What connections exist between Exodus 26:1 and the New Testament teachings on worship? Opening the Text Exodus 26:1: “Moreover, you are to construct the tabernacle with ten curtains of finely spun linen, with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, with cherubim skillfully woven into them.” The Curtain’s Details—What They Shout About Worship • Ten curtains – a complete, perfect set: worship is meant to encompass every part of life. • Finely spun linen – purity and righteousness (cf. Revelation 19:8). • Blue, purple, scarlet yarn – heavenly glory, royal majesty, and sacrificial blood bound together in one fabric. • Cherubim woven in – a continual reminder that worship brings us before the throne of a holy God (cf. Isaiah 6:1-3). From Pattern to Person: How the New Testament Fulfills the Curtain • John 1:14: “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.” – The Greek verb for “made His dwelling” literally means “tabernacled.” Jesus embodies everything the curtain symbolized—holiness, royalty, sacrifice. • Hebrews 10:19-20: “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way opened for us through the curtain of His body …” – The physical veil foreshadowed Christ’s own flesh, torn so we might step into God’s presence. • Hebrews 8:5: The earthly sanctuary is “a copy and shadow of the heavenly things.” – The curtain was never an end in itself; it pointed forward to realities now unveiled in Christ. Entering the Presence: Core New-Testament Principles of Worship • Access through Jesus alone • Worship in Spirit and truth – John 4:23-24: inner reality outweighs geographic location, yet remains anchored in revealed truth. • Corporate and individual believers as God’s dwelling – 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; Ephesians 2:21-22. • Heavenly-earthly connection – Revelation 4–5 shows cherubim-like creatures and radiant colors echoing the tabernacle scene; earthly worship mirrors heaven. Practical Takeaways for Today’s Worshipers • Approach God with reverent confidence—holiness is still required, but Christ supplies it. • Let worship display beauty and order (1 Corinthians 14:40); creativity may echo the linen, colors, and artistry God once commanded. • Keep Christ central: music, prayers, and preaching should draw attention to the One who is the true curtain. • Remember the community: joined “curtains” formed one tabernacle; individual believers are stitched together into one body. • Anticipate heaven: every gathering previews the day when “the dwelling place of God is with man” (Revelation 21:3). The finely woven curtains of Exodus 26:1 were more than fabric—they were a prophetic picture. In Christ, the copy has met its fulfillment, opening the way for worship that is pure, royal, sacrificial, and face-to-face with God. |
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