The materials of the tabernacle are also highly significant and worthy of study, for they also represent the character of the people involved in the purpose of God. For example, the fine linen clean and white represents the righteousness of the saints Revelation 19:8.Waiting for response for Revelation 19:8 All this detail cannot be explained here but it is important to recognise that God’s purpose is not so much the construction of a literal tabernacle or house for him to dwell in, but the creation of people in whom he will dwell Ephesians 2:19-22.Waiting for response for Ephesians 2:19-22 God is seeking people with willing hearts v.2Waiting for response for Exodus 25:2 to respond to his invitation to enter his household 2 Corinthians 6:16-18.Waiting for response for 2 Corinthians 6:16-18
The design of this tent is interesting in itself but becomes more so when we realise that it represents the house composed of people in whom God will dwell in the midst of men. Because the tabernacle was to be typical of the household of God, Moses was warned to adhere strictly to the LORD’s design, as the apostle later pointed out when showing how the ordinances given to Moses represented the future development of God’s purpose Hebrews 8:5.Waiting for response for Hebrews 8:5
The Most Holy was where the LORD communicated with Israel and the only furniture in it was the ark of the testimony which represented Jesus and the saints when they become immortal, and through whom God will communicate with mankind. The lid of the ark was the mercyseat which again was representative of Christ, for he is our mercyseat, a covering for our sins: “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation (cover or mercyseat) for our sins”. 1 John 4:10.Waiting for response for 1 John 4:10
The mercyseat had cherubim above it with the four faces of lion, ox, man, and eagle Ezekiel 1:10Waiting for response for Ezekiel 1:10 to correspond with the four standards of the camp of Israel, for the saints are the Israel of God Galatians 6:16.Waiting for response for Galatians 6:16 These saints are the disciples of Christ and are required to develop characters like his so that they may also, in the future, have bodies like him. Significantly, therefore, these four animals represent the fourfold aspect of Christ which are presented to us in the record of Jesus’ life in the gospels: Matthew as a king (the royal lion), Mark as a slave (the ox of burden), Luke as a man (the man), and John as the heavenly Son of God (the eagle).
The shewbread on the table represents the food which sustains the disciple during his life, i.e. the word of God upon which he must feed. It is significant that the priests were required to continually maintain these elements in the Holy Place; so the disciples should eat the word.
The candlestick provides the light which enables the disciples to walk in paths of righteousness, and again this is the word of God. It is significant that the priests were required to continually maintain these elements in the Holy Place; so the disciples should be guided by it daily.
Plan of the tabernacle