- 13. A Tabernacle
Isaiah 4:6 And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.
The tabernacle is the Presence of God on the earth. The tabernacle becomes the temple. The temple becomes the person of Jesus Christ. Christ becomes the Church of all believers. The Presence of God changes over time, but it never leaves. God is always with us, to bless for good.
God promises us a tabernacle. The Presence of God is: 1) a shadow from heat, 2) a place of refuge, and 3) a covert from storm. The tabernacle promised by the Lord is all of these things for us. As a shadow from heat we may hide under the shadow of His wings. Scorching heat is a symbol of the Enemies of Sin, Death, and Devil that threaten to make us burn up and be wasted. Heat can simply make us uncomfortable, but it can also kill. Air conditioning is the modern symbol for comfort and protection from the enemies that would destroy us.
As a place of refuge Jesus Himself is a safe place to hide. We are surrounded by the presence of Enemies, but the Lord provides a safe place to enter. In this mighty fortress the wild beasts cannot touch us. The Enemies use the world around and the sinful flesh within us to tempt us to unbelief, shame, and despair; however, the Lord is our Refuge and Strength. In Christ we are safe and comfortable. The Enemy rages and roars, but the Gospel brings us into the Presence.
As a covert, or a shelter, the Lord protects us from the storm and rain. Periodically, violent thunderstorms, blizzards, tornados, and hurricanes crop up to threaten and frighten us. These storms take many forms (mental, emotional, relational, and physical), but the Lord is a covert where the raging storms of life will not be able to come near. If God is for us, who can be against us?
The promise of a tabernacle is fulfilled in Jesus Christ: He is always there, and He will always provide a safe place. Repent and believe the Gospel and come into the Kingdom of God, the Presence of God. There, in Christ, God promises safety forever.