God's Desire to Dwell: From Tabernacle to Believers

Devotional

Day 1: God's Presence Through Sacred Spaces

The journey of God's presence among His people begins in the Garden of Eden and extends through the tabernacle in the wilderness to the temple in Jerusalem. The tabernacle, meaning "dwelling place," was a sacred space where the Israelites could atone for their sins and experience God's holiness. Unlike pagan temples, which housed images of their gods, the tabernacle had no image of God, emphasizing the Israelites' belief in a God who is beyond physical representation. This theology aligns with the Ten Commandments and the covenant law, setting the stage for understanding God's dwelling in Christ. The tabernacle's design and furnishings were rich in symbolism, reflecting the Israelites' understanding of approaching a holy God. [03:30]

Exodus 25:8-9 (ESV): "And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it."

Reflection: Consider a space in your life where you can intentionally invite God's presence. How can you create a sacred space in your daily routine to meet with Him?

Day 2: Jesus as the Fulfillment of the Tabernacle

In the New Testament, Jesus is revealed as the ultimate fulfillment of the tabernacle. He is the Word made flesh, dwelling among us, embodying the temple and its elements. Jesus is the light of the world, the bread of life, and the ultimate sacrifice, making God's presence accessible to all. His death tore the temple curtain, symbolizing a new era where God's presence is available to all believers through the Holy Spirit. This act of divine accessibility invites us to experience God's presence in a personal and transformative way. [08:51]

John 1:14 (ESV): "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."

Reflection: Reflect on how Jesus has made God's presence accessible to you. What is one way you can acknowledge and embrace His presence in your life today?

Day 3: Believers as the New Tabernacle

The progression of God's dwelling continues as believers become the new tabernacle, with God's Spirit residing within us. Despite living in a fallen world, we are assured of a future where God's presence will be fully realized, face to face. This transformation calls us to live as vessels of God's presence, reflecting His love and holiness in our daily lives. As we navigate the challenges of this world, we hold onto the promise of a future where God's presence will be eternally with His people, restoring the Garden of Eden. [13:02]

1 Corinthians 3:16 (ESV): "Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?"

Reflection: How can you be more aware of the Holy Spirit's presence within you today? What is one action you can take to reflect God's love to those around you?

Day 4: The Story of Redemption and Restoration

The tabernacle's story is a testament to God's love and desire for humanity to be in His presence. From Genesis to Revelation, it is a narrative of divine redemption and restoration, culminating in the heavenly vision of God's eternal presence with His people. This story invites us to participate in God's redemptive work, living as agents of His love and grace in the world. As we embrace this calling, we become part of the unfolding story of God's kingdom on earth. [16:20]

Revelation 21:3 (ESV): "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.'"

Reflection: In what ways can you participate in God's redemptive work today? How can you be a part of His story of restoration in your community?

Day 5: Approaching a Holy God

The tabernacle's design and furnishings reflect the Israelites' understanding of approaching a holy God. Unlike pagan temples, the tabernacle had no image of God, emphasizing the belief in a God beyond physical representation, aligning with the Ten Commandments and covenant law. This understanding challenges us to approach God with reverence and awe, recognizing His holiness and our need for His grace. As we draw near to God, we are invited to experience His transformative presence in our lives. [07:06]

Hebrews 10:19-22 (ESV): "Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 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."

Reflection: How do you approach God in your daily life? What is one way you can cultivate a deeper sense of reverence and awe in your relationship with Him today?

Sermon Summary

The journey through the book of Exodus brings us to a profound understanding of God's desire to dwell among His people. As we explore the tabernacle's significance, we see it as a pivotal symbol of God's presence, starting from the Garden of Eden, where God's presence was first experienced, to the tabernacle in the wilderness, and eventually to the temple in Jerusalem. The tabernacle, meaning "dwelling place," was a sacred space where the Israelites could atone for their sins and experience God's holiness. Its design, influenced by Egyptian temple architecture, was straightforward, leading directly to the Holy of Holies, where God's presence was most concentrated.

The tabernacle's construction and furnishings were rich in symbolism, reflecting the Israelites' understanding of approaching a holy God. Unlike pagan temples, which housed images of their gods, the tabernacle had no image of God, emphasizing the Israelites' belief in a God who is beyond physical representation. This theology of the tabernacle aligns with the Ten Commandments and the covenant law, setting the stage for understanding God's dwelling in Christ.

In the New Testament, Jesus is revealed as the ultimate fulfillment of the tabernacle. He is the Word made flesh, dwelling among us, embodying the temple and its elements. Jesus is the light of the world, the bread of life, and the ultimate sacrifice, making God's presence accessible to all. His death tore the temple curtain, symbolizing a new era where God's presence is available to all believers through the Holy Spirit.

This progression of God's dwelling continues as believers become the new tabernacle, with God's Spirit residing within us. Despite living in a fallen world, we are assured of a future where God's presence will be fully realized, face to face. The story of the tabernacle culminates in the heavenly vision of Revelation, where God's presence is eternally with His people, restoring the Garden of Eden.

Key Takeaways

1. The tabernacle symbolizes God's desire to dwell among His people, starting from the Garden of Eden to the temple in Jerusalem. It represents a sacred space for atonement and experiencing God's holiness, distinct from pagan temples that housed images of their gods. [03:30]
2. Jesus fulfills the tabernacle's symbolism as the Word made flesh, dwelling among us. He embodies the temple and its elements, making God's presence accessible to all through His sacrifice. His death tore the temple curtain, ushering a new era of divine accessibility. [08:51]
3. Believers are now the new tabernacle, with God's Spirit residing within us. Despite the challenges of a fallen world, we are assured of a future where God's presence will be fully realized, face to face, as depicted in Revelation. [13:02]
4. The tabernacle's story is a testament to God's love and desire for humanity to be in His presence. From Genesis to Revelation, it is a narrative of divine redemption and restoration, culminating in the heavenly vision of God's eternal presence with His people. [16:20]
5. The tabernacle's design and furnishings reflect the Israelites' understanding of approaching a holy God. Unlike pagan temples, the tabernacle had no image of God, emphasizing the belief in a God beyond physical representation, aligning with the Ten Commandments and covenant law. [07:06]
** [07:06]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[03:30] - The Tabernacle's Symbolism
[05:55] - Egyptian Influence and Unique Features
[07:06] - Theology of the Tabernacle
[08:51] - Jesus as the Fulfillment
[10:38] - Jesus and the Temple Elements
[11:40] - The Curtain Torn
[13:02] - Believers as the New Tabernacle
[14:16] - The Heavenly Tabernacle
[16:20] - God's Story of Redemption
[16:20] - Conclusion and Next Steps

Sermon Clips

"And so, oh, remember tabernacle means dwelling place, God's dwelling place. And as I said on Tuesday, God is everywhere. We know that, and the Israelites knew that, and they believed that. But you see, this place was very holy. It was a holy of holy place where they could go and have their sins atoned for. And so, you know, it has a lot of symbolic meaning within that tabernacle as the sins were atoned for." [00:02:58]

"Because you see, other Near Eastern and North African temples, they had a chest of drawers and a bed where the pagan god would be put to sleep at night and be dressed in the morning. But there is none of that in the tabernacle, in the Lord's temple, because you see, the Lord of God of Israel neither slumbers or sleeps, according to the psalmist." [00:06:36]

"But that's not in God's temple, because God said, you shall have no other gods before me. And probably the main thing, the most different, was that in these Near Eastern temples, the central focus would have been on a statue of the pagan god on the throne of the holy place. But in the tabernacle, in the Holy of Holies, enthroned above the cherubim, there's no image of God, because God says we can make no graven image of him." [00:07:06]

"And so what does that tell us about the God of the Israelites? What's the theology of the tabernacle? Well, it's the theology of the Ten Commandments, of the covenant law. And that also sets us up for learning about the dwelling of God as we go into the dwelling of God in Christ." [00:07:38]

"Then in the New Testament, in the Gospel of John chapter 1, we read that the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. And so God's dwelling place is now among humans in the bodily form of Jesus of Nazareth, where he lived and walked among us for 33 years." [00:09:00]

"In John 2, 19 through 21, Jesus is at the temple and he says this, destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days. And they replied, well, it's taken 46 years to build this temple and you're going to raise it in three days? But the temple that he had spoken of was his body. Jesus is the temple, representative of the temple." [00:09:49]

"Jesus is even the ark of the covenant. The ark of the covenant. How? Well, he's the word. He's the word. We read about that in John. The word became flesh. He's God's presence with us. He's Emmanuel. Jesus is the sprinkled blood on the altar. The sacrifice of blood so we can be in God's presence. Jesus is the temple, the tabernacle." [00:10:55]

"Look what happens when Jesus dies on the cross, when his blood is shed. And remember, we can't come into God's presence without the shedding of blood, as it tells us in Matthew. Jesus is on the cross. And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. And at that moment, the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, and the earth shook, and the rocks split." [00:11:45]

"Because a new chapter of the tabernacle of God's dwelling among us was beginning. A new season of God's presence was beginning. Because God now promises that all who believe in Jesus will have access to his amazing presence. And all who believe will be given the Holy Spirit who is God." [00:12:37]

"Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's spirit dwells in your midst? We are. You and me as followers of Christ. We are God's temple. We are God's new tabernacle. God has now decided that he's going to set up a tent and live among his people through you, through you and me." [00:13:02]

"And yet, and yet, that won't always be the case. There will come a day when we no longer will have to do any seeking of his presence, for it will be right there, fully with us, face to face. And so we see this continued progression of the tabernacle of God's dwelling place from the Garden of Eden, then to the tabernacle, and then forward to the temple, to Jesus, and then to the Holy Spirit tabernacling in Christians all over the world." [00:13:44]

"Now, the main point of what we are saying is this. We do have such a high priest who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the majesty in heaven, and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not made by a mere human being. And so the writer then continues in that passage and says in verse 5 that the earthly tabernacle, what we read about in Exodus, was just a copy, a shadow of a greater final tabernacle that will be in heaven." [00:14:23]

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