Curtains and Veils
The key words to the tabernacle construction outlined in Exodus 26 it is "curtains" and "veils".
Exodus 26:1 (ESV) “Moreover, you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen and blue and purple and scarlet yarns; you shall make them with cherubim skillfully worked into them.
Exodus 26:7 (ESV) “You shall also make curtains of goats’ hair for a tent over the tabernacle; eleven curtains shall you make.
The tabernacle is to have separated rooms. There will be the holy place where they lamp stand and showbread will remain. Then there will be the most holy place where the ark will be placed and the priest will offer atonement. There are clear themes of separation and entrance. The Tabernacle will display to Israel that God is going to be with them but there will be a specific place where they will experience Him.
Moses was to follow the instructions given him from heaven. How interesting that the curtains would be scarlet and blue. How interesting that the pattern for the tabernacle where God would dwell would be so simply made. It is a tent! Not taking anything away from it but it was a tent! Not a palace of stone and marble, not a crafted sanctuary with pillars and fine jewels. God's dwelling among the people of Israel as patterned from heaven would be a tent covered in blue and scarlet fabrics.
Why? Because as is always the case in the Old Testament scriptures: The tabernacle points us to Jesus. He is the final temple come down from heaven. He would not be of notable reputation or distinguished status among men. He would come humbly and in the midst of Israel. Just as Israel worshipped Yahweh in a humble tent, Jesus took on the humble tent of a human born in obscurity and dwelling normally for 30 years! The colors of blue and scarlet (red) point to the bruising and bleeding whereby on the cross He would make access to God possible for us. The curtains point to the flesh that God would take upon Himself. The flesh that would be torn like a curtain so that we might go in.
Hebrews 10:19–22 (ESV) Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
In the Tabernacle was to be a most holy place. A sacred space where God would dwell on the mercy seat and speak to the High Priest. Notice the features of the curtains:
Exodus 26:31 (ESV) “And you shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. It shall be made with cherubim skillfully worked into it. 33 And you shall hang the veil from the clasps, and bring the ark of the testimony in there within the veil. And the veil shall separate for you the Holy Place from the Most Holy.
The cherubim were to be "skillfully worked" into the veil separating the Holy place from the Most Holy place. This would inevitably remind the Hebrews of the guardians at the entrance to Eden where man originally lived with God in perfect harmony.
Genesis 3:23–24 (ESV) therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. 24 He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.
It would be that veil that would tear from top to bottom at the moment Jesus died.
Matthew 27:50–51 (ESV) And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. 51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.
Now Jesus has provided the way back to Eden. Jesus has made sweet fellowship with God in the cool of the day possible. He hangs on a tree and offers us the free gift of life through His death and resurrection that we might know what God is like and what God is doing. He is reversing the curse by dwelling among us and then in us. He is bringing us back into sweet fellowship with Himself. We are welcomed into the paradise of God where we freely and generously live for one another's interest.
In the Tabernacle we see what God is like. He is the humble giver of life through His own selfless sacrifice. We come to Him and receive with grateful humility the joy of His presence to live as He would have us to live. We join the dance of the Trinity in selfless sacrificial care and giving to one another.
This is what worshipping the God of Israel is really all about.
Exodus 26:1 (ESV) “Moreover, you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen and blue and purple and scarlet yarns; you shall make them with cherubim skillfully worked into them.
Exodus 26:7 (ESV) “You shall also make curtains of goats’ hair for a tent over the tabernacle; eleven curtains shall you make.
The tabernacle is to have separated rooms. There will be the holy place where they lamp stand and showbread will remain. Then there will be the most holy place where the ark will be placed and the priest will offer atonement. There are clear themes of separation and entrance. The Tabernacle will display to Israel that God is going to be with them but there will be a specific place where they will experience Him.
Moses was to follow the instructions given him from heaven. How interesting that the curtains would be scarlet and blue. How interesting that the pattern for the tabernacle where God would dwell would be so simply made. It is a tent! Not taking anything away from it but it was a tent! Not a palace of stone and marble, not a crafted sanctuary with pillars and fine jewels. God's dwelling among the people of Israel as patterned from heaven would be a tent covered in blue and scarlet fabrics.
Why? Because as is always the case in the Old Testament scriptures: The tabernacle points us to Jesus. He is the final temple come down from heaven. He would not be of notable reputation or distinguished status among men. He would come humbly and in the midst of Israel. Just as Israel worshipped Yahweh in a humble tent, Jesus took on the humble tent of a human born in obscurity and dwelling normally for 30 years! The colors of blue and scarlet (red) point to the bruising and bleeding whereby on the cross He would make access to God possible for us. The curtains point to the flesh that God would take upon Himself. The flesh that would be torn like a curtain so that we might go in.
Hebrews 10:19–22 (ESV) Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
In the Tabernacle was to be a most holy place. A sacred space where God would dwell on the mercy seat and speak to the High Priest. Notice the features of the curtains:
Exodus 26:31 (ESV) “And you shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. It shall be made with cherubim skillfully worked into it. 33 And you shall hang the veil from the clasps, and bring the ark of the testimony in there within the veil. And the veil shall separate for you the Holy Place from the Most Holy.
The cherubim were to be "skillfully worked" into the veil separating the Holy place from the Most Holy place. This would inevitably remind the Hebrews of the guardians at the entrance to Eden where man originally lived with God in perfect harmony.
Genesis 3:23–24 (ESV) therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. 24 He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.
It would be that veil that would tear from top to bottom at the moment Jesus died.
Matthew 27:50–51 (ESV) And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. 51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.
In the Tabernacle we see what God is like. He is the humble giver of life through His own selfless sacrifice. We come to Him and receive with grateful humility the joy of His presence to live as He would have us to live. We join the dance of the Trinity in selfless sacrificial care and giving to one another.
This is what worshipping the God of Israel is really all about.
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