Topical Bible: Tabernacle: The One Instituted by Moses Was Called: House of the Lord

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The Tabernacle, as instituted by Moses, holds a significant place in the religious and cultural history of the Israelites. It is often referred to as the "House of the Lord," serving as the central place of worship and the dwelling place of God's presence among His people during their journey through the wilderness.

Biblical Foundation and Construction

The instructions for the construction of the Tabernacle were given to Moses by God on Mount Sinai, as recorded in the Book of Exodus. The detailed plans are outlined in Exodus 25-31, where God commands Moses to build a sanctuary so that He may dwell among the Israelites: "And they are to make a sanctuary for Me, so that I may dwell among them" (Exodus 25:8).

The Tabernacle was a portable structure, designed to be dismantled and transported as the Israelites moved. It consisted of the outer court, the Holy Place, and the Most Holy Place (Holy of Holies). The Most Holy Place housed the Ark of the Covenant, which contained the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments, Aaron's rod, and a pot of manna.

Symbolism and Function

The Tabernacle served as a tangible symbol of God's presence and covenant with Israel. It was the focal point of worship and sacrifice, where the Levitical priests performed their duties. The sacrificial system, as outlined in Leviticus, was central to the Tabernacle's function, providing a means for atonement and reconciliation with God.

The Tabernacle's design and furnishings were rich in symbolism, reflecting heavenly realities and foreshadowing the coming of Christ. The writer of Hebrews elaborates on this, stating, "They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven" (Hebrews 8:5).

The Tabernacle as the "House of the Lord"

The designation of the Tabernacle as the "House of the Lord" underscores its role as the dwelling place of God's glory. In Exodus 40:34-35, the completion of the Tabernacle is marked by the descent of the cloud of God's glory: "Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Moses was unable to enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle" .

This manifestation of divine presence affirmed God's commitment to His people and His desire to be in their midst. The Tabernacle was not merely a physical structure but a sacred space where heaven and earth met, and where the Israelites could encounter the living God.

Legacy and Transition

The Tabernacle served as the center of Israelite worship until the construction of Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem, which became the permanent "House of the Lord." The transition from the Tabernacle to the Temple marked a new phase in Israel's religious life, yet the foundational principles established in the Tabernacle continued to influence Jewish worship and theology.

In Christian theology, the Tabernacle is seen as a precursor to the incarnation of Christ, who "tabernacled" among us (John 1:14). It also prefigures the ultimate dwelling of God with His people in the New Jerusalem, as described in Revelation 21:3: "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'" .

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Joshua 6:24
And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein: only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD.
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Library

Whether Sufficient Reason Can be Assigned for the Ceremonies ...
... Law, as observed above [2116](A[2]; Q[100] , A[12]; Q[101], A[2]), was instituted
that it ... Now the tabernacle was divided into two parts: one was called ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether sufficient reason can be.htm

On the Sacrifice of the Mass
... 3) It was instituted by Our ... when we receive it and when it is reserved in the tabernacle. ...
The object offered is Our Lord's body and blood, the one suffering is ...
/.../kinkead/baltimore catechism no 4/lesson 24 on the sacrifice.htm

The New Covenant.
... of all the arrangements and ordinances instituted by Moses ... be better than the sacrifices
that purified the tabernacle. ... Himself to God in one eternally unbroken ...
/.../chapter viii the new covenant.htm

The Blood of the Testament
... what was needed even when God instituted them, for ... 4. See Metropolitan Tabernacle
Pulpit, No.759, "Jesus Putting ... Sin;" and No.2283, "Christ's One Sacrifice for ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 58 1912/the blood of the testament.htm

The Typical Significance of the Scriptures Declare their Divine ...
... of God by suggesting that He instituted the carnal ... uplifted on the pole, of the
Tabernacle, which presents ... he was the interpreter of dreams"the one who threw ...
/.../the divine inspiration of the bible/chapter six the typical significance.htm

In his Temple
... from the original purpose of the service instituted by God ... The burden was so heavy,
one said; but I have ... became the minister of the "true tabernacle, which the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 16 in his temple.htm

Ten Reasons Demonstrating the Commandment of the Sabbath to be ...
... covenant of God (Proverbs 2:17), because instituted by God ... the Levites began to serve
in the tabernacle at thirty ... The Holy Ghost notes it as one of Jereboam's ...
/.../bayly/the practice of piety/ten reasons demonstrating the commandment.htm

Scriptural Types.
... cannot be clearly announced when the type is instituted. ... (3.) The typical character
of the tabernacle appears very ... for the expiation of the people, one for a ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxxvii scriptural types.htm

Whether There Can be any Suitable Cause for the Sacraments of the ...
... and feet and the shaving of the hair were instituted. ... to the ministry, the fat of
the ram, one roll of ... the ministry by being brought into the tabernacle of the ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether there can be any 2.htm

At the Feast of the Dedication of the Temple.
... not of Biblical origin, but had been instituted by Judas ... to which the making of the
Tabernacle had been ... Let one example suffice: Blessed be the Merciful Who ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xiv at the feast.htm