Exodus 27: 1 - 21
Outside does not reflect what’s inside
27 “You shall make an altar of acacia wood, five cubits long and five cubits wide—the altar shall be square—and its height shall be three cubits. 2 You shall make its horns on its four corners; its horns shall be of one piece with it. And you shall overlay it with bronze. 3 Also you shall make its pans to receive its ashes, and its shovels and its basins and its forks and its firepans; you shall make all its utensils of bronze. 4 You shall make a grate for it, a network of bronze; and on the network you shall make four bronze rings at its four corners. 5 You shall put it under the rim of the altar beneath, that the network may be midway up the altar. 6 And you shall make poles for the altar, poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with bronze. 7 The poles shall be put in the rings, and the poles shall be on the two sides of the altar to bear it. 8 You shall make it hollow with boards; as it was shown you on the mountain, so shall they make it. 9 “You shall also make the court of the tabernacle. For the south side there shall be hangings for the court made of fine woven linen, one hundred cubits long for one side. 10 And its twenty pillars and their twenty sockets shall be bronze. The hooks of the pillars and their bands shall be silver. 11 Likewise along the length of the north side there shall be hangings one hundred cubits long, with its twenty pillars and their twenty sockets of bronze, and the hooks of the pillars and their bands of silver. 12 “And along the width of the court on the west side shall be hangings of fifty cubits, with their ten pillars and their ten sockets. 13 The width of the court on the east side shall be fifty cubits. 14 The hangings on one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits, with their three pillars and their three sockets. 15 And on the other side shall be hangings of fifteen cubits, with their three pillars and their three sockets. 16 “For the gate of the court there shall be a screen twenty cubits long, woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, made by a weaver. It shall have four pillars and four sockets. 17 All the pillars around the court shall have bands of silver; their hooks shall be of silver and their sockets of bronze. 18 The length of the court shall be one hundred cubits, the width fifty throughout, and the height five cubits, made of fine woven linen, and its sockets of bronze. 19 All the utensils of the tabernacle for all its service, all its pegs, and all the pegs of the court, shall be of bronze. 20 “And you shall command the children of Israel that they bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to cause the lamp to burn continually. 21 In the tabernacle of meeting, outside the veil which is before the Testimony, Aaron and his sons shall tend it from evening until morning before the LORD. It shall be a statute forever to their generations on behalf of the children of Israel.
God doesn't focus on our outward appearance. It is what's on the inside that matters most to Him. The Bible tells us that God's focus is on developing our inner beauty so that it can be reflected in everything we do and what we are.
1 Samuel 16:7 - "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. A man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
James 1:23 - "Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror."
But, trustworthy people look good, right?
Do they always? Outward appearance is not the best way to judge how "good" a person is. One example is Saul. The Israelites looked around at the other nations and wanted a man who would be their king. They had rejected our Loving Great God as their Leader. So looking around they spotted a tall man. He was a very handsome man who looked good on the outside by on the inside had many flaws. He was chosen by the people because he was very charming and good-looking. People like Saul serve to remind us that what is on the outside does not always match the inside.
More importantly, look at our Holy Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Here is God's Son come to Earth in as a man. Do people recognize His outward appearance as anything but a man? No. Instead, he was hung on a cross and died. His own people did not look beyond the outer appearance to see His inner beauty and holiness.
Matthew 23:28 - "Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness."
Matthew 7:20 - "Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions."
So, is it important to look good?
Unfortunately, we do live in a superficial world where people do judge on appearance. We would all love to say that we are not in the majority and that we all look beyond what's on the outside, but virtually all of us are influenced by appearances.
Yet, we need to keep appearance in perspective. The Bible tells us that it is important to present ourselves as nicely as possible, but God does not call us to go to extremes. It is important that we remain aware of why we do the things we do to look good. Ask yourself two questions:
• Does your focus on your appearance take your eyes off the Lord?
• Are you more focused on your weight, clothes, or makeup than you are of God?
If you answered, "Yes," to either of the questions then you may need to take a closer look at your priorities. The Bible tells us to look closer at our hearts and actions rather than our presentation and appearance.
Colossians 3:17 - "Whatever you say or do should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks to God the Father because of him."
Proverbs 31:30 - "Charm can be deceiving, and beauty fades away, but a woman who honors the Lord deserves to be praised."
As you know the Tabernacle was this huge black tent complex. It was enclosed in a beautiful white linen wall. It was a noticeable beauty in its own right when gazed upon. Yet the real beauty and brilliance was on the inside. Today we are going to continue our study of our Lord’s traveling residence.
The altar was to be covered with ‘brazen copper’, probably copper alloyed with tin to make bronze. It was thus of inferior material compared with the gold and silver in the sanctuary, and served to demonstrate that through it earth met with heaven. It was the place where sin was dealt with. (There may also have been the practical purpose of it being more weatherproof and fireproof).
On that altar would be offered all the offerings and sacrifices of Israel which would result in forgiveness and mercy, pardon for sins, and the declaration of being made righteous (that is, as seen as without guilt) through the death of a substitute and representative offering, and would be the means by which they could offer themselves to God in dedication and thanksgiving, in praise and in worship, until the greater sacrifice came Who would offer Himself up once and for all (Hebrews 10.10).
27 “You shall make an altar of acacia wood, five cubits long and five cubits wide—the altar shall be square—and its height shall be three cubits. 2 You shall make its horns on its four corners; its horns shall be of one piece with it. And you shall overlay it with bronze.
The altar, which would be placed in the courtyard facing the Holy Place, was five by five by three cubits or 7 feet by 7 feet by 4.5 feet). It was made of acacia wood covered with brazen copper, (copper alloyed with tin) signifying God’s strength and glory, but of a lesser value than the gold and silver within the sanctuary. But the brazen copper would be better placed to take the heat than gold. However, as much else is of brazen copper in this part of the Dwelling place it is clear that it is intended to be an indication that the place was not as holy as the inner sanctuary.
The setting of the altar outside the inner sanctuary would be necessary because of the continual smoke that would arise from the altar. But it was probably also in order to make it accessible to the people and to prevent any contact with sin from entering the inner sanctuary. It was an indication that in approaching God the very first step must be atonement.
The four ‘horns’ were upward projections at each of the four corners of the altar. This would suggest that the altar indicated heavenward movement and strength and power.
The altar was seemingly a large hollow box, made hollow with planks (verse 8) and a grate for use to fill the box preparatory to laying the wood for sacrifice (20.24-25). It was ideal for wilderness travel. It was the place where atonement was made (Leviticus 17.11). On it were offered the various offerings and sacrifices required by the Law.
3 Also you shall make its pans to receive its ashes, and its shovels and its basins and its forks and its fire pans; you shall make all its utensils of bronze.
The different accoutrements for the altar were also made of brazen copper. The vessels for carrying away the ashes and remains of the fat, the shovels for shoveling them, the basins for catching the blood (24.6), the flesh hooks for maneuvering the sacrifices, and the fire pans possibly for such tasks as carrying the ashes from the altar to the altar of incense (Leviticus 16.12).
4 You shall make a grate for it, a network of bronze; and on the network you shall make four bronze rings at its four corners. 5 You shall put it under the rim of the altar beneath, that the network may be midway up the altar.
The network grating was in order to provide sufficient draught for the fire, and/or it may have contained the ashes that fell through from above, or it may have been a protection to prevent the actual altar being touched by the priests. The four rings were to take the poles used for carrying the altar. There was clearly a ledge (or band) round the altar midway between top and bottom, probably for the priests to stand on as they ministered at the altar. It could be made accessible by a mound of earth surrounding the altar. This would be why the priests wore special breeches. The altar was not to be approached by steps (20.26).
6 And you shall make poles for the altar, poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with bronze. 7 The poles shall be put in the rings, and the poles shall be on the two sides of the altar to bear it.
When on the move the altar would be borne by staves which went through the rings on each side of the altar.
8 You shall make it hollow with boards; as it was shown you on the mountain, so shall they make it.
This confirms that the altar was hollow inside. The making of it in the exact pattern was necessary (25.40) in order to prevent false impressions being given by the addition of things added to conform with other altars they had known. Beauty and splendor were incorporated but idolatrous associations must be renounced. The way to God had to be taken in the way that God laid down.
Before and around the sanctuary was a large courtyard into which the people themselves could come. They could not enter the sanctuary, only the chosen priests would be able to do that, but they (usually the heads of households except where individual offerings were to be offered) could come before it with their offerings and their prayers knowing that He was there to hear. And here they could offer their worship and their thanksgiving to God.
It must be understood that many would not even enter this court except through their representatives, the fathers of their houses. It was a sacred place and not to be entered lightly. To the vast majority of Israel the area around the courtyard would be the place where they came to meet with Yahweh.
9 “You shall also make the court of the tabernacle. For the south side there shall be hangings for the court made of fine woven linen, one hundred cubits long for one side. 10 And its twenty pillars and their twenty sockets shall be bronze. The hooks of the pillars and their bands shall be silver. 11 Likewise along the length of the north side there shall be hangings one hundred cubits long, with its twenty pillars and their twenty sockets of bronze, and the hooks of the pillars and their bands of silver.
The two sides of the courtyard were to be one hundred cubits in length and to be formed by fine twined linen on twenty pillars whose hooks and fillets were of silver. The fillets may in fact have been connecting rods connecting the pillars and supporting the curtains, although some see them as a band running round the base of the pillars.
The twined linen separated the court from the outside world and may well have depicted the idea of purity and righteousness in contrast with the sinfulness of the outside world. Those who would come before God must do so in purity and righteousness. Leaving their sins behind they must enter to obtain atonement and enjoy time in God’s presence. While the pillars could be of brazen copper the actual fittings that held the curtain material must be of silver.
So as we go along we see that gold is used in the sanctuary itself, although silver is used where contact has to be made of the holy with the marginal ground. Silver is also used to connect the holy with what is earthy, such as here, connecting the twined linen with the pillars, and mainly brazen copper for what is outside the sanctuary, again denoting the movement from the most holy to the less holy. The silver hooks on the brazen copper pillars may therefore here depict the linen curtain as being of a holy nature, and therefore not to be treated lightly (but not most holy).
Directions were determined by facing the rising of the sun, so the East was before, the West behind, the South to the right and the North to the left.
12 “And along the width of the court on the west side shall be hangings of fifty cubits, with their ten pillars and their ten sockets. 13 The width of the court on the east side shall be fifty cubits.
Looking from the front, the courtyard was fifty cubits wide and thus only required half the number of pillars. The court was thus one hundred cubits by fifty cubits, in proper proportion but without the perfection of the perfect square of the Holy of Holies.
14 The hangings on one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits, with their three pillars and their three sockets. 15 And on the other side shall be hangings of fifteen cubits, with their three pillars and their three sockets. 16 “For the gate of the court there shall be a screen twenty cubits long, woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, made by a weaver. It shall have four pillars and four sockets.
The entrance to the courtyard was to be on the east side, with the actual entrance twenty cubits wide, with fences of fifteen cubits either side. The entrance curtain was to be multicolored, and very carefully wrought, in distinction from the fine twined linen of the outer screen, a reminder that they were entering the courtyard of the king.
Here again there are ten (three + four + three) pillars as with the west side. Whether the end pillars of the north and south sides were also utilized for these screens, or doubled up.
17 All the pillars around the court shall have bands of silver; their hooks shall be of silver and their sockets of bronze. 18 The length of the court shall be one hundred cubits, the width fifty throughout, and the height five cubits, made of fine woven linen, and its sockets of bronze.
The actual size of the court is now stated with the added information that the white linen screen will be five cubits high. It will be noted how all is, where practicable, in multiples of five, the covenant number. This is the Dwelling place of their covenant God, and entering it they enter, as it were, within the covenant blessing, and sacrifice at the covenant altar.
19 All the utensils of the tabernacle for all its service, all its pegs, and all the pegs of the court, shall be of bronze.
All that is used in the outer court will be brazen copper. It is inferior to the gold of the sanctuary, and indicative of the fact that the courtyard is not most holy, but still valuable as a metal and indicating its genuine holiness. Such would include the laver of brazen copper, the tent pegs, and many other accoutrements. It was a useful and pliable metal.
The account of the making of the Dwelling place finishes with a description of how the common people can have their part in the worship of the inner Sanctuary. Regularly they are to provide the oil for the feeding of the lamp which burns continually in the Holy Place. This compares with their free and liberal giving in the beginning (25.1-9).
20 “And you shall command the children of Israel that they bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to cause the lamp to burn continually. 21 In the tabernacle of meeting, outside the veil which is before the Testimony, Aaron and his sons shall tend it from evening until morning before the LORD. It shall be a statute forever to their generations on behalf of the children of Israel.
The type of olive oil described, beaten but not crushed, gave a clear, pure light. This was to be provided by the people and prepared with great care which confirms that this light shone on their behalf. They would feel that they had a real part in what went on in the Sanctuary. This was probably the light on one branch (or more) of the lamp stand. It would seem to be intended to be seen as a reminder to Yahweh of His people as dependent on Him for light and life.
Note that here the Dwelling place is called the Tent of Meeting which was the name of the ancient tent that it had replaced. The meeting was at the tent rather than in it. The reference to Aaron and his sons presupposes what is to follow, and in its central position in the analysis prepares for the following two chapters.
The statement -‘It shall be a statute for ever throughout their generations from the children of Israel’ is used to describe when great stress is laid on something. Clearly this act of providing the oil was seen as very important. It was a direct link between the people and Yahweh. It explains why this command was placed at the end of the instructions for the Dwelling place in order to emphasize it. The whole description of the Tabernacle and its main contents closes with the order for all Israel to continually burn a light there before Yahweh.
In the brazen altar we have a type of Christ Who provided in Himself both altar and sacrifice for us (Hebrews 13.10). Always if we would approach God it must be through Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior, and while we come without fear we must come reverently for He Is of heaven and we are of the earth. Indeed the only reason that we can even dare approach Him is because Christ Jesus Is our altar and our sacrifice. It is foursquare because He was perfect and full balanced. It is made of acacia wood, symbolic of His true and perfect manhood, and of brazen copper (which to them was a precious metal) symbolic of His heavenly nature which was yet hidden while He was among us (Mark 9.1-11), but will be revealed as pure gold. But we cannot experience the gold until we enter the Sanctuary, for it is through our knowledge of Him that the gold becomes apparent.
The court is a reminder that we are welcome to approach Him and to fellowship with Him. It too contains the purple which reminds us that we are a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2.9), the red which reminds us that we are constantly cleansed by the blood of the Precious Lamb of God, our Lord Jesus (1 John 1.7), the pure linen cloth which is indicative of the righteousness’s of His people (Revelation 19.8). And the intricate details also are a reminder of God’s perfect work which indicates that all has been wrought that it might be for us a perfect place to meet with Him. The very detail of the description is a reminder of the care with which He has provided for us to come to Him. And while the screen may seem to prevent access to the Sanctuary it is only in order to remind us of the care with which we should approach. It is not now there in order to prevent access but in order to remind us that holy things must not be treated lightly.
And finally we are reminded that it is our responsibility to feed the lamp stand so that its light continues to shine out brightly. In our daily worship of Him and our praising of Him before the world the light burns more brightly, but never more so than when our lives reveal the fruit of The Holy Spirit. This is an important part of the ministry of God’s people, for the shining of that light to the world is our privilege and responsibility and it is only as we feed on God and His word that we will be able to enable it to do so.
