The Tabernacle or as someone has rightly described it “The Gospel according to Moses” and it is truly “Prophecy in Linen, Silver, and Gold”.
The New Testament speaks of it as “.... a shadow of things to come;” Col. 2:17
“the patterns of things in the heavens ! Heb. 9:23 “......the example and shadow of heavenly things” Heb. 9:5 “......the figures of the true” Heb.(:24.

To some people it might seem to be meaningless ritual of things long past , but to one who

loves the Lord, the enlightened reader, it is ‘fragrant of Christ’--- the record ‘is one of the

richest mines of purest gold’. [Psa.29:9 morgin] “in his temple doth every [whit] speak of

his glory.”

It is worth making note for those who downcry this subject; that God gives 2 chapters to the creation of the universe and 50 Chapters to the Tabernacle.
12 Chapters in Exodus
13 .. in Numbers
18 .. in Leviticus
2 .. in Deuteronomy
4 .. in Hebrews

The God who inspired all scripture for our profit, must have seen more profit in the Tabernacle that the creation of the world.
I wonder why this is? Maybe because it speak so much in type of Christ and His finished work on the cross.
I would suggest then that the tabernacle is for mainly for those who love the Lord and His Word. the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: 1 Cor. 2:14
We need to look at shadows with the light of the Holy Spirit and His divine revelation so that in the words of the hymnwriter “The things of the earth will grow strangely dim,
26 In the light of His glory and grace.”

God in his grace must have fellowship with His redeemed, though disobedient people -- In the tabernacle we see how a Holy God can meet with man without violating His holiness and sinful men can have fellowship with God.

The Tabernacle was going to be God’s dwelling place. “ that I may dwell among them.” Exo. 25:8

God’s great desire is to commune with man.

[1] GOD IN THE GARDEN Gen 3:8 “ they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool

of the day”

God talked with Adam and walked with Enoch; He talked with Abram and communed with Moses and many

others. God loves to dwell with man.

[2] GOD IN THE TABERNACLE. Exo 25:8.

Moses did not build the tabernacle and then go and invite God to dwell there BUT it was God who initiated every

thing that was planned and done. God’s first dwelling place on earth.

[3] GOD IN SOLOMON’S TEMPLE “ the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory

of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD.” 1 Kings 8:11.

[4] GOD IN ZERUBBABEL’S TEMPLE. “the children of Israel, ....., kept the dedication of this house of God

with joy,” Ezra 6:16.

This Temple was poor compared to Solomon’s Temple but the Lord was pleased to take up residence there.

[5] HEROD’S TEMPLE. God was not in this Temple. No Ark -- No Shekinah glory

Maybe Herod built it to perpetuate his own name therefore God was not able to dwell there.

Jesus said “ ye have made it a den of thieves.” Matt.21:13

[6] GOD WAS IN CHRIST “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing

their trespasses unto them;” 2 Cor. 5:19 “he spake of the temple of his body. “ John 2:21

Immanuel “God with us”

Each Temple was short lived: The tabernacle wore out and replaced by Solomon’s Temple which was destroyed

by Nebuchadnezzar. Zerrubbabel built another which was destroyed by Herod whose temple was ultimate

destroyed by Titus, The temple p of Christ’s body was destroyed by the Romans when they nailed it to a cross.

But, NOW, another temple comes into being:-

[7] GOD IN YOU “ ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” 1 Cor. 3:16

“ ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, “ 2 Cor. 6:16

Because of the truth of this then our bodies should be kept sweet and clean, pure and holy. The knowledge that

our bodies are the temple of God should make us endeavour to remove from our hearts and minds all the

doubtful and questionable things for God only dwell in clean and holy dwellings.

Oh the wonderful privilege of this! How near God has come when He takes up residency in those who believe in

Him. This should lead to a life full of surrender and holiness.

However God can only dwell in our bodies a short time because these bodies are subject to death.

This temple must be destroyed by the last enemy -- Death.

This takes us into the full fellowship of the purpose of the living God.

[8] GOD WITH MAN AND MAN WITH GOD. “ I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a

place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”John 14:2,3

“ For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house

not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” 2 Cor. 5:1

This is the only temple which is eternal. It knows no end.

We started this study with God coming down to have fellowship with man. Now at the end we see man going up

To God in heaven to live with Him for ever.

For ever with the Lord, Amen so let it be

Life from the dead is in that word , Tis immortality.

Here in the body pent, absent from Him I roam,

Yet nightly pitch my moving tent, A day’s march nearer home.

James Montgomery