Exodus draws to a close. A couple things happen here: firstly, the tabernacle is assembled. Secondly, God's presence comes down and fills it.
It was to be set up on the first day of the first month.
The ark was the first to be placed in it, and then shielded with the curtain.
The table was second, and everything was brought out that was supposed to be on it.
Then the lampstand and its lamps.
The gold altar of incense was to be set up in front of the ark, and then the entrance curtain to the tabernacle.
The altar of burnt offering was set up in front of the entrance to the tabernacle. The basin was to be set up between the altar and the entrance. Then the courtyard was to be set up around it, and then the curtain to the entrance of the courtyard was to be put in place. It was set up from the inside out, kind of like putting all your furniture in place on your property, and then putting a house around it.
The anointing oil was next, and it was used to consecrate all the furnishings in the tabernacle, to make them holy.
Then Aaron was brought in, and washed up. He was dress in the garments, and then anointed, as were his sons.
The Bible says Moses set it all up, but I bet he probably had some help. After all, some were made to be carried by four people, with the acacia poles and all that. Every single thing here was done as God commanded him. In fact, that phrase, "as the LORD commanded him" is repeated several times, after just about every action.
In verse 33, it says that Moses set up the courtyard around the tabernacle and put up the curtain. And Moses finished the work. It was complete.
God's presence physically manifested itself by a cloud. It filled the tent of Meeting, so Moses could not enter it. This was how the Israelites knew when to stay put and when to move on. When the cloud does not lift off the Tent of Meeting, it was time to stay. When the cloud lifted off, it was time to go. By day, a cloud. By night, fire in the cloud. And every Israelite saw it. I always thought that it was a cloud of fire (which my Sunday School teacher said), not that there was fire in the cloud, which the Bible seems to indicate.
So, Exodus is done. I am looking forward to more great poetry and stories in Leviticus!
Showing posts with label Tabernacle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tabernacle. Show all posts
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Ex. 36: Construction Begins
Chapter 36 reveals a few things about talents. These things are gifts from God. He gives the skill and ability to know how to do things. Is it that God needs people to do things for Him? I hardly think that's the point. Then what is the point of these skills and abilities? To be able to function in society to accomplish things and create and contribute? Or to simply ... simply glorify God with it? Could that be the sole reason? I believe it.
God doesn't require more than the offering He requests in verse 6 through Moses that no one is to bring more than is necessary. Is He a God of excess? Not so far. He requires our adequacy. No less, but no more. Amazing here is that the giving of the people had to be restrained. Israel is a nation of overdoing it. Were they overcompensating for their behavior while Moses was on Mount Sinai the first 40 days? The cynic in me says yes, but the word says that this was all a free will offering. All that was required to do the work had been gathered. There was no reason to add. It would have been extraneous. And extra stuff serves no purpose.
Exodus 36:8-38 describes in slightly finer detail the construction of the tabernacle, first described to Moses on the mountain in Exodus 26. We get a little better detail when it comes how stuff fits together, and how it is assembled. There wasn't any deviation. It would have been easy to cut cubits, but everything was made according to specifications. There was no reason to deviate and do what the craftsmen themselves wanted. Everything had a purpose.
God doesn't require more than the offering He requests in verse 6 through Moses that no one is to bring more than is necessary. Is He a God of excess? Not so far. He requires our adequacy. No less, but no more. Amazing here is that the giving of the people had to be restrained. Israel is a nation of overdoing it. Were they overcompensating for their behavior while Moses was on Mount Sinai the first 40 days? The cynic in me says yes, but the word says that this was all a free will offering. All that was required to do the work had been gathered. There was no reason to add. It would have been extraneous. And extra stuff serves no purpose.
Exodus 36:8-38 describes in slightly finer detail the construction of the tabernacle, first described to Moses on the mountain in Exodus 26. We get a little better detail when it comes how stuff fits together, and how it is assembled. There wasn't any deviation. It would have been easy to cut cubits, but everything was made according to specifications. There was no reason to deviate and do what the craftsmen themselves wanted. Everything had a purpose.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Ex. 26: The Tabernacle
Chapter 26 describes how the tabernacle will be made. As I read through this chapter, suddenly all the offerings make sense from chapter 25. The linen, the thread, the acacia, the metals. All of them are used for something.
There are a lot of loops and clasps and things like that.
All of this would be very confusing without a visual, which I don't have, but there are a lot of good online diagrams, and if anyone knows of an especially good one, I'd like to see it.
I am struck by how ornate and exacting the specifications are for the tabernacle. Obviously this was something of great symbolism. Great intrinsic value.
God didn't require something huge and palatial. This was something simple, and relatively small, in which God could meet with his people. Also, it appears as though it could be easily and quickly dismantled, suggesting that his people were not done travelling yet.
There appeared to be a place, a holy place, and a most holy place. The ark was to be placed in the most holy place. The table was to be on the north side, and across from it, the lampstand on the south side. The holy places were toward the east.
For now, all I have is this description of the tabernacle of God. I wonder why such specific instructions for something so seemingly simple?
There are a lot of loops and clasps and things like that.
All of this would be very confusing without a visual, which I don't have, but there are a lot of good online diagrams, and if anyone knows of an especially good one, I'd like to see it.
I am struck by how ornate and exacting the specifications are for the tabernacle. Obviously this was something of great symbolism. Great intrinsic value.
God didn't require something huge and palatial. This was something simple, and relatively small, in which God could meet with his people. Also, it appears as though it could be easily and quickly dismantled, suggesting that his people were not done travelling yet.
There appeared to be a place, a holy place, and a most holy place. The ark was to be placed in the most holy place. The table was to be on the north side, and across from it, the lampstand on the south side. The holy places were toward the east.
For now, all I have is this description of the tabernacle of God. I wonder why such specific instructions for something so seemingly simple?
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Ex. 25: Bring Me Neat Stuff!
God tells Moses to receive (not collect...hmm) the following offerings from the people of Israel.
Furnishings
The ark was the first furnishing described by the LORD for His tabernacle. What I find very interesting here is that God knows exactly what he wants here. He gives such specific instructions that they are essentially idiot-proof. Between the cherubim on the cover of the ark will be the place where God sits to meet with Moses and give his commands to the Israelites.
- Gold, silver and bronze
- Blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen
- Goat hair
- Ram skins dyed red and hides of sea cows
- Acacia wood
- Olive oil for the light
- Spices for anointing oil and fragrant incense
- Gemstones (Onyx specifically) to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece.
Furnishings
The ark was the first furnishing described by the LORD for His tabernacle. What I find very interesting here is that God knows exactly what he wants here. He gives such specific instructions that they are essentially idiot-proof. Between the cherubim on the cover of the ark will be the place where God sits to meet with Moses and give his commands to the Israelites.
- Made of acacia wood
- 2.5 cubits (3.75 feet) long, 1.5 cubits (2.25 feet) wide, and 1.5 cubits (2.25 feet) tall
- Overlaid with gold inside and out, with a gold molding around it (God is not without a sense of style)
- Cast four gold rings and fasten them to its four feet, 2 rings on one side, 2 on the other.
- Cut two acacia poles, overlay with gold, and pass them through the rings to carry the ark. The poles are not to be removed ever.
- An atonement cover of pure gold: 2.5 cubits (3.75 feet) long, 1.5 cubits (2.25 feet) wide
- Make two cherubim (angels) out of hammered gold, attached on either end, facing each other, with their wings spread up and out, shadowing the cover.
- the Testimony...God's covenant
- Made of acacia wood
- 2 cubits (3 feet) long, 1 cubit (18 inches) wide, 1.5 cubits (2.25 feet) tall. Not huge. About sofa table size.
- Overlaid with pure gold, with a gold molding around it.
- Around it, a rim a handbreadth (3 in.) wide, with a gold molding on that as well.
- Again, four gold rings, and gold overlaid acacia poles just like the ark...for carrying
- Dishes (plates, bowls, pitchers, etc) out of pure gold as well.
- One piece: Base, stand, branches and cups.
- Six branches off the center stand: 3 on the left, 3 on the right.
- A cup on each branch: Shaped like almond flowers, with buds and blossoms
- Seven lamps on it, with wick trimmers and trays of pure gold.
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