Lesson Four

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="02c285a1erlcgo.png"> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#111111" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://ourworld-top.cs.com/rjmcclur/worship_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://ourworld-top.cs.com/rjmcclur/wors"><U><B>Twelve Lessons On Worship</B></U></A></FONT> <A HREF="bible_study.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lesson One"><U>Lesson One</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lesson Two"><U>Lesson Two</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lesson Three"><U>Lesson Three</U></A>   |   <B>Lesson Four</B>   |   <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lesson Five"><U>Lesson Five</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lesson Six"><U>Lesson Six</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lesson Seven"><U>Lesson Seven</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lesson Eight"><U>Lesson Eight</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lesson Nine"><U>Lesson Nine</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lesson Ten"><U>Lesson Ten</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lesson Eleven"><U>Lesson Eleven</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id28.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lesson Twelve"><U>Lesson Twelve</U></A>   <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#111111" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/rjmcclur55/HolySpirit/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.tripod.com/rjmcclur55/Hol"><U><B>Studies On The Holy Spirit</B></U></A></FONT></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000" background="05822902dkelyh.jpg"> <div> <A HREF="http://www.biblestudyoftheweek.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.biblestudyoftheweek.com"><U><B>Bible Study of The Week Home</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div>  <img src="HTMLobj-96/aniGif.gif" border="0" align="bottom" width="134" height="90">  </div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Worship</B></div> <bR> <div> IV. Old Testament Worship             Part 3</div> <bR> <div> <I>The Tabernacle and Priesthood</I></div> <div> <B>1) Beginning in Ex. 25 and continuing to Ex. 31, we have God's commands concerning tabernacle worship or plans for the tabernacle and the priesthood. Then beginning with Ex. 35 through Ex 40, we have His instructions for the construction of the tabernacle. Let's discuss in detail the layout of the tabernacle</B>.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>We read of God's charge to Moses to build all things of the tabernacle according to His pattern, four times (Ex. 25:9, 25: 40, 26: 30, 27:8). God expected and expects things to be done as he instructs! The tabernacle was constructed just as He commanded (Ex. 39: 32, 43).</B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>The tabernacle was built of materials, which would make it possible for Israel to take it wherever they moved. The various pieces of furniture had rings at their corners through which staves were slipped so they could be carried (Ex. 27: 4-7; 30:4) without being touched.</B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Here are the measurements of the tabernacle:</B></div> <div> <B>The Court was 150'l X 75'w (Ex. 27:18)</B></div> <div> <B>The Curtained Sides were 7/1/2' h (Ex. 27:18)</B></div> <div> <B>The Holy Place was 30'l X 15'w</B></div> <div> <B>The sides of the Holy Place were 15'h</B></div> <div> <B>The Holy of Holies was 15'l X 15'h</B></div> <div> <B>The sides of the Holy of Holies were 15'h</B></div> <div> <B>The Court was open to the sky</B></div> <div> <B>The Holy Place and Holy of Holies were covered like a tent</B></div> <div> <B>The Holy Place and Holy of Holies were divided by a veil</B></div> <div> <B>The tent itself was of fine linen; blue, purple, scarlet with cherubim woven into the material</B></div> <div> <B>The tent had three coverings: goat's hair, ram's skins dyed red, and badger's skins (seal's skins)</B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>2) Now let's look at each item of the tabernacle (Ex. 25, 26, 27, 30). List each piece of furniture, and its function in worship. (Heb. 9: 1-7) (Ex. 40: 1-7) (Let's also look at where they were located in the tabernacle.)</B></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="0565f280.jpg" border=0 width="351" height="552" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>A-Brazen Altar</B><B> (Altar of Burnt Offerings)- This is where a fire burned continuously and the priests offered sacrifices (Ex. 27: 1-8, 40:6). This showed that the only way to enter into God's presence was through atoning blood (Lev. 17:11)</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>B-Brazen Laver </B><B>- This is where the priests washed their hands and feet before going into the Holy Place or offering sacrifices (Ex. 30:18-21). It symbolized the purity that one must have who worships God.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>C-Candlestick </B><B>- This was made with seven branches, a pedestal, a shaft and was made of fine gold. It was to be lit at all times. It was the only light in the Holy Place.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>D-Table of Shewbread</B><B>- This was a table, which was made of acacia wood overlaid with gold. Upon this was kept 12 'cakes' of bread in two rows and on the Sabbath they were to be eaten and replaced with 12 more. This was also called the bread of Presence (Lev. 24:5-9).</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>E-Altar of Incense</B><B> - This was gold, 1/1/2' square and 3'high. Upon this, (acaia wood overlaid with gold) incense was burned morning and evening. It was close to the Holy of Holies because this was closest to God's presence.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>F-Ark of Covenant</B><B> - This was a chest of acacia wood overlaid with gold</B></div> <div> <B>3 3/4 ` long and 2 1/4' wide and high. It had a gold border extended above to keep the lid stationary. The lid was called Mercy Seat and upon it were two gold cherubim facing each other. Inside the Ark were two stone tablets containing the commandments, a copy of the entire Law of Moses (Pentateuch), a gold pot filled with Manna, and Aaron's rod that budded. It symbolized the truth and presence of God.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The 2</B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>nd</B></FONT><B> Veil</B><B> - The entrance into the Holy of Holies, No one could pass through except the high priest without suffering the penalty of death.</B></div> <div> <B>On the first day of the first month of the second year, the tabernacle was erected (Ex. 40:1,2). It was just 15 days short of a year after Israelites had fled Egypt. They had traveled 3 months (Ex.19:1,2) before reaching Sinai. In the days that followed, they stood before the mount as God spoke to them, Moses went up the Mount to receive the Law, came down and saw the Israelites worshiping the calf, 3000 died in punishment, and Moses again went up the Mount. So the construction of the tabernacle and all of its contents, including the priests garments,   likely took between 8 and 9 months to complete.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>How were the priests chosen? What were they to wear (Ex 28)?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>It is generally understood that it was God's intention to make the firstborn of each family priest in behalf of the family. But the firstborn evidently forfeited this privilege when they joined in the calf-worship at the food of Mt. Sinai. Only the Levities had kept themselves free from this idolatrous incident (Ex. 32:25-28). (It wasn't that they had no part in it at all, for Aaron himself heated up the gold, but that the Levites joined Moses when he offered the 'invitation' to be on God's side.) From that time on, the tribe of Levi was chosen to be the priestly tribe instead of the firstborn (Nu 3:40, 41;Nu. 3:39-51).</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Aaron was from the tribe of Levi. God separated him and his sons from the rest of the tribe to be the ones who actually ministered unto Him in the priestly role (Ex. 28:1). Besides Aaron and his sons, the tribe of Levi had descendants from Kohath, Merari, and Gershon, which had different responsibilities relating to the tabernacle and religious life of the Israelites. So, while these were Levites, they were not priests as Aaron and his sons were. WAS GOD'S CHOICE OF THE AARONIC PRIESTHOOD EVER CHALLENGED?</B></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Yes! His choice was challenged! Korah, from the tribe of Levi, along with others, challenged the authority of Moses and the Aaronic  priesthood (whom God had chosen). </B></FONT><B>1Now Korah the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took action, </B><B>2</B><B>and they rose up before Moses, together with some of the sons of Israel, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, chosen in the assembly, men of renown. </B><B>3</B><B>They assembled together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, "You have gone far enough, for all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is in their midst; so why do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?"(Nu. 16:1-4).</B></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>God's answer follows in the remainder of Numbers 16 and also in chapter 17. (Ch. 16) </B></FONT><B>23Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, </B><B>24</B><B>"Speak to the congregation, saying, `Get back from around the dwellings of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.'" </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>and</B></FONT><B> 31As he finished speaking all these words, the ground that was under them split open; </B><B>32</B><B>and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, and their households, and all the men who belonged to Korah with their possessions. </B><B>33</B><B>So they and all that belonged to them went down alive to Sheol; and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly. </B><B>34</B><B>All Israel who were around them fled at their outcry, for they said, "The earth may swallow us up!" </B><B>35</B><B>Fire also came forth from the LORD and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering the incense.</B></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000033" FACE="Arial" ><B>And then in chapter 17: </B></FONT><B>1Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, </B><B>2</B><B>"Speak to the sons of Israel, and get from them a rod for each father's household: twelve rods, from all their leaders according to their fathers' households. You shall write each name on his rod, </B><B>3</B><B>and write Aaron's name on the rod of Levi; for there is one rod for the head of each of their fathers' households. </B><B>4</B><B>"You shall then deposit them in the tent of meeting in front of the testimony, where I meet with you. </B><B>5</B><B>"It will come about that the rod of the man whom I choose will sprout. Thus I will lessen from upon Myself the grumblings of the sons of Israel, who are grumbling against you." </B><B>6</B><B>Moses therefore spoke to the sons of Israel, and all their leaders gave him a rod apiece, for each leader according to their fathers' households, twelve rods, with the rod of Aaron among their rods. </B><B>7</B><B>So Moses deposited the rods before the LORD in the tent of the testimony.</B></div> <div> <B>8Now on the next day Moses went into the tent of the testimony; and behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted and put forth buds and produced blossoms, and it bore ripe almonds. 9Moses then brought out all the rods from the presence of the LORD to all the sons of Israel; and they looked, and each man took his rod. 10But the LORD said to Moses, "Put back the rod of Aaron before the testimony to be kept as a sign against the rebels, that you may put an end to their grumblings against Me, so that they will not die." 11Thus Moses did; just as the LORD had commanded him, so he did.</B></div> <div> <B>12Then the sons of Israel spoke to Moses, saying, "Behold, we perish, we are dying, we are all dying! 13"Everyone who comes near, who comes near to the tabernacle of the LORD, must die. Are we to perish completely?"</B></div> <div> <B>Heb 9:4 tells us that this rod was kept in the Ark of the Covenant (to remind Israel that God had chosen the Aaronic priesthood, and that it is indeed GOD who chooses, not man!</B></div> <div> <B>The priests were to wear special garments (Ex. 28). Verses 2-39 describe the garments to be worn by the high priest (Aaron). These garments were for glory and beauty (v. 2). Not unlike the tabernacle, God had a specific pattern for these garments which were very costly and complicated. We won't discuss the entire design of the garment, but will discuss a couple of characteristics. </B></div> <div> <B>The high priests wore a stone set in gold on each shoulder. Six of the tribe's names were engraved in one stone, and the other six in the other (v. 9-12) as a memorial of the sons of Israel before the Lord.</B></div> <div> <B>A golden bell was to be worn on his robe (v. 34,35) so their sound could be heard as they went in and out of the presence of the Lord. They also wore a “breastplate of judgment” (v. 15) of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet (same colors as the curtains of the tabernacle) with twelve stones containing the names of the sons of Israel (v. 21). </B></div> <div> <B>The priests wore white linen garments symbolizing holiness and glory. They also wore a coat woven in one piece without a seam to indicate their spiritual integrity, wholeness, and righteousness. It signified that they belonged to God. The cap, resembling an open flower, symbolized the fresh, vigorous life of the one who wore it. They also wore a sash as a sign of service (Ex. 39)</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>In Ex. 29, we read of the consecration of the priests. What did this involve, and why?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>With the children of Israel gathered on the east side of the tabernacle, Moses washed Aaron and his sons, put their garments on them, anointed the tabernacle, its furniture and Aaron with oil, killed a young bull (bullock) which the priests had laid their hands on, and sanctified the altar with its blood, The fat and rest of the insides he burned upon the altar. The bullock's flesh and dung, he burned outside the camp.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Then Moses brought in a ram, which the priests also laid their hands on, and killed it. He sprinkled its blood upon the altar and burned the body on the altar as a burnt offering. Then he followed the same instructions in the killing of another ram, called the “ram of consecration'. The blood of this ram was used to anoint the priests' right ears, thumbs of their right hands, and big toes of their right feet. The ear, because with it he would heard the word of God; the thumb, because with his hand he would offer sacrifices to God; and to his toe, because he would walk in the sacred areas of the tabernacle.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Then certain parts of this ram's body, with unleavened bread, a cake of oiled bread, and a wafer, were put into the priests hands to wave before God as a wave offering after which Moses burned it for a burnt offering. Even Moses took the breast of the ram as a wave offering for himself. Moses sprinkled the oil and blood on the altar to sanctify Aaron and his sons and their garments. Then they were commanded to stay in the tabernacle for 7 days. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>This set these men apart for service to their Lord God as sanctified and worthy.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Earlier, we discussed the furniture of the tabernacle. What were the priest's duties in relationship to each one? (Lev. 6:12; 2Chron. 13:11; Ex. 27: 20-21; Lev. 24: 2; Ex. 29: 38-44; Num. 4: 5-15; Num. 3: 31; Ex. 25: 30; Ex. 30: 7, 18-21) (Num. 3: 6-7, 25-26, 31-32, 36-37)</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>High priest: Upon the Day of Atonement he entered the Holy of Holies having made a sacrifice for himself and the people. He brought the blood in and sprinkled it on the mercy seat of the Ark; this making atonement for him and the people for the year just ended. (Lev. 30:10, Lev. 16)</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Priests: Offered various offerings on the `Brazen Altar' on behalf of the sins of the people (Lev. 4:20, 26, 31). They also burned incense on the `Altar of Incense' on morning and evening; cleaned, trimmed, and cleaned the lampstand, kept the bread on the `table of shewbread'; and washed themselves before any service with the `Brazen Laver' They were to keep the fire on the Brazen Altar burning at all times (Lev. 6:12). The high priest and priests also covered all of the items in the tabernacle before the other 3 other Levite families moved them.</B></div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>NOTE: Save your notes from this lesson, they will be useful for lesson 8!</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/rjmcclur55/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.tripod.com/rjmcclur55/"><U>Bible Study of The Week</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="bible_study.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lesson One"><U><B>Lesson One</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lesson Two"><U><B>Lesson Two</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lesson Three"><U><B>Lesson Three</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><B>Lesson Four</B><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lesson Five"><U><B>Lesson Five</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lesson Six"><U><B>Lesson Six</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lesson Seven"><U><B>Lesson Seven</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lesson Eight"><U><B>Lesson Eight</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lesson Nine"><U><B>Lesson Nine</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lesson Ten"><U><B>Lesson Ten</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lesson Eleven"><U><B>Lesson Eleven</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id28.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lesson Twelve"><U><B>Lesson Twelve</B></U></A></div> </td> </tr></table></body>