 2:17; 1st Jn. 2:2; 4:10).
   2. The second item to be constructed—the table of showbread (Ex. 25:23‑30).
      1. Again, we see acacia wood overlaid with gold (Ex. 25:23,24).
      2. The showbread is a picture of Christ as the Bread of Heaven (Jn. 6).
      3. This bread was made from fine flour (sifted and ground) (Lev. 2:1), picturing the testing and temptations Christ faced (Mt. 4:1-11).
      4. This bread was baked into loaves, picturing the crucifixion of Christ (Matt. 27:33-54).
   3. The third item to be constructed—the golden lampstand (Ex. 25:31-40).
      1. The lampstand was pure gold, indicating that the Jesus Christ’s work as the Light of the Word is entirely from His deity (Jn. 8:12).
      2. The lampstand also pictures the work of Jesus Christ, as the Head of the Church, guiding and directing the local church lampstands (Rev. 1:12,20; 2:1).

Exodus Chapter Twenty-Six

1. The fourth item to be constructed—the curtains of linen (Ex. 26:1-6).
   1. Christ is our veil, and only through Him can we approach the Father (Jn. 14:6; Heb. 10:20).
   2. The torn veil is a picture of the torn body of Christ on the cross (Mt. 27:51).
2. The fifth item to be constructed—the curtains of goats’ hair (Ex. 26:7-13).
   1. The plain appearance of this curtain is a picture of the plain appearance of Jesus Christ (Isa. 53:2).
   2. This plain wrapping picture also shows the humility of Christ, who laid aside His privileges to dwell in the body of man (Phil. 2:5-8).
3. The sixth item to be constructed—the coverings of rams skins and porpoise skins (Ex. 26:14).
4. The seventh item to be constructed—boards, bases, and bars: the framework walls of the tabernacle (Ex. 26:15-30).
5. The eighth item to be constructed—the inner & outer veils (Ex. 26:31-37).

Exodus Chapter Twenty-Seven

1. The ninth item to be constructed—the brazen altar (Ex. 27:1-8).
   1. Wood, overlaid with bronze pictures humanity (wood) and judgment (bronze).
   2. The altar was the place where the spotless lamb was slain on behalf of the sinner, picturing Christ as He gave His life for us (Isa. 53:7,8).
2. The tenth item to be constructed—the tabernacle court (Ex. 27:9-19).
3. Israel is admonished to have plenty of oil on hand for the continual provision of light in the tabernacle (Ex. 27:20,21).

Exodus Chapter Twenty-Eight

1. The next step in the establishment of the Mosaic Law pattern for worship, is to prepare the holy garments for the priesthood (Ex. 28:1,2).
2. The High-Priest’s uniform is described (Ex. 28:3-5).
   1. The ephod is described (Ex. 28:6-14).
   2. The breastplate (Ex. 28:15-29).
   3. The Urim and Thummim (Ex. 28:30).
   4. The robe of the ephod (Ex. 28:31 35).
   5. The turban (Ex. 28:36-38).
3. The Priest’s uniform is described (Ex. 28:39-43).