Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Typology of the Tabernacle
Dr. Bill Jones, writer for Zion's Fire, did a series on the Temples of Israel last year. In this particular article from November-December, 2004 issue, Dr. Jones gets into the typology of some of the architecture and pieces placed within before he explains he won't cover this topic extensively. Volumes have been written, he says. Someday, when I have even more time on my hands, I'd love to read about it. For now, let's feast on "Part 2: The Tabernacle"
Even before we can go inside, Dr. Jones describes the linen white fence surrounding the structure with one narrow entrance at the eastern end of the courtyard. Okay, not so narrow, thirty feet wide! But what a reminder of the narrow way. No one could come in but through that one entrance. Jesus, the Way, (John 14:6) was not shy in declaring His likeness to this image of old. Jesus, the door, (John 10:7) was not insolent to forbid anyone's entrance.
As we enter, we see the altar of sacrifice, covered in copper, typifying God's judgment. As long as the sacrifice was acceptable, the burning animals would satisfy God's wrath upon the penitent sinners, removing it for a while. Always when this topic is discussed, I agonize over the ugly, barbaric scenes. Hello? This is the 21st century? But the more I study, the clearer it becomes. It is as Dr. Jones writes, "Whoever will, may come - IF you come, the one, God-ordained way." The challenge for today's Christian is to get this across without losing the lost in the heathenish lingo. My deep conviction is the more we avoid it, as we have tried, the less valid becomes our witness. So here I am, delving head first! God provides a way through a loss of life. Afterall, "the wages of sin is death." (Romans 6:23) One very big reason we stumble and mumble in our evangelism is that we keep trying to subjugate God's wrath! It is who He is! And He is all-merciful in that on that Tabernacle altar, we are envisioning Christ, "Whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness..." (Romans 3:25) Verse 26..."that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus."
Next, the laver...
Even before we can go inside, Dr. Jones describes the linen white fence surrounding the structure with one narrow entrance at the eastern end of the courtyard. Okay, not so narrow, thirty feet wide! But what a reminder of the narrow way. No one could come in but through that one entrance. Jesus, the Way, (John 14:6) was not shy in declaring His likeness to this image of old. Jesus, the door, (John 10:7) was not insolent to forbid anyone's entrance.
As we enter, we see the altar of sacrifice, covered in copper, typifying God's judgment. As long as the sacrifice was acceptable, the burning animals would satisfy God's wrath upon the penitent sinners, removing it for a while. Always when this topic is discussed, I agonize over the ugly, barbaric scenes. Hello? This is the 21st century? But the more I study, the clearer it becomes. It is as Dr. Jones writes, "Whoever will, may come - IF you come, the one, God-ordained way." The challenge for today's Christian is to get this across without losing the lost in the heathenish lingo. My deep conviction is the more we avoid it, as we have tried, the less valid becomes our witness. So here I am, delving head first! God provides a way through a loss of life. Afterall, "the wages of sin is death." (Romans 6:23) One very big reason we stumble and mumble in our evangelism is that we keep trying to subjugate God's wrath! It is who He is! And He is all-merciful in that on that Tabernacle altar, we are envisioning Christ, "Whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness..." (Romans 3:25) Verse 26..."that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus."
Next, the laver...
