THE COURTYARD
I. THE SIZE OF THE COURTYARD
Exodus 27:9-13 (NKJV)
9. ”You shall also make the court of the tabernacle. For the south side there shall be hangings for the court made of fine woven linen one hundred cubits long for one side.
12. “And along the width of the court on the west side shall be hangings of fifty cubits, with their ten pillars and their ten sockets.
13. “The width of the court on the east side shall be fifty cubits.
In Biblical Times the measurement from the tip of the middle finger to the elbow was considered one cubit. This was based upon the average size of a man.
1 cubit is 18 inches: 50 cubits = 75 feet, 100 cubits=150 feet
II. THE FENCE AT THE GATE (EAST SIDE)
Exodus 27:14-17 (Context: 1-17) (NKJ)
14. The hangings on one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits, with their three pillars and their three sockets.
15. And on the other side shall be hangings of fifteen cubits, with their three pillars and their three sockets.
16. “For the gate of the court there shall be a screen twenty cubits long, woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, made by a weaver. It shall have four pillars and four sockets.
17. All the pillars around the court shall have bands of silver; their hooks shall be of silver and their sockets of bronze.
Remember:
- BRASS represents Sacrifice
- Bronze represents Incorruptibility
- Silver represents redemption
All these symbols point to God’s:
- Judgment upon sin.
- Leadership, as well as the entire body of Christ (the local church) is a pillar which supports the building/body physically and spiritually.
- Sockets of Bronze speaks of incorruptibility, Gods spoken Word Declared and Decreed the foundation of this Tabernacle is built on silver, in other words redemption.
The curtains around the courtyard of fine twined linen were suspended by silver hooks to the sixty pillars. Silver is the symbol of (Redemption), the fence (Righteousness), the foundation was built upon silver (Redemption), the wood planks (Mankind).
The purpose of the courtyard fence was symbolic of the law:
- The Law was not to establish a relationship but obedience, to keep man away from a Holy God.
- Man’s approach to the tabernacle where God dwelt was prohibited. Man cannot approach God without dealing with the sin issue.
- The white linen fence speaks of righteousness and holiness. The Fence becomes protection of God’s judgment and it said, “Stay out, keep away, no trespassing. Violators will be prosecuted”.
- The law demands perfect obedience. One single sin is enough to condemn man before God.
- Notice that there was only one way through the fence, the Gate to the Altar.
James 2:10 (KJ)
10. “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and you offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”
The law is not the way to God
Hebrews 10:1 (Context 1-10) (NAS)
1. For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year.
The Law was only a precursor of a New Covenant in Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 1:19-21 (NKJ)
19. but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
20. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you
21. who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
1 Peter 1:19-21 (CJB)
19. on the contrary, it was the costly bloody sacrificial death of the Messiah, as of a lamb without defect or spot.
20. God knew him before the founding of the universe, but revealed him in the acharit-hayamim for your sakes.
21. Through him you trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave Him gloty: so thsat your trust and hope are in God.
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
Exodus 20:3-17 (Context 1-20) (NAS)
3. “You shall have no other Gods before Me’
4. “You shall not make for yourselves an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.
5. “You shall not worship them or serve them; …
7. “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, …
8. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
12. “Honor your father and you mother …,
13. “You shall not murder.
14. “You shall not commit adultery.
15. “You shall not steal.
16. “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
17. “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife or his male servant or his female servant …
The Law
- Instead it bars the sinner from coming to God.
- Therefore, the Israelites could only approach God in the prescribed manner, through the Gate (Jesus).
- The Israelites could not approach from any other direction (Different Gospel Gal. 1:8,9) or death would be their end result.
Galatians 1:6-9 (NAS)
6. I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel;
7. which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.
8. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!
9. As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!
There are two different gospels that have said an angel had appeared to their prophet, Morman and Islam!
III. THE GATE
Exodus 27:16-17 (Context 1-17) (NKJ)
16. “For the gate of the court there shall be a screen twenty cubits long, woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, made by a weaver. It shall have four pillars and four sockets.
17. All the pillars around the court shall have bands of silver; their hooks shall be of silver and their sockets of bronze.
The word Hanging (mah-sahch) is in the Hebrew, exclusively used for the veil, for the door of the tabernacle and for the Gate of the court. When connected with the veil, it is often translated covering. The peculiar use of this word serves to connect together in type, the veil, the door of the tabernacle and the gate of the court. Each of these hangings covered or hid the interior from the eyes of one approaching from the outside. All three were made from the same material. Jesus the Spoken Word of God, the manifested Word of God, and the risen Word of God was of one type as well.
What The Colors Represent
Exodus 27:16 (Context 1-17) (NKJ)
16. “For the gate of the court there shall be a screen twenty cubits long, woven of blue, purple and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, made by a weaver. It shall have four pillars and four sockets.
Exodus 27:16 (VOICE)
16. The entrance to the court is to be a 30-foot fabric screen, made out of finely woven linen richly embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet thread. It is to be held up by four posts set into four bases.
1. Blue - reminds me of running fresh water. It also speaks about the third heaven, where Jesus is with the Father. In Numbers chapter 15 blue is a reminder of Gods Law and judgment T.B.D. Later.
The priests were required by God to wear a certain type of garment while they worked in the courtyard and inside the tabernacle. The body has garments as well, such as: the garment of praise, the garment of righteousness, the garment of prayer (The Tallit).
Exodus 28:15 (Voice)
15. Have your skilled workers make a breast piece of judgment out of the same quality materials and in the same style as the vest. Use finely woven linen; blue, purple, and scarlet thread; and gold.
2. Purple - purple is known in biblical times to represent wealth and royalty, position of great importance.
3. Red (Scarlet) - the color red points us to the blood sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. His blood is the way of cleansing us from our sin, if we choose redemption.
4. White - Fine linen
2 Chronicles 5:12 (Voice)
12. all the Levitical singers (Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and their relatives) were wearing fine linen, standing east of the altar, playing cymbals, harps, and lyres, along with priests blowing 120 trumpets.
5. Gold - Gold represents deity and purity, Jesus. Gold is used as a form of payment. He paid a debt He did not owe. Gold also represents Beauty: Heaven describes the streets of pure gold.
GATE - Tura, GREEK “A Door”. Luke 13:24 The size of the city gate was huge; the term is synonymous with power. In all instances the image of the gate is that of an entryway into something. Because entryways are public places, there is also an emphasis on communal activities that occur at gates. Because city gates were public passageways, they took on the nature of a “public square” where legal and civil events occurred.
Psalms 69:11-12.
11. When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them.
12. Those who sit in the gate talk about me, and I am the song of the drunkards.
There are several different gates mentioned in the Bible:
Gate - Pulon: primarily signifies “A Porch or vestibule,” Matt. 26:71; Luke 16:20; Acts 10:17
Sheep Gate - Neh. 3:1
Fish Gate - Neh. 3:3
Horse Gate - Neh. 3:28
Strait gate - Luke 13:24
The Gate was where all main activities concerning the citizens of the city were held. This is where things would be discussed, declared, and decreed.
This is where the citizens could choose their representative for them as an advocate in the legal arena, who they chose for their spokes-person.
Have you chosen Jesus as your Spokes-person between you and God the Father?
Matthew 7:13,14
13. Enter ye in the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14. Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Jesus is that type of Gate, Door, and Veil which points to our growth in Jesus. Jesus wants to be involved in all aspect of our lives. That’s why the Gate, Door, and Veil all represent our relationship with Jesus Christ as we grow in Faith, Trust, and obedience in Him.
IV. THE ALTAR OF BURNT OFFERING
(Seventh article/furniture made.)
Exodus 38:1-7 (NAS)
1. Then he made the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood, five cubits long, and five cubits wide, square, and three cubits high.
2. He made its horns on its four corners, its horns being of one piece with it, and he overlaid it with bronze.
3. He made all the utensils of the altar, the pails and the shovels and the basins, the flesh hooks and the firepans; he made all its utensils of bronze.
4.He made for the altar a grating of bronze network beneath, under its ledge, reaching halfway up.
5. He cast four rings on the four ends of the bronze grating as holders for the poles.
6. He made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with bronze.
7. He inserted the poles into the rings on the sides of the altar, with which to carry it. He made it hollow with planks.
Another Reference
Exodus 27:1-8 (NAS)
1. “And you shall make the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long and five cubits wide; the altar
shall be square, and its height shall be three cubits.
2. You shall make its horns on its four corners; its horns shall be of one piece with it, and you shall overlay it with bronze.
3. You shall make its pails for removing its ashes, and its shovels and its basins and its forks and its firepans; you shall make all its utensils of bronze.
4. You shall make for it a grating of network of bronze, and on the net you shall make four bronze rings at its four corners.
5. You shall put it beneath, under the ledge of the altar, so that the net will reach halfway up the altar.
6. You shall make poles for the altar, poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with bronze.
7. Its poles shall be inserted into the rings, so that the poles shall be on the two sides of the altar when it is carried.
8. You shall make it hollow with planks; as it was shown to you in the mountain, so they shall make it.
There are a few different titles that biblical scholars have given to this piece of furniture they are:
- “The Brazen Altar”,
- “The Altar of Burnt Offering”,
- “The Shadow of the Cross,
Gods Instructions For Building The Altar
Exodus 27:1-8 (CJB)
1.“You are to make the altar of acacia-wood, seven-and-a-half feet long and seven-and-a-half feet wide — the altar is to be square and four-and-a-half feet high.
Acacia wood represents and symbolizes humanity.
2. Make horns for it on its four corners; the horns are to be of one piece with it; and you are to overlay it with bronze.
On each of the four corners was a horn made of acacia wood overlaid with brass. These horns were positioned facing outward and upward symbolic of the sacrifice that reaches the four corners of the globe. Salvation comes only from the altar (Cross) Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Brass is symbolic of Sacrifice
3. “Make its pots for removing ashes, and its shovels, basins, meat-hooks and fire pans; all its utensils you are to make of bronze.
4. Make for it a grate of bronze netting; and on the four corners of the netting, make four bronze rings.
5. Put it under the rim of the altar, so that the netting reaches halfway up the altar.
6. Make poles of acacia-wood for the altar and overlay them with bronze.
7. Its poles are to be put into the rings; the poles are to be on both sides of the altar for carrying it.
8. The altar is to be made of planks and hollow inside. They are to make it just as you were shown on the mountain. (Ref. Ex. 38:1-8)
Bronze represents Incorruptibility. All the tools represent the Body of Christ working in His service.
Exodus 29:42-45 (KJ)
42 This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord: where I will meet you, to speak there unto thee.
43 And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by my glory.
44 And I will sanctify the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar: I will sanctify also both Aaron and his sons, to minister to me in the priest's office.
45 And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God.
This Door is symbolic of Jesus Christ. It is where God met with the people to inspect their sacrifice.
WHEN WE APPROACH THE ALTAR (The Cross) REMEMBER - IT ALWAYS:
- Takes Life
- Takes sin away
- Takes Judgment of the Law
THE SACRIFICE (Jesus Christ) ALWAYS:
- Gives Salvation, Mercy, Grace.
- Gives New Beginnings
- Gives a Divine Purpose.
- Gives an External Hope and promise.
The sinner passing through the Eastern gate of the Tabernacle encounters the Altar of Burnt Offering it was a picture of the death of a substitute.
- The word “Altar” signifies “To lift up.”
- The altar, the place of lifting up, points to the Cross of the Lord
- Demands a choice, and decision
- Will we accept, Jesus as our sin substitute
Jesus Christ, of which He said:
John 30-33 (CJB)
30. Yeshua answered, “This bat-kol did not come for my sake but for yours.
31. Now is the time for this world to be judged, now the ruler of this world will be expelled.
32. As for me, when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.”
33. He said this to indicate what kind of death he would die.
John 30-33 (NKJ)
30. Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake.
31. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.
32. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.”
33. This He said, signifying by what death He would die.
1 Peter 1:21 (KJ)
21. Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
(John 1:14 Word Became Flesh)
2 Corinthians 3:2,3 (KJ)
2. Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men:
3. Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
V. THE LAVER
(The sixth article/furniture made.)
The Laver - Outward Proclamation
Exodus 38:8 (Context 1-8) (KJV)
8. And he made the laver of brass, and the foot of it of brass, of the looking glasses of the women assembling, which assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
LAVER IS SYMBOLIC OF:
- Water baptism of repentance - cleansing, change direction.
- Public confession.
- Act of obedience
- The washing of the Word.
- Self-examination. (1 Cor. 11:31)
- The priest was to wash his hands and feet before he was allowed to serve God in the sanctuary.
- No priest was allowed to enter the sanctuary with unclean feet or hands because if he did, he was put to death.
In God’s plan, justification is always followed by sanctification.
The Alter and Laver are inseparable companions
At the brazen altar of the blood sacrifices:
- Our guilt is cancelled - (we are cleansed),
- At the laver the defilement of sin is washed away. “Without shedding of blood there is no remission of sin”.
Hebrews 9:21-28 (Also Heb. 12:14) (NAS)
21. And in the same way he sprinkled both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry with the blood.
22. And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
23. Therefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
24. For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;
25. nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood that is not his own.
26. Otherwise, He would have needed to sufferoften since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
27. And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,
28. so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.
When the priest washed at the laver, he saw his image reflected from the brass mirrors used in its construction. However it does not stop there: he had to reflect upon his spiritual condition; his obedience. Brass typified Christ in His ministry of judgment.
