Order in His Courts
His Order for His Presence
by
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Chapter 3
The Purpose of the Tabernacle of Moses
God gave Moses specific instructions for building the tabernacle a picture of God’s dwelling place on earth (see 1 Corinthians 3:16). The tabernacle played a very significant part in the children of Israel’s deliverance from slavery out of Egypt. First God delivered the children of Israel out of Egypt, an expression of His unconditional love, then He gave them teaching and instruction to teach them how to come in the presence of a holy God. This pattern was symbolic of God dwelling with man.
Exodus 25:8–9 says, “Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.”
God Himself designed this tabernacle to teach a redeemed people how to enter His presence: its courtyard, gate, and three courts were created for redemption purposes. Everything God did for mankind was for the purpose of redemption.
Each court was uniquely designed to contain particular articles that teach the nature and characteristics of God—the difference between the holy and the unholy, the clean and the unclean—and change the human nature to God’s divine nature.
The first court was known as the outer court. The outer court housed the brazen altar was used to prepare all the sacrifices and offerings, and the brazen laver was used for cleansing after one made sacrifices and offerings.
The second court housed the table of shewbread, which speaks of the revealed Word of God for empowerment and transformation. The golden candlestand speaks of the spiritual enlightenment of the Word of God, and the altar of incense taught how one could prepare to approach the Holy of Holies through prayers and intercession.
The third and final court was the most Holy Place or the Holy of Holies, where the presence of God dwelled. Each court was uniquely designed to condition us spiritually to enter the things of God. The purpose of every court in the tabernacle was to sensitize our hearts to how to respond to a holy, holy God correctly.
The tabernacle of Moses was designed to show us how to journey back to the garden of Eden, where His presence originally dwelled, teaching us how to become His image and likeness again, God’s original intention for man.
The tabernacle of Moses was the only one of its kind, given to teach the children of Israel (God’s chosen people) “holy living” after their deliverance out of Egypt. The tabernacle of Moses was a prophetic picture of Jesus Christ. It serves a dual spiritual purpose.
1. It teaching us about the nature and character of Jesus Christ and His amazing love for His children.
2. It teaches the means by which the relationship can be restored.
The tabernacle of Moses was symbolic of God’s dwelling place on earth. It is God’s desire to dwell among His people whom He has chosen.
The tabernacle was a removable Tent. The term is symbolic of each believer being a tabernacle (God’s dwelling place on earth).
From the very beginning of time, we see that the tabernacle was prophetic in nature, teaching God’s redemptive plan for mankind and how God’s abiding presence came to dwell among us (see Lev. 26:11–13).
As we study the tabernacle, we become more familiar with Christ’s redemptive plans for mankind in restoring us to His image and likeness. The more we study the tabernacle, the more we become sensitized to God’s faithfulness, grace, and mercy to fallen man.
This visual expression was designed to teach the children of Israel how to live as God intended, without being destroyed. God’s desire is for us to move our flesh out of the way from self-consciousness to God consciousness so it will be easier for Him to have access and dwell among us (Ex. 25:8–9). First Corinthians 3:16 says, “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?” “NIV”
God gave Moses instructions to place the tabernacle in the center of the wilderness (symbolic of the center of our hearts). The tabernacle, if you were to look at it, formed a picture of a perfect cross: three tribes on the east, three tribes on the west, three tribes on the north, and three tribes on the south (the twelve tribes of Israel). In the center was the ark of the covenant, which is symbolic of Jesus Christ (Yeshua) and taught the children of Israel that He was the center of their worship.
Today we are His tabernacle. Our hearts represent the center of worship, where God desires to dwell as we go through our wilderness experiences. “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God’” (Rev. 21:3).
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About the Book
You believe you’ve done all you can to prepare yourself to live with God in heaven. But are you truly experiencing His presence on earth as it is in heaven? Even if you have a good relationship with God, it can be better. If you don’t feel God’s presence on earth, it’s not hopeless. There is a way back into His presence.
Maxine Evans’s Order in His Courts: His Order for His Presence shows you how to return to God’s presence through the Creator’s masterpiece in the tabernacle of Moses. The three courts are symbolic of human nature. They teach the processes we must go through to experience His divine nature and be restored. She shares the important keys for reconnection to His presence: forgiveness and repentance, reading of the Word, application of the Word, enlightenment by the Holy Spirit, prayer/intercession, and God’s indwelling presence in you.
It’s never too late to return to God’s presence. Order in His Courts: His Order for His Presence is a step-by-step guide to His presence. After reading this book, you will not only be challenged but changed with the knowledge the Creator has given to us through the tabernacle of Moses.
About the Author
Maxine Evans has studied widely, including at the Assembly of God Bible Institute and the International Third World Leadership Training Institute. She is the founder of Kingdom Arts Ministry in Nassau, Bahamas, and former director of the banner and flag ministry at Bahamas Faith Ministries International. She lives in New Providence.