The tabernacle or tent of meeting was not attractive to look at from the outside but it was the residence of the Lord God as the Israelites travelled through the desert
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. [Revelation 21:3 ESV]
Whenever we read this word, "Behold," we know that the Holy Spirit is attracting our attention to an important point. God's sovereign plan is now fulfilled. God has now established his permanent residence with mankind. He created the human race to enjoy the bliss of fellowship with him as was evident in the Garden of Eden when our first parents in their state of innocence had unbroken communion with God.
[8] And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. [9] And out of the ground the LORD God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. [Genesis 2:8-9 ESV] There is a hint of a wonderful communion between God and Adam and Eve as we read about 'the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day' [Genesis 3:8 ESV]
When they sinned, Adam and Eve were driven from this idyllic paradise but God still demonstrated His desire to take up residence on earth to have communion with His chosen people. We jump forward in the history to the journeys of the Israelites from Egypt to Canaan. God gave precise instructions for Moses to build a 'tabernacle' or tent of meeting where God would reside with His people on earth (Exodus 25:8-9). Because the Israelites were as much sinners as the rest of the human race, there were restrictions and barriers which prevented them from discovering the true meaning of God's presence with them. The ordinary people knew that God was present in the tabernacle but they were not allowed to see God. Only one high priest was allowed to enter into the holy place and this great privilege was only granted once a year.
The incarnation (the coming of the Son of God to this world) is described in terms of this tabernacle or tent of meeting. [14] And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. [John 1:14 ESV] The word translated as 'dwelt' is the Greek word meaning to tent or to encamp and to reside as Hod did in the tabernacle in the Old Testament. So Jesus was the fulfilment of the Old Testament tabernacle. There were some privileged people who could see Jesus in the flesh and listen to him and communicate with him. He was God manifested in flesh. He was dwelling on earth with mankind. But it was only a small group of privileged disciples who were eyewitnesses of his majesty. Peter was one of these privileged disciples and here is how he remembers the experience
[16] For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. [17] For when he received honour and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” [18] we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. [2 Peter 1:16-18 ESV]
Now as we reach almost the end of our Bible, we have this beautiful picture of God dwelling on earth with humanity in the New Jerusalem. There are no longer any barriers because there is no sin in the holy city. And the key lesson we learn about this eternal future is that God has a people for Himself and it is now drawn from every nation, tribe and race. In chapter 7 we learn the scope of God's people - no longer restricted to the 12 tribes of Israel.
[9] After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, [10] and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” [Revelation 7:9-10 ESV]
Darrell Johnson brings this up to our century.
The new people of God are now made up of Jews and Arabs and Africans and Greeks and Italians and Serbs and Croats and Icelanders and Koreans and Mexicans and Armenians. The Lamb has purchased a multi-cultural people to reign with him. [Darrell Johnson: Discipleship on the Edge (Kindle Edition) page 148] Even Scots are part of this multi-ethnic group!
O what shall we feel in Thy presence when
first
The visions of glory upon us shall burst!
Since now our soul longeth and seeketh for
Thee;
O when, blessed Saviour, Thy face shall we
see?
That face, once so marred, we shall gaze on
at length,
And fearless behold, as the sun in his
strength;
Those eyes, flames of fire, that so searching
we prove,
Shall beam on us then inexpressible love.
Thy voice, like great waters, how calmly our
soul
Shall hear in the glory its deep waters roll;
Though now it rebukes us and humbles our
pride,
It shall speak only love to Thy glorified Bride
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