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Christ, Mark
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The scriptures. May God
bless the reading of His holy word.
"Make this tabernacle
and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you."
THE ARK
"Have them make a
chest of acacia wood—two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a
cubit and a half high. Overlay it with pure gold, both inside and out, and make
a gold molding around it. Cast four gold rings for it and fasten them to its
four feet, with two rings on one side and two rings on the other. Then make
poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. Insert the poles into the
rings on the sides of the chest to carry it. The poles are to remain in the
rings of this ark; they are not to be removed. Then put in the ark the
Testimony, which I will give you.”
"Make an atonement
cover of pure gold—two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. And
make two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. Make one
cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other; make the cherubim of one
piece with the cover, at the two ends. The cherubim are to have their wings
spread upward, overshadowing the cover with them. The cherubim are to face each
other, looking toward the cover. Place the cover on top of the ark and put in
the ark the Testimony, which I will give you. There, above the cover between
the two cherubim that are over the ark of the Testimony, I will meet with you
and give you all My commands for the Israelites."
THE TABLE
"Make a table of
acacia wood—two cubits long, a cubit wide and a cubit and a half high. Overlay
it with pure gold and make a gold molding around it. Also make around it a rim
a handbreadth wide and put a gold molding on the rim. Make four gold rings for
the table and fasten them to the four corners, where the four legs are. The
rings are to be close to the rim to hold the poles used in carrying the table.
Make the poles of acacia wood, overlay them with gold and carry the table with
them. And make its plates and dishes of pure gold, as well as its pitchers and
bowls for the pouring out of offerings. Put the bread of the Presence on this
table to be before Me at all times."
THE LAMPSTAND
"Make a lampstand of
pure gold and hammer it out, base and shaft; its flowerlike cups, buds and
blossoms shall be of one piece with it. Six branches are to extend from the
sides of the lampstand—three on one side and three on the other. Three cups
shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms are to be on one branch,
three on the next branch, and the same for all six branches extending from the
lampstand. And on the lampstand there are to be four cups shaped like almond
flowers with buds and blossoms. One bud shall be under the first pair of
branches extending from the lampstand, a second bud under the second pair, and
a third bud under the third pair—six branches in all. The buds and branches
shall all be of one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold.”
"Then make its seven
lamps and set them up on it so that they light the space in front of it. Its
wick trimmers and trays are to be of pure gold. A talent of pure gold is to be
used for the lampstand and all these accessories. See that you make them
according to the pattern shown you on the mountain."
THE TABERNACLE
"Make the tabernacle
with ten curtains of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn,
with cherubim worked into them by a skilled craftsman. All the curtains are to
be the same size—twenty-eight cubits long and four cubits wide. Join five of
the curtains together, and do the same with the other five. Make loops of blue
material along the edge of the end curtain in one set, and do the same with the
end curtain in the other set. Make fifty loops on one curtain and fifty loops
on the end curtain of the other set, with the loops opposite each other. Then
make fifty gold clasps and use them to fasten the curtains together so that the
tabernacle is a unit.”
"Make curtains of
goat hair for the tent over the tabernacle—eleven altogether. All eleven
curtains are to be the same size—thirty cubits long and four cubits wide. Join
five of the curtains together into one set and the other six into another set.
Fold the sixth curtain double at the front of the tent. Make fifty loops along
the edge of the end curtain in one set and also along the edge of the end
curtain in the other set. Then make fifty bronze clasps and put them in the
loops to fasten the tent together as a unit. As for the additional length of
the tent curtains, the half curtain that is left over is to hang down at the
rear of the tabernacle. The tent curtains will be a cubit longer on both sides;
what is left will hang over the sides of the tabernacle so as to cover it. Make
for the tent a covering of ram skins dyed red, and over that a covering of
hides of sea cows.”
"Make upright frames
of acacia wood for the tabernacle. Each frame is to be ten cubits long and a
cubit and a half wide, with two projections set parallel to each other. Make
all the frames of the tabernacle in this way. Make twenty frames for the south
side of the tabernacle and make forty silver bases to go under them—two bases
for each frame, one under each projection. For the other side, the north side
of the tabernacle, make twenty frames and forty silver bases—two under each
frame. Make six frames for the far end, that is, the west end of the
tabernacle, and make two frames for the corners at the far end. At these two
corners they must be double from the bottom all the way to the top, and fitted
into a single ring; both shall be like that. So there will be eight frames and
sixteen silver bases—two under each frame.”
"Also make crossbars
of acacia wood: five for the frames on one side of the tabernacle, five for
those on the other side, and five for the frames on the west, at the far end of
the tabernacle. The center crossbar is to extend from end to end at the middle
of the frames. Overlay the frames with gold and make gold rings to hold the
crossbars. Also overlay the crossbars with gold. Set up the tabernacle
according to the plan shown you on the mountain.”
"Make a curtain of
blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen, with cherubim worked
into it by a skilled craftsman. Hang it with gold hooks on four posts of acacia
wood overlaid with gold and standing on four silver bases. Hang the curtain
from the clasps and place the ark of the Testimony behind the curtain. The
curtain will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. Put the
atonement cover on the ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy Place. Place the
table outside the curtain on the north side of the tabernacle and put the
lampstand opposite it on the south side.”
"For the entrance to
the tent make a curtain of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted
linen—the work of an embroiderer. Make gold hooks for this curtain and five
posts of acacia wood overlaid with gold. And cast five bronze bases for
them."
THE ALTAR OF BURNT
OFFERING
"Build an altar of
acacia wood, three cubits high; it is to be square, five cubits long and five
cubits wide. Make a horn at each of the four corners, so that the horns and the
altar are of one piece, and overlay the altar with bronze. Make all its
utensils of bronze—its pots to remove the ashes, and its shovels, sprinkling
bowls, meat forks and firepans. Make a grating for it, a bronze network, and
make a bronze ring at each of the four corners of the network. Put it under the
ledge of the altar so that it is halfway up the altar. Make poles of acacia
wood for the altar and overlay them with bronze. The poles are to be inserted
into the rings so they will be on two sides of the altar when it is carried.
Make the altar hollow, out of boards. It is to be made just as you were shown
on the mountain."
THE COURTYARD
"Make a courtyard for
the tabernacle. The south side shall be a hundred cubits long and is to have
curtains of finely twisted linen, with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases and
with silver hooks and bands on the posts. The north side shall also be a
hundred cubits long and is to have curtains, with twenty posts and twenty
bronze bases and with silver hooks and bands on the posts.”
"The west end of the
courtyard shall be fifty cubits wide and have curtains, with ten posts and ten
bases. On the east end, toward the sunrise, the courtyard shall also be fifty
cubits wide. Curtains fifteen cubits long are to be on one side of the
entrance, with three posts and three bases, and curtains fifteen cubits long
are to be on the other side, with three posts and three bases.”
"For the entrance to
the courtyard, provide a curtain twenty cubits long, of blue, purple and
scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen—the work of an embroiderer—with four
posts and four bases. All the posts around the courtyard are to have silver
bands and hooks, and bronze bases. The courtyard shall be a hundred cubits long
and fifty cubits wide, with curtains of finely twisted linen five cubits high,
and with bronze bases. All the other articles used in the service of the
tabernacle, whatever their function, including all the tent pegs for it and
those for the courtyard, are to be of bronze."
OIL FOR THE LAMPSTANDS
"Command the
Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the
lamps may be kept burning. In the Tent of Meeting, outside the curtain that is
in front of the Testimony, Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps burning
before the Lord from evening till morning. This is to be a lasting ordinance
among the Israelites for the generations to come."
PRIESTLY GARMENTS
"Have Aaron your
brother brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab and
Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, so they may serve me as priests. Make sacred
garments for your brother Aaron, to give him dignity and honor. Tell all the
skilled men to whom I have given wisdom in such matters that they are to make
garments for Aaron, for his consecration, so he may serve Me as priest. These
are the garments they are to make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a woven
tunic, a turban and a sash. They are to make these sacred garments for your
brother Aaron and his sons, so they may serve Me as priests. Have them use
gold, and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and fine linen."
THE EPHOD
"Make the ephod of
gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen—the
work of a skilled craftsman. It is to have two shoulder pieces attached to two
of its corners, so it can be fastened. Its skillfully woven waistband is to be
like it—of one piece with the ephod and made with gold, and with blue, purple
and scarlet yarn, and with finely twisted linen.”
"Take two onyx stones
and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel in the order of their
birth—six names on one stone and the remaining six on the other. Engrave the
names of the sons of Israel on the two stones the way a gem cutter engraves a
seal. Then mount the stones in gold filigree settings and fasten them on the
shoulder pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. Aaron
is to bear the names on his shoulders as a memorial before the Lord. Make gold
filigree settings and two braided chains of pure gold, like a rope, and attach
the chains to the settings."
THE BREASTPIECE
"Fashion a
breastpiece for making decisions—the work of a skilled craftsman. Make it like
the ephod: of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted
linen. It is to be square—a span long and a span wide—and folded double. Then mount
four rows of precious stones on it. In the first row there shall be a ruby, a
topaz and a beryl; in the second row a turquoise, a sapphire and an emerald; in
the third row a jacinth, an agate and an amethyst; in the fourth row a
chrysolite, an onyx and a jasper. Mount them in gold filigree settings. There
are to be twelve stones, one for each of the names of the sons of Israel, each
engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes.”
"For the breastpiece
make braided chains of pure gold, like a rope. Make two gold rings for it and
fasten them to two corners of the breastpiece. Fasten the two gold chains to
the rings at the corners of the breastpiece, and the other ends of the chains
to the two settings, attaching them to the shoulder pieces of the ephod at the
front. Make two gold rings and attach them to the other two corners of the
breastpiece on the inside edge next to the ephod. Make two more gold rings and
attach them to the bottom of the shoulder pieces on the front of the ephod,
close to the seam just above the waistband of the ephod. The rings of the
breastpiece are to be tied to the rings of the ephod with blue cord, connecting
it to the waistband, so that the breastpiece will not swing out from the ephod.’
"Whenever Aaron
enters the Holy Place, he will bear the names of the sons of Israel over his
heart on the breastpiece of decision as a continuing memorial before the Lord.
Also put the Urim and the Thummim in the breastpiece, so they may be over
Aaron's heart whenever he enters the presence of the Lord. Thus Aaron will
always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart
before the Lord."
OTHER PRIESTLY GARMENTS
"Make the robe of the
ephod entirely of blue cloth, with an opening for the head in its center. There
shall be a woven edge like a collar around this opening, so that it will not
tear. Make pomegranates of blue, purple and scarlet yarn around the hem of the
robe, with gold bells between them. The gold bells and the pomegranates are to
alternate around the hem of the robe. Aaron must wear it when he ministers. The
sound of the bells will be heard when he enters the Holy Place before the Lord
and when he comes out, so that he will not die.”
"Make a plate of pure
gold and engrave on it as on a seal: HOLY TO THE LORD. Fasten a blue cord to it
to attach it to the turban; it is to be on the front of the turban. It will be
on Aaron's forehead, and he will bear the guilt involved in the sacred gifts
the Israelites consecrate, whatever their gifts may be. It will be on Aaron's
forehead continually so that they will be acceptable to the Lord.”
"Weave the tunic of
fine linen and make the turban of fine linen. The sash is to be the work of an
embroiderer. Make tunics, sashes and headbands for Aaron's sons, to give them
dignity and honor. After you put these clothes on your brother Aaron and his
sons, anoint and ordain them. Consecrate them so they may serve Me as priests.”
"Make linen
undergarments as a covering for the body, reaching from the waist to the thigh.
Aaron and his sons must wear them whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting or
approach the altar to minister in the Holy Place, so that they will not incur
guilt and die.”
"This is to be a
lasting ordinance for Aaron and his descendants."
Exodus 25:9-40 through
Chapter 28
This ends this reading
from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
In the opening verses of
Exodus, chapter 25, we saw God command Moses, the leader of the Israelites, to
collect an offering of materials that would be used to construct the
tabernacle, the portable worship center they would carry on their journey to
Canaan. As we see in today’s lengthy scripture passage, Moses begins to receive
instructions from the Lord on building the tabernacle as well as guidelines to
appoint and ordain priests.
As we see, this guidance
spans four entire chapters as God discusses the following parts of the tabernacle
and their respective purposes:
1. The Ark would house the
"ark of the Testimony” which would contain the stone tablets inscribed by
God’s finger with the Ten Commandments.
2. The Table would serve
as a platform for "the bread of the Presence" which would always “be
before” the Lord.
3. The Lampstand would be
used to "keep the lamps burning before the Lord from evening until
morning", using the oil the Israelites were expected to provide.
4. The Tabernacle itself would
be used to hold the "ark of the Testimony" and provide a place of worship.
5. The Altar would provide
a place for the people to bring their offerings to God.
6. The Courtyard was
designed to provide separation between the Israelites and the holy presence of
God.
7. The Priestly Garments,
including the ephod and breastpiece, would ensure that God’s chosen spiritual
leader, the priest, would be adorned in splendor and honor as he provided
spiritual leadership to God’s people and directly represented them before Him.
After reading through all
these guidelines, I believe there are five key points we should remember when
it comes to our Lord. They are as follows:
1. God expects attention to detail.
Notice how His
instructions are very concise and precise. There is little left to interpretation
and the people of Israel were expected to build exactly per His specifications.
This is God’s expectation
for us in all matters, especially as it applies to His will and Word. He
expects us to pay attention to the details of how we live and strictly carry
out His instructions without compromise with the leading of the Holy Spirit.
2. God gives everything a purpose.
We should see that each
individual item that Israel was to build had its own specific function but when
combined, they came together to form a holy place of worship.
Likewise, each of us has
our own special purpose as well. We each function within the body of Christ
using the unique gifts He has given us but we are a part of a greater whole, a
whole comprised of all believers who through their collective gifts are used
for a greater good.
In other words, we’re far
stronger, powerful, and effective for the cause of Christ when we’re together instead
of acting alone.
3. When God gives guidance, He doesn’t expect anyone
to cut corners or make modifications.
God gave the following
direction to the Israelites:
"See that you make them (i.e. everything He
commanded) according to the pattern shown you on the mountain."
The same applies to us as
we live our lives in obedience to God. We’re expected to conform our lives to
His standards and we only get in trouble when we modify God’s word to fit our
desires.
Consider these words from
Deuteronomy:
"So be careful to do what the Lord your God has
commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Walk in all the
way that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper
and prolong your days in the land that you will possess." Deuteronomy
5:32-33
Jesus said that the way to
life was narrow (Matthew 7:14) and if we follow Him and live as He did we’ll
stay on it. Conversely, sinning will only lead us astray as we “turn aside to
the right or to the left”. We can’t afford not to “walk in the way that the
Lord” has “commanded”. Our spiritual prosperity depends on it.
4. God wants us to ensure that we use the right
materials.
Throughout this passage, God
gave clear instruction about the materials the Israelites were supposed to use
and how they were to use them. As we saw in yesterday’s message, these
materials were to be of the highest possible quality so to construct the Lord’s
worship place.
God gives us His best and
we are to do the same in return.
5. Use your talent and ability to carry out God’s will
and glorify Him.
One can have all the
materials and blueprints in the world but they would be pretty useless without
skilled workers to take them and make them into something worthwhile. As we see
in this passage, God’s glorious place of worship would involve the work of many
people with a variety of skill specialties. No one person would get it done by
themselves.
As briefly mentioned
before, God has blessed every believer with skills, skills they are to use for His
glory. No one is without something they can use for the Lord’s service and what’s
amazing about this is that He has purposed each and every one of us to use His
gifts in a certain way.
How do we find ourselves
to that way?
By seeking Him daily in prayer,
reading and meditating over His Word, and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us.
In all these ways, we can allow the Lord to reveal His purposes for our life
and how we should use our talents to achieve them.
Given all this, some
questions to ponder:
Have you realized what
God’s purpose is for your life?
Have you identified the
gifts He has placed within you?
How well are you carrying
out God’s guidance?
and
How acutely sensitive are
you to attention to detail when it comes to obedience to the Lord’s word and
way?
Friends, you need to know
and trust that God has a specific plan for your life and He wants to use you in
powerful ways within His kingdom here on earth. All you need to do is to surrender
yourself to His will, word and way and submit to the direction of His Holy
Spirit, not allowing yourself to be corrupted by the ways of the world that
might lead you to compromise.
For when it comes to our
God, it’s all about the details and He expects that we follow them without
deviation.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS:
Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might
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