Exodus 40:1

In the end of chapter 39 of the book of Exodus we were given a review of the construction of the tabernacle. Once again here in Exodus chapter 40 we are given another review or summary of the items that God commanded to be placed within the tabernacle or associated with the tabernacle. It says in Exodus 40:1-15, “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation. And thou shalt put therein the ark of the testimony, and cover the ark with the vail. And thou shalt bring in the table, and set in order the things that are to be set in order upon it; and thou shalt bring in the candlestick, and light the lamps thereof. And thou shalt set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark of the testimony, and put the hanging of the door to the tabernacle. And thou shalt set the altar of the burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation. And thou shalt set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and shalt put water therein. And thou shalt set up the court round about, and hang up the hanging at the court gate. And thou shalt take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle, and all that is therein, and shalt hallow it, and all the vessels thereof: and it shall be holy. And thou shalt anoint the altar of the burnt offering, and all his vessels, and sanctify the altar: and it shall be an altar most holy. And thou shalt anoint the laver and his foot, and sanctify it. And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water. And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. And thou shalt bring his sons, and clothe them with coats: And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.”

When we consider the spiritual and symbolic meaning behind each of the items in the tabernacle, we see a perfect representation of what a spiritual human life should be made up of. The question about your life is this: have you built your tabernacle? Are all of these spiritual truths a part of your life? The first item mentioned in this passage in Exodus 40:3 is “the ark of the testimony”. It is interesting that the ark is called “the ark of the testimony.” The word “testimony” means “witness.” Inside the ark was the Ten Commandments. The written Word of God is God’s witness and God’s testimony to the world. Jesus is called the “Word of God” because Jesus is the manifestation of God in a way that is very similar to the written Word. They are inseparable. It is interesting that since the time of Moses God chose a written Word to manifest His truth. God told Moses to put the Ten Commandments within the ark. In other words, protect the Word of God, and give the written Word of God an important place in your life. The ark of the testimony was placed in the inner sanctuary: in the holy of holies. What place does the Word of God have in your life? What have you done to help preserve the reputation of the Word? One reason to use the King James Version of 1611 is because it was translated into English over 400 years ago. Using the KJV gives testimony to the fact that we believe God’s Word does not change. It has been preserved by God Himself. But God uses people. Are you letting Him use you to help preserve His Word?

Let’s list some of the other items that made up the tabernacle, and next to each item we will list its spiritual significance. As each item is mentioned, ask yourself the question: how much do these things represent your life and the way that you have arranged your life on a daily basis?

1. The tabernacle is mentioned in Exodus 40:2. The tabernacle symbolized the presence of God. Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. How much does your life represent the presence of God?

2. The ark of the testimony is mentioned in Exodus 40:3. The Ten Commandments were placed inside the ark, and the mercy seat was placed upon the top of the ark. How much is your life centered on the written Word of God. How much do you rely upon and believe in the mercy of God?

3. The table of showbread is mentioned in Exodus 40:4. How much do you rely upon God each day for your needs, both material and spiritual?

4. The golden candlestick is mentioned in Exodus 40:4. How much do you depend upon Jesus to enlighten you and show you the way? Also, how much does your light shine as a witness of the love of Christ in a dark world?

5. The altar of incense is mentioned in Exodus 4:5. Do you have faithful and honest prayers each day that bring pleasure to God?

6. The altar of burnt offering is mentioned in Exodus 40:6. Do you always rely upon and have faith in the offering that Jesus made of Himself on the cross, instead of relying on yourself for acceptance by God?

7. The laver of water is mentioned in Exodus 40:7. Water represents cleansing from sin. Does the life that you live demonstrate that you daily come to Christ to be cleansed so that you can enter into the tabernacle: that is, so that you can stay in fellowship with the Lord?

8. Exodus 40:13 says that Aaron was anointed and separated to do the work of the office of the priest. An anointing represents a choosing. God has a will and a choice for you and what you do. Are you doing God’s will? Are you doing what God has set aside for you to do?

The Bible says in Exodus 40:16-33, “Thus did Moses: according to all that the LORD commanded him, so did he. And it came to pass in the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was reared up. And Moses reared up the tabernacle, and fastened his sockets, and set up the boards thereof, and put in the bars thereof, and reared up his pillars. And he spread abroad the tent over the tabernacle, and put the covering of the tent above upon it; as the LORD commanded Moses. And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy seat above upon the ark: And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the vail of the covering, and covered the ark of the testimony; as the LORD commanded Moses. And he put the table in the tent of the congregation, upon the side of the tabernacle northward, without the vail. And he set the bread in order upon it before the LORD; as the LORD had commanded Moses. And he put the candlestick in the tent of the congregation, over against the table, on the side of the tabernacle southward. And he lighted the lamps before the LORD; as the LORD commanded Moses. And he put the golden altar in the tent of the congregation before the vail: And he burnt sweet incense thereon; as the LORD commanded Moses. And he set up the hanging at the door of the tabernacle. And he put the altar of burnt offering by the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation, and offered upon it the burnt offering and the meat offering; as the LORD commanded Moses. And he set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and put water there, to wash withal. And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet thereat: When they went into the tent of the congregation, and when they came near unto the altar, they washed; as the LORD commanded Moses. And he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the hanging of the court gate. So Moses finished the work.”

God gave very specific details about how the tabernacle should be constructed and set up. As we have already seen, these details about the tabernacle have important spiritual meanings that apply even to our Christian lives today. After the tabernacle was completely set up, it is important to notice that the Bible says in Exodus 40:32-33, “When they went into the tent of the congregation, and when they came near unto the altar, they washed; as the LORD commanded Moses. And he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the hanging of the court gate. So Moses finished the work.” The tabernacle no longer exists, but our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, according to First Corinthians 16:9. Have you built your spiritual life with all of the elements of true spirituality as they are represented in the tabernacle? Can it be said of your life, just like it was said of Moses, that you “finished the work”?

You cannot and must not leave off part of the building of your tabernacle. For example, what would happen if you included the ark of the covenant, but left out the altar of incense, or vice-versa? Remember that the ark had the Ten Commandments within it. The Ten Commandments represent the written Word of God. The altar of incense represents prayer. What happens if someone studies the Word of God, but neglects praying to the Lord? That person would end up knowing the Bible from an intellectual standpoint only, but not experiencing the daily reality of fellowship with the risen Christ. What would happen if a person had a prayer life, but did not read or study the Word of God? Such a person would not grow spiritually and would not be strong because the Word of God is our spiritual nourishment. We speak to Christ in prayer, and He speaks to us through His Word.

Moses did include all of the things in the tabernacle that God told him to build and to place there. It says in Exodus 40:33, “And he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the hanging of the court gate. So Moses finished the work.” God asked Moses to build a tabernacle, and God has asked you also to build a tabernacle with your life. Have you built up your Christian life and included all of the spiritual activities that are represented in the tabernacle that God says should be there? If you have built up your Christian life through Christ, the last part of Exodus chapter forty tells us what the result will be. It says in Exodus 40:34-38, “Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys: But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.”

Notice that Exodus 40:35 says that one of the results of having built the tabernacle the way that God wanted it to be built was, “the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.” Christians should also be “filled” with the Spirit. It says in Ephesians 5:18, “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.” What is the result of being filled with the Spirit? That is explained for us in Exodus 40:36-37 that says, “And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys: But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up.” In other words the Lord led them. The Lord decided and the Lord guided them when they went somewhere, where they went, and how long they stayed. Where you go, and when you go there will determine the significant makeup of your life. Are you where Jesus wants you to be? Are you filled with the Spirit each day through prayer and Bible study and turning to Christ with all the elements of a spiritual tabernacle, so that He leads you each day?

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