The setting up of the tabernacle happened on the ‘first day of the month’, which was exactly two years after they departed from Egypt.
And as we know the tabernacle had to be built according to the pattern and assembled according to the pattern, Exodus 25:9 / Exodus 39:43. The ark of the covenant, its curtain, the table, the lampstand and its lamps. The gold altar of incense and the entrance curtain were all to be placed exactly where God wanted them placed.
These were the arrangements for all the items which were to be placed in the courtyard. The Outer Court itself was open to all Israelites to worship. Those who had been redeemed were allowed to enter, Exodus 27:9-19. For notes concerning the curtain, go to Exodus 27.
Notice the tabernacle was to be anointed when it was erected. Using a special anointing oil, Moses anointed the tabernacle in order to designate it to be holy.
Once set apart, that is sanctified, it wasn’t to be touched by anyone other than the designated priests whose job it was to transport the tabernacle from one place to another, Leviticus 8:1-13.
These are instructions on how to arrange the items in the courtyard. The full description of this dedication ceremony for the priests is found in Leviticus 8 and Leviticus 9.
Notice that ‘their anointing will be to a priesthood that will continue throughout their generations’. We mustn’t understand this to mean that this priesthood would be everlasting or eternal as some understand the words.
Jesus is the only everlasting high priest, Hebrews 7:17 / Hebrews 7:23-25 / Hebrews 7:28, and so, the priesthood of Aaron and his sons ended in Christ.
In the statement that Aaron’s priesthood ‘will continue throughout their generations’, God was simply stating that it wouldn’t go out of existence until He took it out of existence. When Jesus came, God terminated the existence of the priesthood of Aaron.
Moses oversees the assembly of the tabernacle and does everything the Lord commanded him.
This phrase appears eight times through this chapter, Exodus 40:16 / Exodus 40:19 / Exodus 40:21 / Exodus 40:23 / Exodus 40:25 / Exodus 40:27 / Exodus 40:29 / Exodus 40:32.
The tabernacle goes up by setting up the boards, covering them with the curtains. Notice that Moses again oversees the assembly of the tabernacle and does everything the Lord commanded him.
The Ark of the Covenant is set in the Most Holy Place, and the veil is set in place. Moses again oversees the assembly of the tabernacle and does everything the Lord commanded him.
The table of showbread is put in the Holy Place. Moses again oversees the assembly of the tabernacle and does everything the Lord commanded him.
The lampstand is put in the Holy Place. Moses again oversees the assembly of the tabernacle and does everything the Lord commanded him.
The golden altar of incense is put in the Holy Place. Moses again oversees the assembly of the tabernacle and does everything the Lord commanded him.
The screen is hung at the entrance of the tabernacle.
The bronze altar is put in its place. Moses again oversees the assembly of the tabernacle and does everything the Lord commanded him.
The laver for washing is put in between the altar and the tent. Moses again oversees the assembly of the tabernacle and does everything the Lord commanded him.
The outer court is now set up. When the tabernacle was finally assembled, it was an earthly model of a heavenly reality. It was built exactly according to the pattern that God gave him, Hebrews 8:5.
It’s interesting to note that the tabernacle was really a foreshadow of the heavenly things to come.
In Revelation 4:1-6, the Ark of the Covenant, the lampstand, and the laver all correspond to a heavenly reality.
In Revelation 8:2-4, the altar of incense in heaven is mentioned.
In Isaiah 6:1-7, the tabernacle structure is implied by the mention of the temple, and the bronze altar is described.
In Hebrews 9:23-24, it tells us that at some point in time, after the cross, Jesus entered the heavenly reality represented on earth by the tabernacle and appeared in the presence of God to offer a perfect atonement for our sins.
Once the tabernacle was erected, God visibly demonstrated His approval of what the workmen had done in fulfilling all His commandments concerning the construction. The cloud thus became a permanent feature of the tabernacle.
When the cloud moved, the tabernacle was to be moved. When it stood still in one place, the tabernacle was to remain in that place.
Notice that Moses wasn’t couldn’t enter the tabernacle, because the cloud settled on it. Solomon, when he finished building the temple experienced the same thing, he wasn’t allowed to enter it because the temple was filled with God’s glory, 1 Kings 8:10-11.
The presence of the cloud by day and the fire by night was a demonstration that God was continually with Israel. They had repented of her sin, and so, the coming of the cloud and fire was a continual reminder that God had forgiven their sin, and subsequently would be with them throughout their journeys.
God had answered Moses’ prayer, Exodus 33:14, and despite Israel’s sin, God was once again with His people, Exodus 29:45.
Israel was now ready to leave Mount Sinai and enter the promised land. Sadly, as we know because of their doubt, this would not happen until 38 years after the completion of the tabernacle.
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."