THE TABERNACLE (9), Dr. Samuel Lee
KEEP THE LAMPS BURNING
Passage: Exodus 27:1~21  
Key verse: 20
The Altar of Burnt Offering(A)
27 “Build an altar(B) of acacia wood, three cubits[a] high; it is to be square, five cubits long and five cubits wide.[b] 2 Make a horn(C) at each of the four corners, so that the horns and the altar are of one piece, and overlay the altar with bronze. 3 Make all its utensils of bronze—its pots to remove the ashes, and its shovels, sprinkling bowls,(D) meat forks and firepans.(E) 4 Make a grating for it, a bronze network, and make a bronze ring at each of the four corners of the network. 5 Put it under the ledge of the altar so that it is halfway up the altar. 6 Make poles of acacia wood for the altar and overlay them with bronze.(F) 7 The poles are to be inserted into the rings so they will be on two sides of the altar when it is carried.(G) 8 Make the altar hollow, out of boards. It is to be made just as you were shown(H) on the mountain.
The Courtyard(I)
9 “Make a courtyard(J) for the tabernacle. The south side shall be a hundred cubits[c] 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[d] 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[e] 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(K) twenty cubits[f] long, of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen—the work of an embroiderer(L)—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,[g] with curtains of finely twisted linen five cubits[h] 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.
Oil for the Lampstand(M)
20 “Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil(N) of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning. 21 In the tent of meeting,(O) outside the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law,(P) Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps(Q) burning before the Lord from evening till morning. This is to be a lasting ordinance(R) among the Israelites for the generations to come.
Footnotes
- Exodus 27:1 That is, about 4 1/2 feet or about 1.4 meters
- Exodus 27:1 That is, about 7 1/2 feet or about 2.3 meters long and wide
- Exodus 27:9 That is, about 150 feet or about 45 meters; also in verse 11
- Exodus 27:12 That is, about 75 feet or about 23 meters; also in verse 13
- Exodus 27:14 That is, about 23 feet or about 6.8 meters; also in verse 15
- Exodus 27:16 That is, about 30 feet or about 9 meters
- Exodus 27:18 That is, about 150 feet long and 75 feet wide or about 45 meters long and 23 meters wide
- Exodus 27:18 That is, about 7 1/2 feet or about 2.3 meters
Cross references
- Exodus 27:1 : 27:1-8pp — Ex 38:1-7
- Exodus 27:1 : S Ex 20:24; S 40:6; S 1Ki 8:64
- Exodus 27:2 : Ex 29:12; 30:2; 37:25; Lev 4:7; 1Ki 1:50; 2:28; Ps 118:27; Jer 17:1; Eze 43:15; Am 3:14; Zec 9:15
- Exodus 27:3 : Nu 7:13; 1Ki 7:40, 45; 2Ki 12:13
- Exodus 27:3 : Nu 4:14; 1Ch 28:17; Jer 52:18
- Exodus 27:6 : S Ex 25:13
- Exodus 27:7 : Ex 25:14, 28
- Exodus 27:8 : S Ex 25:9
- Exodus 27:9 : 27:9-19pp — Ex 38:9-20
- Exodus 27:9 : Ex 35:17; 40:8, 33; Lev 6:16, 26; Eze 40:14; 42:1
- Exodus 27:16 : Ex 40:33
- Exodus 27:16 : Ex 36:37
- Exodus 27:20 : 27:20-21pp — Lev 24:1-3
- Exodus 27:20 : S Ex 25:6
- Exodus 27:21 : Ex 28:43; 29:42; 30:36; 33:7; Lev 1:1; 6:26; 8:3, 31; Nu 1:1; 31:54; Jos 18:1; 1Ki 1:39
- Exodus 27:21 : S Ex 16:34
- Exodus 27:21 : S Ex 25:37
- Exodus 27:21 : Ex 29:9; 30:21; Lev 3:17; 16:34; 17:7; Nu 18:23; 19:21; 1Sa 30:25
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Source:  BibleGateway
The sacrificial system would become instrumental in the worship of the LORD. God instructed the altar made of bronze to be functional and still portable. This altar provided a way for sinful people to be consecrated and to approach a holy God. The altar would be in a large courtyard, a boundary between what was holy and what was mundane. God wants to dwell with his people, but we come to him only in the way he has made.
2. The lamps burning before the LORD (20-21)
The lampstand (Ex 25:31) was placed in the Holy Place, before the curtain. The priests, supplied with oil from all the people, were to keep vigil every night, all night long, to keep the lamps burning brightly. This was to be a 'lasting ordinance,' just like Passover (12:14). This symbolizes God who never sleeps and never closes his doors to his people. As we follow Jesus, the light of the world, we will never walk in darkness (Jn 8:12).
Prayer: Father, thank you for diligently watching over us daily. Help me follow Jesus.
One Word: Keep our lamps burning