The Sanctuary: God's Dwelling Among Sinners

Synopsis

'Let them make Me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them,' God said, and then gave Moses an exact pattern to follow — 'according to all that I shew thee.' Nothing about the sanctuary was left to human invention, for it was designed to teach, in structure and furniture, the plan of salvation itself. The outer court with its altar of sacrifice pictured the necessity of a substitute's death for approach to God; the laver pictured cleansing; the holy place with its table, lampstand, and altar of incense pictured continual communion, light, and intercession; and the most holy place, entered only once a year by the high priest with blood, pictured the very presence of God accessible only through a Mediator's atoning work. Every piece of furniture, every material, every measurement pointed forward to Christ, who is priest, sacrifice, altar, bread, light, and mercy seat all at once. Hebrews confirms that the earthly sanctuary was 'a figure for the time then present' whose realities were fulfilled in Christ's ministry in the true sanctuary in heaven. The sanctuary teaches that God has always desired to dwell with His people, but only on the basis of a provided, not invented, way of approach.