DVD study review: The Tabernacle 6-session DVD, taught by Shawn Barnard

Before I watched these videos in full, I was a little skeptical whether I would actually learn anything new. This is because I have just completed a similar study on the Tabernacle using other resources. I thought to myself, "It's just going to be the same thing repeated and presented in a different way!" How wrong I was! I find Shawn Barnard to be a very passionate teacher, cleverly weaving information into each session in a unique way. He starts with the original context of the Tabernacle and eventually points to its fulfillment in Jesus Christ.

In fact, I find this series to be a very rich learning experience indeed. I realized I missed a number of gems that Shawn taught when I watched it the first time, but as I watched it again and again, I began to learn more and more truths about the Tabernacle and how it pointed to Jesus Christ.

Here are just a couple of additional things I learned from Shawn as I watched these videos again:

Session 1 (Exodus 25:8)
I learned that even the idea of building a tabernacle was God's Himself. He took the initiative.
It is indeed a picture of His desire to restore the broken relationship since Adam.
The word "Tabernacle" is from the Hebrew word "miqdash" and it points to the amazing thought that the Almighty God of the whole universe wants to dwell with human beings. This then, as Shawn pointed out, opens my eyes to see the spiritual significance of John 1:14:

And the Word became flesh and dwelt (tabernacled, miqdash) among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.  (Joh 1:14 NKJV)

Also, I learned that the only gate to the entrance is at the east side of the Tabernacle (Exodus 27:13-14). And in Genesis, it is at the east side of the Garden of Eden where the Tree of life was. When Adam and Eve sinned against Him, God placed a cherubim at this east of Eden with the flaming swords preventing human beings from returning back to God. In other words, it seems that God is giving a symbolic lesson for us that the key to restore the broken relationship with God is at the east side where humans were first banished from.  Jesus is the only Gate to return to God. Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6 NKJV)

The three tribes camped at the east side also give us insight into God’s desire to restore the broken relationship: Judah, Issachar and Zebulun besides the Levites.

The Levites - the descendants of Levi - performed the priestly duties (1 Chr 15:2; Num 3:6). Aaron and Moses were from the tribe of Levite. Jesus is our ultimate High Priest. He is our Mediator representing us before God the Father. Heb 10:10-12

Numbers 2:3-7 give us information on the other three tribes:

• Judah - speaks of the origin of the Messiah. Heb 7:14
• Issachar - performs the burden of a servant like a donkey. Gen 49:14 Jesus is the Perfect Servant - bearing our burden of sin. Mark 10:45;  Phil 2:5-8
• Zebulun - Gen 49:13 - a haven/refuge/to cover for the weary. Jesus is our refuge Matt 11:28-30

Session 2
Exo 27:1 As the children of Israel walk into the Tabernacle through the gate on the east side, the first structure they would see is the altar of burnt offering.

Altar speaks of the Cross where the Ultimate Sacrifice is placed (Col 1:20). And the sacrifice required was an animal that was perfect, not flawed (Lev 22:22). Jesus is our ultimate sacrifice Heb 9:11-14; Eph 5:2; 1 Peter 1:18-19; John 1:29

Session 4
We are like the lampstand (Exo 25:31), strategically placed to bear the light of Christ (John 8:12) when we are filled with the pure anointing oil. Here, I tend to think that the oil also represents the Holy Spirit (a point which I believe Shawn did not mention in this session). In Luke 4:18, for example, Jesus said that "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach....", just as the oil is on the fire to produce the light.

Session 5
The Hebrew word for "table" in Exo 25:30 where the bread was placed is the word "shulchan" - which is the king's table. It is as if, God the King is inviting us to dine with Him on his table, to feast on the bread. Jesus is this bread of life that sustains us spiritually (John 6:35)
(Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this DVD study free from Rose Publishing as part of their products bloggers review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”)