Sabbath, July 30, 2022
Lesson 5 – The Courtyard
“Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.” “I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” John 10:7, 9.
“The ministration of the priest throughout the year in the first apartment of the sanctuary, ‘within the veil’ which formed the door and separated the holy place from the outer court, represents the work of ministration upon which Christ entered at His ascension. It was the work of the priest in the daily ministration to present before God the blood of the sin offering, also the incense which ascended with the prayers of Israel. So did Christ plead His blood before the Father in behalf of sinners, and present before Him also, with the precious fragrance of His own righteousness, the prayers of penitent believers. Such was the work of ministration in the first apartment of the sanctuary in heaven.” –The Great Controversy, pp. 420, 421.
SUNDAY
The courtyard and the linen curtain
1. What were the dimensions of the courtyard? What color was the linen curtain surrounding it? What does this color represent?
Exodus 27:9-15, 18 And thou shalt make the court of the tabernacle: for the south side southward there shall be hangings for the court of fine twined linen of an hun- dred cubits long for one side: 10And the twenty pillars thereof and their twenty sock- ets shall be of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets shall be of silver. 11And likewise for the north side in length there shall be hangings of an hundred cubits long, and his twenty pillars and their twenty sockets of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver. 12And for the breadth of the court on the west side shall be hangings of fifty cubits: their pillars ten, and their sockets ten. 13 And the breadth of the court on the east side eastward shall be fifty cubits. 14T he hangings of one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits: their pillars three, and their sockets three. 15 And on the other side shall be hangings fifteen cubits: their pillars three, and their sockets three…. 18 The length of the court shall be an hundred cubits, and the breadth fifty every where, and the height five cubits of fine twined linen, and their sockets of brass.
Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
Revelation 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
Romans 5:18, last part … So by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
2. How many entrances did the courtyard have? Whom did this represent?
Exodus 27:16 And for the gate of the court shall be an hanging of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework: and their pillars shall be four, and their sockets four.
John 10:7, 9 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep…. 9I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and
shall go in and out, and find pasture.
“We have access to God through the merits of the name of Christ, and God invites us to bring to Him our trials and temptations; for He understands them all. He would not have us pour out our woes to human ears. Through the blood of Christ we may come to the throne of grace and find grace to help in time of need. We may come with assurance, saying, ‘My acceptance is in the Beloved.’ ‘For through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.’ ‘In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him.’ Ephesians 2:18; 3:12.” –In Heavenly Places, p. 18.
TUESDAY
Altar of burnt offering
3. What was the first object seen in the courtyard?
Exodus 27:1, 2, 6-8 And thou shalt make an altar of shittim wood, five cubits long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be foursquare: and the height thereof shall be three cubits. 2And thou shalt make the horns of it upon the four corners thereof: his horns shall be of the same: and thou shalt overlay it with brass…. 6And thou shalt make staves for the altar, staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with brass. 7And the staves shall be put into the rings, and the staves shall be upon the two sides of the altar, to bear it. 8Hollow with boards shalt thou make it: as it was shewed thee in the mount, so shall they make it.
“Let us make diligent efforts to serve God. We need to reach a higher standard. The truth must not be kept in the outer court. Bring its principles into the inner sanctuary of the soul. Make Christ the guide of every action. Separate from the soul all selfishness. Hate it; for it is the destroyer of peace and godliness. ‘Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.’ The grace of our Saviour is the grand, healing influence which conforms the life to the life of God.” –Review and Herald, January 7, 1902.
WEDNESDAY
4. With what was it overlaid? What was it for, and therefore what was its name
Exodus 38:30; 30:28 And therewith he made the sockets to the door of the taber- nacle of the congregation, and the brasen altar, and the brasen grate for it, and all the vessels of the altar,… 30:28And the altar of burnt offering with all his vessels, and the laver and his foot. (See also Exodus 31:9; 35:16.)
“In the court, and nearest the entrance, stood the brazen altar of burnt offering. Upon this altar were consumed all the sacrifices made by fire unto the Lord, and its horns were sprinkled with the atoning blood….
“The ministration of the sanctuary consisted of two divisions, a daily and a yearly service. The daily service was performed at the altar of burnt offering in the court of the tabernacle and in the holy place; while the yearly service was in the most holy.” –Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 347, 351.
THURSDAY
5. What use was made of this altar? What ascended continually to heaven from it?
Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.
Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
Exodus 29:38-42 Now this is that which thou shalt offer upon the altar; two lambs of the first year day by day continually. 39The one lamb thou shalt offer in the morning; and the other lamb thou shalt offer at even: 40And with the one lamb a tenth deal of flour mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil; and the fourth part of an hin of wine for a drink offering. 41 And the other lamb thou shalt offer at even, and shalt do thereto according to the meat offering of the morning, and according to the drink offering thereof, for a sweet savour, an offering made by fire unto the Lord. 42 This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord: where I will meet you, to speak there unto thee.
“In the court, and nearest the entrance, stood the brazen altar of burnt offering. Upon this altar were consumed all the sacrifices made by fire unto the Lord, and its horns were sprinkled with the atoning blood.” –Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 347.
“The cleansing, both in the typical and in the real service, must be accomplished with blood: in the former, with the blood of animals; in the latter, with the blood of Christ. The cleansing was not a removal of physical impurities, for it was to be accomplished with blood, and therefore must be a cleansing from sin.” –The Faith I Live By, p. 206.
FRIDAY
The basin for washing
6. What was the second object in the courtyard of the tabernacle? From whom does the Lord require purification besides the priest and the min- isters?
Exodus 30:18, 19 Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein. 19For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat.
James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
“Between the altar and the door of the tabernacle was the laver, which was also of brass, made from the mirrors that had been the freewill offering of the women of Israel. At the laver the priests were to wash their hands and their feet whenever they went into the sacred apartments, or approached the altar to offer a burnt offering unto the Lord.” –Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 347, 348.
SABBATH
7. What did the priests have to do before presenting offerings before the Lord? What purification does He command today from His people sothat He may dwell among them?
Exodus 30:20, 21 When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the Lord: 21So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and it shall be a statute for ever to them, even to him and to his seed throughout their generations.
Isaiah 52:11, last part ... Be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord.
Ephesians 5:25, last part, 26 … Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.
“The priests were not allowed to enter the sanctuary with their shoes on their feet; for the particles of dust cleaving to them would desecrate the holy place. They were to leave their shoes in the court before entering the sanctuary, and also to wash their hands and their feet before ministering in the tabernacle or at the altar of burnt- offering. Thus was constantly taught the lesson that all defilement must be put away from those who would come into the presence of God.” –Gospel Workers, p. 173.
Purification and approaching God
“In accordance with their office, a special dress was appointed for the priests. ‘Thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, for glory and for beauty,’ was the divine direction to Moses. The robe of the common priest was of white linen, and woven in one piece. It extended nearly to the feet and was confined about the waist by a white linen girdle embroidered in blue, purple, and red. A linen turban, or miter, completed his outer costume. Moses at the burning bush was directed to put off his sandals, for the ground whereon he stood was holy. So the priests were not to enter the sanctuary with shoes upon their feet. Particles of dust cleaving to them would desecrate the holy place. They were to leave their shoes in the court before entering the sanctuary, and also to wash both their hands and their feet before ministering in the tabernacle or at the altar of burnt offering. Thus was constantly taught the lesson that all defilement must be put away from those who would approach into the presence of God.” –Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 350.