提要
聖經對會幕，和與以色列人敬拜儀式有關的每一件事都作極詳細的說明。出埃及記、整本利未記、部份的民數記有細節的記載，甚至新約的希伯來書也花了幾章來解釋。它倒底有多重要，竟佔了聖經這麼大的篇幅？
（1）它源自上帝，並且是由上帝親自指示和命令的（25：9）。（2）我們看見偉大、無限、至高無上的上帝，顧念人類有限的理解力，以簡單易懂的詞句，對人講述各樣細節。上帝也在耶穌基督裡以人的樣式來到人間。祂的愛趨使祂走向人。（3）會幕的許多物件是象徵道成肉身居住在我們中間的主耶穌（約1：14）。新約聖經暗示，祂就像是居住在我們中間的一座會幕（約2：19；來9：11）。（4）新約聖經稱所有與會幕有關的事是「天上事的影兒」（來8：5；參來9：23；10：1）。（5）當耶穌在十架上斷氣時，會幕的幔子從上至下裂為兩半（太27：51；來10：19、20；約14：6）；可見兩者間的關係。（6）我們從新約得到的亮光是，上帝藉著會幕向祂的百姓啟示祂自己，表明祂的聖潔、榮耀、和上帝與他們的關係；今天的信徒也藉著耶穌基督親近、認識上帝。
上帝有豐富的恩典，祂要以色列人運用祂已創造出來的材料為祂蓋居所。上帝本可自己動手，但祂總是使用人為器皿，這些器皿也使祂得榮耀。上帝很樂意讓他們有一個地方可以恭敬的認罪、信心得堅固。在新約時代，我們發現只要有兩、三個人奉主的名聚集，主就在他們中間（太18：20）。信徒在一起的聚集很重要：在那裡人可以得著鼓勵、信心得造就，也可以悔改認罪，公開承認要跟隨上帝。建造教會和其他能榮耀上帝，領人歸向上帝的建築物都是重要的聖工，需要全體信徒全心的支持。上帝也鼓勵以色列人自由的奉獻財物來建造會幕；上帝不要他們出於義務，乃要他們甘心樂意的奉獻（25：2）。後來我們曉得，以色列人慷慨的捐出他們出埃及時從埃及人索得的財物（出12：35），可能還加上打敗亞瑪力人時奪得的戰利品。他們不只出錢，還甘心樂意的出力協助會幕的建造（參卅五章）。
上帝首先指示摩西如何造那個代表耶穌基督的約櫃。這是會幕裡最重要的物件，因為那是大祭司一年一度為以色列百姓贖罪的地方（利十六章）。施恩座在約櫃的上邊，二基路伯中間；基路伯像是上帝聖潔的守護者。施恩座和贖罪時灑在施恩座上的血都代表耶穌基督，因為藉著祂的血，人才能到上帝面前，主耶穌也從施恩座為我們代禱。
放陳設餅的桌上要經常擺設十二個餅，由祭司在上帝面前恭敬的享用（利24：5~9）。這象徵與上帝的相交，並提醒以色列人，他們需要藉著上帝所賜新的供應天天與祂相交。我們也藉著天天讀主的話、禱告來與主相交，得著心靈的更新。
有七個枝子的金燈臺是會幕裡唯一的光源，就像耶穌是這世上的光（約8：12）。燈台象徵上帝的百姓應帶給世界的光或見證。作為上帝的百姓，今天我們有責任要將祂的光帶給世界。在以色列，杏樹是寒冬過後首先復甦、開花的植物，所以燈臺上雕刻的杏花也代表藉著生命之光──耶穌──所得到的新生命。燈臺的光來自點燃的純橄欖油燭心。這油代表聖靈；當聖靈在我們裡面，祂就使耶穌的光透過我們照射出來，吸引人歸向上帝。
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Overview
The Bible gives much detailed information about the tabernacle and everything involved in the Israelite form of worship. We read about it in the books of Exodus, all of Leviticus, part of Numbers and it is even explained in the New Testament in some chapters of Hebrews. Why is this so important that it takes up a large portion of the inspired Word?
(1)It had a divine origin and was instructed and commanded by God Himself (25:9). (2) In it we see the great, unlimited, sovereign God speaking in simple details with man on his comparatively very low level of understanding. God also came at man’s own level in Jesus Christ. He reached out to mankind because of His love. (3) Many of the articles within symbolize the Lord Jesus who became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). The New Testament infers that His dwelling was as a tabernacle in our midst (John 2:19; Hebrews 9:11). (4) All that was connected with the tabernacle is described in the New testament as a “copy and shadow of the heavenly things” (Hebrews 8:5; cf. 9:23; 10:1). (5) The relation is clearly seen when the veil in the Temple was torn at the time of Jesus’ death on the cross (Matthew 27:51; Hebrews 10:19, 20; John 14:6). (6) We see with the light of the New Testament that through the tabernacle God revealed Himself to His people showing His holiness, glory, attributes and His relationship with them, just as believers today find these through Jesus Christ.
With the Lord’s abundant grace, He asked the Israelites to build His dwelling place from that which He had created. He could have done it Himself, but ‘God always uses the human vessel through whom He is to be glorified. He was pleased to have them build a place where they were encouraged to reverently go to repent of their sins, and become strengthened in their faith. With the New Covenant, we find that the Lord is present when just two or three are gathered in His name (Matt. 18:20). It is important for there to be a reverent gathering of fellow believers together: a place where one can be encouraged and built up in faith, a place where one can repent and make a public confession to follow God. The building of churches and other structures which glorify the Lord and lead people to Him is very important and needs the wholehearted support of the community of believers. God Himself encouraged the Israelites to give freewill offerings toward the building of the tabernacle; not giving because it was obligatory, but voluntarily out of a willing heart (25:2). We later learn that the Israelites gave generously much of which they received from the Egyptians at the time of their exodus (Ex. 12:35), and possibly the spoil taken from the defeated Amalekites. They not only gave, but all did their part and willingly pitched in to help in the construction (ch. 35).
The Lord first instructed Moses concerning the ark of the covenant which represented Jesus Christ. It was the most important piece of furniture in the Tabernacle, for it was where the atonement for their sins was made by the High Priest once a year (Leviticus 16). The mercy seat, upon which the blood was sprinkled, was on the top of the ark, between the cherubim which seem to be guards of the holiness of God. Jesus Christ is pictured in both the blood and the mercy seat which represents the means by which mankind comes to God, for from it the Lord Jesus intercedes for us.
On the table of showbread there was always to be a supply of twelve loaves which were to be consumed by the priests reverently before the Lord (Leviticus 24:2-9). This symbolized fellowship with God and reminded the Israelites of the necessity of continual communion with Him through the constantly renewed supply. We receive this communion with the Lord when we daily partake of His Holy Word and, with prayer, have fellowship with Jesus and spiritual renewal.
The seven-branched lamp stand of pure gold was the only light within the tabernacle, just as Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12). The lamp stand symbolized the light or testimony that God’s people were to have to the world. Today it is our responsibility as god’s people to share His light with the world. In Israel, the almond tree is the first to come alive and blossom after the cold months, so the decorations of almond blossoms on the lamp stand represent the new life through this Light. The lamp stand’s light source came from a lighted wick in the purest olive oil. The oil represents the Holy Spirit; when He is in us, He causes the light of Jesus to shine brightly through us drawing others unto Him.
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