Sabbath, August 20, 2022
Lesson 8 – Construction and Dedication
“Thus was all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation finished: and the children of Israel did according to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so did they.” Exodus 39:32.
“The tabernacle was so constructed that it could be taken apart and borne with the Israelites in all their journeyings. Yet it was a structure of extraordinarymagnificence. The walls consisted of upright boards heavily plated with purest gold. The sacred building was composed of two apartments, separated by a rich andbeautiful curtain, or vail. A similar vail closed the entrance of the first apartment. These vails, with the curtain which formed the ceiling of the tabernacle, were of a variety of colors, most beautifully arranged; while inwrought with threads of gold and silver were cherubim, to represent the angelic host, who are connected with the work of the heavenly sanctuary, and who are ministering angels to the saints upon the earth.” –Signs of the Times, June 24, 1880.
SUNDAY
Other names for the sanctuary
1. What other names appear in the Scriptures for the sanctuary or part of it? What do they mean?
Exodus 25:9; 26:36; 28:43, first part According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it…. 26:36And thou shalt make an hanging for the door of the tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework…. 28:43And they shall be upon Aaron, and upon his sons, when they come in unto the tabernacle of the congregation, or when they come near unto the altar to minister in the holy place; that they bear not iniquity, and die:…
MONDAY
2. What covered the wooden frame of the sanctuary walls? Describe the curtains and how they were designed.
Exodus 26:1, 2, 6 Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work shalt thou make them. 2The length of one curtain shall be eight and twenty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and every one of the curtains shall have one measure…. 6And thou shalt make fifty taches of gold, and couple the curtains together with the taches: and it shall be one tabernacle.
“God placed His Spirit upon the builders of the earthly sanctuary. The artistic skill displayed in its construction was a manifestation of divine wisdom. The walls had the appearance of massive gold, reflecting in every direction the light of the seven lamps of the golden candlestick. The table of shewbread and the altar of incense glittered like burnished gold. The gorgeous curtain which formed the ceiling, inwrought with figures of angels in blue and purple and scarlet, added to the beauty of the scene. And beyond the second veil was the holy Shekinah, the visible manifestation of God’s glory, before which none but the high priest could enter and live.” –The Great Controversy, p. 414.
TUESDAY
Tabernacle coverings
3. Above the ceiling of fine twined linen, what three types of skins were shaped to cover the tabernacle? What stage of Jesus’ life did the cover- ings symbolize?
Exodus 26:7, 14 And thou shalt make curtains of goats’ hair to be a covering upon the tabernacle: eleven curtains shalt thou make…. 14And thou shalt make a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering above of badgers’ skins.
Isaiah 53:2, 3 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 3He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
“For more than a thousand years the Jewish people had waited the coming of the promised Saviour. Their brightest hopes had rested upon this event. For a thousand years, in song and prophecy, in temple rite and household prayer, His name had been enshrined; and yet when He came, they did not recognize Him as the Messiah for whom they had so long waited. ‘He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.’ John 1:11. To their world-loving hearts the Beloved of heaven was ‘as a root out of a dry ground.’ In their eyes He had ‘no form nor comeliness;’ they discerned in Him no beauty that they should desire Him. Isaiah 53:2.” –Prophets and Kings, p. 710.
WEDNESDAY
4. How exactly did the Israelites carry out the detailed blueprint for the sanctuary? Therefore, what did they receive when their work was com- pleted?
Exodus 39:32, 33, 42, 43 Thus was all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation finished: and the children of Israel did according to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so did they. 33And they brought the tabernacle unto Moses, the tent, and all his furniture, his taches, his boards, his bars, and his pillars, and his sockets,… 42According to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so the children of Israel made all the work. 43And Moses did look upon all the work, and, behold, they had done it as the Lord had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them.
“A period of about half a year was occupied in the building of the tabernacle. When it was completed, Moses examined all the work of the builders, comparing it with the pattern shown him in the mount and the directions he had received from God. ‘As the Lord had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them.’” –Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 349.
“The foundation firmly laid, we need wisdom that we may know how to build. When Moses was about to erect the sanctuary in the wilderness, he was cautioned, ‘See … that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount.’ Hebrews 8:5. In His law, God has given us the pattern. Our character building is to be after ‘the pattern showed to thee in the mount.’ The law is the great standard of righteousness. It represents the character of God, and is the test of our loyalty to His government. And it is revealed to us, in all its beauty and excellence, in the life of Christ….” –Counsels to Parents, Teachers and Students, p. 62.
THURSDAY
5. When were the various parts of the sanctuary assembled for the first time?
Exodus 40:1, 2, 16, 17 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2 On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation…. 16 Thus did Moses: according to all that the Lord commanded him, so did he. 17 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.
“God was able to manifest His great power through Moses because of his constant faith in the power and in the loving intentions of their Deliverer. It was this implicit faith in God that made Moses what he was. According to all that the Lord commanded him, so did he. All the learning of the wise men could not make him a channel through which the Lord could labor, however, until he lost his self-confidence, realized his own helplessness, and put his trust in God; until he was willing to obey God’s commands whether they seemed to his human reason to be proper or not.” –Fundamentals of Christian Education, p. 344.
FRIDAY
The Lord’s glory
6. What wonderful thing occurred when the sanctuary was assembled and dedicated?
Exodus 40:34, 35 Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35And 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.
“When the Lord invited Israel to contribute for the building of the tabernacle in the wilderness, there was a hearty response. The people ‘came, everyone whose heart stirred him up, and everyone whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the Lord’s offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation.” They came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted. Men came with their gifts of gold and silver, choice fabrics, and valuable wood. The rulers brought precious stones, costly spices, and oil for the lights. ‘And all the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun.’ They brought ‘free offerings every morning,’ until the report was given to Moses: ‘The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the Lord commanded to make.’ Exodus 35:21-25; 36:3, 5. This generous-hearted, willing service was pleasing to God; and when the tabernacle was completed, He signified His acceptance of the offering. ‘A cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.’ Exodus 40:34.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, p. 468.
SABBATH
7. How did the Lord carry out His promise of His presence being con- stantly with the children of Israel? What similar promise is also for God’s people today?
Exodus 40:36-38 And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys: 37 But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up. 38 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.
Matthew 18:19, 20 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
“The pillar of cloud rested over the tabernacle by day, and the pillar of fire by night, an assurance that God would still be their guide and helper if they would walk in the way of His commandments.” –Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 481.
“With eager interest the multitudes of Israel crowded around to look upon the sacred structure. While they were contemplating the scene with reverent satisfaction,the pillar of cloud floated over the sanctuary and, descending, enveloped it. ‘And the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.’ There was a revealing of the divine majesty, and for a time even Moses could not enter. With deep emotion the people beheld the token that the work of their hands was accepted. There were no loud demonstrations of rejoicing. A solemn awe rested upon all. But the gladness of their hearts welled up in tears of joy, and they murmured low, earnest words of gratitude that God had condescended to abide with them.” –Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 349, 350.