19 The Tabernacle God's Model

The apostle begins to declare the significance of the earthly dwelling place for God, the Tabernacle (Exodus 25:8). The construction of a sanctuary was commanded while the Children of Israel were in the desert so God could dwell with His people. The Hebrew word for dwell in this context is Shekinah. The Greek word is Skenoo. The purpose is so God can take a more permanent residence on the earth. It is important to not overemphasize or underestimate the significance of the Tabernacle of God. Most Christian groups fall into one or the other of these problems. They either attach too much prophetic significance to it or they ignore it altogether.

The first covenant had regulations for worship which were divine service. So that these ordinances of divine worship might be carried out under the first covenant, God appointed a place where they should take place. This was an earthly sanctuary—literally, “a worldly holy place.” God would meet with the Children of Israel in this Tabernacle.
The earthly Tabernacle provided a very limited access to God; the earthly Tabernacle provided a very limited cleansing, showing its imperfection and inadequacy; therefore, it was intended to be a temporary arrangement. The Messiah functions in a better Tabernacle—the Heavenly one—which provides unlimited access to God (9:1–10) with an adequate sacrifice (9:11–10:18).