In our examination of the Tabernacle we can discern by the Holy Spirit that every bit; every thread is a prophetic arrow pointing us towards Jesus Christ ~and~ our relationship with Him by faith. Even the oil in the Tabernacle lamps is prophetically significant, for in it we have been given a divine edict—a mandate speaking to a sustained union to Christ Jesus. This command finds its roots in our recollection that oil is a symbol of the Person and ministry of the Holy Spirit. Essentially the passage tells us that we are to keep the Holy Spirit flowing. This is our primary sacrifice and the facilitator for all others.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart– These, O God, You will not despise. Psalm 51:17
We start with a broken spirit in order that His Holy Spirit may take up residence—that is our jumping off (or jumping in) point. Then the application from the Exodus passage kicks in. It commands us to continually maintain connectivity to His Spirit—this is what God desires. Everything else we say or do is really nothing more than a natural byproduct of yielding persistently to the Holy Spirit. Psalm 40 provides even more perspective.
Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; My ears You have opened. Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require. Then I said, “Behold, I come; In the scroll of the book it is written of me. I delight to do Your will, O my God, And Your law is within my heart.” I have proclaimed the good news of righteousness In the great assembly; Indeed, I do not restrain my lips, O Lord, You Yourself know. I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart; I have declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation; I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth From the great assembly. Psalm 40:6-7
Read this verse and omit the Holy Spirit from the equation. Suddenly we are left with ears that cannot hear, scripture that cannot be discerned, and service that cannot be enjoyed. Without the Holy Spirit in us there is no preservation of His Word, no proclamation of His truth, and no declarations of His faithfulness. Remove the Holy Spirit or fail to continually our relationship and all we think we have to offer and sacrifice is concealed. This is precisely why God has mandated that we uphold our connection with the Person and ministry of the Holy Spirit. Deny the Spirit and everything we offer is despicable in His sight.
