The Court
Why does the Tabernacle have a court?
Exodus 27:9 (ESV) “You shall make the court of the tabernacle. On the south side the court shall have hangings of fine twined linen a hundred cubits long for one side.
God has instructed Moses to build the Most Holy place where God would dwell, the Holy Place where the priests would minister and now the court. But the simple question is why is it necessary for a court to exist? Why not just a place for God to dwell when we need to remember He's there or need a question answered?
The court exists to teach God's people to actively and intentionally come into His presence with honor, praise and sacrifice. The court was off limits to those outside the covenant people of Israel. Gentiles were allowed in the court if they bound themselves to the terms of the covenant along with Israel. They too would have to take the necessary steps to come before the God of heaven and earth.
The idea of a court yard for God's dwelling would send a clear message that we do not just have God somewhere around us at all times. There are specific places where His people intentionally gather to meet with Him and worship Him.
The court is a prelude to the modern church building in some ways. We gather together as the people of God to worship Him and know Him. Yes, you can meet with God anywhere and any time but there is something vitally important about designating places for corporate worship and prayer. Consider the Psalms:
Psalm 65:4 (NLT) What joy for those you choose to bring near, those who live in your holy courts. What festivities await us inside your holy Temple.
Psalm 84:2 (ESV) My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.
Exodus 27:9 (ESV) “You shall make the court of the tabernacle. On the south side the court shall have hangings of fine twined linen a hundred cubits long for one side.
God has instructed Moses to build the Most Holy place where God would dwell, the Holy Place where the priests would minister and now the court. But the simple question is why is it necessary for a court to exist? Why not just a place for God to dwell when we need to remember He's there or need a question answered?
The court exists to teach God's people to actively and intentionally come into His presence with honor, praise and sacrifice. The court was off limits to those outside the covenant people of Israel. Gentiles were allowed in the court if they bound themselves to the terms of the covenant along with Israel. They too would have to take the necessary steps to come before the God of heaven and earth.
The idea of a court yard for God's dwelling would send a clear message that we do not just have God somewhere around us at all times. There are specific places where His people intentionally gather to meet with Him and worship Him.
The court is a prelude to the modern church building in some ways. We gather together as the people of God to worship Him and know Him. Yes, you can meet with God anywhere and any time but there is something vitally important about designating places for corporate worship and prayer. Consider the Psalms:
Psalm 65:4 (NLT) What joy for those you choose to bring near, those who live in your holy courts. What festivities await us inside your holy Temple.
Psalm 84:2 (ESV) My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.
Psalm 96:8 (ESV) Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts!
Psalm 100:4 (ESV) Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!
Psalm 116:18–19 (ESV) I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people, 19 in the courts of the house of the LORD, in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the LORD!
Psalm 135:1–2 (ESV) Praise the LORD! Praise the name of the LORD, give praise, O servants of the LORD, 2 who stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God!
When Jesus came he drove the money changers out of the courts so that all people would be able to come to God in prayer and worship!
Matthew 21:12–13 (ESV) And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. 13 He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.”
We are instructed through the scriptures to make a place fit for people to gather before God with intention. Yes God is omnipresent and can be worshipped anywhere but gathering together is one of the best benefits of the Church. We do not simply worship God individually on our own, we come together as His people, we are stronger together in corporate gatherings and we must draw close on purpose in company with His people to know Him, learn from Him, and worship Him acceptably.
The court reminds us to COME in and meet with our God. It was His idea!
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