God in Our Midst: The Tabernacle and Our Relationship with God

by Daniel R. Hyde

Christians often wonder whether it is worth their time to read and study the seemingly odd narratives about God’s instructions for the tabernacle in the second half of the book of Exodus. The answer, according to Daniel R. Hyde, is an emphatic yes. In  God in Our The Tabernacle and Our Relationship with God , Rev. Hyde shows that the tabernacle narratives have much to teach us about God Himself, about sin, about redemption in Christ, and about how we are to live for God today. Above all, by interpreting these narratives according to solid hermeneutical principles and New Testament revelation, Rev. Hyde shows that these passages reveal Christ. Ultimately, Hyde says, it is good to read the tabernacle narratives because they are part of our family history. We need to read and meditate on that history because we have the same God, the God who told His old covenant, “I will dwell in your midst,“ and who tells us that Christians are the true tabernacle, the dwelling place of God under the new covenant (Eph. 2:22).

Genres: Theology, Christian, Old Testament, Faith, Christianity

255 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2012

About the author

Daniel R. Hyde (ThM, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary) is the Pastor of the Oceanside United Reformed Church in Oceanside, California. He is the author of over ten books, including Welcome to a Reformed Church, Why Believe in God?, and God in Our Midst.

Reviews

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book to be full of really helpful insights. My advent season was made more meaningful as I read about the Immanuel--God with us. We know in our heads that all of scripture points to Christ, but sometimes we need someone like Hyde to help us see how deliberate God is in the revelation of Scripture.

This book is one that could live on my own bookshelves and be a frequent point of reference.

[Mathew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve hit a book hot streak. I loved God in Our Midst. Hyde provides an exposition of Exodus 25-40 looking specifically at passages relevant to the tabernacle. He skillfully demonstrates how preachers should explain tough Old Testament passages in light of Christ.

My wife and I just finished reading Exodus together a few weeks ago and I tried my best to direct our thoughts to Christ but I will gladly admit that my efforts felt inadequate and feeble. I will also gladly admit that Hyde served me so well in opening my eyes to a method which was faithful to the text and violently Christ-focused. This passage sums up the tone of God in Our Midst, “The tabernacle was God’s drawing to His people then; now we have this image in flesh and blood--Jesus Christ” (p. 55).

Each chapter takes an item or topic from the tabernacle unpacking the main ideas from each passage. For instance, when discussing the ark of the covenant, Hyde says,

In ancient practice, a copy of such a treat [the ten commandments] was placed in the sacred place of the lesser kingdom that offered itself in obedience to the greater kingdom. In Israel, the astounding truth was that both copies were kept at the Lord’s feet in the ark, testifying that the Lord would be the covenant-keeper in His relationship with Israel. He entered a covenant with them on the basis of His grace (Deut. 7:6-8). He would keep them in that covenant on the basis of His grace (Jer. 31:3). (p. 59)

He goes on to describe the lid of the ark of the covenant in detail as the place of propitiation. He later describes the fire on the altar which never was supposed to go out. He reminds us that the fire was started by God when the tabernacle was consecrated and “was a picture of God Himself as a ‘consuming fire’ (Heb. 12:28) (p. 104). These passages are a just a taste of the encouraging and gospel-saturated exposition in God in Our Midst.

I would encourage everyone to go pick up a copy. The Old Testament has collected quite a bit of dust on a lot of our Bibles. Let’s be honest--it’s hard to understand and often complicated. There’s even a wider cultural divide than from Jesus’s time. A lot of preaching I’ve heard from the Old Testament has been confusing at best and poorly exegeted at worst. However, Hyde’s example will serve both those seeking to gain a better understanding of the Old Testament and pastors seeking to preach the Old Testament. Finally, if you’re not savvy to Reformation Trust you’re missing out. They’re quietly publishing some of the best books.

A free copy of this book was provided by Reformation Trust.

[Michael Spotts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone who hikes in the desert knows how hard it can be to navigate such terrain and how important it is to prepare. I learned this once when I and several friends decided to explore some of Joshua Tree National Park’s more than one-thousand square miles. Wandering into the wastes, none of us thought to pack more than our teenage bravado and perhaps a Capri Sun. We snaked for hours past gangling specimens of that namesake Joshua tree and over immense mounds of granite. By noon we were lost. Without maps, compasses, water, and food we became increasingly disoriented, fatigued, and nervous. Fortunately, we came across someone who knew the way back. Since then I've known how essential the right tools and supplies are for wilderness treks.

Reading the Old Testament can be much the same, especially for people unfamiliar with the landscape. What does it all mean? How do I grow from it? Why does it seem so dry? Thankfully, Rev. Daniel R. Hyde comes to our aid with a new book to guide and nourish believers in our study of Israel’s desert wanderings, and in particular, help Christians understand the purpose of the Tabernacle for today. God in Our Midst (Reformation Trust, 2012) is an easy door into Biblical Studies that not only digs into its main theme, but presents readers with sound tools for interpreting the entire Old Testament in light of the New Testament.

The book is based on Hyde’s sermons through Exodus, but it has been fortified with historical quotes, archeological insight, and devotional application. Pastors will find substantial help from a complete subject/scripture index, but the studies will not fly over the heads of less advanced learners, either. God in Our Midst shares illustrations from the acclaimed ESV Study Bible and, at 275 pages, it’s just long enough to feel thorough without overwhelming you. Best of all, you’ll discover the apparent wilderness of Exodus blooming with life to enflame your devotion to Christ.

The book consists of 17 chapters and includes a helpful introduction by David P. Murray. He notes six characteristics of a good Old Testament commentary:

1. It handles the scripture with reverence and diligence as the Word of God.
2. It’s method of interpretation starts at the original context, instead of rushing straight to find 21st-century relevance.
3. It should portray a central unified message unfolding throughout the Bible, of gracious redemption through faith in the Messiah. God didn’t “start over” in different ages, but was revealing his grace more and more.
4. It should follow the Apostolic example of using the New Testament to interpret the Old.
5. It must connect the faith of Old Testament believers with New Testament Church to show we share the same hope and are saved through the same Savior.
6. It must have application for the modern Church, teaching us about godly worship, communion, obedience, and service.

Murray concludes, “He gives us, at last, a modern book on the Old Testament that treats the believing Israelites as brothers and sisters in Christ rather than as slightly confused, animistic, legalistic idolaters.” After giving God in Our Midst the thumbs-up, he sends us off to the Introduction.

Here Rev. Hyde lays ground-rules for interpreting events and idioms of the Old Testament in a way that avoids running off into bizarre and strained typologies—you know the kind that insist on deep and certain symbolism behind every name and number. Instead, he shows how the Apostles read the Prophets and gives us safe boundaries to do the same:

"What does it mean to read the Word and the tabernacle story simply? It means that we must read it theologically. In reading, then, we ask not about the hidden meaning of minor details such as the rings, the poles, and the boards of the tabernacle, or the color of the stones in the high priest’s ephod, but questions such as, “What does this passage teach me about God, about my sins, about Christ’s redemptive work, and about how I am to live for the glory of God?”

For me, this section alone would have been worth the cost of the book. In case anyone doesn’t see the value in studying these texts, Hyde says,

"The details of the Word of God matter. For example, Jesus based an entire argument for the resurrection on the present tense of a verb (Luke 20:37–38), and Paul based an entire argument for Jesus being the seed of Abraham on a singular noun (Gal. 3:16). It is clear, then, that we need to read and meditate on this portion of the Word of God purposefully and prayerfully. When we read the Word in a studious, contemplative, and prayerful way, we come to see not only the individual pearls of doctrine and application contained therein, but also how all of those pearls hang together like those on a necklace. The Word of God is as beautiful in its presentation as in its proclamation."

Throughout the book, Hyde develops a theme that redemption culminates in adoration. This motif is woven into the designs and rituals of the Tabernacle,

"There is a wonderful theological and practical reason why more than half of Exodus is set at Sinai [...] The Israelites were saved from Egypt that they might serve the Lord. Likewise, our purpose for being called out of the darkness of the world is that we might be called into the brilliant presence of God. We exist, as the memorable words of the Westminster Shorter Catechism teach us, “to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever” (Q&A 1)."

Subsequent chapters are devoted to various elements of the Tabernacle, such as the brazen altar, the ark of the covenant, and the golden lamp stand. In each case, Hyde gives strong reasons to see the redemptive work of Christ pictured in them. At no time did I get that sticky, uncomfortable feeling that he was stretching the text too far. For instance,

"It is fascinating that the Lord put the most unattractive curtains on the outside and the most attractive on the inside. John J. Davis writes, “From a purely aesthetic point of view the tabernacle could not be considered a thing of beauty, at least not from the outside.” This is typical of God, who often cloaks His glory in simplicity, His power in weakness, and His wisdom in foolishness to confound the unbeliever but to comfort the believer (cf. 1 Cor. 1:18–31). Ultimately, He cloaked His majesty in flesh as His Son, Jesus Christ, took on ordinary humanity: “He had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him” (Isa. 53:2b). In a sense, then, to come to the tabernacle was to come to the holy God Himself, hidden under the veils of the ordinary and earthly."

The remaining chapters include a much-needed warning on why we ought to worship God as He commands—rather than how we think the market will respond—and a useful appendix for pastors considering preaching through the Pentatuech.

In all, I found this to be a rewarding book and I wish it had come into my hands shortly after I was converted—a lot of confusion could have been avoided. Hyde sets the standard for mixing theological precision with Biblical reverence and spiritual devotion. You can't come away from this without feeling moved to worship our Savior. I leave you with these closing words,

"As you read and meditate on the tabernacle narrative with me, I pray that you may come to see that it is not something obscure that happened thousands of years ago. Instead, I pray you will read this narrative as your family story. This is how Peter challenged his readers throughout Asia Minor, which was hundreds of miles from Jerusalem, in the middle of the first century, several decades after our Lord’s ministry. He said that the Holy Spirit had revealed to the prophets “that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look” (1 Peter 1:12). [...] Ultimately, we need to mediate on this, our family story, because we have the same God as our forefathers. The same God who said to them, “I may dwell in their midst” (Ex. 25:8), says to us today, “In [Christ] you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit” (Eph. 2:22). Just as He did for our forefathers, God has come to dwell among us that we might have a relationship with Him based on His amazing grace."

Five stars, recommended!

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent introduction to the old testament tabernacle and it's relationship to the story of scripture and Christ however I found it both full of opinions that were not backed by scripture and less academic then I was looking for. I made it 60% of the way through and finally stopped realizing I wasn't getting much from it and I had other theological works I wanted to invest time in.

If you struggle in reading or personal study of Exodus, or if you are teaching this section of scripture then the book may be helpful as it goes through the various sections of the tabernacle and gives some cultural and historical significance. However if you are academic yourself and don't struggle with making connections from the old testament to the new this may not be the book for you.

I also struggled with the application of each section. I appreciate that there was application, but I often felt the application was too narrow, too much based on opinion and not sufficiently backed by new testament scripture. At many times I felt some of the application was legalistic, though I doubt that was the intent of the author.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pastoral.

I remember the first time I tried reading the Bible in a year, when I was 10. Genesis was full of exciting adventures, and so was Exodus, up through the journey to Sinai. Then, there were 6 chapters of "You shall make", followed by 5 more of "And he made", at which point I gave up.

I've matured greatly since then, not only as a reader, but also as a Christian, but this early encounter with the passages on the Tabernacle still presented me with questions, like, "Why was this described in such exact detail", and "What can we learn from this, in the days of the New Covenant?" I am certain that many others have asked themselves similar questions when encountering the second half of Exodus.

Enter Rev. Daniel D. Hyde and this book, adapted from a series of sermons preached on Exodus 25-31 and 35-40. Far from being a dry volume on history or Bronze Age architecture and decor, topics drawn from the text include giving (25:1-7); God's presence among His people; Providence and care; Heaven, heavenliness and creation; sacrificial atonement (27:1-8); church office; the person and work of Christ; worship (29:38-46); prayer (30:1-10, 34-38); redemption (30:11-16); baptism (30:17-21); Spiritual gifts (31:1-11); and renewal and new creation (40).

The index shows references to 28 Old Testament and 23 New Testament books.

Rev. Hyde is a pastor in the United Reformed Churches in North America and delivers from the Confessional Reformed teaching and history, citing not only the Three Forms of Unity and the Westminster standards, but also sources throughout Church history ranging from, by example, Clement of Alexandria, J.C. Ryle, Isaac Watts, Petrus Dathenus, the Book of Common Prayer, C.F. Keil, and John Owen.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

another book from long ago I hadn't added on good reads (until now).

Who would disagree with Professor David P Murray telling us in his foreword, "I expect any interpretation to start with the original context and park there for a while." Murray also looks for "…a book that follows Jesus' and His disciples' example in using the New Testament to interpret the Old." And "…the book must connect Old Testament believers with the New Testament church by demonstrating that both Old and New Testament saints were united in being saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, to the glory of God alone."? God In Our Midst maintains that faithfulness and more!

Author Daniel Hyde's introduction by itself provides sufficient material to teach and preach for quite some time, pondering historical, geographical, theological, practical, literary, and Christological aspects of Exodus 15 through Exodus 40. Martin Luther insisted, "what preaches (…drives us to, moves us to) Christ" (was Christum treibet) in scripture has more value to Christians than the rest of the bible; however, despite his canon within the canon, Luther discovered and uncovered types, foreshadowings, hints, and signs of Jesus Christ in *almost* every verse of both Hebrew Bible and New Covenant scriptures. Tabernacle? From pages 3-4:

The tabernacle (Latin, tabernaculum, "tent") was the Lord's temporary dwelling place during the Israelites' forty-year wilderness wandering and their first three hundred-plus years in the land of Canaan. … It is called "the sanctuary," "the tent of the Lord," the "tent," "the tent of the testimony," "the tent of meeting…"

We recently celebrated God's incarnation in the infant Jesus at Christmas, and we're still in the liturgical season of Epiphany, so what an appropriate time to consider God's presence in the world, amongst all creation from the beginning of recorded time through this second decade of the 21st century: "The Word became flesh and pitched a tent among us." John 1:14

Timothy Braun tells us Jesus was totally into Camping…

"So when they had come together, they asked him, 'Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?' He replied, 'It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'" Acts 1:6-8

We know the constant abiding presence of Jesus Christ in Word, in Sacrament, and in People who, like Jesus, pitch their tents in the world, in the power of the Spirit of Pentecost walk through the world as the presence of the crucified and risen Jesus Christ, as God In Our Midst.

Daniel Hyde is a pastor in the United Reformed Churches in North America, a conservative Reformed church body, but I cannot imagine any Christian – mainline, liberal, progressive, emerging, evangelical, Roman Catholic, orthodox… – not finding abundant treasures here. Preachers and teachers will find helpful ideas in the Appendix: Preaching the Pentateuch – Preach Expositionally [chapter by chapter; verse by verse]; Preach Plainly; Preach Christologically. There are ample endnotes and a substantial bibliography. A scripture index covers a full range of OT and NT; the extensive subject index also could be helpful in teaching and preaching.

I won't begin to enumerate any of the details that will increase your own understanding of God's self-revelation in Jesus Christ, and will increase your comprehension of almost every bit of scripture you encounter. This is a book you need to read for yourself, a book that deserves a rare 5+ stars!

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

"So the coppers of the poor, or of little children, are as needful to assist in the building of the spiritual edifice as the sovereigns of the wealthy." (Page 43)

"Visual aids of spiritual realities" (Page 46)

"The tabernacle taught that God is holy; therefore, His people need to be holy. In other words, theology had to become biography. Theology, what we believe about God, still must become personal." (Page 49)

The tabernacle expressed visibly what the Old Testament taught verbally: "And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst" (Ex. 25:8; Ex 29:45; Lev. 26:11-12; Ezek. 37:27; Zech. 2:10)
The New Testament teaches that living in the presence of God is the fruit of our relationship with God through Christ, a relationship that will culminate in the new heavens and new earth. (2 Cor. 6:16; Rev 21:3).
(Page 51)

Something greater than the tabernacle is here (Matt. 12:6; John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:4) (Page 54)

"... better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness" (Ps. 84:1-2) is amazing to consider that we live in the reality of what these people anticipated. The Israelites lived in the time of anticipation, but we in the time of participation. There should be no greater anticipation among Christians than coming into God's holy presence. (Page 97)

[Brandon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very helpful study of the tabernacle in Exodus 25-40. This is a section of Exodus that has long felt impenetrable to me--the kind of passage that you just have to slog through in a Bible reading plan. Hyde's book wonderfully opens up the meaning of the tabernacle and the tabernacle furniture.

He is clear, confessionally Reformed, and Christ-centered. This would be an excellent resource for a Bible study or Sunday School (or even a sermon series) on the Tabernacle. Also as a nice supplement, you could check out his teaching series at Ligonier (though all of that info from that is found in the book, and the book covers more than the videos).

Note: a couple of his interpretive moves I wasn't sold on. For instance the idea that the golden lampstand points to the truth that God is light and that Israel is to be a light in the world (in fairness, he is not alone among OT exegetes making those connections). But to me that's too allegorical IMO. But far and away, I agreed with his interpretations, and they showed very strong submission to the text of Scripture.

Definitely a good read. Could be used devotionally.

[Marven Gzilla · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fine book. Daniel’s style is fine as well, quite readable. I think I was looking for more depth and this seemed an introduction. Further, I stumbled over what I saw as Daniel’s opinions taking the place of solid exegesis of passages, in example, he belabours his comparison of the temple to physical church buildings. I do not believe this is an apt comparison, and no solid backing for the position is given, it just seems a given to Daniel. A fine book and writer, I’m sure many good things to come and a fine place to start if you’ve had little exposure to this sort of material.

[Matt Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though God in our midst is a collection of sermons on the tabernacle, Rev Daniel Hyde has given us a great overview. As he moves through the text, he shows us why it is structured in the way that it is. It is not necessarily a line by line commentary, but draws out the themes, not only in his own understanding, but at large. There is a dependence on the Dutch Reformed and Puritan voices. But the mercy seat, appropriate situation, in our need for a high priest are all centered. In short, the tabernacle points to Christ.

[Don Harton · Rating 5 out of 5]

God in Our Midst is a good theological survey of the tabernacle. Hyde explains how the Israelites would have experienced the place, what the details might have meant to them, and how the rest of scripture elaborates the meaning. Many of the chapters read like an evangelical sermon outline, beginning with a passage in Exodus and heading to the cross.

A few times, I thought Hyde was stretching a bit to make an application for the church today. Most of his insights, though, are very convicting and helpful.

[William Schrecengost · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very pastoral and Christological, Hyde takes the tabernacle passages of Exodus and applies it to the Christians daily life and what it means for us today. I think he could’ve done a little better with explaining the symbolism of the different elements of the tabernacle, but his main focus was pastoral application which he did excellently. If you want more exegesis on the symbolism, check out Vern Poythress and James Jordan.

[bekkie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for a yearly community group meeting for church and really enjoyed how the author was able to connect the foreshadowing of Christ and the church in the New Testament to the tabernacle’s imagery in the Old testament. We had some wonderful discussions in our group during the year!

[Marianna Flamenco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great in-depth review and very insightful.

[Carl Palmateer · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting examination of the Tabernacle, indications, foreshadowing and the like without getting bogged down in speculative analogies and symbolism.

[Maxime N. Georgel · Rating 4 out of 5]

J'ai suivi le cours Ligonier qui correspond à ce livre. Les premiers cours et le dernier sont bien meilleurs que "l'entre-deux".

[Christopher Schwab · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderfully clear and encouraging exposition of the Tabernacle, making it clear how this gift of God applies to our lives today.

[Roger Leonhardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

God dwells among his people.

Finding another good book on the tabernacle is always exciting. I always enjoy studying this portion of scripture.

Reading through the list of materials for the construction of the tabernacle would seem boring. But when you see what it truly represents, a light goes on and you see the Old Testament in a whole new light.

In this book, Hyde takes us through the tabernacle piece by piece and through the dwelling itself. I was glad to see such an emphasis on Christ. Jesus said the Old Testament scriptures were about Him and that includes the tabernacle.

God gave the tabernacle as a symbol to show what would be accomplished by Christ. As the sacrifices of animals where being performed, a greater sacrifice was prepared - The Lamb of God. He would not just cover up sin, but would take it away.

The intro on hermeneutics was great. Hyde tells us that the study of scripture should never be speculative. If there is no verse to show a type and shadow, we should not use it.

The tabernacle shows that God desires to dwell with us. The fulfillment was in Christ who came to earth to tabernacle among us. Even greater is the fact that we will be with him in the heavenly tabernacle – Heaven. There we will dwell for eternity.

This book is a good read. The illustrations add to its value.

I high recommend it.

I give it 5 out of 5 stars.


*I received this book, free of charge, from Reformation Trust Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

[Mark A Powell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hyde explores the tabernacle and its furniture as detailed in Exodus, demonstrating not only how these items functioned in ancient Israel but how they point to and are ultimately fulfilled in the work of Jesus Christ. The teaching component of this book is nicely executed though Hyde’s writing suffers occasionally from a dragging pace and repetition. On the whole, however, the book is a solid examination of the tabernacle and how it reveals God to us.

[Ricky Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The types and shadows concerning Christ that are found in the tabernacle narratives are profound and I thought Hyde did a wonderful job pointing them out and discussing them. This book reminds us that the Bible in its entirety points to Christ. The tabernacle truly portrayed what the gospel proclaims "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14).

[Aaron Choi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Immanuel in the OT (and NT). Hyde provides helpful insights about the ostensibly mundane articles of the tent of meeting that ultimately lead the reader to Christ.

[Eric Anest · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good content, but these appear to be sermon transcripts with little adaptation for book format.

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok. Just a tad fanciful occasionally.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tremendous book on how the Tabernacle speaks toward and foreshadows the redemptive work of God in His people. Couldn't recommend this book more.

[Terry Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good, though not exciting, Bible study on the subject. Helpful for those just beginning the journey.