1. The Gate of the Court
The Court Gate was the one and only way and entrance into the Court. Worhippers are reminded when they come to Church that they are saved by grace, and Jesus is the only Way to the Father (John 14:6). Because of this Truth they can "come boldly to the throne of grace" (Hebrews 4:16) to worship God. They sing one or two songs of praise and thanksgiving unto the Lord.
The Psalmist said, "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise" (Ps. 100:4).
2. The Brazen Altar
This Altar was a place of burn offering. It was the place where the lamb was taken and was slain. With the right attitude of hearts, worshippers acknowledge that Jesus came to Calvary as the Lamb of God to be "slaughtered" as a Sin Offering for all who believed.
3. The Brazen Laver
This was a place for washing and cleansing. The ministry of the laver points us to the ministry of the Word of God in the worshippers' lives. Jesus Christ who was the Word made flesh had been given authority to exercise judgment upon sin (John 5:27). The Laver speaks of this judgment upon sin operating through the Word of God. It speaks of that cleansing that comes as the Word exposes areas of our life that are not in conformity to the Divine Standard of God.
At this time the Word of God is preached and the cleansing effect of the Word is manifested in those who have the ears to hear.
"That He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word" (Eph. 5:26).
4. The Holy Place Place
The entrance to the Holy Place is called "The Door" which speaks of the Lord Jesus as the one and only Way to God and into His Church (His Body). The Church is the place of priestly ministry. Worshippers who are in Christ are made kings and priests unto God. The believer has access as a king-priest to offer up spiritual sacrifices (worship, prayer, praise and thanksgiving), in the spiritual Priesthood, in a spiritual House (1 Peter 2:1 to 9; Rev. 1:6).
5. The Golden Candlestick
This was a Candlestick having oil lamps and not candles. Candles burn by self-consumption, while lamps burn by the continual supply of oil being poured into them.
The purpose of the candlestick was to give light and the light was sustained by pure olive oil which speaks of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the only light of the world and His light reflects and shines through the Church. Just as the Candlestick needed oil to give light, the Church needs the Holy Spirit to give light to the world.
Jesus said, "As long as I am in the world I am the light of the world" (John 9:5, emphasis added).
Jesus also said to his disciples, "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden" (Matt. 5:14, emphasis added).
It is the light of the Holy Spirit in believers that gives light to the darkened world.
6. The Golden Altar of Incense
This Altar was for the burning of Incense unto the Lord. In Scripture, Incense always speaks to us of the prayers and intercession of the saints (believers) which ascent unto God.
"Let my prayer be set before You as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice" (Psalm 141:2).
In Christ we have access unto God the Father. We are believer-priests, and as such we have the joy and great privilege of presenting our prayers (incense) without ceasing to God in the Name of Jesus.
The worshippers in the Local Church at this time, have a time of prayer and intercession before the part-taking of the Lord's Table in the Holy Communion service.
7. The Table of Showbread
Upon this Table were placed twelve loaves of unleavened bread which were for the priests of the tribe of Levi to part-take.
Just as God had provided the Table for His priests in the Holy Place, He has also prepared a Table in Christ for His redeemed people, the priests of His Church. The Table of Showbread is typical and significant of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself as the Bread of Life to His people (John 6:25 to 63).
In the Local Church the worshippers come to the Lord's Table (1 Cor. 11:23 to 34) every time they meet in the Church for their weekly service. Biblically, the Holy Communion is to be taken each time the Church gether together to worship the Lord.
8. The Inner Veil and the Most Holy Place
The Veil separated the Most Holy Place from the Holy Place. This Veil was to hide the Shekinah Glory from the eyes of men. It acted as a partition to separate sinful man from the Most Holy God.
The Veil is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ before his crucifixion. There would be no access into God's presence until sin had been dealt with. When Jesus Christ died on the cross of Calvary, God, by a miraculous act and by His Grace, rent the dividing Veil from top to bottom (Mark 15:37,38). If God had not made the way opened by rending that Veil when Christ's flesh was rent on the Cross, then that separation and division brought about by man's sin would have remained forever.
The way is opened for worshippers in the Local Church to meet with the Lord in worship in the the Most Holy Place and to behold the beauty of His Holiness.
The Psalmist David said, "Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness" (Psalm 29:2).
In the Tabernacle of David there were no Outer Court and furniture, no Holy Place and furniture, and no veil. The Ark of Covenant was transferred from the Tabernacle of Moses to the Tabernacle of David (2 Samuel 6:12 to 23). The priests in David's tabernacle could simply and boldly enter into the Most Holy Place. They had direct access before the Ark of God. The spiritual sacrifice the priests offered before the Ark of Covenant in the Tabernacle of David would find its fulfillment in the New Testament Church where believers offer praise and thanksgiving and worship to the Lord.
This is the reason why it is Biblical to complete our weekly worship service in the Local Church with a "Grand finale" in worship and praise to our God.
In conclusion, the Divine Order of Worship Service is this - One or two songs of praise and thanksgiving; followed by the preaching of the Word; and after that, prayer and Communion Service and finally followed by singing songs of Worship and praise to our Lord.
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