提要
與會幕有關的這幾章聖經裡，充滿許多象徵的意義。上帝精確、詳細的描述每項物件應如何製作，顯示出會幕和遮蓋會幕的罩棚的重要性。摩西在西乃山上的那四十晝夜，上帝將會幕的樣式交付給他，並吩咐他要正確的照著上帝指示的樣式去做。上帝可能是用一個異象向摩西啟示會幕的樣式；上帝曾親手在石版上寫下十誡，所以祂也可能為摩西畫下會幕和其中物件的樣式，然後再加上口頭的解釋（26：30；徒7：44；來8：5），會幕的每一部分都要力求華美。為人類創造這個美麗宇宙的上帝也要祂的百姓為祂造一個美麗的居所，使祂可以住在他們中間。
上帝希望我們內在的生命──聖靈居住的所在──像基督一樣純潔、美麗（林前6：19）。會幕和罩棚同樣也是象徵耶穌基督。會幕裡面華美無比，外面的罩棚雖然較大，較多層（包括象徵血和生命的紅色罩蓋），也是用上好材料精工製成，但樣子卻很平凡、粗糙（賽53：2）。從外面看不出會幕的華麗，只有進入幔內才能感受到裡頭的莊嚴、可畏。同樣的，那些還沒有進入基督之生命裡的人也看不見其中的榮美。
罩棚有隔絕的作用，並且要遵照上帝的指示安放，雖然他們可能不瞭解為什麼，例如：為什麼在中間看不見的一層要放染紅的公羊皮？有時我們可能不明白上帝的指示背後的理由，但我們仍必須順服。我們有限的智力測不透上帝的心意，但我們可以確信，祂一定有很好的理由。罩棚的最外層是用海狗皮作成，遇到惡劣的天氣時可以防水。
幔子和幕幔要用撚的細麻製造，這種細麻極可能被洗滌成純白色，因為只有最好、最純的質料能象徵基督的完美。藍色、紫色、朱紅色可能代表基督的神性、王威、和祂為洗淨我們的罪所流的寶血。在啟示錄裡我們看到這些美麗的顏色都被用來描述天堂令人屏息的榮耀。基路伯象徵上帝的同在和祂的聖潔。
最美麗、最精緻的是聖所和至聖所中間的那塊幔子。這個用來隔間的幔子確保了至聖所的隱私，同時也是排外的象徵。沒有人可以靠自己通過這層幔子進入上帝至聖的所在。只有大祭司可以一年一度在贖罪日先用血為自己和所有以色列民贖罪後，才准許進入至聖所。當耶穌被釘死在十字架上，耶路撒冷聖殿中的這層幔子也藉著上帝的力量，從上到下裂成兩半，表示這個能完全滿足上帝要求的祭既已獻上，就成就了永遠的功效。現在信徒可以在基督寶血的遮蓋下，大膽的進到上帝的面前，但我們仍必須對上帝的聖潔存恭敬的心。
讚美主，通往祂的道路已向我們敞開！
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Overview
There is much symbolic significance throughout the chapters which deal with the tabernacle. The Lord describes in detail exactly how everything should be done, thus showing the importance of the tabernacle and tent which covered it. God gave Moses the pattern for them while he was on Mount Sinai for the period of forty days, and instructed him to follow the pattern exactly as he had shown him. God may have revealed it to Moses through a vision, or, since we know God Himself inscribed the ten commandments, it is possible that He may have sketched the tabernacle and its articles for Moses, as well as verbally explaining them (26:30; Acts 7:44; Heb. 8:5). Everything was to be made with great beauty. The Lord who created the beautiful would for mankind was also interested that His people create a beautiful dwelling for Him among them.
The Lord desires that our lives, the temple in which dwells His Holy Spirit, have inner beauty and be pure (1 Corinthians 6:19). In the same manner, the tabernacle and tent which covered it are symbolic of Jesus Christ. On the inside, the tabernacle was incredibly beautiful, but the exterior tent, although much larger, very well made, having more layers (including one middle layer dyed red which may symbolize blood and life), and of the best quality, was rough and common looking (Isaiah 53:2). The magnificence could not be seen from the outside, only upon entrance was the awesomeness to be experienced. Likewise, those who have not entered into the life of Christ do no see the full beauty of it.
The layers of the tent served to provide insulation and were to be provided in obedience to God, even though they may have not understood why it was to be done in this particular way, for example: why have an unseen layer of ram’s skin dyed red? There may be times when we do not understand the reasoning behind God’s instructions, however we must obey. Our finite minds cannot fathom the workings of the mind of God, but we can rest assured He has a good reason. The Outermost layer of the tent, made of some sort of very fine leather, provided a waterproof protection in times of bas weather.
God instructed that the curtains and veils be made of fine linen thread which was most probably cleansed to be pure white, for only the best and purest quality could be symbolic of the perfection of Christ. The blue, purple, and scarlet may represent Christ’s heavenly origin, royalty, and the blood He shed to cover us and cleanse us from our sins. In the book Revelation we find beautiful color such as these used to describe the breathtaking heavenly glory. The cherubim signify the presence of God and His holiness.
The most lovely and elaborate veil was the one between the holy place and the Most Holy Place. It served as a divider to ensure privacy and was a symbol of exclusion. No man on his own merit could pass beyond it into the Most Holy presence of God. Only once a year, on the day of atonement, the high priest was permitted to enter and only if he was sprinkled with the blood of the sacrifice as propitiation for himself and all the people. With the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the partition of the veil in the Temple at Jerusalem was ripped in two from top to bottom by the power God,, signifying that the all-sufficient sacrifice had been made once and for all. Believers can now boldly approach the throne of God covered by the precious blood of Jesus, yet still there must be reverence for God’s holiness.
Praise the Lord that the way has been opened into His presence!
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