Exodus 27:9-19 – Let us enter in and do what we need to do

Exodus 27:9-15 describe how the courtyard, where the Brazen Altar would stand, was to be made. It was also the larger tent that would house the Tabernacle proper. This bigger tent would have a surrounding fence. God wanted it to be constructed in a specific way. The fence about 150 feet by 70 making a total area of 10,500 square feet. It would be about the total area of four tennis courts put together. The Tabernacle would take about a thousand square feet. Hence the remaining open area would still be quite a lot. It would be rectangular in shape consisting of sixty pillars complete with silver hooks and set into bronze bases. They were joined together by white linen curtains. The height of the fence would be about eight feet tall allowing the people to see the top of the Tabernacle. They could also see the smoke rising from the altar. However, they could not see what’s happening inside the Tabernacle.   

In Exodus 27:16-18 God gave instruction on what material to be used for the screen at the entrance. It was to be made of white linen embroidered with blue and purple and scarlet thread, the same material used for the inner curtain of the Tabernacle. In verse 19, God instructed that the pegs, and all the utensils for the courtyard to be made of bronze. For obvious reason, everything inside the Tabernacle was made in gold, whereas outside at the courtyard everything was made of bronze. What else would have best depict the holiness and grandeur of God?

So far, we have seen that God’s entire setup contains three areas – the open courtyard and the Tabernacle proper comprising the Holy Place and the Holy of holies. They were set up to indicate where the different kinds of worshippers could go. Hence, we see that the differentiation of three kinds of worshippers. Like Moses who alone was summoned into God’s presence on Mount Sinai, only the high priest could enter the Holy of holies. Like Moses, the high priest was acting as a mediator representing the people before God. The second category was the elders who could ascent Mount Sinai but not into the top where Moses entered. They were represented by the other priests who could enter the Holy Place but not into the Holy of holies. Then the rest of the people, the ordinary Israelites could come into the courtyard but not into the Tent of meeting. However, unlike the Israelites, today we who have come into a relationship with God through Christ have a tremendous privilege. The wall and curtain that separated the different people had been torn down by the death of Christ Jesus. Remember the veil that separated the Holy place from the Holy of holies was ripped from top to bottom, signifying that we now have access to the Holy God through Christ.  The veil that once kept sinners out had been removed. And now with faith in Christ, we can enter in by the blood of Christ.

According to 1 Peter 2:9, we Christians are God’s royal priesthood. We have access to the Father and we are assigned to declare the praises and the excellencies of Him who have called us out of the darkness into His marvellous light. We have access to God so that we can go forth and declare Him. We are intermediaries between God and the people who are yet to know Him. We must go about our work of making Him known. It is not only a privilege but a command!