Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Exodus 40:34-35 NIV
The Bible book of Exodus has the fascinating story of the Jews deliverance from slavery to freedom. It has plagues, miracles, and interesting characters. Even Hollywood has been caught up in the story and made movies about it.
But toward the end of the book of Exodus the story is seemingly bogged down by lists of materials for the portable temple, or tent of meeting, being built. There are lots of details that can make it hard for the reader to stay engaged. This temple/tabernacle is a place for the jewish priests to sacrifice animals for the sins of the people, and a place where God dwelt with the jewish people. It was portable because the Jews had not yet entered and settled into the promised land. Later the Jews would build a permanent temple in Jerusalem, but this tabernacle preceded that later structure.
To appreciate Exodus fully, and the rest of the Old Testament, you need a “Christ centered viewpoint”. It is easy to get into the mindset that since we have a New Testament the Old Testament is no longer relevant. And when we see lots of lists and details like at the end of Exodus that viewpoint can be reinforced.
The point of the building of the temple was because of human sins. God didn’t need a place to live, nor did He need a showy place to impress humans. God was helping us to find redemption, forgiveness, for our sins.
After I finished reading the book of Exodus I felt God nudge me to open up the book of theology I had been sporadically reading. The book is: What Is Reformed Theology? By R.C. Sproul. I was at the section where it describes Christ as Priest. As the book says: The Old Testament work of the priest centered mainly on two functions: offering sacrifices and prayers in behalf of the people. Jesus undertakes both of these tasks….
The book of Hebrews in the New Testament goes into detail about how Jesus is now our High Priest and that He supersedes the Old Testament requirements of sacrifices and a tabernacle/temple for God to dwell among His people.
Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brothers so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. Hebrews 2:17 NASB
For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things just as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15 NASB
Not only is Jesus our High Priest, through Him we are made priests:
you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:5 NASB
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 1 Peter 2:9 NASB
and He made us into a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. Revelation 1:6 NASB
When Jesus came to earth He fulfilled the requirements of Old Testament law and set us free from our sins. When Jesus died on the cross the Old Testament temple veil was torn in two (Mark 15:32). So we have seen that not only was the old tabernacle/temple done away with, so was the old priesthood and its high priest. We have now a new High Priest in Christ, Someone better than the old temple:
Yet I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the temple. Matthew 12:6 NKJV
And we have seen that not only is Jesus our High Priest who intercedes for us, through Him we are also made priests of God.
In the book of Exodus we have the image of God resting upon and entering into the temple that the Jews built. But with the New Covenant made possible through Jesus we see that the born again believer becomes the New Temple where God enters in to dwell forever:
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 1 Corinthians 6:9 NASB
God is both good and amazing. Kind and generous for He not only saved us from our sins, sending Jesus, God in a human body, to clear the pathway for not only our redemption, but for a Kingdom where we will reign as priests and kings forever with Him:
and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Revelation 1:6 NKJV
Yes, the Old Testament can at times seem tedious to read with its lists and rules and requirements of the law. When we feel that way reading through those Old Testament passages let’s remember that God had something better planned all along. Those scriptures were foreshadowing the arrival of Jesus who would fulfill all the righteous requirements of the law. Yet much more, Jesus made a way for us to be one with Him and the Father through the Holy Spirit because of all our Lord did for us.
You are a new temple of God as well as a priest because of what our High Priest Jesus Christ did through His sacrifice of Himself for our sins. If you accept Jesus as your sacrifice for your sins you have so many great and precious gifts and promises from God. If you have not received Jesus as your Lord and Savior what are you waiting for? Call upon Him. Ask Jesus into your heart and He will make you a new temple where God dwells.
