In the Presence of God

Series on Exodus

VIII. The Covering of God’s People

A. Preparation of the Tabernacle and B Purpose of the Tabernacle

Texts: 25:1-9, 30:11-16, 31:1-11, 35:4-36:38, 38:21-31

Title: In the Presence of God

Introduction

We come now to a section of Exodus which has to do with the worship of Israel. This worship was prescribed by God and it centered around a place of worship called the tabernacle. The tabernacle was a portable tent of intricate design and complexity which Israel carried along in the wilderness. We should not miss the big picture here. I have called this section the covering of God’s people because covering is the Old Testament word for atonement. The worship of the tabernacle was a means of approaching a holy God. It was therefore an exhibition of God’s grace. Along with the law which condemns, God gave a way of approach which prefigured or typified Christ who is the only way to God. In this study we are looking at the preparation and purpose of the tabernacle. You will notice that this covers two points in your outline because they are so intertwined. Many things are referenced in several different places in the book of Exodus. One thing we should realize is that there is significant duplication of material in the book because we often have Moses being instructed by the Lord or giving instructions to the people, and then a repetition of the material as the message is delivered or the project is carried out. So as we look at the worship of the tabernacle we will be referring to different parts of the book. The preparation and purpose of the tabernacle which is our theme for tonight involves the warrant, the willingness, and the work in the construction of the tabernacle.

I The Warrant for the Construction

We find the warrant in Exodus 25:8 and 9, Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you. God has commissioned Moses to receive offerings for the building of the tabernacle. We note that the tabernacle was not Moses’ idea nor a proposal made by the people. In our time the architectural form of church buildings is optional because church buildings are not necessary. The tabernacle however was prescribed by God because its purpose was the proper worship of God in their midst. It was to be made exactly like the pattern which God gave to Moses in the mount. This first section is an account of what God told to Moses in the mount in 24:10 and following. There are several reasons why this place of worship had to be constructed exactly as God said. First of all it was God’s dwelling. The New Testament makes clear that we are now God’s dwelling, or God’s house, Hebrews 3:6, But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast. However, even though the infinite, eternal and unchanging God cannot dwell in temples made with hands, in Old Testament times he was pleased to manifest his presence locally in the tabernacle and the temple. Such a house being his house must be built according to his directions. Secondly as a place of worship it must be built as God said because God can only be worshiped in the precise and exact manner he has prescribed. In worship we are those who serve, God is the one being served. We are the performers and God is the audience. The regulative principle of worship is what we call it. It is a foolish and mistaken idea that God may be worshiped in a way that pleases us. Worship must please Him. Thirdly the tabernacle had redemptive historical significance. It was to serve not only for the people then and there but as a type of Christ, the one who was to come. Consequently since the new covenant was being pictured in the ordinances of the tabernacle it was most necessary that it be built exactly as God said. You will note in chap. 39:32-43 a description of all that had been done being inspected by Moses and the conclusion is it was done just as the Lord commanded.

II The Willingness for the Construction.

The people participated in the construction of the tabernacle first of all by giving. in 25:2 we have the first mention of the fact that this offering was commanded, but each was to give from his heart, Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from each man whose heart prompts him to give. In chapter 35 we have a more complete list of the offerings as they were brought and it is made very clear that these offerings were free will offerings. The total value in today’s terms is difficult to calculate but it probably exceeded a million dollars by our standards. 35: 22-29, All who were willing, men and women alike, came and brought gold jewelry of all kinds: brooches, earrings, rings and ornaments. They all presented their gold as a wave offering to the LORD. Everyone who had blue, purple or scarlet yarn or fine linen, or goat hair, ram skins dyed red or hides of sea cows brought them. Those presenting an offering of silver or bronze brought it as an offering to the LORD, and everyone who had acacia wood for any part of the work brought it. Every skilled woman spun with her hands and brought what she had spun-blue, purple or scarlet yarn or fine linen. And all the women who were willing and had the skill spun the goat hair. The leaders brought onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece. They also brought spices and olive oil for the light and for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense. All the Israelite men and women who were willing brought to the LORD freewill offerings for all the work the LORD, through Moses, had commanded them to do There is an interesting note about this freewill giving in chapter 36:4-7, So all the skilled craftsmen who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left their work and said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the LORD commanded to be done.” Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: “No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.” And so the people were restrained from bringing more, because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work. There is a kind of purity in this which was never repeated. When the temple was built by Solomon there was trading, and negotiations, and conscription of workers, but you don’t see the participation of the people in the same way. It is evident that the Spirit was moving the people in the construction of the tabernacle. However, there was one exception to this that is recorded in chapter 30 where there was a census and everyone had to pay a redemption tax because the Lord had delivered them. it was called atonement money-and was a ransom for each life. The tax was the same for the rich and the poor. Even if a man did not give willingly he would still have to pay this tax. You see the tabernacle was for everyone and the services would benefit everyone. The means of atonement provided in the worship of the tabernacle was for every Israelite. It was therefore vital that everyone have a part however small in the the giving. It was but a token, but a very important token that the provision of salvation symbolized in the tabernacle was necessary for each person. All were sinners and all needed to be redeemed.

III The Work of Construction

The people also participated in the actual work of construction. We see, first of all, in chapter 31:1-6 how God equipped certain men to be the leaders in this construction, Then the LORD said to Moses, “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship. Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given skill to all the craftsmen to make everything I have commanded you.” As someone has noted, the Israelites were bricklayers in Egypt, and they had been there for over four centuries. It is hard to imagine that all the skills necessary would have been present in any individual. It is probably also true that the men God chose to be leaders had some natural abilities which were latent, but it required a supernatural equipping for them to be able to do what was required in the construction. Bezalel and Oholiab were not the only ones gifted, because God gave skill to all the craftsmen. Throughout chapters 35 and 36 we have references made to the multiplicity of talents that were employed in the construction: designers, embroiderers, weavers, carpenters, carvers, metal workers in gold, silver and bronze, and jewelers , and Bezalel and Oholiab were able to teach others as well. This work of the Spirit is a parallel to what Paul talks about in Romans 12 and I Corinthians 12. In Romans 12:3-8 Paul writes, For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. The gifts are different because the tabernacle or temple is different. The New Testament temple consists of living stones, and in the construction of this temple there are those who are especially gifted, but it is God’s doing and the work of the Holy Spirit. We should also remind ourselves that it was not just two men but many who possessed special gifts for working on the tabernacle, and remember that God is able to bring out talents we didn’t know we had. Above all we need to notice that the people were devoted to this task. They were preoccupied with doing what God commanded and gave it top priority in their lives. Later they would forget, but for now they belonged to the Lord.