17
May
2010

Why Did God Live in a Tent?

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17 May 2010

This is a particularly thought provoking sermon, by David Murray, on the significance of God’s dwelling in the tabernacle. The Lord dwelt in the tent of meeting because His people dwelt in tents. He had promised to be their God. He had promised to dwell with His people. In order to do this, God became like His people. Israel dwelt in tents, so God dwelt in a tent. This is, of course, pointing forward to the fulfillment of the covenant promises in Jesus Christ. In Jesus, the fullness of the Godhead dwelt bodily. As the children had partaken of flesh and blood, so He Himself likewise shared in the same…”  (Heb. 2:14). God came to be with His people by taking on the human nature of His people in Jesus Christ. The Lord “tabernacled” (John 1:14) with His people in the body, the tent, of Jesus.

About Post Author

Nick Batzig is the senior pastor of Church Creek PCA in Charleston, SC and an associate editor for Ligonier Ministries. Prior to serving at Church Creek, Nick was a pastor at Wayside PCA on Signal Mountain, TN. Formerly, Nick served as the founding pastor of New Covenant Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Richmond Hill, GA and as the editor of Reformation21 and the Christward Collective--sites of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. He frequently writes for Tabletalk Magazine, Reformation 21, He Reads Truth, and the Christward Collective. Nick was also the host of East of Eden, a podcast devoted to the Biblical and Systematic Theology of Jonathan Edwards. You can friend him on Facebook here and follow him on Twitter @nick_batzig

2 Responses

  1. Matt Holst
    Reply

    Nick

    I would heartily concur with these ideas – they point to the grace of God in condescending to our level. Of course the ultimate fulfillment is found in Rev 21:3 “behold the dwelling place of God is with men”. In the Greek, the words “dwelling place” is the word “to tabernacle” – the Triune God’s eternal dwelling with man, in Christ is likened to his “tabernacling” among his people.

    In this respect we see God condescending to our lowly estate in time, becoming like his people. The dwelling of God with man in eternity adds another dimension to this thought – John writes “…and what we will be has not yet appeared, but we know that when he appears WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM…”. I’m not absolutely sure what this means, but it does seem to speak of us becoming like Christ, a kind of reversal of the condescension seen in time, our elevation rather than God’s condescension. It’s just another kind of condescension I suppose.

    Good stuff though

    Matt

  2. Susan Leroy
    Reply

    I really enjoyed listening to your sermon on the Tabernacle! I work for Rose Publishing, Inc and thought you’d be interested in a book called the Rose Guide to the Tabernacle. It has 128 pages of full color illustrations and clear plastic overlays showing the different layers of the “tent of meeting.”
    http://www.rose-publishing.com/productdetails.cfm?PC=1157 

    You can also get a free eChart on the High Priestly Garments here:
    http://www.bible-time-line.com/echarts/Rose_Bible_e-Charts_highpriest.pdf

    Hope you find these resources helpful!
    Sincerely,
    Susan L

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