Meaning of Exodus 36:38

This verse, Exodus 36:38, describes the final construction details of the entrance curtain for the Tabernacle, specifically the five posts that would support it. Following the detailed instructions given to Moses for the Tabernacle's design and construction, this verse highlights the meticulous craftsmanship and the use of precious materials, gold and bronze, to create a functional and aesthetically significant element of worship. The emphasis on the finishing touches, like the overlaid tops and bands of gold and the bronze bases, underscores the importance of every component in God's dwelling place, reflecting a desire for perfection and honor in presenting His presence among His people.

Context and Background

Exodus 36 details the execution of the plans for the Tabernacle as commanded in the preceding chapters. This specific verse falls within the section describing the construction of the various curtains and hangings, particularly the entrance to the Holy Place. The Tabernacle was a portable sanctuary, a physical manifestation of God's presence dwelling among the Israelites during their wilderness wanderings. The materials used, such as fine-twined linen, blue, purple, and scarlet yarns, and gold, were all specified by God and represented the quality and richness appropriate for His dwelling. The five posts mentioned here were designed to hold the entrance curtain (the "screen for the doorway"), serving as a threshold between the outer court and the Holy Place.

Key Themes and Messages

• Divine Design and Obedience: The construction of the Tabernacle, down to the smallest detail like these posts, was not an act of human ingenuity but a direct fulfillment of God's precise instructions. This emphasizes the importance of obedience to God's commands in all aspects of worship and life.
• The Value of Worship: The use of gold, a precious metal symbolizing purity, royalty, and divine glory, for the tops and bands of the posts, along with the sturdy bronze for the bases, signifies the value and honor that should be ascribed to God in His sanctuary. Every element was intended to be excellent and worthy of Him.
• Structure and Order: The five posts indicate a specific, ordered structure for the entrance. This reflects God's nature as a God of order and not chaos, and His desire for His worship to be conducted in a structured and reverent manner.

Spiritual Significance and Application

The Tabernacle, and by extension its entrance, serves as a type and shadow of Christ and His work. The entrance curtain represented the separation between humanity and God's holy presence, a separation that was ultimately bridged by Jesus. The posts and their adornment can be seen as representing the foundational strength and divine glory that uphold the way to God. For believers today, the entrance to the Tabernacle points to Jesus Christ as the door (John 10:9) through whom we have access to God. The precious materials speak of Christ's divine nature and the perfection of His atoning sacrifice that makes this access possible.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

This verse is a crucial part of the narrative of God establishing His presence among His people. It is the precursor to the Ark of the Covenant, the Holy Place, and the Most Holy Place, all of which speak of God's desire for communion with humanity. The meticulous detail in the Tabernacle's construction foreshadows the even greater and more perfect dwelling of God among His people through the incarnation of Jesus Christ, the "tabernacle" of God with men (John 1:14). The New Testament consistently interprets the Old Testament sacrificial system and the Tabernacle's structure as pointing to Christ.

Analogies

One might consider these posts as being analogous to the foundational pillars of a strong and beautiful building, providing stability and support for the grand structure. In a spiritual sense, they represent the essential truths and divine provisions that allow us to approach God. Another analogy could be the sturdy, decorated supports of a royal pavilion, signifying the dignity and importance of the one who resides within, and the accessible yet protected entry provided.

Relation to Other Verses

• John 10:9: "I am the door. If anyone enters through me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture." This verse directly connects the concept of an entrance with Jesus Christ, the way to salvation and spiritual nourishment.
• Hebrews 9:11-12: "But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption." This passage in Hebrews highlights how Christ, our High Priest, entered the true heavenly sanctuary, making the earthly Tabernacle's structure and rituals types of His superior work.
• 1 Corinthians 3:11: "For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ." This verse speaks of Jesus as the ultimate foundation for all spiritual life and ministry, echoing the foundational role of these posts in the Tabernacle's entrance.
• Revelation 21:22: "And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb." In the New Jerusalem, the distinction between God's dwelling and the people's is removed, signifying ultimate communion, a fulfillment of the Tabernacle's purpose.