Exodus Chapter 27 Verses 1 – 2

• This altar was set outside of the Tabernacle and would be the place where the sacrificial offerings were to be made. Under the Old Covenant, sin wasn’t completely done away with but rather it was “covered” by the substitutionary sacrifice of animal life.  The Old Covenant was a conditional/bilateral agreement between God and the Nation of Israel.  The terms were simple.  Follow and keep the Law and in return God would accept them, bless them, provide for them and protect them.  (Exodus 19:5-6)
• Please understand that while giving this instruction and entering into this covenant with His people, God already had the New Covenant in mind because almost immediately, humans could not and would not uphold their side of the deal. Leviticus Chapters 1-7 give detailed instructions for offering  There were different kinds of sacrifices from peace and fellowship offerings to sin offerings.  But the principle underlaying the sacrificial system in the Old Covenant was that God can be approached only with worthy blood. 
• The sacrificial system was brutal, it was public and it was meant to wake up the people to their issues…so that they may turn back to God. For example, the burnt offering was intensely personal…Leviticus 1:4-5 says, “Then he shall put his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him. He shall kill the bull before the Lord; and the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall bring the blood and sprinkle the blood all around on the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of meeting. And he shall skin the burnt offering and cut it into its pieces.” 
• What caused that? The sin of the offeror.  So they would watch…as the animal would call out from being captive, violently resistive….the sight and sound of the slaughter as the priest would literally pull the animal apart and that animal that was once alive, without offense or sin, the sinful man or woman would see that same animal in the fire…what caused all of this?  Their sin.  And so, the sacrificial system wasn’t as flippant as we probably imagine but it was a real process and impactful experience there at the altar.
• Listen, this is precisely how we should still approach the altar today. Not 100% in relief about our sin being forgiven but with a percentage of terror, and understanding of what happened at the cross.  You see, Jesus ushered in the end of the Old Covenant and the beginning of the New Covenant (which was in God’s mind the entire time) and was revealed in Jeremiah 31:31-34.  We still come to the altar but that altar is now Christ.  Speaking of Jesus we read in Hebrews 13:10, “We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.”
• You see, worthy human blood is needed to atone for a human… Hebrews 10:4 says, “It is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.”  And as you continue to read down to verse 10 you find that the offering of Jesus Christ was sufficient for all men, at all times, in all places, once and for all. 
• The Old Covenant and the New Covenant are however one in that they are a complete work, a complete picture, a complete revelation showing people/us our need for God and then fulfilling that need through Christ. The Old Covenant resulted in a pattern of failures but Jesus, the New Covenant Keeper and Deliverer, 2 Corinthians 3:6 says, “Who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”  We still come to the altar though before entering the Tabernacle of God, but that altar is now the cross….
• Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

Exodus Chapter 27 Verses 3 – 8

• This is interesting. The altar was smooth on its sides, overlaid with bronze.  Seven and a half feet by seven and a half feet…but Numbers 16 gives the account of Korah’s rebellion against Moses.  Korah challenged Moses saying in Numbers 16:3, “You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?”
• Well, that didn’t work out too well for Korah and his followers. The ground opened up and swallowed them whole.  And then an interesting commandment was given by the Lord.  He commanded the priests to take the bronze incense censers held by Korah and his followers, to hammer them flat, and then to cover the altar with them as a memorial.  And so, from that time on the sides were no longer smooth but bumpy and non-uniform…why this?  Many reasons, but one reason is a pointer to the cross…while the cross is the place of victory, it is also the display of rebellion and justice…
• Other thoughts – the altar was outside of the Tabernacle, why? Because Jesus would have to step down from heaven to accomplish the saving sacrifice.  Also, the altar, when it was to be moved, was to be covered with a purple cloak and then with animal skins.  Why?  A clear pointer to the coming Messiah…God providing Himself as the sacrifice…as purple is royalty and animal skins is creation and death.

Exodus Chapter 27 Verse 9 - 19

• This of “hangings” is essentially a fence. The court of the Tabernacle was to be 150 feet by 75 feet and the east fence would have a gate, an opening as the entrance to the court would be on the east side.  The gate was to be our familiar four colors, fine linen being one of them and the fence was to be outfitted with bronze and silver, the metals of justice and redemption.  Four posts at the gate speaking directly of Jesus.  And how tall is the fence to enter the court of the Tabernacle…it’s grace tall…five cubits or roughly seven and a half feet tall…
• Why the fence? The dimensions of the Tabernacle are complete, the altar is there…why the barrier?  Because there is clarity and certainty in the separation from the things of the world and the things of God.  Simply put.  We are to be in the world but not of the world.  All of the sins of the fall happen in this world…and yet within the linen of the courtyard of the Tabernacle…only sacrifice, only worship, only the Tabernacle of presence…and as you walk with the Lord, your heart should be transitioning, growing, transforming from the Walmart heart of everything is cheap and everything goes…to the Tabernacle heart of the presence of the things of God.
• And I love this…the gate to the court of the Tabernacle, you’d think it was a sliver, hard and narrow but it was 30 feet wide…truly to come to repentance, to gain eternal life and security of salvation…it’s not cheap…but it is free! It cost Jesus everything…but the simplicity of ease is upon us in sharing in His victory.  Why?  Because He will never turn anyone away.  His will is that all will come to a saving faith…and because anyone that does not gain eternal life will have no excuse…it could not be made MORE available than it has been made through the blood of Jesus.  I need about 2 feet to walk into a space, maybe 1 if I turn sideways…the opening to the gate was 30 feet wide!!!

Exodus Chapter 27 Verses 20 – 21

• This is actually quite amazing. Oil, in the Bible, is a picture of the Holy Spirit.  And I love this, a complete and clear illustration of the New Covenant…to the Tabernacle, the meeting place, the communion with God, the Holy Spirit is brought by the people.  This is the entrance fee….the wedding garments….we are to be indwelt with the Holy Spirit and by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, we come into communion with God the Father through the purity of sacrifice that was made once and for all. 
• And the neat thing is, where did they get the olives? Is there an olive factory making them there in the wilderness?  The olives grew on olive trees created and provided by God Himself.  And so, the olives originate with God, go to man, and then come back to God in the form of oil.  How do you get oil?  Pressing, even crushing…processing… We are to walk in the calling and holiness of the work of Holy Spirit in our lives and return to God a worthy sacrifice of a life of faith.  ..Romans 12:1…
• Yes, this life is difficult and problems we have plenty…but God has given grace and power and clear guidance through His Holy Spirit…His God-breathed Word…and our entrance into His presence…is to trust Him over this world. The pressing…the crushing…it’s a part of that…and God says, calls like a good Father…bring all of that oil to me and lets meet….the lamps in your life, and in your walk and in your talk with God…your relationship…will be lit with that oil.