Renewing Your Mind – "A Tabernacle in the Wilderness"

Date: January 9, 2026
Guest Teacher: Dr. Daniel Hyde
Host: Nathan W. Bingham (Ligonier Ministries)

Episode Overview

This episode explores the rich symbolism and enduring significance of the Old Testament Tabernacle. Dr. Daniel Hyde guides listeners through biblical texts, particularly from Hebrews and Exodus, to reveal how the Tabernacle serves as “God’s crayon drawing”—a tangible teaching tool designed for Israel and, by extension, for us. The discussion highlights three primary lessons from the Tabernacle: holiness, helpfulness, and heavenliness, culminating in an exposition of how all these themes are fulfilled in Christ.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Tabernacle as Divine Illustration

• Opening Analogy (01:36):
  Dr. Hyde compares the Tabernacle to a child’s crayon drawing—simple, imperfect, and instructional. But whereas children's drawings are gifts to parents, the Tabernacle is “a drawing that [God] gave to them as his children to teach them about Him and about what He was doing” (03:00).
• The Tabernacle is not merely an Israelite construction but a divinely given reflection of deeper spiritual realities.

2. The Tabernacle as a Copy of Heavenly Realities

• Drawing from Hebrews 8:5 and Hebrews 9:24 (00:00, 04:48), Dr. Hyde emphasizes that the Tabernacle is a copy or shadow “of the true things... the genuine article is heaven itself” (00:11).
• The “real” or “genuine thing” is Christ’s priestly work in heaven, which the earthly Tabernacle merely symbolized (05:15).

3. Threefold Lessons from the Tabernacle (06:00 onward)

a. Holiness

• Sanctuary’s Purpose: God instructs Israel: “Let them make me a sanctuary” (Exodus 25:8).
• It is called holy not by virtue of its materials but because of God's presence: “It’s not in the curtains... but it’s found in God himself... that I may dwell in their midst” (07:11).
• The layout—concentric circles of holiness (the camp, the Tabernacle courtyard, the holy place, and finally the Holy of Holies)—teaches increasing degrees of access to God.
• Materials transition from ordinary (linen, bronze) to precious (gold, skillfully woven cherubim), symbolizing approaching God’s holiness.
• Quote: “The Tabernacle then was just a tent, but when the Lord entered it, it was a holy place. It was a sanctuary.” (09:15)
• The holiness demanded of Israel is still commanded of believers today: “The New Testament, no less than the Old Testament, tells us to be holy in all our conduct. Be holy as the Lord your God is holy.” (13:27, referencing 1 Peter 1)

b. Helpfulness

• The Tabernacle was “the Tent of Meeting,” a place where God would “meet with them and speak with you there” (Exodus 29:42; 15:55).
• It functioned as a tangible place for sacrifices and prayers, mediating peace and reconciling sinful people with a holy God.
• The Tabernacle demonstrated God’s willingness to condescend, even to “dwell next to them in his own tent”—a profound act of identification with his people’s condition in the wilderness (17:30).
• Quote: “The God of the universe becomes a pilgrim alongside his people in the desert.” (18:14)
• Jesus is the perfect fulfillment: In Christ, “he had to be made like his brothers in every respect... to make propitiation for the sins of the people... he is able to help those who are being tempted” (Hebrews 2:17-18; 20:44).
• Encouragement: “Whatever that sin is, the Lord has made a promise that he’s present in Jesus Christ, and he’s present to save. He’s present to help.” (21:00)

c. Heavenliness

• The Tabernacle’s design precisely follows “the pattern in heaven itself” (Exodus 25–27; 21:46).
• Its orientation (opening to the east, moving west toward the Holy of Holies) mirrors Adam’s expulsion eastward from Eden, but now, through the Tabernacle (and in Christ), access to God is restored.
• Quote: “They were moving from earth to heaven, from this world to the world that is to come. It was meant to picture for them heaven itself.” (22:20)
• Christ fulfills and supersedes the Tabernacle: “The word of God tabernacled, made his dwelling among us” (John 1:14).
• Upon Jesus’ crucifixion, the temple veil was torn, symbolizing direct access to God’s holy, helpful, and heavenly presence for all believers (24:00).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Crayon Drawing Analogy (God’s Communication):
  “The Tabernacle of the Old Testament is like a crayon drawing... this is not a drawing that the Israelites, God’s children, drew for him, but the wonder of it is that this is a drawing that He gave to them as his children to teach them about Him...” (03:15)
• Holiness Rooted in God’s Presence:
  “The holiness of the sanctuary, the tabernacle, is not found in itself... but it’s found in God himself... that I may dwell in their midst.” (07:11)
• God’s Identification with His People:
  “The God of the universe becomes a pilgrim alongside his people in the desert.” (18:14)
• Christ, the Fulfillment:
  “We have the reality of it. We have Jesus Christ... we can now enter beyond that courtyard... into the very holy of holies. Why? Because... when Jesus Christ was crucified for us upon the cross, the veil of the temple was torn in two and access was given.” (24:00)
• Practical Exhortation:
  “Whatever that sin is, the Lord has made a promise that he’s present in Jesus Christ, and he’s present to save. He’s present to help.” (21:00)

Segment Timestamps

• 00:00–01:35 – Introduction: Hebrews, Copies and Realities
• 01:36–07:00 – Crayon Drawing Analogy; Israel as God’s Child
• 07:00–16:00 – Holiness in the Tabernacle’s Design and Purpose
• 16:00–21:00 – God’s Helpfulness and Presence in the Tabernacle; Parallels with Christ
• 21:00–24:00 – Heavenliness: Tabernacle as a Picture of Eden Restored; Christ’s Fulfillment
• 24:00–23:57 – Concluding Applications: Holiness, Access, and Assurance in Christ

Summary & Application

Dr. Hyde makes clear that the Tabernacle was never about architecture or ritual for its own sake. Instead, it was a gracious, divinely drawn lesson for Israel, teaching God’s holiness, his eagerness to help, and the hope of heaven—now realities for all believers through Jesus Christ’s person and work.
The central message challenges listeners: Just as Old Testament Israel was called to walk in holiness and draw near to God through his appointed means, so too Christians are invited to draw near—confident in Christ, who is our holy place, our Helper, and our access to heaven itself.