Contributor: Wilson Imade

INTRODUCTION
In our previous study of Exodus 26, we learnt about the veils and the covering which unveiled the cunning work of the curtain of the Tabernacle and the veils. We see how detailed and specific God was, in His instructions on the materials and colours that should be used. This shows us how intentional our God is in everything He does. The inner veils give us a clear understanding which separated the holy place from the holy of Holies; and the colours representing Christ from above, hence the blue with the purple representing His Royalty, and the scarlet His shed blood that speaks of our redemption. Today our Study on Exodus 27 is a disclosure of the Brazen Altar given to Moses on how to make it and all that it represents. Showing us a pattern and God’s supremacy.

THE ALTAR (Verses 1 – 8)
This chapter begins by a revelation received by Moses on how the Altar should be made. The material of shittim wood, and the length five cubits broad; and the Altar shall be Foursquare, and the height thereof shall be three cubits.

Lesson: The altar here specifies the cross, while the shittim wood also specified the humanity of Christ. five cubits long here is equivalent to 7 and half feet long. The Altar shall be Foursquare, and the height therefore shall be three cubits; which is 4 and half feet. The Foursquare revealed the four gospel for all mankind, whether North, South, East or West. As mankind is concerned, in every region, as long as they pray, it means they have an Altar. But the divine pattern of the Altar received by Moses
attracts the presence of God when the children of Israel approach the Altar of the Tabernacle of the congregation.

Ezekiel 43:1-2 Afterward he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looketh toward the east: [2] And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory.

Prophet Ezekiel through revelation was carried by the Holy Spirit and was brought to the gate the mirror towards the east and saw how the glory of God came through the east gate and His voice was like many water and the earth shines with his glory.

Verse 2: And thou shalt make the horns of it upon the four corners thereof: his horns shall be of the same: and thou shalt overlay it with brass.

Lesson: The horn speaks of total dominion over sin, which would be purchased at the cross. Also says, thou shall make the horns upon the four corners thereof. Signifying that salvation is same and for all. In Psalm 118:27 God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar. And you shall overlay it with brass.
This shows the indestructible altar of wood to be overlayed with copper. Copper has great resistance to fire, even more than gold and silver. That is why it was chosen to protect the wood from being burnt. Implying that Christ, when He was carrying can pass through the fire of God's wrath without being consumed. Our God is mighty to save, who also was mighty to endure.
Verse 3: “And thou shalt make his pans to receive his ashes, and his shovels, and his basons, and his fleshhooks, and his firepans: all the vessels thereof thou shalt make of brass.”

Lesson: The ashes from the sacrifices which were burned testify to the thoroughness of the fire's work in having wholly consumed the offering. They also witness to the acceptance of the sacrifice on behalf of the offering, and so they were to him a token that his sins were gone. This refers to the Word of Christ in John 19:28-30
After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. [29] Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. [30] When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”
This scripture announced that the sacrifice had been offered, accepted, and gone up to God as a sweet smelling savour.

Verses 4 - 7: “And thou shalt make for it a grate of network of brass; and upon the net shalt thou make four brasen rings in the four corners thereof. [5] And thou shalt put it under the compass of the altar beneath, that the net may be even to the midst of the altar. [6] And thou shalt make staves for the altar, staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with brass. [7] And the staves shall be put into the rings, and the staves shall be upon the two sides of the altar, to bear it.”

Lesson: The brass network grate and the brazen rings on the four corners of the altar point to both support and movement. The grate formed a strong inner structure beneath the compass of the altar, while the rings provided the means by which the altar could be carried from place to place. The staves, made of shittim wood and overlaid with brass, were placed through these rings so the altar could be borne whenever Israel journeyed. The stave in the Hebrew word is badth which is translated as poles or carrying bars often used for support, guidance or symbol of authority.

THE OUTER COURT (Verses 9 -15)
“And thou shalt make the court of the tabernacle: for the south side southward, there shall be hangings for the court of fine twined linen of an hundred cubits long for one side:”
Lesson: This was at the front of the Tabernacle facing the east. The hundred cubits long for one side of the altar is equivalent to 18 inches to the cubits. The linen typically refers to the righteousness of Christ. Verse 12 speaks of the breadth of the court on the west side, which shall be hanging on fifty cubits. The breadth is the width, and the fifty cubits is 75 feet. Their pillars ten, and their sockets ten. In this outer court there where 60 pillars placed at intervals of five cubits all-round the court. This as well speaks of the grace of God.
Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Verse 10 seems to indicate that the pillars where made of copper, however in the original Hebrew in which this was written, there are indications that the modifying clause of copper refers only to the sockets and not the pillars. Possibly the pillars were made of shittim wood. The same as the pillars for the door and for the support of the veil. Once again, this all speaks of the perfect humanity of Christ.

THE GATE (Verses 16-19)
“And for the gate of the court shall be an hanging of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework: and their pillars shall be four, and their sockets four.”

Lesson: The gate which leads into the outer court was 30 feet wide. This is the gate at the front of the outer court facing the east through which all the children of Israel came in order to offer sacrifices. This was the gate Ezekiel was brought through in Ezekiel 43:1 “Afterward he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looketh toward the east:”
The court was as far as the Israelites, other than the priests could come. As regards the Tabernacle and the brazen Altar, all and everything about the outer court spoke of Christ in His Atoning, Mediator, and intercessory work. Even down to the small pin which were of brass. This as well spoke of the judgment that He would undergo on our behalf.

THE OIL (Verse 20-21)
“And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always.”

Lesson: This was the source of light in the Tabernacle with the lampstand; this portrays Christ as the Light of the world and as well portrays the Holy Spirit within His heart and life through which He offers to a degree not known by anyone else.
*The beaten of the light emphasizes the fact that this particular oil did not come easily; The crushing of the olives was the typical of the price paid by Christ for our redemption. Saying to cause the lamp to burn always. It means this light was never to go out, inasmuch as the light of Christ is never extinguishes.

Verse 21 In the tabernacle of the congregation without the vail, which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before the LORD: it shall be a statute for ever unto their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel.

Lesson: Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before the LORD. Twice a day Aaron and his son and those who would follow him would replenish the oil in the golden lampstand and trim the wicks. It was commanded by God that this is done into infinity. But sadly, the challenges we face today is that the Lamp is gone out presently from many churches today.

CONCLUSION
Exodus 27 is a disclosure from God revealing the structure of the altar, the outer court and the oil. Which gives us the clear understanding that it is all of God and not of man. Showing us the infinite mercy and the Love of God towards us through the offering sacrifice from the altar, that must be sacrificed. Taking a look at the beaten of the Light which reveals the process the olive go through to bring out the oil, gives us the clear picture of the suffering of Christ before the cross.
Brethren our salvation didn't come out cheap. Philippians 3:7-9 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. [8] Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, [9] And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
What we see today in the body of Christ is flesh, and self-expression. The inability to subject the flesh to death that we mighty gain Christ is a question mark today.