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Teaching And Research By: M. E. Arbaugh
Overcoming
the Enemies
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THE
TABERNACLE
THE COURTYARD
Lesson
5
There is no mention of the outer court in chapter nine of the book of Hebrews. Perhaps this is because everything in the outer court was fulfilled by Christ while He was here on the earth, openly manifested before men.
As we look at the tabernacle courtyard it is apparent that the courtyard, which is the size of a large city lot, is very small, in comparison to the mass of people. When the enslaved people were set free and left Egypt, it is estimated that they numbered in the millions. Through a series of miracles, they were delivered, led and fed. Surely, so small a space would not accommodate all who would wish to worship.
We, also, have been delivered from a hard task master. By a series of miracles we have been freed, led and fed. Yet few of us worship. As it is today, it was then. There were only a few of those who were freed, led and fed who wished to come into His presence to worship. Jesus called those who seek after the kingdom of God, a little flock. Luke 12:32. He also said, that the gate is narrow and few there be that find it. Matthew 7:14. It is sad but true that most of those who profess His name, do not even look for the entrance to the secret place of the most high God.
The size of the court was 75'x150'. It did not have a roof, indicating that it was accessible to who ever would come. There were sixty pillars of incorruptible wood set in sockets of brass. These pillars held up the white linen curtains which formed the walls of the court. The curtains, which were seven and a half feet high, were hooked together with hooks of silver and hung on silver rods. This wall of white in the middle of the wilderness served to remind the people of the holiness of God. It shut out the sinner and at the same time enclosed and shielded the worshipers who were willing to approach in the prescribed manner.
The entrance was eastward toward the sunrise, out of the east came the star that led wise men to the Son of righteousness who is risen with healing in His wings. Healing that bridged the great gulf between God and man and still meets our every need.
The entrance, was made of the same white linen, as the courtyard walls, only it was beautifully embroidered with blue, purple and scarlet. The sixty pillars, that held up the fabric, symbolize the strength of Jesus in His humanity who was tempted and yet was without sin. The brass sockets, that hold the pillars, speak of the judgment of a holy God against sin, and the endurance of Jesus who went through that judgment in our place. The white linen, that enclosed the court, speaks of purity and righteousness. The expanse of white also reminded all, that God's dwelling place was separated from them. His holiness was shut in, their sin was shut out. Those who came into the court seeking forgiveness, in the prescribed manner, found that the curtain became a shield, a shelter, a defense and a glory. Instead of being opposed to righteousness, they were now surrounded by it.
The silver hooks and fillets used to attach the curtains to the pillars, speak of redemption, and signify Christ our redeemer and Christ our righteousness. These two aspects of the work of Christ must never be separated.
The silver hooks, rings and curtain rods of the court and the silver sockets of the tabernacle were fashioned from the ransom .money that every male from the age of twenty was to pay. Exodus 30:12. The ransom money spoke of the costliness of the precious blood of Christ that redeemed us from bondage.
Overcoming
the Enemies
of Health
Jesus, the only one who ever kept the law in thought, word and deed, was the one who suffered the penalty of the law, in our stead. He provided the perfect and costly ransom. We have been purchased, redeemed, bought back, freed from bondage. We are to remember that we are not our own. His ransom not only freed us from something, it freed us to something. There is a calling on our lives. 1 Peter 1:14-19.
The fine needle work on the gate in blue, spoke of His divinity. The purple spoke of His royalty, the scarlet spoke of His suffering and His obedience unto death.
As the worshiper entered the gate, he entered with thanksgiving for that which God had provided. Just as there was only one entrance into the courtyard of God, there is also only one entrance into the Kingdom of God. Jesus said, I am the door, he who enters will be saved. John 10:9.
Notice that just looking at the gate or door does not save. It is not thinking of how beautiful He is, nor believing that He is, that saves. It is entering in, that saves.
There was, no doubt, a lot of semi-believers hanging around the outside of the gate. Hear them speak. "Oh! yes, I believe that this is 'The' gate. Yes, I know that God wants me to enter. Why, I am moved to tears as I look upon the beautiful needle work. When I hear the singing of the worshipers my heart just melts. I've seen the cloud by day and the fire by night. Its really awesome isn't it? Enter in? Well, I'm just not sure I'm ready to do that."
No one can worship by observation, they must get involved. It is those who enter in that will be saved. The reason they come into the courtyard is for the remission of sins. Remission means more than canceled, it means paid in full and the record expunged, as though it never existed. Jesus at Calvary said, "tetelesti", it is finished, the debt of sin is paid in full.
A determined step, and those willing to draw nigh to God are inside the gate. The first thing seen is the brazen altar. It is lined up squarely to the compass points in a direct line from the center of the gate to the mercy seat. Five cubits square, it speaks of grace that is equally available to all the world. There it stands, ever smoking, stained with the blood of the innocent animal sacrifices. Because of the provision which Jehovah has made, the response must be one of worship. If it is not, then all is in vain. The Father is not seeking repenters, or doers, He is seeking worshipers, John 4:23-24. How about you? Do you stand before His altar and worship? Have you entered in? In order to be a true worshiper, you must first enter in.
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