Creator, Father, King #87

Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God?

TODAY, WE’RE TALKING ABOUT tents.

No, this isn’t a discussion about camping. We’re talking about the Old Testament Tabernacle.

As God was giving Israel the Old Testament law, he told Moses, “Have the people of Israel build me a holy sanctuary so I can live among them” (Exodus 25:8). This “holy sanctuary” was called the Tabernacle, which means “tent,” or “dwelling.” The Creator of heaven and earth wanted a special place to manifest his presence among his chosen people despite their sin. Incredible!

Because God is holy and to be revered, he gave the Israelites exact specifications regarding the Tabernacle (and later, the Temple) construction and worship practices. Today, the Tabernacle no longer exists. The Israelites used it for hundreds of years until King Solomon replaced it with the more permanent Temple around 960 BC. But Solomon’s Temple and its replacement were ultimately both destroyed.

God, however, never meant for the Tabernacle and Temple to last forever. He wanted to dwell with his people in something far better than physical buildings.

What’s It Mean?

God’s plan has always been to live among his people. First, he walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:8). Then, he made his presence known in Israel through the Tabernacle and Temple. Most beautifully, the Lord literally became flesh and walked among us when Jesus came to earth as Immanuel, which means “God is with us” (Matthew 1:23)!

When Jesus died on the cross, the Temple curtain—signifying separation between a holy God and sinful man—was supernaturally torn in two (Matthew 27:51).

Jesus’ death removed that barrier because he is the perfect sacrifice, fully sufficient to forgive our sins. Tabernacles and temples are no longer needed. Thanks to Jesus, God now indwells his people through his Spirit, as today’s verse says.

The Spirit’s indwelling allows us to freely worship the Lord at all times. He convicts us of sin and makes us more like Jesus day by day (sanctification). These are just a few of the many benefits of being God’s flesh-and-blood temple!

That’s sure better than worshiping in a tent, wouldn’t you say?

Now What?

Read Exodus 25–30 to see the care and detail God wanted the Israelites to take in worshiping him at the Tabernacle.

Did You Know?

The Babylonians destroyed Solomon’s Temple in 586 BC. The Romans destroyed the rebuilt Temple in AD 70.