Why is Tabernacle Significant in Scripture?
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.
Key Facts
Term Name
Tabernacle
Primary Meaning
Symbolizes God’s presence dwelling among His people and His covenantal holiness.
Old Testament Reference
Exodus 25:8-9, where God commands the construction of the Tabernacle.
New Testament Fulfillment
Jesus Christ, who embodies God’s presence through incarnation (John 1:14) and provides eternal access to God (Hebrews 9:11-12).
Key Takeaways
- The Tabernacle symbolizes God’s presence dwelling among His people, reflecting His covenantal relationship.
- Jesus fulfills the Tabernacle’s purpose by embodying God’s presence and providing eternal access through His sacrifice.
- Modern believers are called to honor God’s indwelling presence, as their bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit.
The Tabernacle in Old Testament Context
Exodus 25:8-9 establishes the Tabernacle as a sacred space where God would dwell among Israel, affirming His covenantal presence through precise architectural instructions.
The verse commands the Israelites to build a sanctuary 'according to the pattern' given to Moses, emphasizing that its design was divinely ordained to reflect God’s holiness and order. The use of materials like gold, blue dye, and acacia wood symbolized both divine glory and human dedication to sacred service. This structure became the focal point for Israel’s worship, mediating access to God through ritual and sacrifice.
By requiring meticulous adherence to divine specifications, the Tabernacle underscored the seriousness of approaching a holy God. Its layered design - separating the holy and most holy places - foreshadowed the spiritual realities later fulfilled in Christ’s sacrifice and the believer’s access to God.
Jesus as the Fulfillment of the Tabernacle
In the New Testament, Jesus Christ emerges as the ultimate realization of the Tabernacle’s symbolic purpose, embodying both God’s dwelling among humanity and the means of divine access.
John 1:14 declares, 'The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us,' directly echoing the Hebrew term *skēnōsa* (tabernacling), which redefines the Tabernacle’s function: where the Old Covenant structure mediated God’s presence through ritual, Jesus incarnate becomes the living sanctuary. Hebrews 9:11-12 further clarifies this shift, stating that Christ, as the High Priest of the new covenant, entered the heavenly Tabernacle 'once for all' through his sacrifice, rendering obsolete the earthly copies and their repeated rituals. By fulfilling the Law and offering eternal atonement, Jesus replaces the Tabernacle’s ceremonial system, establishing direct access to God for believers. His body thus becomes the new locus of divine presence and mediation.
The concept of 'tabernacling' with humanity in the New Testament signifies God’s intimate, embodied presence in Jesus, transcending the spatial and ritual limitations of the Old Covenant. This incarnation fulfills the Tabernacle’s original purpose: to dwell with His people while maintaining holiness through a mediated, structured relationship.
Hebrews 9:11-12 underscores Jesus’ role as the mediator of a superior covenant, whose singular sacrifice dissolves the need for temporary, symbolic sanctuaries. This transition invites reflection on how believers now encounter God not through physical structures, but through the indwelling Spirit and the person of Christ. Such insights pave the way for exploring the Tabernacle’s broader theological implications in Christian worship and identity.
The Tabernacle's Relevance for Modern Believers
The Tabernacle's legacy underscores that worship is not confined to physical spaces but rooted in God's indwelling presence through Christ and the Spirit.
This symbolic framework shapes Christian worship by emphasizing spiritual engagement over ritual form. As 1 Corinthians 6:19 declares, 'Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?' Here, Paul redefines the Tabernacle's imagery, applying its sacred symbolism to individual believers. The Old Covenant's structured access to God finds its fulfillment in the New Covenant's direct, personal relationship with Him. By recognizing our bodies as 'temples,' Christians are called to honor God through transformed lives, mirroring the Tabernacle's original purpose of sanctifying space and people for divine encounter. This principle invites reflection on how modern worship practices might prioritize heart-centered devotion over external displays, while still honoring the holiness God demands.
Exploring Further
To deepen your understanding of the Tabernacle’s symbolic significance, consider exploring its typological connections to Christ and its eschatological fulfillment in God’s eternal dwelling.
Scholarly commentaries on Exodus and Hebrews, such as those by Gordon Wenham or Thomas Schreiner, offer detailed typological analyses, while resources like 'The Bible Knowledge Commentary' provide accessible overviews. Revelation 21:3-4, which declares, 'I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God”' (NIV), illustrates the Tabernacle’s eschatological vision of divine-human communion.
Further Reading
Key Scripture Mentions
Exodus 25:8-9
God commands the Israelites to build a sanctuary for Him to dwell among them.
John 1:14
Describes Jesus as the incarnate Word who 'tabernacled' among humanity.
Hebrews 9:11-12
Jesus enters the heavenly sanctuary once for all through His sacrifice.
Revelation 21:3-4
God’s eternal dwelling with humanity is fulfilled in the New Jerusalem.
Related Concepts
Covenant (Theological Concepts)
The Tabernacle reflects God’s covenantal presence and holiness with Israel.
Sanctuary (Symbols)
A recurring symbol of God’s dwelling place, fulfilled in Christ’s body.
Skēnōsa (Language)
The Greek term for 'tabernacling,' used in John 1:14 to describe Jesus’ incarnation.