What spiritual significance does the "tent of meeting" hold for Christians now? Opening the Text “Now Moses would take a tent and pitch it outside the camp, a good distance from the camp, and he called it the Tent of Meeting. Anyone who sought the LORD would go out to the Tent of Meeting outside the camp.” (Exodus 33:7) The Historical Picture • A literal place where God met with His people through Moses • Positioned “outside the camp,” underscoring holiness and separation from sin (Leviticus 16:27) • Filled with the cloud of glory when the LORD came down to speak (Exodus 33:9–11) How the Tent Points to Christ • Mediator: Moses entered alone; now “there is one mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5) • Presence: The glory cloud foreshadowed “the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us” (John 1:14) • Outside the Camp: Jesus suffered “outside the gate” (Hebrews 13:11-13), bearing sin so we could draw near Spiritual Significance for Believers Today • Accessible Presence – “We have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus” (Hebrews 10:19) – No need for a physical tent; Christ is the way (John 14:6) • Indwelling Reality – “Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16) – The church collectively is now “a holy priesthood” (1 Peter 2:5) • Ongoing Fellowship – Daily meeting with God mirrors Moses’ face-to-face communion (Exodus 33:11) – “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8) Living Out the Truth • Guard purity, remembering holiness marked the tent’s perimeter • Practice regular, intentional times of worship and Scripture, mirroring Moses’ appointments with the LORD • Value corporate gatherings; together we form the living sanctuary (Ephesians 2:21-22) Looking Ahead • The earthly tent was temporary; our hope is the eternal dwelling of God with His people: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man… He will dwell with them” (Revelation 21:3) |
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