The Tabernacle (Part II) (The Outer Court)

Lesson Content

The dimensions of the outer court were 100 X 50 X 5 cubits. An y circumcised Israelite could enter it but it was only the Levites who ministered inside it. In it there was a brazen altar and a brazen laver.

1. The Altar (Exo.27:1-8; 38:1-7): It was at the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation, that is, in the outer court. It was made of shittim wood and overlaid with brass. Hence the altar could bear the intense heat caused by the burning of the sacrifice. Brass signifies grace. We can endure all our trials and sufferings only if we have grace. The altar is the place where God and man meet through the sacrifice. The altar was 5 X 5 X 3 cubits. 5 — speaks of man having five senses. 3 — speaks of the Triune God. In other words, the altar shows Jesus Who was perfect man and perfect God. Jesus gave Himself as a perfect sacrifice for us on Calvary. 5 cubits long X 5 cubits broad. 5 — shows man. So the altar is able to bear with and accept any object of sacrifice kept on it and turn it to ashes. Similarly, a life of surrender begins at the altar. The Lord is able to sanctify, perfect and keep all those who commit themselves unto Him against that day (II Tim.1:12). The altar was made of wood. This shows how Jesus was made weak by taking the form of man and through His death on the cross (II Cor.13:4). Fire in the altar speaks of the fiery trials and also the fire of the Holy Spirit that is able to burn up everything. The altar was made hollow with boards. This shows how Jesus wholly emptied Himself (Phil.2:6-8). We too should empty ourselves that we may be filled with grace (II Cor.8:9). Four horns of the altar — Jesus the perfect sacrifice is the Saviour for all four corners of the world. Horns speak of Christ Who is the horn of salvation (Lk.1:69).

2. The Laver of Brass (Exo.30:17-21): It was placed between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar in the outer court. It consisted of a laver and a foot. Laver speaks of the blessings we receive through water baptism. It was made of brass. Brass signifies grace. The laver was made of the looking glasses of women (Exo.38:8). The Israelite women used brazen glasses to look at themselves, and comparing themselves with the Egyptian women, they beautified themselves. At baptism, we die to sin and worldliness. We stop conforming to the world. The laver was filled with water. Water shows the Word of God (Eph.5:25,26). No measurements of the laver are specified. This speaks of the immeasurable grace of God. We can receive any amount of grace from God; there is no limit to it.

Every day, we must surrender every member of our body to God and receive grace without measure from the Lord to keep on dying. Then the Word of God will quicken us. We must daily reckon ourselves dead to sin and alive unto God (Rom.6:11). Cleansing the hands and feet with water shows cleansing our works and our walk in the light of the Word of God. Aaron and his sons must wash their hands and feet at the laver each time they go in to minister in the holy place and come out. By doing this continually, Aaron could enter the most holy place one day in a year. Even so, we must live according to the teaching of baptism throughout our life so that we can enter the most holy place or be caught up at the coming of the Lord. Putting off the old clothes — speaks of confession of sins. Putting on new garments — speaks of putting on Christ at baptism (Gal.3:27).

Moral

We should offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to God to do His will, preserving our body in sanctification and in honour.