Exodus 27:1-5 NASB

1 “And you shall make the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long and five cubits wide; the altar shall be square, and its height shall be three cubits. 2 You shall make its horns on its four corners; its horns shall be of one piece with it, and you shall overlay it with bronze. 3 You shall make its pails for removing its ashes, and its shovels and its basins and its forks and its firepans; you shall make all its utensils of bronze. 4 You shall make for it a grating of network of bronze, and on the net you shall make four bronze rings at its four corners. 5 You shall put it beneath, under the ledge of the altar, so that the net will reach halfway up the altar.

Exodus 29:12 NASB

12 You shall take some of the blood of the bull and put it on the horns of the altar with your finger; and you shall pour out all the blood at the base of the altar.

Exodus 38:8 NASB

8 Moreover, he made the laver of bronze with its base of bronze, from the mirrors of the serving women who served at the doorway of the tent of meeting.

Exodus 30:17-21 NASB

17 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 18 “You shall also make a laver of bronze, with its base of bronze, for washing; and you shall put it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and you shall put water in it. 19 Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet from it; 20 when they enter the tent of meeting, they shall wash with water, so that they will not die; or when they approach the altar to minister, by offering up in smoke a fire sacrifice to the Lord. 21 So they shall wash their hands and their feet, so that they will not die; and it shall be a perpetual statute for them, for Aaron and his descendants throughout their generations.”

Notes

The Tabernacle, God’s dwelling place, has three compartments: the outer court, the holy place, and the most holy place. Each compartment has items of furniture used for their ceremonial worship, which is part of their law. Moses and the people made the Tabernacle according to God’s pattern. The pattern reveals parallels in our faith and practice in the New Covenant in Christ. Take note that the ceremonies and the priesthood were all fulfilled in Christ.

1. The Outer Court has two items of furniture. Upon entrance of the compound, one sees the Altar of Sacrifice. The next piece of furniture is the Brazen Laver, which is between the Altar of Sacrifice and the entrance of the Holy Place.

   Each detail in the Tabernacle has significant meaning for us in the New Covenant. Let us seek God’s wisdom to understand and appreciate His design. Everything in the Tabernacle points to the Messiah. May we learn to study and appreciate it.

2. The Altar of Sacrifice or Bronze Altar is where they slaughter the innocent animal for the atonement of their sins. It is also where they burn the fat as a sweet aroma to the Lord. The priests sprinkle the animal's blood around the horns of the altar (27:1-5; 29:12; Leviticus 17:11).

   Sin must be atoned for by an innocent sacrifice. They sacrificed animals on the Altar of Sacrifice. But today, the ultimate sacrifice for the atonement was made by Christ (Romans 3:25; Hebrews 10:12-14). Only those with genuine faith in Christ can benefit from His sufficient sacrifice (Romans 5:1). Have faith in Christ.

3. The Bronze Laver, made of bronze mirrors of the serving women (38:8). It is where the priests would wash their hands and feet before they enter the Tabernacle, or else they will die. Upon leaving, the priests should also wash their hands and feet (30:17-21).

   Christ saves through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5). Thus a new birth must take place within us, which is a work of the Holy Spirit. The word of Christ is water (John 15:3; Ephesians 5:26). The word of God washes all whom He saved by His grace. Regeneration happens once. Sanctification through the word is a continuous process. Make sure of your salvation and sanctification.