The Outer Court


9 “Make a courtyard for the tabernacle. The south side shall be a hundred cubits long and is to have curtains of finely twisted linen, 10 with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases and with silver hooks and bands on the posts. 11 The north side shall also be a hundred cubits long and is to have curtains, with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases and with silver hooks and bands on the posts.

12 “The west end of the courtyard shall be fifty cubits wide and have curtains, with ten posts and ten bases. 13 On the east end, toward the sunrise, the courtyard shall also be fifty cubits wide. 14 Curtains fifteen cubits long are to be on one side of the entrance, with three posts and three bases, 15 and curtains fifteen cubits long are to be on the other side, with three posts and three bases.

16 “For the entrance to the courtyard, provide a curtain twenty cubits long, of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen—the work of an embroiderer—with four posts and four bases. 17 All the posts around the courtyard are to have silver bands and hooks, and bronze bases. 18 The courtyard shall be a hundred cubits long and fifty cubits wide, with curtains of finely twisted linen five cubits high, and with bronze bases. 19 All the other articles used in the service of the tabernacle, whatever their function, including all the tent pegs for it and those for the courtyard, are to be of bronze.

20 “Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning. 21 In the tent of meeting, outside the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law, Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps burning before the Lord from evening till morning. This is to be a lasting ordinance among the Israelites for the generations to come. Exodus 27:9-20

This completes the physical barriers of the tabernacle. It was set apart from the rest of the Israelite camp. People knew it was set apart and respected it as such.

I recall a time not too long ago that church “sanctuaries” were much more respected than they are today. They were set apart from the rest of the community.

There seems to be a lot of frivolity on Sunday mornings these days, which sets the tone for worship. Of course, we come to church for any number of reasons, and celebrating the Lord’s goodness could very well be one of those reasons. I could easily be accused of judging others in how they initiate corporate worship, and that’s a fair statement.

How do you view Sunday morning worship?

Would you rather sit and reflect for a few moments in silence before worship starts or listen to praise music while others mill about around you?

Neither way is inherently wrong if they’re done with the sincere motives.


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