Looking for a Reformed Guide to the OT Tabernacle

[0isez]

Hello Brothers and Sisters,
I find myself again ready to skip Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy as I try to read through the bible. Try as I may, my ignorance of the symbolisms thereof and my innate impatience to read redundant items causes an impasse. To remedy this; I bought a book called the Types of the Temple and Tabernacle by Thomas Newberry hoping that this would serve as a companion to the reader whilst going through these books. The problem now is the guy is so Dispensational I no longer trust his interpretations of temple and tabernacle symbols. Is there a good reformed book that can take me through the symbolisms of the tabernacle and temple? I really am determined to get something of value out of these books which I know with a little help I will find.

 

[loomster2000]

You might try "Christ and the Desert Tabernacle" by J.V. Fesko and "God in Our Midst: The Tabernacle and Our Relationship with God" by Daniel Hyde. Good stuff!

 

[alexmacarie]

I've enjoyed William Brown but not read it in its entirety so can't endorse everything.

the tabernacle and its priests and services : william brown : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

archive.org

Stewart's Tree of Promise is also excellent and touches on these matters:

Physical copy

The Tree of Promise: The Mosaic Economy a Dispensation of the Covenant of Grace

www.fpbookroom.org

Online

The Tree of Promise: The Mosaic Economy a Dispensation of the Covenant of Grace : Alexander Stewart : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

archive.org

 

[alexmacarie]

From Stewart's table of contents, he is first class

 

[jwithnell]

By far and away my favorite is Who Shall Ascend the Mountain of the Lord? by Michael Morales out of Greenville Seminary. He develops the idea that the entire Pentateuch is a chiastic structure with the Day of Atonement (Lev 16) forming the central text. With that 10,000 foot orientation he is able to tie together God's dwelling among his people in Eden and the significance of his return when he fills the tabernacle with his glory. (You really need to start Leviticus in Exodus 40). It helps underscore the horror of introducing foreign fire (Lev 10) made all the more poignant with the difficulties of having two dead bodies in the tabernacle with the laws of clean/unclean still on the forefront of the reader's mind from the author's inclusion of the earlier books.

 

[Stephen L Smith]

God in our Midst by Daniel Hyde. I have not read it yet but the Reformed reviews I have read rate it highly.

 

[Knight]

By far and away my favorite is Who Shall Ascend the Mountain of the Lord? by Michael Morales out of Greenville Seminary. He develops the idea that the entire Pentateuch is a chiastic structure with the Day of Atonement (Lev 16) forming the central text. With that 10,000 foot orientation he is able to tie together God's dwelling among his people in Eden and the significance of his return when he fills the tabernacle with his glory. (You really need to start Leviticus in Exodus 40). It helps underscore the horror of introducing foreign fire (Lev 10) made all the more poignant with the difficulties of having two dead bodies in the tabernacle with the laws of clean/unclean still on the forefront of the reader's mind from the author's inclusion of the earlier books.

I second this suggestion.

 

[No Other Name]

The Temple and the Church's Mission: A Biblical Theology of the Dwelling Place of God by G. K. Beale.

 

[No Other Name]

https://www.amazon.com/Temple-Churchs-Mission-Biblical-Theology/dp/0830826181

 

[MattHedges]

Hello Brothers and Sisters,
I find myself again ready to skip Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy as I try to read through the bible. Try as I may, my ignorance of the symbolisms thereof and my innate impatience to read redundant items causes an impasse. To remedy this; I bought a book called the Types of the Temple and Tabernacle by Thomas Newberry hoping that this would serve as a companion to the reader whilst going through these books. The problem now is the guy is so Dispensational I no longer trust his interpretations of temple and tabernacle symbols. Is there a good reformed book that can take me through the symbolisms of the tabernacle and temple? I really am determined to get something of value out of these books which I know with a little help I will find.

If you want something really in-depth, try De Synagoga Judaica by Johann Buxtorf (published in Latin in 1641: https://www.google.com/books/editio...De_synagoga_judaica/4zamSEZCr2oC?hl=en&gbpv=0

 

[greenbaggins]

I third the Danny Hyde volume. I have read it and it is excellent on the tabernacle. Beale for the temple, and especially for the connections all through the canon.

 

[Phil D.]

If you want something really in-depth, try De Synagoga Judaica by Johann Buxtorf (published in Latin in 1641:

Available in English here...

 

[CathH]

My first thought was 'God in Our Midst' - it's so clear and accessible. Michael Morales takes a bit more processing by comparison but I found it extremely helpful.

 

[alexanderjames]

Not reformed - I am wondering if anyone has any experience with the work of Henry W Soltau on the tabernacle and can offer comments.

 

[Andres]

I believe the Puritans used to make reference to "the gospel in Leviticus" because of the strong references to Christ and the atonement. Read good commentaries on these books from old, dead guys. Study Leviticus alongside Andrew Bonar's commentary and I can pretty much guarantee you will find much rich, spiritual food for your soul.

 

[Contra_Mundum]

The Typology of Scripture (eBook) | Monergism

by Patrick Fairbairnin ePub, .mobi and .pdf formatsThis classic work examines typology not only as a biblical and theological subject but also in its

www.monergism.com

"The bulk of the volume is given over to a detailed exposition of the typical symbolism of the law, the tabernacle, and the sacrifices."

 

[0isez]

My thanks to all of you for your input. It is quite overwhelming. I bought two already; God in our Midst the Tabernacle and our Relationship with God and also Christ and the Desert Tabernacle as recommended by Van Loomis and Steven Smith. Both were available on Kindle (I take notes on them on Kindle). Both are excellent so far and I am enjoying the comfort of safe and sane reformed interpretations. Eventually in my studies I am sure to explore the other recommendations since I never stop asking questions no matter how divergent. Thanks again…Ken

 

[Grant Van Leuven]

I actually thought Andrew Bonar's commentary on the book was pretty accessible, inspiring, and yet amply exegetical. I relied on it often with my preaching through Leviticus (among other ones--if you are interested to listen: click here; also, I began with Genesis and am now in Deuteronomy for morning sermons since I began ministering here 14 years ago-- with various interruptions that made it longer than it needed to be along the way but it has always been well worth returning and not skipping as so much of each book is quoted and applied in the NT, and Jesus says they all speak of Him: Luke 24:44). He has a really wonderful explanation of Peter wanting to build tabernacles on the Mount of Transfiguration (Mt. 17:4). I realize you are speaking of devotional reading, but I encourage you to try and make use of such tools especially if you haven't before. I actually have been reading through Leviticus (and John) in my devotional reading and have been really blessed with nuggets along the way (we are also reading through it in our morning worship as it happens and the typology of Christ in chapters 1-5 alone with the voluntary sacrifices have been very moving for us all to revisit). As has been said, "The Old is in the New Revealed, the New is in the Old Concealed." Further, Matt. 4:4: "But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (quoting Deut. 8:3 as Christ quotes Deut. mostly during the temptation in Matthew 4).