Exodus 27:9 [9] “You shall make the court of the tabernacle. On the south side the court shall have hangings of fine twined linen a hundred cubits long for one side.
The outer court of the tabernacle is described in some detail in Exodus 27:9-19. It served as the first section encountered by individuals entering the sacred space. After the worshipper entered through the screen or door, he then encountered the bronze altar and bronze basin. Today we will consider some key spiritual aspects associated with the outer court:
A Place of Separation and Approachability:
The outer court marked a separation between the sacred and the common. It emphasized the holiness of the worship space. At the same time, it provided a place where people could approach God, signifying His approachability. People must enter by the door bearing a sacrifice to the priest. Jesus provided a way to come to God. No longer separated by our sins we can approach God with full assurance of faith.
John 10:9 ESV [9] I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.
The door into the court is a representation of Jesus and the ultimate sacrifice has been made by him. The only offering we can bring now is ourselves. We enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise. Ps 100:4
Romans 12:1 ESV [1] I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
A Place of Sacrifice:
The altar of burnt offerings in the outer court was a central element. It symbolized the need for atonement and reconciliation with God through the shedding of blood. This foreshadowed the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
A Place of Cleansing and Repentance:
The laver or basin, located in the outer court, was used for the priests to ritually cleanse themselves before entering the Holy Place. This underscores the importance of spiritual purity and repentance before drawing near to God.
A Symbol of Earthly Realm
The outer court represented the outermost sphere of the divine dwelling. As individuals progressed from the outer court to the Holy Place and then the Most Holy Place, it symbolized a journey from the physical to the spiritual, mirroring the stages of approaching God.
A place of Inclusivity
The outer court was a space where various people, not just priests, could participate in certain rituals. This inclusivity hinted at the universal access to God and His redemptive plan for all people.
The spiritual significance of the outer court revolves around themes of separation, sacrifice, purification, and the accessible yet holy nature of God’s presence. It served as a tangible representation of spiritual principles foreshadowing the fulfillment through our savior Jesus Christ.
As we have studied the Tabernacle and its furnishings (see list of articles) we have come to understand its spiritual significance as a type of our Lord Jesus and the relationship between God and man. God has always wanted to be with us. From the very beginning, he fellowshipped with man. He provides ways through all of history for us to approach him. All pointing to the ultimate fulfillment in Jesus. Ultimately, God came to us in human flesh and tabernacled among us.
John 1:14-18 ESV [14] And the Word became flesh and dwelt (tabernacled) among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. [15] (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) [16] For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. [17] For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. [18] No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.
We have beheld the glory of the tabernacle in the wilderness. We have admired its beautiful furniture and its compartments. We have encountered its bloody altar. We have explored it and appreciate its significance and through it we have seen Jesus. Jesus! Jesus, the fulfillment of all for all.