Please turn in your Bibles this evening to Exodus chapter 27 as we continue our study through the Word of God.  We are currently in a section of Scripture that deals with the tabernacle or the portable worship structure that God instructed Moses and the children of Israel to build. And God was very specific on how this was to be built and furnished.  In Exodus 25:8-9 the Lord told Moses, “And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it.” And as we have seen, the reason God was so specific is that the tabernacle and its furnishings was not only a picture of heaven but it gives to us a picture of the person and work of Jesus Christ. With that said, let’s continue on in our study of the tabernacle beginning in Exodus chapter 27, starting in verse 1 and see what the Lord has for us as we study His Word.

EXODUS 27

VERSES 1-8

            THE BRAZEN ALTAR

            This box like structure measuring 7½ feet square and 4½ feet high and was made of acacia wood and overlaid with bronze, the metal of judgment.  This altar is where the sacrifices were made and the Hebrew word for “altar” speaks of this, it means “killing place.”  As we move on, and especially in Leviticus, we will see the various sacrifices that were made on the altar of burnt offering or the brazen altar.  But the idea here is that before you can approach God, the sacrifice for sin had to be made, the shedding of blood!  This brazen altar was located just inside the door of the tabernacle as you entered through the east gate.

VERSES 9-19

            THE COURTYARD OF THE TABERNACLE

This whole structure was 150 feet long running east to west and 75 feet wide running north to south. This white linen fence was symbolic of the purity, the holiness, the righteousness of God and it was put up to keep people out. You see, the only entrance was on the east side, a door 30 feet wide and 7½ feet high. Bronze pillars that had tops of silver held up the fence. In other words, our holy God, the white linen, became sin for us, the bronze pillars, sacrificing His life, the silver top, so that we can become the righteousness of God in Him!

            In John 10:7-9 we are told, “Then Jesus said to them again, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.’”  In other words, you could try to climb over the fence, under the fence, cut through the fence, but the reality is, you would be a thief or a robber trying to take that which is not yours, eternal life.  You can only enter into that eternal life through Jesus Christ just as you can only enter into the tabernacle through the east gate!

            This court of the tabernacle was the only place the people could gather to meet God, only the priests could enter the holy place and only the high priest could enter into the holy of holies or the presence of God, and only once a year, on the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur!

VERSES 20-21

            CARE OF THE LAMPSTAND

            The oil for the lampstand came from pressed olives, not beaten olives.  That is interesting to me because Paul tells us in II Corinthians 4:8, “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair.” In other words, God uses times in our lives when we are pressed for His glory, to shine forth.  This light in the holy place, coming from the seven-branched oil-burning lamp was never to go out. The priests were to care for it day and night, trimming the wicks, making sure enough oil was there.  And can you imagine this light against the gold walls!

            As Christians we will go through some tough times, we live in some dark days and thus, we need to care for the light that God has given us.  You see, the only light of God people will see is us, just as the only light in the dark holy place came from this oil-burning lamp! Paul explains it like this in II Corinthians 4:6, “For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”  And also, in Ephesians 5:8 Paul tells us, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light “ May we shine forth the Lord to a world that is in darkness but we too must tend to our lamp, to make sure there is oil, that our lives are trim for His use!

VERSES 1-2

            Here we see the priesthood established with the priestly garments. Aaron was the high priest and his sons would assist in the work, but not all of them.  In Numbers 3:4 we are told, “Nadab and Abihu had died before the Lord when they offered profane fire before the Lord in the Wilderness of Sinai; and they had no children. So Eleazar and Ithamar ministered as priests in the presence of Aaron their father.”  So God takes this position of His representative very seriously and we will deal with the sin of Nadab and Abihu as we move on in our studies through God’s Word.

            Now let me ask you this.  Could you earn your way into this position, buy your way into this position? Absolutely not! The only way you can get in was by your birthright. That is true for us as Christians today. Peter tells us in I Peter 2:4-5, “Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”  You see, we are priests only because of the new birth we have in Christ!

            One last point here. Notice that their garments were for “glory and beauty.” They were representing God and in so doing, what they wore was important to God. As we represent God before people, what we wear should be for His glory and beauty; they should be glorious and beautiful. Clarke makes these interesting comments on this subject. He wrote:

            “Is then the dismal black, now worn by almost all kinds of priests and ministers, for glory and for beauty? Is it emblematic of any thing that is good, glorious, or excellent? How unbecoming the glad tidings announced by Christian ministers is a colour emblematical of nothing but mourning and woe, sin, desolation, and death!”

VERSES 3-4

            I like this, that God gives gifts, talents to people to do the work of the ministry and the primary focus once again is that our ministry is unto the Lord! The problem today is many try to accomplish things in the power of their strength and it will never be accomplished to the degree as a person that has a life surrendered to the Holy Spirit. It is as the Lord told Zerubbabel as they were preparing to rebuild the temple after their captivity in Babylon, “So he answered and said to me: ‘This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,” Says the Lord of hosts.’”  Zechariah 4:6. May we not forget that as we serve the Lord!

VERSES 5-14

            THE GARMENTS FOR THE HIGH PRIEST – THE EPHOD

            This fine white linen ephod was beautifully colored and it was like a vest the high priest would wear. And on the shoulder straps were two onyx stones with six names of the tribes of Israel on each stone. Yes, the primary work of the priest was unto the Lord but as His representative he was also to carry the people before the Lord, he worked for the people.  To often today the position of a pastor is one where they are elevated and the people serve him.  The reality is, it is the other way around! And in the body of Christ, everyone works together for the betterment of the body.  And the biggest responsibility for a pastor is to bring people before God, lifting them up, helping them to grow, bringing God to the people as they teach the Word of God to them!

VERSES 15-30

            THE GARMENTS FOR THE HIGH PRIEST – THE BREASTPLATE

            The breastplate was also made of the same colors as the ephod and it was attached to the ephod with gold chains. On the breastplate were four rows of three gemstones, once again representing the 12 tribes of Israel. And in verse 29 we are told, “So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel on the breastplate of judgment over his heart.” Here’s the point I believe the Lord is making here.  The priest was not only to work for the people, serve them but he must love them as God loves them, unconditionally as he bears them on his heart. He not only was to have a passion, a heart for God, but he was also to have a heart, a passion for the people as he served the Lord!

            Now, why is this called the “breastplate of judgment” some three times in these verses? I believe it is because the breastplate held the Urim and the Thummim or literally “lights and perfections.” We don’t know how this worked but it was used to discern the will of God.  This I can say for sure, they were not magic glasses that Joseph Smith found to read the tablets with – that is a sham! Some say they were a white and black stone and as the high priest asked the question and he reached in and pulled out a stone, if it was white, the answer was yes and if it was black the answer was no!  Again, we don’t know for sure. Some have even speculated that they were beautiful diamonds that flashed “yes” and “no” to the questions brought before God. Whatever it was, God spoke to them through these stones. In I Samuel 28:6 we are told, “And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams or by Urim or by the prophets.”  (Other places the Urim and Thummim are spoken of are Numbers 27:21, Ezra 2:63, Nehemiah 20:18, 23).  Today we don’t need the Urim and Thummim; we have the Holy Spirit along with the Word of God to speak to our hearts in what we should do. Thus, don’t go by feelings, which will lead you astray, but by the Holy Spirit who will guide you in where to go and what to do in accordance with the Word of God!

VERSES 31-35

            THE GARMENTS FOR THE HIGH PRIEST – THE ROBE

            Under the ephod the high priest wore a blue robe and on the hem of this robe were golden bells and pomegranates alternating every other one.  Thus, as the high priest ministered before the Lord the people would hear the ringing bells and they were assured of God’s mercy in allowing the priest to minister on their behalf.  If the bell’s stopped ringing then they would know he was struck dead before the Lord and they would pull him out by the rope that was tied to his ankle.

VERSES 36-38

            THE GARMENTS FOR THE HIGH PRIEST –

     THE TURBAN AND GOLD PLATE

            The turban was a headpiece in which a gold plate was attached and on the gold plate was engraved, “HOLINESS TO THE LORD.”  In other words, God is holy and as we serve the Lord our lives should be holy, not in a legalistic way, but a life that is separated unto Him out of love!

VERSE 39

            Once again these garments were made of fine linen.

VERSES 40-43

            THE GARMENTS FOR THE SONS OF AARON

            The garments for the priests were different than that of the high priest as only the high priest was allowed to come before the Lord and only once a year on the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur!

VERSES 1-4

            In Leviticus chapter 8 we see this ceremony of the consecration of Aaron and his sons for ministry actually take place.  Here in Exodus are the instructions of what to do.  And as we have read, consecration couldn’t happen without the shedding of blood, the sacrifice of an animal taking place first and it also required fellowship with God as seen in the unleavened bread and cakes.

            Also, they were to be washed at the door of the tabernacle of meeting, so all could see.  Talk about a humbling experience, but this was a one time washing and from then on they would only need to wash their hands and feet before they served the Lord at the brazen laver. Every Christian must first be washed, not by himself but by the Lord and it is only after we humble ourselves before Him. Revelation 1:5 tells us what the Lord has done for us, “and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood.” It is then we don’t need the total body washing but that daily cleansing as we serve the Lord.

            In John 13:6-10, as Jesus is washing the disciples feet, we are told, “Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, are You washing my feet?’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.’ Peter said to Him, ‘You shall never wash my feet!’ Jesus answered him, ‘If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.’ Simon Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!’ Jesus said to him, ‘He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.’”

            Christ washes us first as white as snow but we do need that daily cleansing, not for salvation but to wash away that dirt we pick up in the world. And that is done by God’s Word as Ephesians 5:26 tells us, “that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word.” And by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit in our lives as Titus 3:5-6 tells us, “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior.” Thus, to serve the Lord you need to be saved and then you need that daily cleansing of His Word and His Spirit!

VERSES 5-9

            Notice, the cleansing and then being clothed, not in his own clothes, but clothes that were given to Aaron and his sons by God.  Then, after they were dressed they were anointed with oil, a picture of the Holy Spirit in their lives. For us as Christians, we too are clothed by the righteousness of Christ imputed or poured into our lives by faith in Him and we have the Holy Spirit not only IN us but also UPON us, empowering us for service!  I like the way Spurgeon dealt with these garments. He wrote:

            Note, that these garments were provided for them. They were at no expense in buying them, nor labor in weaving them, nor skill in making them; they had simply to put them on. And you, dear child of God, are to put on the garments which Jesus Christ has provided for you, at his own cost, and freely bestows upon you out of boundless love.

- Spurgeon

VERSES 10-14

            THE SIN OFFERING – THE BULL

            Without the shedding of blood their could be no remission of sin and thus, we see the sin offering as Aaron and his sons placed their hands on the bull, transferring their guilt, their sin to him and then the animal was sacrificed.  Then the blood of the animal was placed on the altar and the animal was burnt on the altar, giving the best part of the animal to the Lord and the rest was destroyed outside the camp. Interestingly enough the ancient Hebrew words for “altar” means “killing place” as I have said. You see, it was a place of death but then it was made Holy, consecrated to God. Think of the cross in that light, it was a place of death and yet our Lord transferred it to a place that would bring forth eternal life for us through His sacrifice. It is as Isaiah 53:6 tells us, “All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”

VERSES 15-18

            THE BURNT OFFERING – THE RAM

            The next offering was of a ram and it was called the burnt offering. This offering speaks of dedication in that the whole ram was given to the Lord.  In other words they were to wholly dedicate themselves or commit themselves to the work of the Lord.  We, as priests, are to do no less.  There should be no spectators in the kingdom of God. Paul tells us in Romans 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”  Our lives need to be dedicated to the Lord, for His service and not ours!

VERSES 19-21

            THE CONSECRATION OFFERING – THE SECOND RAM

            Here we see the peace offering or the consecration offering as we first saw the atonement for sin – the sin offering; the dedication offering - the burnt offering, and now our lives are not only given to the Lord, they are serving the Lord. Some of the blood was placed on the right ear of Aaron and his son, speaking of the fact that they must listen to God’s Word and not deviate from it. Some of the blood was placed on the right thumb of Aaron and his son showing that they were to do God’s work and not deviate from it.  And some of the blood was placed on the right big toe of Aaron and his sons showing that they were to walk in God’s ways and not deviate from them. In other words, our lives are a living sacrifice unto the Lord, consecrated to Him, at least they should be!  We have peace with God through Jesus Christ and now may our lives reflect that relationship!

            Now, why the blood mixed with oil and then sprinkled on Aaron and his sons and on their clothes? I like they way Spurgeon put it. He wrote, “Yes, brethren, we need to know that double anointing, the blood of Jesus which cleanses, and the oil of the Holy Spirit which perfumes us. It is well to see how these two blend in one . . . It is a terrible blunder to set the blood and the oil in opposition, they must always go together.” I think he is correct in what he said regarding the mixing of blood and oil!

VERSES 22-28

            THE WAVE OFFERING

            Part of the second ram, the bread, the cakes, the wafer was waved before the Lord and then a portion was burnt on the altar to the Lord and the remaining portions were given to Aaron and his sons to eat. Obviously food is needed to sustain physical life just as spiritual food is needed to sustain spiritual life.  It is as we are told in John 6:35, “And Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.’” Spurgeon sums it up like this as he wrote, “Let not this distinction be forgotten; the eating of the sacrifice is not intended to give life, for no dead man can eat, but to sustain the life which is there already. A believing look at Christ makes you live, but spiritual life must be fed and sustained.”

VERSES 29-37

            This was not only for Aaron and his sons but for all who would enter the priesthood down the road, they would have to go through this consecration process that lasted seven days! Once again, in regards to partaking of this spiritual food and the importance of doing this, listen to what Spurgeon tell us. He wrote:

            “The Lord's part was consumed with fire upon the altar, and another portion was eaten by man in the holy place. The peace offering was thus an open declaration of the communion which had been established between God and man, so that they ate together, rejoicing in the same offering.”

            He also wrote:

            “I know some good people who are very busy indeed in the services of God, and I am very delighted that they should be, but I would caution them against working and never eating. They give up attending the means of grace as hearers, because they have so much to do as workers.”

            Wise words to listen and learn from!

VERSES 38-41

            Every day, twice a day, in the morning and at twilight a lamb would be sacrificed. As you begin the day and as you ended the day the sacrifice was made. You see, the blood of bulls and goats could never take away your sins, thus the sacrifice had to be made all the time, until the Lamb of God had come who TOOK AWAY the sins of the world – JESUS! Also a drink offering was poured out before the Lord showing how they had completely emptied themselves out to God.  Paul picked up on this idea of his life being a drink offering in Philippians 2:17 as he wrote, “Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.”

And as he prepared to be put to death for his faith in Christ under the hands of Nero, he wrote in II Timothy 4:6-8, “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”  And we are told that this sacrifice to the Lord was sweet and how true that is. You see, God is honored and glorified by our complete surrender to Him; it is a sweet smelling sacrifice to Him!

VERSES 42-43

            Why did God want these things? So he could meet with them and speak to His people!  God wants consecration in our lives not so we can serve Him better, but that we can fellowship with Him and then, it is out of that relationship that service unto Him flows!

VERSES 44-46

            Who performs the work of consecration? The Lord does, may we not forget that. We must surrender; He will do the work in us and through us!

            Notice what took place at this ceremony of consecration in Leviticus 9:23-24, “And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of meeting, and came out and blessed the people. Then the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people, and fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. When all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces.”  And as we close this evening, listen once again to the end result of all of this, what God is doing.  We are told, “And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them up out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them. I am the Lord their God.” Exodus 29:46.  May we not forget that, God desires a relationship with us!