Lesson #32

RETURN TO SYLLABUS

EXODUS
Lesson #32
THE STUDY OF THE TABERNACLE
THE COVERINGS (THE WORK OF CHRIST)

• Memory Verse: Eph 1:18

• We have been studying the Old Testament tabernacle in detail. We have seen that the details symbolically represent Christ, His church, and the individual believer.
• We have seen how the colors in the curtains represented the four gospels:
• Purple = Matthew
• Red = Mark
• White = Luke
• Blue = John
• We have seen how the metals represent characteristics:
• Gold = majesty or glory
• Silver = redemption
• Bronze = testing, suffering, judgment
• In this lesson we will study the coverings that covered the top of the tabernacle building. We will see that these same colors and metals maintain the same meanings as before.
• The Four Tabernacle Coverings
• Notice that two of the coverings cover the walls of gold of the tabernacle building, and two are attached to the ground.
• Why were there 4 coverings?
• The reason there were four is because of what they represent.
• Covering #1 = The cherubim’s covering of four colors.
• Read Exo 26:1-16
• Read Exo 36:8-13
• If you stood in the Holy Place or in the Holy of Holies, and looked up, you would see this magnificent covering of purple, red, blue and white that depicted cherubim angels.
• This covering represents the unsearchable riches of Christ. (Eph 3:8)
• Read Eph 3:7-12
• Notice the following phrases in this passage,
• Paul speaks of the “fellowship of the mystery”. What is this mystery?
• This mystery is something that was hidden from the Old Testament saints even though we see the reference to it in the meaning of the tabernacle.
• It is the beautiful concept that the church is made up of Jews and Gentiles in Jesus Christ.
• Paul speaks of “powers in heavenly places” . The revelation of God’s plan of a church consisting of Jews and Gentiles is revealed to spiritual powers by the New Testament church through Paul to the Gentiles and Peter to the Jews.
• The phrase, “from the beginning of the world.”. Paul tells us that this plan of unity in the church was God’s plan from the very beginning.
• The four colors of embroidery in this covering symbolize the messages of Jesus Christ in the four gospels.
• Each panel has 2 cherubim angels.
• Cherubim (a type of angel) were given the job of guarding the presence and holiness of God.
• The spiritual powers in heaven observe the worship in the church of Jesus Christ and the angels rejoice at each new salvation (1Pet 1:12)
• This covering had 2 sections, each with 5 panels. The two sections were joined together with 50 gold clasps and 50 blue loops on each of the two sections.
• Five panels plus five panels:
• Number 5 means = grace.
• Number 10 means = the perfect will of God.
• Read Eph 2:11-19
• The two sections represent the Jews and the Gentiles that make up the body of Christ. They are perfectly joined together. This fact is mentioned 10 times in the New Testament.
• The 50 gold clasps and 50 loops of blue:
• Read 1Cor 1:10
• Read Eph 4:16 (Col 2:19)
• These 50 clasps and hooks joined the 2 sections of the cherubim’s’ covering together.
• The blue loops symbolize the heavenly love of Christ that knits together His church.
• The significance of the number 50:
• The word Pentecost means 50.
• The Old Testament Feast of Pentecost was a feast of unity celebrated 50 days after the Passover.
• The New Testament Day of Pentecost in the book of Acts brought together scattered believers and empowered them as one body on the day of Pentecost.
• Read 1Cor 12:13
• The Jewish year of Jubilee was part of the Sabbatic system to be celebrated every 50 years.
• T

he year of Jubilee was to be a year of unity where everything in the form of land ownership, family, and finances that was torn apart was now joined together and restored.

• Therefore, 50 represents unity. God wants His church to be unified.
• The message of the Cherubim’s’ covering:
• As God looks down from heaven, He and the angels see our worship through Jesus Christ. He sees our unity with Christ and with one another, fitly joined together by the preaching in the four gospels. This is how we appear in worth to God as we are in union with Christ.
• Read Eph 1:18
• Therefore, when God looks at the believer, he sees us clothed with Christ in all His worth and His glory.
• When the believer looks to heaven to worship God, it is Jesus Christ that should be at the center of our worship.
• When believers are in unity of worship, it will bring unity in the church one with another.
• Covering #2 = The Goat’s Hair Covering
• Read Exo 26:7-13
• Read Exo 36:14-18
• A prophet was known by his goat’s hair robes.
• Read Deu 18:15-19
• Jesus is called a prophet 15 times in the New Testament.
• Read Luk 7:16
• The male goat was a sin offering in the Old Testament. Therefore, this covering is a prefigure of Jesus Christ who became sin for us when He was crucified on the cross.
• Read 2Cor 5:21
• This covering had 2 sections joined together by 50 bronze clasps.
• Therefore, this covering represents Old Testament prophets and New Testament prophets that together tell us about the ultimate prophet, Jesus Christ, and of His first coming and His the second coming.
• The 50 bronze clasps:
• The number 50 in this case represents Pentecost and Jubilee as mentioned above.
• Notice that this time the clasps are made of bronze and not gold.
• Bronze represents suffering, testing, and judgment:
• Jesus, the ultimate prophet, was tested, endured suffering, and was judged when He became sin for us on the cross.
• The double panel:
• Notice that one section of this covering has 5 panels and the other section has 6 panels.
• The number 5 means = grace.
• The number 6 means = the imperfection of man.
• The sixth panel was turned back at the front of the tabernacle to make a double layer. Why
• The double part represents the abundance of the prophetic ministry that will increase in the last days.
• Read Joe 2:28-29
• Covering #3 = The Ram’s Skin Dyed Red Covering
• Read Exo 26:14
• Read Exo 36:19
• The ram was the Old Testament sacrifice for the consecration of the priest.
• Therefore, this covering represents Jesus Christ, our High Priest.
• Read Heb 4:14
• A ram was dedicated even to the shedding of blood.
• Jesus was dedicated even to the shedding of His blood.
• A ram is the leader of the flock.
• Jesus Christ is our good shepherd and the captain of our salvation.
• Read Joh 17:2
• Read Heb 2:10
• There were no dimensions given for this covering. Why? Did God forget to tell Moses the dimensions? No. Did Moses forget to write down the dimensions? No.
• The fact that there are no dimensions means that the eternal flock of God’s children is unnumbered in quantity. Does this mean that God does not know how many people will be saved for eternity? No. It means that God has not revealed the number in His Word.
• The principle applies to believers as well. There should be no limit to our dedication as New Testament priests following Christ, our High Priest.
• Covering #4 = The Badger Skin Covering
• This was a protective covering that covered everything and protected the beauty of the inner tabernacle from the elements of weather.
• This covering symbolizes Jesus Christ as our protector. The One who is over His household.
• These skins were a dark blue, rough leather.
• Isa 53 is a prophetic illustration of Jesus Christ on the cross. It specifically tells us that while He hung on the cross, beaten and covered with blood, there was no beauty in Him.
• Read Isa 53:2
• The badger is a lone animal, not a herd animal.
• Five times Jesus is spoken of as alone (Joh 16:32)
• Jesus was in the world but He was not of it. He maintained His distance from sin yet he ate with sinners.
• A badger is a vigilant animal. Jesus had a zeal for God’s law (Joh 2:17)
• There are no dimensions given for this covering.
• Christ’s protection of His church is universal and always present.
• These principles apply to the believer as well:
• Like Christ we are to be separated from the world.
• To the world, the believer may look foolish and worthy of ridicule.
• However, like the badger, and like our Lord, we must be zealous for God’s standards.
• If you stood on a mountain outside the camp of the Israelites and viewed their camp with the tabernacle in the center. You would not see the beautiful Cherubim’s Covering with it’s beautiful 4 colors and gold clasps. You would not see the white goat’s hair covering of Jesus Christ, the prophet. You would not see the covering of the ram’s skins dyed red that tell us of Jesus our High Priest. The only thing observable would be the dark, ugly Badger skin covering.
• To many non-believers, from a distance, Christ is not beautiful. It is only as you draw close to Him, can you see that great beauty in Christ.
• The more the believer looks up in worship, the more beautiful Jesus becomes.
• Summary:
• The significance of the four coverings:
• The Cherubim’s Covering of 4 colors and gold clasps tells us of the unsearchable riches of Christ our King who holds the mystery of the unity of His church in His hand. (Rev 1:20).
• The Goat’s Hair Covering tells us of the ministry of Jesus Christ as our Prophet who declares the truths of God to His church.
• The Covering of Ram’s Skins Dyed Red tells us of Jesus Christ, our High Priest, who became the sacrifice for His church.
• The Badger Skin Covering tells us that the riches of Jesus Christ are seen only by those who enter into the presence of God through Christ. Those who choose not to enter remain spiritually blinded by the hardness of their own heart.
• Read 1Cor 2:14

HOMEWORK
THE STUDY OF THE TABERNACLE: THE FURNITURE (THE MINISTRY OF CHRIST)
This is a self-study. Please do not send homework answers to the teacher forcorrection.

• Application of the Tabernacle Coverings (The Work of Christ)
• As you worship God this week, use your imagination to picture the Cherubim’s Covering that speaks of the unsearchable riches of Christ.

• How unified are you with your brothers and sisters in Christ?
• What can you do personally to promote greater unity in your church?

• Preparation for the Study of the Tabernacle: The Furniture (The Ministry of Christ):
• Read Exo 27:1-8
• Read Exo 38:1-7
• In the ministry of Christ, what do you think the altar represents. (Gal 3:13)
• Read Num 4:4-5, 15
• Read Num 16:1-7, 18-21, 26-27, 31-40
• How did the altar change because of this incident?
• What do you think is the significance of the change?
• Read Exo 30:17-21
• Read Exo 38:8
• What does the laver symbolize? (Eph 5:26)
• Read Exo 25:23-30
• Read Exo 37:10-16
• Read Lev 24:5-9
• What does the table of showbread symbolize? (Joh 6:35)
• Memory verse: Psalms 18:2