What role does the "tent of meeting" play in our spiritual practices today? The Tent of Meeting in Scripture • Exodus 33:7: “Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp… He called it the Tent of Meeting, and anyone who sought the LORD would go out to the Tent of Meeting outside the camp.” • Purpose in the wilderness: – A tangible place where God’s presence was manifest. – A set-apart location for revelation, sacrifice, and intercession (Exodus 25:22; Leviticus 1:1). • Key traits: separation from the camp, holiness, and continual readiness to hear God. From Shadow to Substance: Christ Fulfilled • The Tent of Meeting pointed forward to Christ, “the Word [who] became flesh and tabernacled among us” (John 1:14 footnote). • Hebrews 9:11–12 presents Jesus as the High Priest entering the “greater and more perfect tabernacle… not of this creation,” offering His own blood. • Through His finished work, the former earthly tent gives way to unrestricted access to the Father (Hebrews 10:19–20). Personal Application: Meeting with God Today • Daily, intentional separation – Choose a specific place and time to meet with God, echoing Moses pitching the tent “outside the camp.” – Shut out distractions; practice silence and Scripture meditation. • Expectant listening – Approach Scripture believing God still speaks (2 Timothy 3:16–17). – Record insights and obey promptly. • Reverent intimacy – Balance friendship with God (Exodus 33:11) and holy fear (Hebrews 12:28–29). Corporate Application: The Gathering of the Church • Congregational worship functions as a present-day Tent of Meeting. – Matthew 18:20: “For where two or three gather together in My name, there am I with them.” – Hebrews 10:25 urges believers not to neglect assembling, recognizing God’s promised presence. • Elements to preserve: – Clear proclamation of the Word. – Prayerful intercession. – Sacramental remembrance (Lord’s Supper) as covenant fellowship. Guarding Reverence and Holiness • The tent’s strict regulations remind us to approach God on His terms, not ours (Leviticus 10:1–3). • Personal holiness remains essential: “Be holy, because I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16). • Confession and cleansing before worship sustain fellowship (1 John 1:9). Living as Mobile Tents of Meeting • 1 Corinthians 3:16: “Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” • Everywhere believers go, God’s presence goes—turning workplaces, homes, and neighborhoods into potential meeting places. • Witness through word and deed invites others to encounter the Lord we host. Key Takeaways • The Tent of Meeting teaches deliberate separation to seek God, reverence in approaching Him, and dependence on His self-revelation. • Christ fulfills its symbolism, granting continual access to the Father. • Personal devotion, corporate worship, and daily witness are modern expressions of the tent’s role, making every believer a living meeting place between God and a watching world. |
    |