And thou shalt make an altar of shittim wood, five cubits long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be foursquare: and the height thereof shall be three cubits.
And thou shalt make the horns of it upon the four corners thereof: his horns shall be of the same: and thou shalt overlay it with brass.
And thou shalt make his pans to receive his ashes, and his shovels, and his basons, and his fleshhooks, and his firepans: all the vessels thereof thou shalt make of brass.
And thou shalt make for it a grate of network of brass; and upon the net shalt thou make four brasen rings in the four corners thereof.
And thou shalt put it under the compass of the altar beneath, that the net may be even to the midst of the altar.
And thou shalt make staves for the altar, staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with brass.
And the staves shall be put into the rings, and the staves shall be upon the two sides of the altar, to bear it.
Hollow with boards shalt thou make it: as it was shewed thee in the mount, so shall they make it.
And thou shalt make the court of the tabernacle: for the south side southward there shall be hangings for the court of fine twined linen of an hundred cubits long for one side:
And the twenty pillars thereof and their twenty sockets shall be of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets shall be of silver.
And likewise for the north side in length there shall be hangings of an hundred cubits long, and his twenty pillars and their twenty sockets of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver.
And for the breadth of the court on the west side shall be hangings of fifty cubits: their pillars ten, and their sockets ten.
And the breadth of the court on the east side eastward shall be fifty cubits.
The hangings of one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits: their pillars three, and their sockets three.
And on the other side shall be hangings fifteen cubits: their pillars three, and their sockets three.
And for the gate of the court shall be an hanging of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework: and their pillars shall be four, and their sockets four.
All the pillars round about the court shall be filleted with silver; their hooks shall be of silver, and their sockets of brass.
The length of the court shall be an hundred cubits, and the breadth fifty every where, and the height five cubits of fine twined linen, and their sockets of brass.
All the vessels of the tabernacle in all the service thereof, and all the pins thereof, and all the pins of the court, shall be of brass.
And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always.
In the tabernacle of the congregation without the vail, which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before the Lord: it shall be a statute for ever unto their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel.
Exodus 27 provides detailed instructions for constructing the altar of burnt offering, the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle, and the provision for maintaining the lampstand. These elements, meticulously designed and divinely ordained, reveal profound truths about approaching God, the importance of holiness, and the continuous need for atonement and illumination.
The Altar of Burnt Offering (Exodus 27:1-8)
The first instruction focuses on the altar, the central point for sacrifices offered to the Lord (Exodus 27:1). This altar, overlaid with bronze, was not merely a functional object; it symbolized the place where atonement was made for sin. The bronze speaks of judgment, representing the fiery judgment that sin deserves and that was poured out on the sacrificial animal, foreshadowing the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Notice the specific instructions for its construction and the materials used (Exodus 27:2-3). Every utensil, every detail, was significant. This emphasizes the precision and intentionality required in approaching a holy God. Just as God gave exact instructions, we must approach Him with reverence and obedience, following His revealed will in every aspect of our lives. The altar, made "as it was shown...on the mountain" (Exodus 27:8), underscores the importance of adhering to God's word precisely. There's no room for improvisation when it comes to matters of faith and worship.
The Courtyard of the Tabernacle (Exodus 27:9-19)
These verses describe the rectangular courtyard surrounding the tabernacle. The courtyard served as a boundary, separating the sacred space of the tabernacle from the outside world. The height of the hangings (Exodus 27:9-19) prevented onlookers from casually peering into the tabernacle. This physical barrier highlights the holiness of God and the need for a proper and ordained approach to His presence.
The single gate for entrance (Exodus 27:16) is particularly noteworthy. It emphasizes that there is only one way to approach God. In the Old Testament, it was through the prescribed sacrifices and rituals. In the New Testament, Jesus Christ declares, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). The single gate foreshadows Christ as the only access point to God's saving grace. We cannot simply "waltz" into God's presence; we must come through the designated way, acknowledging our need for redemption and accepting His gracious invitation.
Oil for the Lampstand (Exodus 27:20-21)
The final instruction concerns the provision of pure oil from crushed olives to fuel the lampstand (Exodus 27:20-21). This oil was not just for illumination; it symbolized the light of God's presence, the Holy Spirit, and the ongoing need for spiritual enlightenment. The Israelites were responsible for providing this oil, highlighting their active role in maintaining the light.
The "pure oil from crushed olives" is significant. The crushing process speaks of suffering and sacrifice. The best oil, producing the brightest and purest light, comes from olives that have been thoroughly crushed. This can be seen as an analogy for our own lives. It is often through trials and suffering that we are refined and made more useful for God's purposes, allowing our light to shine more brightly for Him. The lampstand, continuously burning, reminds us of the constant need for God's light in our lives and the importance of being a light to the world, reflecting His glory in all that we do.
And thou shalt make an altar of shittim wood, five cubits long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be foursquare: and the height thereof shall be three cubits.
And thou shalt make the horns of it upon the four corners thereof: his horns shall be of the same: and thou shalt overlay it with brass.
And thou shalt make his pans to receive his ashes, and his shovels, and his basons, and his fleshhooks, and his firepans: all the vessels thereof thou shalt make of brass.
And thou shalt make for it a grate of network of brass; and upon the net shalt thou make four brasen rings in the four corners thereof.
And thou shalt put it under the compass of the altar beneath, that the net may be even to the midst of the altar.
And thou shalt make staves for the altar, staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with brass.
And the staves shall be put into the rings, and the staves shall be upon the two sides of the altar, to bear it.
Hollow with boards shalt thou make it: as it was shewed thee in the mount, so shall they make it.
And thou shalt make the court of the tabernacle: for the south side southward there shall be hangings for the court of fine twined linen of an hundred cubits long for one side:
And the twenty pillars thereof and their twenty sockets shall be of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets shall be of silver.
And likewise for the north side in length there shall be hangings of an hundred cubits long, and his twenty pillars and their twenty sockets of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver.
And for the breadth of the court on the west side shall be hangings of fifty cubits: their pillars ten, and their sockets ten.
And the breadth of the court on the east side eastward shall be fifty cubits.
The hangings of one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits: their pillars three, and their sockets three.
And on the other side shall be hangings fifteen cubits: their pillars three, and their sockets three.
And for the gate of the court shall be an hanging of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework: and their pillars shall be four, and their sockets four.
All the pillars round about the court shall be filleted with silver; their hooks shall be of silver, and their sockets of brass.
The length of the court shall be an hundred cubits, and the breadth fifty every where, and the height five cubits of fine twined linen, and their sockets of brass.
All the vessels of the tabernacle in all the service thereof, and all the pins thereof, and all the pins of the court, shall be of brass.
And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always.
In the tabernacle of the congregation without the vail, which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before the Lord: it shall be a statute for ever unto their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel.
Exodus 27 provides detailed instructions for constructing the altar of burnt offering, the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle, and the provision for maintaining the lampstand. These elements, meticulously designed and divinely ordained, reveal profound truths about approaching God, the importance of holiness, and the continuous need for atonement and illumination.
The Altar of Burnt Offering (Exodus 27:1-8)
The first instruction focuses on the altar, the central point for sacrifices offered to the Lord (Exodus 27:1). This altar, overlaid with bronze, was not merely a functional object; it symbolized the place where atonement was made for sin. The bronze speaks of judgment, representing the fiery judgment that sin deserves and that was poured out on the sacrificial animal, foreshadowing the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Notice the specific instructions for its construction and the materials used (Exodus 27:2-3). Every utensil, every detail, was significant. This emphasizes the precision and intentionality required in approaching a holy God. Just as God gave exact instructions, we must approach Him with reverence and obedience, following His revealed will in every aspect of our lives. The altar, made "as it was shown...on the mountain" (Exodus 27:8), underscores the importance of adhering to God's word precisely. There's no room for improvisation when it comes to matters of faith and worship.
The Courtyard of the Tabernacle (Exodus 27:9-19)
These verses describe the rectangular courtyard surrounding the tabernacle. The courtyard served as a boundary, separating the sacred space of the tabernacle from the outside world. The height of the hangings (Exodus 27:9-19) prevented onlookers from casually peering into the tabernacle. This physical barrier highlights the holiness of God and the need for a proper and ordained approach to His presence.
The single gate for entrance (Exodus 27:16) is particularly noteworthy. It emphasizes that there is only one way to approach God. In the Old Testament, it was through the prescribed sacrifices and rituals. In the New Testament, Jesus Christ declares, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). The single gate foreshadows Christ as the only access point to God's saving grace. We cannot simply "waltz" into God's presence; we must come through the designated way, acknowledging our need for redemption and accepting His gracious invitation.
Oil for the Lampstand (Exodus 27:20-21)
The final instruction concerns the provision of pure oil from crushed olives to fuel the lampstand (Exodus 27:20-21). This oil was not just for illumination; it symbolized the light of God's presence, the Holy Spirit, and the ongoing need for spiritual enlightenment. The Israelites were responsible for providing this oil, highlighting their active role in maintaining the light.
The "pure oil from crushed olives" is significant. The crushing process speaks of suffering and sacrifice. The best oil, producing the brightest and purest light, comes from olives that have been thoroughly crushed. This can be seen as an analogy for our own lives. It is often through trials and suffering that we are refined and made more useful for God's purposes, allowing our light to shine more brightly for Him. The lampstand, continuously burning, reminds us of the constant need for God's light in our lives and the importance of being a light to the world, reflecting His glory in all that we do.