The Old Testament Tabernacle

Theological Significance of the
Old Testament Tabernacle


There are three leading themes that constitute the theology behind the Old Testament Tabernacle. They coincide and overlap in places, but remain distinct enough to separate them and analyze them individually. They are: Holiness/Purity, Atonement, and the Presence of God.

1.) Holiness/Purity
The most obvious reality of the Tabernacle is that it is a place of Holiness. Everything about it is concise, arranged exactly as God instructs, to the ultimate purpose of purity. God forbids the immediate environment from being desecrated with impurity, in order to keep His dwelling pure and holy. This concept merges with the Presence of God, but we will explore that later. However, the entire concept of holiness means that man will fall short of the mark, simply because we are not pure or holy.
So in one regard, the Tabernacle is an illustration (perhaps even a reminder) that we cannot please or exceed God of our own deeds. God’s grace is the only thing that can rapture us from our sin. This takes us to the item of Atonement.

2.) Atonement
As stated above, it is impossible for mankind to please or exceed God of our own deeds. It is humanly impossible to do something – anything – that would delete the impurity created by our human sin. We are a cursed race, and every one of us will sin. Therefore, only God’s grace can save us.
In the Old Testament, atonement for our sin is offered with the slaying of a perfect lamb. It was merely ritual, only a ceremony performed at God’s request, that He might wipe clean their sin. He wanted to see their devotion, to offer them a choice. But why a lamb?
A lamb was merely an allegory. A picture of Christ Jesus, who’s death would be the ultimate sacrifice. The white wool of the perfect lamb represented the absolute holiness of Christ, who was sinless…perfect in every regard.
It is notable, however, that many of the Jews eventually came to view the ceremonial atonement as a periodical sort of “fire insurance”. As if their reluctance would please their Creator. This ceremony became a “human deed” in itself, and lent itself to the subconscious notion that it, in fact, was man’s responsibility to earn their way to heaven.




3.) Presence of God
God dwelt in the Holy of Holies. In the most sacred place, the God of the Hebrews was there. His house was guarded by a veil…and the threat of death to all but the High Priest on the appointed day. And even then, if the Priest was not pure at heart, he was killed upon his entrance.
Again, this lends to the concept of Holiness/Purity. The average human being simply could not approach God. Jehovah was far too holy, too removed. It was a national affair. Israel was to be a “nation of priests”, and so their entire economy, government, migration, all their battle plans…revolved around the fact that God was with them.
Imagine God living in the White House. Prophesying to the Defense Department, breathing divinity into the nation’s internal affairs, managing the treasury, conducting treaty signings in foreign nations. And demanding that once every year, our President purge himself of his iniquity, and come before the living God in facedown worship.
Our entire perspective as a nation would be radically altered. Americans traveling abroad would be international representatives of the glory of God. Our nation’s success would flourish openly on the power of the Almighty, and everywhere we went, we would deliver God’s image through our lives.

But God doesn’t live in the Tabernacle anymore. When His son sagged with His last breath on the cross, the veil of the Temple was torn wide. We don’t need a High Priest. We can enter the Presence of God freely. He beckons to us, and all we need to do is respond. We don’t have to kill a lamb, we just have to surrender.
And now that God lives in us, we are living representatives of the glory of God. Our success flourishes on the wondrous beauty of our King, and everywhere we go, we shine God’s glory through our lives. It is upon us…whether we will misrepresent our Lord, or live like He did. He has washed our sins away, and we are giddy with thankfulness. We clutch to His grace, and thank Him for His mercy. Because He is God, and we are not. He is holy, and we are not. But He died that we could enter into the Holiest places with Him, and all we have to do is surrender