Teaching on Tabernacle/Temple

Inspired by Craig Keener: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVCfEN2aEIg

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I tell one person to draw a distinct feature of a house. Then I tell everyone to draw a house in 5 seconds. We will see we draw on our common experience of what a house would look like. But the person who received my instruction will have theirs be set apart.

Same thing with the Israelites. All people in the Ancient Near East constructed some type of temple. Israelites, who just came out of Egypt, were most likely aware of these types of structures. This is why God gave them such specific instructions. They were to be set apart.

ANE and north African temples had a bed and chest drawer in the temple so the god can sleep. Israelites did not have this. Assyrian, Hittite, Minoan temples had a table of offering also. However, only Israelite priests can eat from it. For others, they brought food for the gods.

Application

God’s people always lived amidst cultures and societies that opposed the ways of God. God’s people will always be in the same world as unbelievers, but his commands set us apart from them to bring himself glory.