Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
When the work was finished according to the pattern shown in the mount, the pillar of cloud descended to cover and envelop the tent of meeting while divine glory filled the tabernacle as a revealing of divine majesty. This was the token that the work was accepted and that God condescended to abide and dwell among His people, marking it as the place of His presence. That glory is the visible manifestation of Jehovah's presence, the holy Shekinah centered over the ark in the Most Holy Place and resting above the mercy-seat above the law enshrined within. Though the law pronounces death upon the transgressor, from above the law by virtue of the atonement pardon is granted to the repentant sinner, so the filling of the tabernacle with glory symbolizes Christ's work for redemption in which mercy and truth meet. From then on the cloud rested over the tabernacle by day as a cloud and by night as fire to direct camping and journeying, and because that presence sanctified the sanctuary all who served there had to prepare carefully and reverently before entering where His glory was revealed.
Tabernacle Completed and Accepted
After about half a year of building, Moses examined all the work against the pattern shown in the mount and blessed the builders for doing all as commanded. The tabernacle was built according to the building instructions and ritual law given in the mount, in addition to the tables of testimony.
When the work was finished, the pillar of cloud floated over the sanctuary and descended to cover and envelop the tent of meeting, while divine glory filled the tabernacle as a revealing of divine majesty. This was the token that the work of Israel's hands was accepted and that God condescended to abide and dwell among them, marking it as the place of His presence.
It signified God's acceptance of Israel's willing, generous-hearted service and free offerings. Everyone whose heart stirred brought gold and silver, choice fabrics and valuable wood, rulers brought precious stones, costly spices and oil for the lights, and wise-hearted women spun and brought what they had spun every morning until much more than enough was brought. God was pleased with their generous-hearted, willing service, and when the tabernacle was completed He signified His acceptance of the offering by covering the tent of the congregation with a cloud and filling the tabernacle with His glory.
For a time the revealed majesty kept Moses from entering while the cloud remained, until the cloud partly veiled the overwhelming brightness. The people responded with solemn awe, tears of joy, and low earnest gratitude without loud rejoicing. The tabernacle was made to be dismantled and carried as Israel traveled.
Glory Above the Mercy Seat
The glory that filled the tabernacle was the visible manifestation of Jehovah's presence, the holy Shekinah, taking its place in the holy of holies and centered over the ark of the covenant in the Most Holy Place. It rested above the mercy-seat, above the law enshrined within the ark, and represented God's presence and power among His people. By that indwelling the Most Holy Place became the connecting link between heaven and earth for atonement and intercession. The law within is the great rule of righteousness and judgment and pronounces death upon the transgressor, but from above the law, by virtue of the atonement, pardon is granted to the repentant sinner. In this the filling of the tabernacle symbolizes the work of Christ for redemption, in which mercy and truth are met together and righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
From between the cherubim God made known His will, sometimes by a voice from the cloud, sometimes by a light falling upon the angel at the right to signify approval or acceptance, and sometimes by a shadow or cloud resting upon the one at the left to reveal disapproval or rejection. An audible voice spoke to Moses from the divine glory above the mercy-seat, told him to come near, and there gave him still further directions about the forms of worship to be carried on in the sanctuary. That same glory rested above the mercy seat when the priest offered incense, descending there at that time, and it could fill both sanctuary apartments so fully that the priest could not officiate. The priest's prayer toward the unseen mercy seat represents God's people praying by faith to Christ, their Mediator before the mercy seat in the heavenly sanctuary, and confidently claiming the benefits of His mediation.
The same taking possession seen at Moses' tabernacle was repeated at Solomon's temple. After the priests came out of the holy place, while united singing with musical instruments in praise to God resounded through the temple and out over Jerusalem, the glory-cloud filled the house of the Lord so that the priests could not stand to minister.
Presence Guiding and Sanctifying Israel
From that moment the cloud rested over the tabernacle as the settled sign of divine residence, appearing as cloud by day and as fire by night in sight of all Israel. It became God's visible direction for camping and journeying, so that when it lifted Israel broke camp and traveled, and when it remained over the tabernacle they stayed. It remained over the tabernacle until God directed them to move, governing both where they should camp and when they should journey.
Jesus Christ Himself was with Israel in the wilderness as their instructor, and He continued to be their teacher and guide. His glory filled the tabernacle as the holy Shekinah dwelling above the mercy-seat, and the same presence later dwelt in the temple. There He constantly manifested the riches of His love and patience toward them. His presence was part of God's provision for Israel to represent Him and to help restore His moral image in humanity.
Because God's glory filled the tabernacle and made it holy, all who served there had to prepare carefully and reverently before entering where His glory was revealed. Priests left their shoes in the court so that dust would not defile the sanctified sanctuary. They washed their hands and feet at the brazen laver before entering, removing impurity and avoiding death.
That revealed presence in the cloud of glory above the mercy-seat belonged to more than a thousand years of God's special favor and guardian care to the chosen people. It was one reason Jerusalem was honored of God above all the earth. It stood alongside the messages of holy prophets, the priests' censers and cloud of incense ascending with prayers, and the daily blood of slain lambs pointing forward to the Lamb of God.
When the work was finished according to the pattern shown in the mount, the pillar of cloud descended to cover and envelop the tent of meeting while divine glory filled the tabernacle as a revealing of divine majesty. This was the token that the work was accepted and that God condescended to abide and dwell among His people, marking it as the place of His presence. That glory is the visible manifestation of Jehovah's presence, the holy Shekinah centered over the ark in the Most Holy Place and resting above the mercy-seat above the law enshrined within. Though the law pronounces death upon the transgressor, from above the law by virtue of the atonement pardon is granted to the repentant sinner, so the filling of the tabernacle with glory symbolizes Christ's work for redemption in which mercy and truth meet. From then on the cloud rested over the tabernacle by day as a cloud and by night as fire to direct camping and journeying, and because that presence sanctified the sanctuary all who served there had to prepare carefully and reverently before entering where His glory was revealed.
Tabernacle Completed and Accepted
After about half a year of building, Moses examined all the work against the pattern shown in the mount and blessed the builders for doing all as commanded. The tabernacle was built according to the building instructions and ritual law given in the mount, in addition to the tables of testimony.
When the work was finished, the pillar of cloud floated over the sanctuary and descended to cover and envelop the tent of meeting, while divine glory filled the tabernacle as a revealing of divine majesty. This was the token that the work of Israel's hands was accepted and that God condescended to abide and dwell among them, marking it as the place of His presence.
It signified God's acceptance of Israel's willing, generous-hearted service and free offerings. Everyone whose heart stirred brought gold and silver, choice fabrics and valuable wood, rulers brought precious stones, costly spices and oil for the lights, and wise-hearted women spun and brought what they had spun every morning until much more than enough was brought. God was pleased with their generous-hearted, willing service, and when the tabernacle was completed He signified His acceptance of the offering by covering the tent of the congregation with a cloud and filling the tabernacle with His glory.
For a time the revealed majesty kept Moses from entering while the cloud remained, until the cloud partly veiled the overwhelming brightness. The people responded with solemn awe, tears of joy, and low earnest gratitude without loud rejoicing. The tabernacle was made to be dismantled and carried as Israel traveled.
Glory Above the Mercy Seat
The glory that filled the tabernacle was the visible manifestation of Jehovah's presence, the holy Shekinah, taking its place in the holy of holies and centered over the ark of the covenant in the Most Holy Place. It rested above the mercy-seat, above the law enshrined within the ark, and represented God's presence and power among His people. By that indwelling the Most Holy Place became the connecting link between heaven and earth for atonement and intercession. The law within is the great rule of righteousness and judgment and pronounces death upon the transgressor, but from above the law, by virtue of the atonement, pardon is granted to the repentant sinner. In this the filling of the tabernacle symbolizes the work of Christ for redemption, in which mercy and truth are met together and righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
From between the cherubim God made known His will, sometimes by a voice from the cloud, sometimes by a light falling upon the angel at the right to signify approval or acceptance, and sometimes by a shadow or cloud resting upon the one at the left to reveal disapproval or rejection. An audible voice spoke to Moses from the divine glory above the mercy-seat, told him to come near, and there gave him still further directions about the forms of worship to be carried on in the sanctuary. That same glory rested above the mercy seat when the priest offered incense, descending there at that time, and it could fill both sanctuary apartments so fully that the priest could not officiate. The priest's prayer toward the unseen mercy seat represents God's people praying by faith to Christ, their Mediator before the mercy seat in the heavenly sanctuary, and confidently claiming the benefits of His mediation.
The same taking possession seen at Moses' tabernacle was repeated at Solomon's temple. After the priests came out of the holy place, while united singing with musical instruments in praise to God resounded through the temple and out over Jerusalem, the glory-cloud filled the house of the Lord so that the priests could not stand to minister.
Presence Guiding and Sanctifying Israel
From that moment the cloud rested over the tabernacle as the settled sign of divine residence, appearing as cloud by day and as fire by night in sight of all Israel. It became God's visible direction for camping and journeying, so that when it lifted Israel broke camp and traveled, and when it remained over the tabernacle they stayed. It remained over the tabernacle until God directed them to move, governing both where they should camp and when they should journey.
Jesus Christ Himself was with Israel in the wilderness as their instructor, and He continued to be their teacher and guide. His glory filled the tabernacle as the holy Shekinah dwelling above the mercy-seat, and the same presence later dwelt in the temple. There He constantly manifested the riches of His love and patience toward them. His presence was part of God's provision for Israel to represent Him and to help restore His moral image in humanity.
Because God's glory filled the tabernacle and made it holy, all who served there had to prepare carefully and reverently before entering where His glory was revealed. Priests left their shoes in the court so that dust would not defile the sanctified sanctuary. They washed their hands and feet at the brazen laver before entering, removing impurity and avoiding death.
That revealed presence in the cloud of glory above the mercy-seat belonged to more than a thousand years of God's special favor and guardian care to the chosen people. It was one reason Jerusalem was honored of God above all the earth. It stood alongside the messages of holy prophets, the priests' censers and cloud of incense ascending with prayers, and the daily blood of slain lambs pointing forward to the Lamb of God.