Exodus 40:28 says, "He put up the screen of the door to the tabernacle." This simple sentence describes the final step in setting up the Tabernacle, the portable sanctuary God instructed Moses to build. To understand its significance, we need to consider the context:
Completion of Construction: The entire chapter of Exodus 40 details the meticulous process of assembling the Tabernacle and its furnishings, following God's precise instructions. This verse marks the very end of that process. Everything else had been put in place: the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altar, the laver.
Purpose of the Screen: The "screen of the door" was a curtain, likely made of finely woven material (like those described earlier in Exodus). It served several purposes:
Privacy and Holiness: It veiled the Holy Place (and, by implication, the Holy of Holies) from the outside world. This reinforced the sacredness and exclusivity of God's presence. Only authorized priests could enter the Holy Place, and only the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies, and only once a year.
Protection: It offered some degree of protection from the elements (wind, dust) and from potential intrusion.
Visual Symbolism: As the first thing someone would see when approaching the Tabernacle, the screen served as a visual reminder of the separation between the sacred and the profane, the holy and the common.
"He" Refers to Moses: While the exact person doing the work isn't named in this specific verse, throughout Exodus 40, "he" generally refers to Moses, who was leading the construction and assembly of the Tabernacle.
Symbolic Significance: The completion of the Tabernacle, including the hanging of this final screen, symbolized:
God's Dwelling Among His People: The Tabernacle was designed to be a tangible representation of God's presence in the midst of the Israelites.
Fulfillment of God's Command: Moses and the Israelites had faithfully obeyed God's instructions, which demonstrated their commitment to Him.
A New Era: With the Tabernacle established, the Israelites could properly worship and offer sacrifices to God according to His ordained system.
Foreshadowing of Christ: The Tabernacle and its rituals are seen by Christians as foreshadowing the person and work of Jesus Christ, who is the ultimate fulfillment of God's presence among humanity and the perfect sacrifice for sin. The screen separating the people from God's presence foreshadows Christ's work in bridging that separation.
In short, "He put up the screen of the door to the tabernacle" is a simple but important statement signifying the completion of the Tabernacle, the establishment of God's dwelling place among the Israelites, and the beginning of a new chapter in their relationship with God.
Exodus 40:28 says, "He put up the screen of the door to the tabernacle." This simple sentence describes the final step in setting up the Tabernacle, the portable sanctuary God instructed Moses to build. To understand its significance, we need to consider the context:
Completion of Construction: The entire chapter of Exodus 40 details the meticulous process of assembling the Tabernacle and its furnishings, following God's precise instructions. This verse marks the very end of that process. Everything else had been put in place: the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altar, the laver.
Purpose of the Screen: The "screen of the door" was a curtain, likely made of finely woven material (like those described earlier in Exodus). It served several purposes:
Privacy and Holiness: It veiled the Holy Place (and, by implication, the Holy of Holies) from the outside world. This reinforced the sacredness and exclusivity of God's presence. Only authorized priests could enter the Holy Place, and only the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies, and only once a year.
Protection: It offered some degree of protection from the elements (wind, dust) and from potential intrusion.
Visual Symbolism: As the first thing someone would see when approaching the Tabernacle, the screen served as a visual reminder of the separation between the sacred and the profane, the holy and the common.
"He" Refers to Moses: While the exact person doing the work isn't named in this specific verse, throughout Exodus 40, "he" generally refers to Moses, who was leading the construction and assembly of the Tabernacle.
Symbolic Significance: The completion of the Tabernacle, including the hanging of this final screen, symbolized:
God's Dwelling Among His People: The Tabernacle was designed to be a tangible representation of God's presence in the midst of the Israelites.
Fulfillment of God's Command: Moses and the Israelites had faithfully obeyed God's instructions, which demonstrated their commitment to Him.
A New Era: With the Tabernacle established, the Israelites could properly worship and offer sacrifices to God according to His ordained system.
Foreshadowing of Christ: The Tabernacle and its rituals are seen by Christians as foreshadowing the person and work of Jesus Christ, who is the ultimate fulfillment of God's presence among humanity and the perfect sacrifice for sin. The screen separating the people from God's presence foreshadows Christ's work in bridging that separation.
In short, "He put up the screen of the door to the tabernacle" is a simple but important statement signifying the completion of the Tabernacle, the establishment of God's dwelling place among the Israelites, and the beginning of a new chapter in their relationship with God.