Servanthood is both an act and an attitude.  You can’t have one without the other and really be a servant.  Jesus has both and we are to be like Him.  He came to serve us because He LOVED us.  That was His motive in all He did and still does – love for us.  The flesh says look out for yourself and have others serve you, but Jesus gives us a way that seems upside down – love and serve others.  This whole concept is expanded and explained by Paul in I Corinthians 13:1-13 (read these verses please).

            This passage clearly shows us why sacrificial love is crucial to a marriage relationship:

            Ultimate communication without love is worthless.  1 Cor 13:1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.   “If I speak” refers to communication, which is key to a growing relationship.  Yet even the very best marriage communication skills without love are nothing.  Without love the best skills and techniques are like a cymbal or gong – loud but hollow and empty.  Without love there is nothing worthwhile to say.  However true they may be, words without love bring hurt and harm.  Words must be motivated by love.  That is what real servanthood is all about. 

            ‘Love’ here is the Geek word agape, referring to God’s unconditional love.  It isn’t our pitiful conditional love “if” or “because of.”  It’s like God’s “in spite of” love.  This love only comes from God, the fruit of His Spirit working in us. 

            Ultimate knowledge without love is useless.  2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  It takes great wisdom to understand the opposite sex and how to meet their needs.  Yet, even if one has all knowledge of how to be the perfect husband or wife yet doesn’t have God’s sacrificial love that causes us to put our mate first, we have nothing. 

            Ultimate sacrifice without love still disappoints.  3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.  Ultimate sacrifice, even being the ultimate servant externally, if done without love as the motive, amounts to nothing.  Knowing all about your mate’s love language and doing all the right things means nothing if not done with a loving heart.

            How can sacrifice without love fail?  It fails because it’s done in our own strength and for selfish and self-centered motives.  Someone put it this way:  Though I speak of my love with all the poetry of Elizabeth Barrett or Robert Browning and sprinkle my daily conversations with “Darling,” “Sweetheart,” “Honey,” and “I love you,” but have not agape for my spouse, I’m just making a lot of meaningless noise. And though I read all the how to have a good marriage books I can, and attend numerous marriage congresses, conferences, seminars, enrichments and encounters; and though I have the Ph.D. in marriage and family counseling so that I can help other couples toward wedded bliss, but have not agape for my mate, I am nothing as a partner.   And though I dutifully perform my marital responsibilities as my culture, my church and my conscience dictate even to the point of being fatigued, ruining my health or dying in the process, but have not agape for my partner, all these grand actions don’t amount to a wad of chewed gum.

What makes the perfect mate?  Is it great communication?  Is it genius IQ so as to understand all about our mate?  It is doing sacrificial acts because that’s what we’re supposed to do?  No, all these without love fail.  Since love is so important we better understand what it is.

Is your love for your mate increasing or decreasing?

What can you do to have in increase more?  What stands in the way?  (you can’t use your mate as an excuse, for that means your love is conditional on them) 

What can you do so your mate loves you more?

What was part of your relationship when you were first married that is no longer there?

What must you do to bring this back to life?

            If you’ve ever gone camping you know what a difficulty it can be setting up and breaking down camp.  Suppose you had to do that regularly for 40 years!  You’d certainly want a tent that was easy to erect, easy to take down, and easy to move.  That’s the way God designed the tabernacle.  Despite its large size, it was very portable.  It was the first pre-fab building!  God designed it that way (Exodus 26:15-30; 36:20-34; 30:11-16).  It was a building inside the fence, past the laver.  It was 45′ long, 15′ high and 15′ wide (3 perfect cubes side by side).  The first 2 cubes were called the Holy Place, the inner one the Holy of Holies.  This was where the furniture was housed and the priests ministered. 

BOARDS

            The tabernacle building was made of 48 boards: 20 on north and south wall, 6 on west wall, and one extra in back two corners for extra strength.  The boards were 15′ by 2′-6″ and about 4″ thick.  They were made of acacia wood.  It was hard to get wood that large, and the boards were quite heavy.  As we saw before, the wood was a picture of Jesus as a man.  He was a man in the full sense of the word (Jn. 1:1,14; Heb. 2:17,14; I Tim. 2:5; I Pt. 2:22; Jn. 3:5; II Cor. 5:21).  Acacia wood was hard-grained, wouldn’t rot or decay, very sturdy, and had no defects or failures in it.  It pictures Jesus, also of the ground (as was wood), with no defects or failures (Heb. 4:15; 7:25; I Pt. 2:22; I Jn. 3:5).

            The wooden boards were then covered with gold about the thickness of a postcard.  Gold always stands for deity, glory.  The wood shows Jesus as man and the gold as God – together they show Jesus as God-man, both in one.   The two materials didn’t become a third material but stayed what they were, both separate but still one.  Jesus was both God and man in one, but those two didn’t form a third union.  They were separate and distinct, but still one!   While the outer court had bronze (altar, laver) now that we are past judgment (altar = salvation; laver = daily cleansing) everything is gold, showing Jesus’ glory.  You won’t be able to see Jesus’ glory if there is sin in your life.  Jesus came to earth to take on the wood of our humanity so that we might partake of the gold of His deity!

BARS

            To stabilize these boards and keep them in a straight line there were five bars on each side and the back.  One long one went across the middle, two shorter ones above and below.  These went from beginning to end, holding everything together.  They speak of Jesus, Who was the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End (Rev. 1:8,17) and who holds the universe and everything in it together now (Col. 1:17). 

BASE

            To anchor the boards and hold them upright there was a large silver base at the bottom of each.  Two tenions projected out the bottom of each board to fit into holds in the silver sockets.  There was one base for each board, thus they were easier to transport.  These supported the weight of the walls, bars and covering curtains.  This was the foundation, as Jesus is the foundation on which the church is built.   Jesus carried the weight of God’s judgment on the cross (Isa. 22:20-25).  Being made of silver, which stands for redemption, shows this same thing.  All we are and have is founded on Jesus’ redemption for us (Jn. 12:24; I Cor. 6:20; I Pt. 1:18-19; Acts 20:28; Heb. 2:9).  Redemption is the basis of everything, holds everything up, and allows us to come into God’s presence.

            To really understand the significance of silver standing for redemption we must go back.  When the Jews left Egypt the ransom payment for the first-born to live was the blood of the Passover Lamb on the doorposts.  God paid it.  From then on, though, and as a reminder that He redeemed them from Egypt, the men regularly had to pay a ransom tax in silver (Exodus 30:11-16).  It was the first use of this that brought in the money used for the silver in the tabernacle construction.  It was only 62 cents a person, so each could afford it, but each had to pay it himself.  No one could pay it for another.  It had to be a sanctuary shekel that was used — it had to meet God’s standard.  All this speaks of their (and our) redemption.  It was a clear reminder that sin demands punishment and a price must be paid for sin to be removed.  They knew the silver didn’t remove their sin, but was a picture of the price that God would pay to remove it I Pt. 1:18).  Just as the blood of animals didn’t cover sin (Heb. 10:4), it pictured the coming sacrifice of Jesus that would do so.  The blood shows the mode of atonement, the silver the cost of atonement.  Both speak of the same thing.  If the men didn’t pay a plague would come upon them.  In David’s day 70,000 died because of this.  When the price was paid the man was counted in the census as part of Israel and belonged to God.  He was assigned a place in the army to fight the enemy and given a position in the camp.  God was His leader.  This happens to each believer when He is redeemed by the blood of Jesus today, too!

NO FLOOR

            Imagine the beauty inside the tabernacle!  Gold walls and beautifully embroidered ceiling made it like no other building the Jews had ever seen!  The strange thing was that this beautiful building had no floor!  Imagine a multi-million dollar building with a dirt floor.  When they looked down and saw the dirt they were reminded they were just pilgrims wandering this earth.  There was no permanent location for the tabernacle, nor for them (or us), in this life.  “This world is not my home, I’m just a passin’ through.”  Besides, they were to look UP to see God’s beauty and glory, not look down.  When we look down we find nothing that satisfies or beautifies.  We only see God’s glory by looking up.  Which direction are you looking?  What are your sights on?  Remember the tabernacle, look up, not down, as you travel this pilgrim road.

            As priests we must always be clean and ready for God’s service.  The priests in the tabernacle had to be clean so they could serve.  If not opportunities for servicing their sovereign would pass by.  The laver was the place of cleansing.

THE LAVER IS FOR CLEANSING

            “Laver” is the same as “lavatory” and refers to a place to wash.  The laver was for cleansing, because the priests had to be clean in order to serve God.  God is a clean (holy) God and those who serve Him must be clean, too (Ps. 24:3-4).

            Note that the laver is only for the priests.  All Christians today are priests (I Pt. 2:5-9).  Although they were once washed at the start of their service (salvation) they continually got dirty in their service to God.  The ground was muddy, the fire dirty, blood was everywhere. 

THE LAVER FOLLOWS THE BRONZE ALTAR

            The only piece of furniture in the outer court besides the bronze altar was the laver.  The altar was the once-for-all cleansing of salvation by the blood of Jesus (John 3:16).  The laver stands for the moment by moment cleansing needed of sins after salvation (I John 1:9).  Both are necessary to serve God (I John 5:6; Titus 3:5).  “Rock of Ages,” the well-known hymn, refers to this:  “Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee; Let the water (laver) and the blood (altar), from Thy wounded side which flowed (crucifixion, where cleansing provided for).  Be of sin the double cure (sins past – salvation/bronze altar; sins present: confession/laver).  Save from wrath (judgment [bronze] not on us but on Jesus at bronze altar) and make me pure (daily cleansing in the laver as we become more Christ like).”

            In John 13:1-11 Jesus clearly explains this to Peter and the other disciples when He washes their feet.  He says they are already washed (salvation) but need cleansing (confession of their pride and self-centeredness).  Only one has never been washed and that is Judas.  They don’t need another whole bath (salvation is once-for-all) but do need daily cleansing (confession).  The Greek words Jesus uses for ‘bath’ and ‘wash’ refer to the public ‘bath’ where the whole body would be clean, but upon arrival back at home the hands and feet would need to be ‘washed’ from dust and dirt picked up on the way.  This is how it is as we serve God in this life, too. 

CLEANSING BY WATER

            The laver was made out of bronze – judgment.  Christ took our judgment of sin after salvation as well as before!  It was made of highly polished bronze which was used for mirrors.  The Bible is our mirror, which we are to look in and see our sin (James 1:23-25).  Then when ‘dirt’ is noticed it must be washed away.  We wash by the water of the Word (Psalm 119:9; Eph. 5:25-26; Jn. 15:3; Jn. 3:5; Titus 3:5; Heb. 10:22; I Pt. 1:22).  God always provides for man’s cleansing, and when we confess (admit our sin, agree with God that it is sin and deserving of eternal hell) we are cleansed (I John 1:9).   God completely forgets we ever sinned, it is gone forever (Psalm 103).  That dirt will never be back.  When washed that dirt is gone totally and forever.  That’s what it means to be washed in the blood of the Lamb!

            Four times God told the priests that if they weren’t clean they would lose their opportunity to serve Him (Lev. 8:6), for He is serious about His priests being clean.  Salvation wasn’t at stake for them or us, but daily service opportunities were.  Sometimes God removes them from this life prematurely and takes them to heaven.  He does that today, too, when a believer repeatedly refuses to submit to God and live a clean life of service for Him (I Jn. 5:16; I Cor. 5:1-5;  11:30; I Chron. 10:13; Acts 5:1-10; Jn. 15:1-5; Num. 20:12; II Cor. 2:5-11; Jer. 7:16; 14:11). 

            When they traveled the Jews always took the altar with them. Cleansing always is necessary and available.  No size is given for the laver. There is no limit to God’s cleansing power.  The Jews did have to surrender their mirrors (vanity, pride) and humbly come to God for cleansing, as must we. 

            An interesting side note is that the laver in heaven has no water in it, for there will be no cleansing of sin necessary there (Rev. 15:1-3).  Instead of water there is a glass in it to reflect God’s glory.  He gets the credit and honor for our cleansing, not us!

            Don’t be like the lady who missed serving her king.  Always be clean and ready to serve your King.  You’ve come to the altar and accepted Jesus’ free gift of salvation, but don’t hang around the altar your whole live.  Move closer to His presence by continued cleansing whenever necessary.  Be a clean priest!

The warning of problems in marriage:  The clear warning here is to watch our putting off basic maintenance of our marriage.  Procrastination leads to devastation.  It doesn’t take sinful behavior to spoil our marriage garden, simple neglect will do just fine.  This includes things like not giving a hug and kiss when leaving the house and not saying things like “Thank you,” and “I love you.”  It may be being too distracted to talk or listen, or too busy to have devotions and pray together.  Not taking regular alone time together to go on dates and really connect again is certainly neglecting basic necessary marriage maintenance.  Think of the special little things you did before marriage and right after.  You never imagined you’d stop those things.  You thought they would grow.  Now they’ve stopped and your garden is full of weeds.  Get back to those things at all costs or it will be too late!

The prevention of problems in marriage:  From long-time gardeners with prize-winning gardens we can glean principles that can help us prevent weeds from taking over and causing destruction.

            Keep a close watch on the garden.  Good maintenance results in great blessing.  Attentiveness is the key.  Marriages need to be watched and attended like a prized possession.  Your relationship needs to be monitored for small cracks in the walls and little weeds sticking up their heads.  At once action must be taken to remove them and strengthen the marriage.  Marriages, like gardens, don’t go to seed overnight, but they do go to seed when neglected. 

            Keeping the communication lines open is an important part of this as well.  Neglect will cause hurt that will break down real communication.  Then people start assuming things, usually wrong things, and the weeds really grow. 

            Fertilize what you want to grow.  Plants need food to grow.  So do marriage relationships.  Appreciation is a good marriage fertilizer, especially when used in liberal amounts.  Fertilize your mate’s strengths both verbally to them and also in your own mind.  Starve (ignore) their weaknesses and pretty soon they will fade. 

            Another good fertilizer is doing acts of kindness.  Know your mate’s love language: words of affirmation, quality time, receiving gifts, acts of service and physical touch.  Speak their language often, even if it isn’t your language (it probably won’t be).  Initiate, don’t wait to be asked.  Take on the role of a servant and you’ll help your relationship grow. 

            Watch out for weeds.  You don’t have to try to grow weeds, they’ll grow all by themselves.  You have to work to grow something productive.  All you have to do to grow weeds is nothing – neglect.  When weeds do pop up they must be removed quickly or the roots will get a strong foothold (Eph 4:26).  Weeds start small and grow – like resentment, jealousy, hurt, feeling unappreciated, etc. 

            Weeds always start below the surface and aren’t immediately visible until they grow.  Hurt stars inside, and if not handled right will grow into a very nasty weed resistant to anything we can do to remove it.  It takes skill to tell a weed from a plant when they are both very small.  Learn to recognize the difference in your marriage.  Don’t hesitate to ask others for wisdom: friends, pastor or God.

            One of the things that makes weeds so hard to get rid of is that they seem to appeal to our flesh, something we want to hang onto and not give up.  Lust, fantasies, flirting, self-centeredness and the like fit this category very well.

            Weeds are very ‘invasive’ – they aren’t content to stay where they start but insist on spreading and taking over every area of space.  Anger is that way.  By the end of the day a small anger grows to be all-consuming.  That’s true of lust, bitterness, discontent, and other sins as well.  Watch them.  Weeds aren’t content until they choke out everything good and productive.  They keep the good plants from receiving light and nutrients and so they will fade and die. 

            Keep your walls in good repair.  Walls protect gardens from predators who will destroy them.  Build strong walls of love, servant-hood, spending time alone, praying together, laughing, meeting each other’s emotional needs, and putting the other first.  These strong walls will protect your marriage and you as well.  Neither of you will be as open to temptation. Outside predators won’t be able to get in and destroy your marriage.

            We’ve seen the cause, the result, the warning and the prevention of damage to our garden/marriage.  Finally lets see the good fruit that comes from a garden well attended.

The fruit of a healthy marriage:  The reward of hard work in a garden is fruit (and vegetables) to enjoy when winter and hard times come.  Make your marriage strong now so that as time goes on and hard times come you can coast on the good produce you have stored away for it.  Build it solid now and it will produce for many years to come.  It will carry your through problems with children and finances, illness and career problems, and it will carry you through your elderly years in close friendship and love. 

            Remember, though, good gardens don’t just happen – they take work.   “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest– and poverty will come on you like a bandit.” 

What is the biggest problem in communication in your marriage?  What can you do to improve things?

What walls do you have to protect you marriage?

What other walls do you need to have to improve your marriage?

What are some of the hard decisions you re going to have to make and stick to in order to have time to devote to your garden/marriage?

THE MAJESTY OF THE ALTAR

            Usually we get a building first, then furnish it.  With God’s building the furniture is of the most importance, the  building is just to house it.  The seven (perfection) pieces of furniture are God’s main teaching tool.  As man approached God the first piece of furniture He encountered was the bronze altar (also called the altar of burnt offering and the altar of sacrifice).  It spoke of the first step in man’s approach to God.

            It was located right by the gate – you couldn’t miss it!  You had to come by way of it.  It was very large – 7′-6″ square and 4′-6″ high.  It was larger than all the other six pieces of furniture put together, showing its great significance.

THE MATERIALS OF THE ALTAR

            It was made of acacia wood, which is a very hard, durable, close-grained wood known for its strength.  It was sued for shipbuilding because it was very resistant to decay.  All this speaks of Jesus as a man (Isa. 53:2): from the earth, rooted in dry ground (acacia grew in the desert), short life span, didn’t decay, etc.

            The wood frame was covered with bronze, which was the most fire-resistant of all metals,   because it is so hard.  Bronze is used in the Bible as being symbolic of judgment (Rev. 1:15, John 3:14-15; Daniel, etc.).  It tells of Jesus who took our judgment (Jn 3:14-15; II Cor. 5:21; Gal. 3:13).  Christ, like bronze, was the One best suited to take our judgment of hell fire.  As a man (wood), He was judged on the cross for our sins (bronze).  Wood alone would have charred and burned.  Bronze alone would have been too heavy to carry, but together they were perfect. 

            The inside was empty, hollow (as Jesus ‘emptied’ Himself to become a man (wood)  (Phil. 2:7).  A grate was placed half way down to hold the animal sacrifices which were burnt on the altar. 

            There was a ‘horn’ on each corner.  This was an extension of the corner, turned upwards.  It was used to tie the animal down before killing it and to help hold the carcass from falling off the altar when being burnt.  Horns were symbolic of strength and power (as horns of an animal).  They speak of Jesus’ unlimited power and strength.  While the animal sacrifice had to be tied down, Jesus went willingly to the cross, held there by His love for us and nothing else (Jn. 10:19; Phil. 2:9).  These horns also stood for mercy, for someone wrongly charged with murder could escape revenge by fleeing to the horns of the altar and holding on there where they would be safe (I Ki. 1:50-51; 2:28).

THE MINISTRY AT THE ALTAR

            No steps could be built to the altar, for the pagans used them for their godless worship (Ex. 20:26), but a ramp of dirt was built going up to it so the priest could stand and minister.  The priest was raised up above the people to offer sacrifice, as Jesus was raised up on the cross to offer His sacrifice.

            Also, there were poles of wood covered with bronze slipped through rings so the bronze altar could be carried everywhere with the Jews.  Jesus goes with us wherever we go, nothing can separate us from the love of Jesus (Romans 8:35-39).  It was portable because the Jews were always on the move, not settling down in one spot.  We, too, are strangers and pilgrims on their earth, wandering until we reach our final home in heaven. 

THE MAINTENANCE OF THE ALTAR

            Fire came from God’s presence to light the fire on the bronze altar (Lev. 9:24) and then it never went out.  Fire is judgment, sent from God to consume the sacrifices offered there (Isa. 66:15; 30:30; 29:6).  Fire destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, disobedient Jews in the wilderness, and will be burning forever in hell!  A holy God must judge sin, and when a person placed his hands on an innocent animal, thus identifying that animal with his sin, the animal had to die.  Its throat was slit by the altar and after bleeding, the animal was burnt on the fire.  Sin causes death and eternity in hell.  This is what Jesus went through on the cross for us.  That’s why He said “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”  Because He took our death and eternal hell fire we don’t have to (Rom 8:1).  In the early days of the American West prairie fires would sweep through, killing everyone in their path.  The settlers learned from the Indians to set a fire near them before the main fire arrived, then to step in the burnt-over area while the main fire roared past.  “Where the fire has been the fire cannot come,” the Indians said.  That’s exactly what happens when we put ourselves under the cross, where God’s fire of judgment has already fallen.  Our sins are forever paid for and gone!

            But what about the innocent animals that died?  God’s teaching from the Garden of Eden on is that innocent animals must die to cover sin as a picture of Jesus’ death on the cross for our sin.  It was Jesus Himself before His birth in Eden that killed those animals to cover Adam and Eve, knowing they were a picture of what He would do on the cross.  Millions of innocent animals died in the Old Testament, showing the awfulness of sin.    They didn’t remove sin, but foreshadowed Jesus’ blood shed on the cross which does remove sin (Heb. 9:22; I Pt. 3:18; 2:24; Isa. 53:5-6; Mt. 26:28; II Cor. 5:21; I Jn. 1:7).  Have you come to God by way of the altar of sacrifice, the cross of Jesus?  There’s no other way to enter but with an innocent blood offering – Jesus’ blood shed for you.  The tabernacle vividly showed the importance of coming by innocent blood.  Upon entering the tabernacle one would see animals, smoke, hear the screams of the dying animals, smell the smoke and burning flesh & hair, feel the mud between their barefooted toes (made from all the blood spilled on the ground) and even taste the burnt meat in the air.  Don’t forget we come to God the same way today!

             Exodus is the book of Redemption.  It opens in the gloom of slavery of a nation born in the brickyards of Egypt.  It closes in the glory of the tabernacle.  It tells the story of how God came down and delivered a people whose only appeal to His heart of love was their need, suffering and burden.  He did not deliver them because they were good folk, moral people, or better than others.  This was not true of them, they had no claim on God whatsoever, but they cried and their cry came up to God.  Because of their hopelessness and because of His promise to Abraham, God led them out of Egyptian bondage.  He led them to Mt. Sinai and there gave them the law.  Since the law cannot save, there must be some manifestation of grace, or else there can be no salvation.  The Jews were utterly condemned by the law, so it was essential to have a way of grace.  The tabernacle was the means of grace, and the way in was the front gate.  The fence of white linen kept people out.  Without a door there would be no entrance.  God, in His grace, made a way into His presence — the gate through the fence. 

THE TABERNACLE AS A TYPE OF JESUS

            When the resurrected Jesus appeared on the road to Damascus and talked with the disciples there (and later with all the disciples in the upper room) He showed them what the Old Testament said about Him, starting with Moses’ writings (Lk. 24:27, 44).  He had earlier said Moses wrote about Him (Jn. 5:39-40,39-40).  Much of what He said were what we now call ‘types.’  A type is an Old Testament event foreshadowing a New Testament event, person or truth.  It’s sort of like seeing a shadow before you see the real object.  Jonah is a type of Jesus (resurrection after 3 days – Mt 12:39-40; Lk 11:29-30).  The Passover Lamb is a picture of Jesus (Jn 1:29-30; I Cor. 5:7).  The bronze serpent being lifted up foreshadows Jesus on the cross (John 3:14-15).  There are many examples.  The Old Testament is full of examples and pictures of that which is more fully developed in the New Testament (I Cor. 10:1-6,11; Rom. 15:4; Col. 2:17).   In fact, you can’t really understand the spiritual truths (theology) of the New Testament without understanding the physical truths (historical happenings) of the Old Testament.  This is especially true of the tabernacle.  It is God’s photograph album of His Son — hundreds of pictures of Jesus.  Some are close-ups, other group pictures.  These pictures walk and talk, so really they are more like videos of Jesus before His birth.  Understanding the tabernacle brings Jesus’ life and work alive in a new and special way, especially for children.  The gate through the fence is a perfect example of this.

THE GATE

            The gate was to be 30 feet wide (4 pillar spaces).  It was always open, an invitation to enter.  It is a wonderful picture of Jesus as the door, the way to God.  In fact, He called Himself the “gate” (John 10:1-9), and the “way” to God (John 14:6).  As there is only one gate into the tabernacle, Jesus is the only way to God (Acts 4:12).  It is open to all, easy to find, and large enough to admit anyone.  All of this speaks of Jesus (John 3:15-16; 6:51; 7:37; 10:9; Rom. 10:13).   If one doesn’t come in the door they will never enter God’s presence and see the glories within.  Unless you personally accept Jesus as your Savior you won’t enter God’s presence or see God’s glory.  The fence says “stay out,” but the gate says “come in.”  The only entrance requirement was to come with a sacrifice.  There is no admission price, no special credentials one must have, no financial or church standing, no educational attainment, and no moral perfection needed (Eph. 2:8-9).  Just an innocent blood sacrifice (more about this next time). 

THE EAST

            The gate was always on the east side of the tabernacle, as was the entrance to the temple Solomon and Herod built.  “East” in Hebrew means “front, first.”  It was where all directions started (like north is the basic direction we usually use).  When the people would enter from the east in the morning they would be facing west with their backs to the east and the rising sun.  That way there would be worshipping the rising sun as they had done in Egypt (the god ‘Ra’).  They had to turn their back on their pagan god to worship the true and living God.

THE CURTAINS

            The linen above the gate was different from the linen on the fence.  It was the same color white, but had blue, purple and scarlet dyed threads woven into it.  These colors were used throughout and we will be seeing them often.  As in the fence, the white stands for Jesus’ holiness and righteousness.  Blue stands for heaven (the sky), God’s abode.  It stands for Jesus as God (Jn. 8:23).  Scarlet, the color of blood, stands for Jesus’ humanity.  As a man He had blood like us (Lev. 17:11).  The red dye was made from crushing worms, also of the ground/earth.  That speaks of His earthly origin and humility.  Thus Jesus is both God (blue) and man (red).  When blue and red are combined they produce purple, which is the fourth color used here.  Twenty four times these colors are mentioned in connection with the tabernacle, and purple is always listed between red and blue.  It speaks of Jesus as both God and man.  Purple, the kingly color in ancient times, speaks of Jesus the King.  He is the Messiah-King.  The Messiah was prophesied to be both God and man in one, as the colors show.  This is what Jesus was!

            There’s more!  Silver hooks on the silver cap and tie rods hold this curtain up.  The silver was redemption money the first-born males gave in recognition of the price paid for them to keep them from dying.  Redemption is what Jesus has done for us as God-Man come to earth. 

            The good news is that it doesn’t have to be that way.  The Bible gives us God’s perfect prevention for this.  It’s found in Proverbs 24:30-34.  “I went past the field of the sluggard, past the vineyard of the man who lacks judgment; thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins.  I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw:  A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest–  and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.  

            The writer of Proverbs here uses a garden analogy to explain life lessons that can be accurately applied to the family.  A relationship, like a garden, needs care and attention to survive.  Neglect allows weeds to take over and destroy the good productivity.  First, lets look at the cause of weeds growing. 

The cause of marriage problems:  The cause of the weeds in this garden is simply neglect of routine maintenance.  There is no gross immoral evil going on.  The owner is actually a nice, easy-going guy.  He means no harm.  “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest– and poverty will come on you like a bandit.”  It wasn’t even a LOT of sleep and slumber, just a LITTLE.  He was just a little slow in getting to things that needed doing.  He was too lazy to keep up with routine maintenance.  He put off the work until he next day.  He’d do it, just a little later.  He had no desire to destroy his garden, he just didn’t fell like doing the required labors right then.

            The lesson is clear.  A little neglect brings a whole lot of ruin.  As I counsel couples going through marriage difficulties I find that there seldom is one sin that caused the problems.  It always seems to go back to a slow drifting from the ‘little’ things they did together before marriage or the point where they find themselves.  Doing nice things with and for each other gets neglected, put off until another time.  Maintenance work on a relationship is neglected because we are so busy with other things that seem more important.  Or we have been hurt by our mate (knowingly or unknowingly, intentionally or unintentionally) and we withdraw.  A little neglect in a relationship also brings a whole lot of ruin.

The result of marriage problems:  The result of this neglect is complete ruin with no hope of recovery.  It is too late.  Weeds have taken over and choked out the good productive plants.  The weeds of self-centeredness, anger, fear, criticalness, withdrawal, and so forth soon kill the tender and productive shoots of love and care that have started growing.  You’ve seen it happen in other relationships.  You may even be able to see it happening in your relationship.

            Notice, too, the walls of this garden fell down in places.  The wall was the boundary marker and served to keep animals of destruction out.  The walls didn’t come down all at once, just slowly, stone by stone, here a little and there a little.  “What does one stone matter?” the gardener can ask.  But then there is a another stone and soon still another.  The same, too, in our relationship. 

            When we don’t meet out mate’s needs, we leave the walls down for them to be vulnerable to someone who can wander by and meet that need.  We lose the protection around our hearts and families through neglect. 

            “What does one little stone matter?”  A whole lot!

What parallels do you see between your relationship and a garden?

Who is the main ‘gardener’ in your relationship, the one who works hardest to keep the weeds out and things growing?  If it isn’t you, then thank your mate for doing that work.

Give some examples of weeds that can destroy a relationship. 

What weeds do you see that were present in your parent’s relationship?

What weeds have you been battling in your marriage?

THE FENCE

          “STAY OUT!”  That’s the message a fences gives to those approaching it.  It is put there to keep what is on the outside from coming in.  The first things the Jews would see when approaching the tabernacle was a high (7′-6″) fence keeping them out.   You would think God’s throne wouldn’t have a fence around it but would be open so everyone could easily approach.  However God is showing that there is only one way to approach, and that is through the gate.  You can’t just come into God’s presence by any way, only the way He directs.  Before you can understand the gate, though, you need to understand the fences.

THE PILLARS

          God gave detailed instructions about how to make the fence (Ex. 27:9-19) and the Jews carried them out exactly (Ex. 38:9-20).  There were to be 60 pillars (20 on north and south sides, 10 on east and west sides).  They were to be 7′-6″ high and 7′-6″ between each, giving it a perfect balance.  Everything in the tabernacle has this perfect symmetry, all is made up of squares or cubes.  All God does has perfect planning and beauty.  It is so simple, yet so elaborate.  That is true of nature and the universe as well as us.

          These pillars were made of acacia wood, a picture of Jesus’ humanity.  Both are from the earth, strong but not limitless (Jesus as a human being) and live on earth.  They provided support and strength, as Christ is our refuge, strength and sufficiency (Prov. 18:10; Isa. 32:2). 

          Under the pillars were sockets to hold them up – a bronze (pictures judgment) plate with a hole to receive the tenion on the bottom of the pillar.  On top was a silver cap, which is a picture of redemption.

          Rods of acacia wood covered with silver connected the pillars at the tops to provide stability.  Cords of white linen were fasten to the top of the pillar and the ground by a tent peg to stabilize the pillars.  There were also silver hooks at the top to hold the curtains, carcasses of sacrificial animals,

priests robes, or whatever. 

THE CURTAIN

          Around the whole outside was a white linen curtain, woven from the flax plant.  Except for a space for the gate in front, it went all around the tabernacle.  The purpose was to keep people out.   They couldn’t even see in! 

          White linen stands for purity and today is used in weddings, christenings, etc., for that same reason.  In the tabernacle it shows the holiness of God, for it was in sharp contrast to the dark, rough goats-hair tents of the Jews all around the tabernacle.  This shows the contrast of our sins to Christ’s righteousness (Rom. 3:32).  Jesus was holy, sinless, perfect.  Even Pilate could find no fault in Him.  To approach God we must be that sinless and perfect, for a holy God can allow no sin in His presence. 

          However we fall far short and cannot enter, thus the fences keeps us from God’s presence.  Actually Jesus’ perfect earthly life (white linen) as a human being (acacia wood) keeps us from God.  It is not His life that redeems us, only His work on the cross.  His life points out clearly how we fail.  Since He lived a perfect life as a human being, we are accountable to also.  We can’t, and are under condemnation.  Jesus’ perfect life seals our doom, keeps us from God (as does the fence). 

          The fence does show that Jesus’s perfect life was for the purpose of providing our redemption, though.  Had He not been perfect He couldn’t have been our substitute, He would have been guilty of His own sins.  Had He not been God He couldn’t have bore all the sins of all of us for all eternity condensed in 6 hours of time.  No, we can’t come to God through the fences for it shows we fall far short.  Jesus paid for that, though, and because of His work on the cross we can have His righteousness as our own (II Cor. 5:21; Rom. 3:2; Isa. 61:10, Rev. 19:8).  The bronze base under the pillars show God’s judgment on sin, but the silver caps and rods show redemption lifted up for all.   Redemption (silver) over judgment (bronze) is only by God Himself as a man (acacia wood) being lifted up.

          Thus the fence is to keep people OUT.  Man can only approach God when perfect and sinless, and comparing ourselves to Jesus shows how far we fail in that.  We can never enter God’s presence by our own works or goodness.  They are as “filthy rags” (menstrual rags – Isa. 64:6).  Paul says our good works are like a dung heap in God’s sight (Philippians 3:8).  That is about our GOOD works.  Imagine what our sin looks like in God’s sight!

          What about you?  Are trying to earn God’s approval by your righteousness?  You’ll never make it!  God provided Jesus to be your righteousness, that’s the only kind God will accept.  Have you accepted His gift?  Are you coming into His presence by the only way He has provided (the gate)?  Have you already made that commitment, begin now within the white linen walls are or you still on the outside trying to work your own way in?

NEXT: THE GATE, The Only Way Into God’s Presence

            The tabernacle is the most important structure ever built by man: past, present or future.  For one thousand years in the past, and another thousand in the future, God’s very presence dwelt in it (and the Temple which is really just a permanent tabernacle).  More space is given to it and its function than any other single subject in the Bible – 50 long chapters (the creation of the whole  universe and earth is given just 2 chapters).  In order to understand the Jewish sacrificial system, feasts, priesthood, etc., one must understand the tabernacle.  The best part about the tabernacle, though, is that is the most complete, detailed, beautiful picture/type of salvation and the Christian life in Scripture.   All of it speaks of and glorifies Jesus in a way children as well as adults can understand.  Learning the tabernacle makes it much easier for children to understand and apply Bible truths like salvation, Jesus’ work on the cross, confession of sin, obedience, fellowship, praise and worship. 

BACKGROUND OF THE TABERNACLE

            God created man perfect in Eden, but sin entered and man could not be in God’s presence.  Mankind from Adam on continued to sin and rebel against God, despite the flood and Babel.  Eventually, when it was obvious mankind as a whole would not follow God, He chose one man, Abraham, to form a nation that would obey Him.  The Jews were to be God’s special people but Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their descendants sinned, too.  To keep them from intermarrying and not becoming a nation, God moved the Jews into Egypt during the time of Joseph.  They were there for 400 years.  After 10 plagues and the death of the Passover Lamb, Moses led the Jews out through the Red Sea and to Mt. Sinai where God revealed His law to the Jews.  He was to be their King and the tabernacle His throne.  It was where they were to meet with God, and everything about it taught of Him.  It was the center of government and worship, the heart and core of the nation Israel. 

NAMES OF THE TABERNACLE

            The tabernacle was the royal residence for the King of Israel.  Its names and titles signified that.  It was called a “sanctuary” (sacred place), “tabernacle” (dwelling place), “dwelling” (where God’s glory dwelt, Ps. 76:2; Song of Sol. 1:8), “tent” (temporary, collapsible dwelling), “tent of the meeting” (where God met with man, Ex. 29:42), and “tabernacle of the testimony” (because of the tablets of law in the Ark of the covenant, Ex. 38:21; Num. 9:15; 17:7,23).

DIRECTIONS FOR BUILDING THE TABERNACLE

            The tabernacle was built specifically according to directions given by God to Moses on Mt. Sinai (Ex. 25:1-9, 40; 26:30; 27:8; Num. 8:4; Acts 7:44; Heb. 8:5).  God revealed the pattern of it to Moses.  Actually, God let Moses see God’s throne in heaven which the tabernacle represented.  The Bible refers to this often (Ps. 24:3; II Chron 17:12; Heb. 8:2,5; 9:23).  John saw the same thing while on Patmos (Rev. 1:12; 2:17; 6:9; 8:3; 11:19; 15:5).  He even refers to the furniture in heaven: Ark of Covenant (Rev. 11:19), Lampstand (Rev. 1:12); golden Altar (Rev. 9:13), and Bronze Altar (Rev. 6:9). 

            The Jews were to freely bring the needed materials (Ex. 25:1-9 – cloth, dye, wood, metals).  God even chose the craftsmen to oversee the building, and filled them with His Holy Spirit to enable them to do the work (Ex. 31:1-11).  The Jews responded by bringing more material than was needed and Moses had to tell them to stop (Ex. 35:4 – 36:7).  This was what the Egyptians had given to the Jews before leaving Egypt (Ex. 12:35-36).  God provided what the Jews needed before they even knew they would need it!  They really weren’t giving anything to God, just returning some of which was really His anyway (the same as when we give to God).  All together they gave about $12 million in gold, silver and bronze alone (Ex. 38:21-31).

AFTER THE TABERNACLE

            Following the exact pattern of the tabernacle, which God gave to Moses, the Jews built a permanent tabernacle, called a temple, in Jerusalem.  David planned it and Solomon built it.  It was one of the wonders of the ancient world!  After 300 years, though, Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians destroyed it.  Seventy years later Ezra returned from Babylon and let a temple rebuilding program.  For 400 years the Jews used this, then Herod enlarged and beautified it until it was once again one of the wonders of the world.  After less than 100 years it was destroyed when Jerusalem was conquered by Rome in 70 AD.  During the coming tribulation period there will be a temple on the same spot used by the Jews until the Antichrist takes it over and sets himself up to be worshipped in it.  It will be destroyed during the battle of Armageddon.  A Millennial temple there will become God’s throne on earth for 1,000 years (Ezekiel 40-48).

GOD’S TABERNACLE TODAY

            When Jesus came to earth He was the place where God and man met, where God dwelt among man.  John 1:14 says Jesus “became flesh and made His dwelling among us.”  Literally the Bible says He became flesh and “tabernacled” among us.  Jesus was the tabernacle while on earth.  It all pointed to Him and spoke of Him, and He fulfilled it while on earth.   Like the tabernacle, Jesus’s life on earth was temporary, humble, simple in appearance, God’s dwelling place, and the place of sacrifice. 

            Today God doesn’t dwell in a man-made building on earth.  His dwelling is in the hearts of those who love Him and have accepted Jesus as Savior.  WE are His tabernacle (“dwelling”) today (I Cor. 3:16-17; 6:19; II Cor 6:16).  Thus the tabernacle speaks of us, too!  We are His tabernacle, and we are His royal priesthood (I Pet. 2:5, 9-10).  What a privilege we have in serving God in our lives!

            Think of how God prepared and cared for the tabernacle, how He used it to reveal His glory, how it was where He dwelt on earth among men.  God prepares and cares for us even more.  He uses us today to reveal His glory to others.  It is in us that He dwells on earth.  What a special blessing that is for us today!

            A close personal relationship with God is the first resource.  Salvation and a commitment to live for Him each day is essential.  Wives must first and foremost depend on their heavenly Husband and develop their relationship with Him.  Without His help there is no way they will be able to show a submissive spirit.

            Commitment to show submission is the next step. Make a decision to be his servant no matter what.  Remember that servanthood isn’t always rewarded.  Don’t assume he will notice or appreciate your actions.  Don’t assume he will instantly change and treat you differently.  If you start being a servant because of what you will get out of it you are all wrong.  That motive won’t work at all.  Your rewards will be in heaven.  Anything on this earth is just extra, if it happens.  Take a moment now to make sure your motives are pure, meaning you are doing it out of love and service to God and not for anything you may expect to receive back because of it.  Jesus is our example in this as well.

            Filled with fruit of the Spirit  Gal 5:22-24  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.   As I already said, no human being can produce the kind of love that brings sacrifice for another out of their own flesh.  It is only as God’s Spirit fills us that we can love as He loves.  It’s impossible to do without His help.  Make sure you ask to be filled with the fruit of His Spirit every morning.  List them, emphasizing the ones you especially lack. 

            Anita Bryant in “Bless This House” says, “Only as I practice yielding to Jesus can I learn to submit, as the Bible instructs me, to the loving leadership of my husband.  Only the power of Christ can enable a woman like me to become submissive in the Lord.”

            Follow Jesus’ example  is the final key to being a submissive servant.  In each situation ask yourself what Jesus would do (WWJD) – and then do just that very thing! 

            Pray for your husband instead of criticizing.  That’s what Jesus does.  This is all new and unnatural to him, too.  He probably didn’t have the role model he needed in this either.  Also pray for yourself.  As Jesus says, you must take the plank out of your own eye before you can remove the speck from his (Matthew 7:5). 

            Following Jesus’ example, too, means going to God with your unmet needs as Jesus did.  Don’t go to any other false substitute (friends, romance stories, children, etc).  Talk to your husband about your unmet needs.  Do it in a way to educate him in love, not that he feels criticized or a failure.  You shoot yourself in the foot when you do that.

            You won’t find many talk shows or TV programs that will help you learn how to be a submissive servant, but it is God’s way and the right way.  It isn’t an easy way, but is the only way.  Alone you can’t do it, but with Jesus as your example and help remember that all things are possible. 

A happy couple had always raised cucumbers and made sweet pickles together. The husband just loved to watch things grow. Thus he spent his winters studying the seed catalogues to get the best possible cucumbers. The whole family enjoyed preparing the soil, planting and caring for the plants. He would often go out and just enjoy the way they grew. His wife loved to make sweet pickles. She studied the best recipes and the best methods of preparing and preserving them. They were such a happy family, and all their visitors went home with a jar of their famous pickles. The church always had a good supply of their pickles as well. People marveled at this family that had found a project to do together.

Finally, the man died. The next spring all the children returned home. They said to their mother, “We know how much you love making pickles, so we are going to prepare the garden and plant them for you.” The mother smiled and said, “Thanks a lot children, but you don’t have to do any planting for I really don’t enjoy pickle making. I only did that because your father loved to grow the cucumbers so much.” The children were all amazed, but the youngest son was upset, because the father had pulled him aside not too long before and shared with him that he really didn’t like growing cucumbers, but only did it to please the mother!

This story may not be a good example of communication, but it does show the loving benefits of being a servant to one’s mate.  Wouldn’t it be great to have a marriage like that?  You can.  Just be a servant.

WOMEN: What part or requirement of servant submission is hardest for you?  Why?

WOMEN: What have you found that helps you be more the wife God wants you to be?

MEN: What can you do to help your wife be more of a submissive servant?

BOTH: Does all you do support your mate so they can be a better servant to you?  What do you do that makes it hard for them to serve you?

BOTH: Do you pray for your mate daily?

BOTH: Would you say that you really listen to your mate?  That you understand them?

BOTH: When you have sex with your mate, what can you do to focus more on their needs instead of your own?

BOTH: Do you praise your mate regularly?

BOTH: Are you quick and sincere in your apologies?