Exodus 25:8-9 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. 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.

Salvation

 The Wall - Exodus 27:9-18

Surrounding the tabernacle on all sides was a wall made of fine woven linen. It stood on posts made of acacia wood with bases of bronze and capitals of silver. The tabernacle courtyard was 100 x 50 cubits or 150 x 75 ft. On the east side of the tabernacle was the gate, 20 cubits wide.

The Gate: The fabric of the gate was different than that of the wall. It was four different colored threads embroidered together to make one cloth. The colors used in the gate were blue, purple, scarlet and bright white. The gate was the only entrance into the courtyard, and it faced East.

The Altar - Exodus 27:1-8 As you approach the tabernacle armed guards stand with orders to kill anyone who tries to enter anywhere but the gate and none were allowed to enter without the proper sacrifice. They must come to the sacrifice with a lamb, a dove or an ox in order to enter the court.

Standing just behind the entrance, imposing itself in the courtyard, would be the Brazen Altar. The altar measured 5 x 5 x 3 cubits (7.5 ft. around by 4.5 ft high.) It was constructed out of acacia wood overlaid with bronze. It was a hollow box, with a solid bronze grate mounted halfway up on the inside. Upon this altar sacrifices would be offered to God. These sacrifices must be without spot or blemish and would be offered as a way of confessing sin or giving thanksgiving.

The Laver - Exodus 30:17-18

This was a large bronze basin filled with water. There are no dimensions given for the laver, though it would be quite large and probably about the size of the altar. The laver was used by the priests who would wash themselves before they served God inside the tabernacle.

If the tabernacle is a model of living with God then the outer courtyard is a model of entering into that life. For us this is salvation. Let’s make some applications.

The Saved Life

The Spiritual Wall: The wall around the Tabernacle was a symbol of the separation that exists between all of mankind and God. A separation caused by sin. 

First the sin of mankind through Adam. Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

But also our own sin, Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Sin has separated us from living the Lord and we have no way to break down that wall of separation, because it is caused by sin and we can’t stop sinning nor do anything about our past sin. We are outside the Tabernacle, where God dwells, and unless God opens a way, we will never get inside.

The Spiritual Gate: Praise God, He did make one way to enter in. In the Tabernacle model, entrance was through the single gate that faced the rising sun and woven in the colors, blue, purple, white and red. Those colors were chosen to represent the Lord Jesus. Blue for heaven, Purple for His throne, White for his sinless life and Red for His shed blood. 

One Way: You could only enter the Tabernacle through the Gate, any other attempt was met with death. Jesus is the only way to enter into life with God, death awaits those who try any other way.

Jesus himself declared this in John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved…”

In John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Today there are many who will tell those on the outside, separated by sin from God that there are many ways to enter but all that awaits them is death, eternal and terrible. Jesus is the only way.

The Spiritual Altar: Jesus is the way in, but what about our sin. How has that been dealt with?

In the courtyard of the tabernacle, Once a person entered, that would be confronted with the bronze altar. There they would bring a lamb, bull, or dove as a sacrifice for their sin. 

In our dwelling with God, we also needed a sacrifice to pay for our sin. Not a bull or a lamb of the flock but the Jesus the Lamb of God Jesus Christ. He is the sacrifice that God. He gave his life for our sin and we must put our faith in His sacrifice as the payment for our sin.

John the Baptist pointed to Jesus in John 1:29  and cried out “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

In John’s book of Revelation, he saw a vision in the throneroom of God. A cry goes out for someone worthy to open the sealed book and then a lamb stands appearing as if it had been slain. We read in Revelation 5:8-9 ⁸ And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. ⁹ And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

Jesus was our sacrifice, the only sacrifice able to save all of mankind from sin. Living with the Lord means we have made the Lamb of God as our own sacrifice for sin.

The Spiritual Laver: One more thing still must be done before our sin is fully dealt with and we can live with the Lord. Jesus opens the way, His death pays the price and His blood washes away our sin.

In the courtyard next to the Bronze Alter stood the laver, a huge basin filled with clear, clean water.

That basin represents the cleansing of our sin through Jesus’ shed blood. There we are washed clean, white as snow in the crimson flood. 1 John 1:7  … the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

The Outer Court shows salvation, forgiveness and cleansing through Jesus. Outside the Courtyard we cut off from God, we are helpless in our sin, we are under judgment. But inside, inside, the Courtyard we are safe and saved, we now dwell with God and live with the Lord! We are forgiven, we are cleansed and we have fellowship!