The Tabernacle Bible Study | Part 8 & 9 | Pastor Charles Philip | New Life Fellowship Dubai

Summary

The video script provides an in-depth exploration of the biblical history and significance of the Tabernacle and its furnishings, tracing the timeline from Moses to the destruction of Herod's Temple in AD 70. It delves into the symbolic meanings of elements like the lampstand and the showbread, relating them to Christian teachings on holiness, chastening, and covenant. The script emphasizes the importance of continual spiritual renewal and obedience, linking Old Testament practices to New Testament principles, culminating in a call for personal commitment to living out the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Takeaways

• 🙏 The session opens with a prayer for guidance, forgiveness, and illumination from the Holy Spirit, emphasizing the spiritual preparation for learning.
• 📜 The historical timeline of significant biblical events is reviewed, from Moses receiving instructions to build the Tabernacle, through various periods including Solomon’s Temple, the Babylonian exile, and up to the destruction of the Second Temple in AD 70.
• 🔍 The lecture delves into the design and significance of the Tabernacle’s furnishings, like the golden lampstand and the altar of burnt offering, illustrating their symbolic meanings and practical functions.
• 💡 The continuous burning of the lamp in the Tabernacle symbolizes the need for constant spiritual vigilance and renewal, likened to Christians being the 'wick' needing regular 'trimming' or spiritual discipline to maintain their light.
• 📖 The script discusses the transformation from Old Covenant practices to the New Covenant under Jesus Christ, emphasizing the shift from ritualistic law adherence to a relationship-based faith with God written in hearts and minds.
• 🍞 The significance of the Table of Showbread is explored, representing the presence of God and the communal aspect of faith through the depiction of the 12 tribes of Israel.
• 🕊 The New Covenant, as introduced by Jesus at the Last Supper, is highlighted as a transformative agreement that offers forgiveness and direct relationship with God, contrasting with the conditional promises of the Old Covenant.
• ✝️ The role of Jesus as both a sacrifice and sustainer is emphasized, drawing parallels between the sustenance provided by bread and the spiritual sustenance Jesus offers to believers.
• 🌍 The metaphor of Christians as light in the world, tasked with overcoming darkness and revealing truth through their actions and being guided by the light of Jesus, is underlined.
• 🔄 The session closes with a call for personal reflection and commitment to allow the Holy Spirit to 'trim' and refine one’s life daily, encouraging active and humble participation in the covenant relationship with God.

Q & A

What historical timeline does the script describe regarding the construction and destruction of temples in ancient Israel?

The script outlines a timeline from Moses receiving instructions for the Tabernacle around 1250 BC, through the construction of Solomon's Temple in 968 BC and its destruction by King Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC, to the rebuilding under Persian rule around 515 BC, and eventually to Herod's Temple which was built around 19 BC and its destruction in AD 70.

What is the significance of the golden lampstand mentioned in the script?

The golden lampstand, or menorah, is described as being made of a single piece of beaten gold with seven branches, each holding an oil lamp. It symbolized the illumination of God's presence in the Tabernacle, and the lamps were to be kept burning continuously as a representation of the Israelites' continuous devotion to God.

What role did the table of showbread play in the Tabernacle as described in the script?

The table of showbread held twelve loaves of bread, representing the twelve tribes of Israel. Placed in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle, it symbolized God's provision and continual presence. The priests, representing the tribes, ate the bread, symbolizing their communion with God.

How does the script explain the metaphorical significance of Christians being likened to a 'wick'?

In the script, Christians are compared to a wick in a lamp. Just as a wick must be regularly trimmed to keep the lamp burning brightly, Christians must undergo spiritual 'trimming' or discipline to maintain a vibrant faith and allow the 'oil', symbolizing the Holy Spirit, to flow through them, enabling them to shine the light of Christ brightly.

What does Hebrews 12:5-11 mean in the context of the script?

Hebrews 12:5-11 discusses the concept of divine chastening or discipline. The script interprets this as God's way of pruning Christians to foster spiritual growth and enable them to partake in His holiness, likening it to the necessary trimming of the wick for a lamp to burn efficiently and brightly.

How is Jesus' statement about the temple in John 2:19 interpreted in the script?

Jesus' statement about destroying the temple and raising it in three days is interpreted in the script as referring to His body, which would be killed and resurrected. This statement was made in the context of what was known as Herod's Temple, linking the physical temple's destruction with the spiritual resurrection of Jesus as the true Temple.

What is the significance of the 'bread of the presence' as explained in the script?

The 'bread of the presence' or showbread symbolizes God's continual provision and presence among the Israelites. It was kept on a gold-covered table in the Tabernacle and consisted of twelve loaves representing the twelve tribes of Israel, emphasizing the covenant relationship between God and His people.

What covenantal parallels does the script draw between the Old Testament and the New Testament?

The script draws parallels between the old covenant made at Mount Sinai, where obedience to the law was emphasized, and the new covenant instituted by Jesus, which focuses on a personal relationship with God through the Holy Spirit, internal transformation, and forgiveness of sins as outlined in Jeremiah 31:31-34.

How does the script explain the purpose of the Lord's Supper?

The script explains the Lord's Supper as a commemoration of the new covenant established by Jesus' sacrifice. It serves as a reminder of Jesus' role as the 'bread of life,' sustaining spiritual life and signifying the believer's continual communion with Christ and remembrance of His sacrifice.

What message does the script convey about the role of discipline in Christian life?

The script emphasizes that just as a wick needs to be trimmed for a lamp to burn brightly, Christians require spiritual discipline to remove impediments to their faith. This discipline, while often painful, is necessary for spiritual growth and enables believers to shine with the light of Christ in the world.