The passages describing the workings of Tabernacle, its services, its structure, and those who cared for it, are so full of details that they are often perceived as some of the most boring parts of the Torah. Yet these detailed commands are repeated over and over again. Why?
For instance, why does the Torah need to be so specific about the priest’s pants and where bells should be attached to the robe? Why are attachments for rings so critical? Why are measurements so exact? Even if these were indeed important details for us to know, why entrench them so often in the text?
I’m thinking, if you were a priest, detail would be very important. Consider what YHWH says to Moses, about iniquity, then ask yourself if details would be important.
“And they (the priestly garments) shall be upon Aaron, and upon his sons, when they enter the Tent of Meeting, or when they approach the Altar to minister in the holy place, so that they not bear iniquity and die.”
Would you pay attention to proper protocol if it was a matter of life and death? Even if you or I were invited to speak to an earthly King or President, I believe we would consider the rules of the court and proper procedures. Our actions would determine being heard or being cast out.
In the case of the Tabernacle, the priests minister to the Creator of the world, which is something much more meaningful. We read in Exodus 29:44-45,
“And I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar, I will also consecrate Aaron and his sons to minister as priests to me. And I will dwell among the sons of Israel and will be their Elohim.”
Have you ever considered the workings of the priesthood as instruments connecting Heaven and earth? YHWH’s Holy presence dwelt with man on this earth. Consequently, details were the very thing that allowed man to interact with Holiness.
Think about this. Incredibly expensive space-crafts, airplanes, satellites, can be lost, all because of an error in one word, space, sign, or letter. Your password to your computer won’t work if one thing is wrong. When it comes to the Tabernacle and the priests, we see instruments whose every part was thought out with great precision. Everything had its own specifications: where it should stand, how to function, how it looks, and what to wear. This is what prepares the Tabernacle (Yah’s House) for receiving His Divine Presence, Divine Forgiveness, and Divine Interaction.
I can only imagine how anxious the craftsman were in making furniture, garments, and tabernacle ornaments; knowing that these items would allow an ordinary man to come into the presence of God.
There are those who think intentions or good will is all that is needed to enter Yah’s presence. But that wasn’t so for Nadab and Abihu who brought in strange fire. Nor was it true for the young priest by the name of Uzzah who tried to “stabilize” the ark of the covenant. Yah’s details cost these men their lives.
In the midst of all this detail, can you see the need for a Savior? Can you possibly see why the furniture, the offerings, and the clothing within the tabernacle pointed to the Messiah? Can you see the eventual need for something better than bull or goats in order to approach the throne room of Yahweh? Everything is about “The Promise.”
The tabernacle was given to show man (Ez. 43) the promise and work of a Greater High Priest. It revealed a service so Holy that we would die in Yah’s presence but for the details of intercession or covering. That intercessor is Yeshua the Messiah—The Lamb of God. (Heb. 10) He is the righteous covering of white linen. He is the One of Promise.
If we consider the specifics of the wilderness tabernacle, would we consider the specifics of the New Tabernacle? When we think about it, the specifics are even greater in that Yeshua addresses the tabernacle of our heart. In his parables and teachings, Yeshua goes beyond the law in order to speak about our condition. From here, He speaks of His blood and His body in order to rescue us.
So, when we fellowship and worship with one another, do we take Yeshua’s work for granted? Do we disregard the details of His commands to put off the old and put on the new? Are we grateful while in His Presence? Do we worship with Thanksgiving? Do we lay our sin and iniquity at the feet of YHWH and ask for the blood of Yeshua?
When we take His Revelation and His Instructions as worthy, without carelessness, we can then take the words of Paul to heart.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God and the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds to Yeshua our Messiah.” Philippians 4: 6-7
So let us seek His Holiness this Sabbath with every intention. This might mean to put a check on comments that seek to destroy or belittle, putting a hold on worldly concerns, seeking clarification, praying with one another, or uplifting someone to give them courage.
Here is some good advice from the Apostle Peter:
13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written:
“You shall be holy, for I am holy.” I Peter 1:13-16
Food for thought.
Be blessed this Sabbath,
Rollyn