Lord’s Day, Vol. 11 No. 21
Building the Tabernacle
- Exodus 35:30-35; 36:1-8
INTRODUCTION
The presence of God with His people finds its first fulfilment in the Tabernacle of God which was built in the wilderness of Sinai at 1445 B.C.
34 Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 35 And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 36 And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys: 37 But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up. 38 For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys. (Exod. 40:34-38 KJV)
What comfort, consolation and cheer to experience the physical presence of God’s care so literally visible to bless their journey.
The man Moses, whom God called to deliver Israel out of Egypt, spent 40 days and 40 nights at Mount Sinai at the behest of God, receiving the tablets of the Ten Commandments, and the blueprint for the construction of the Tabernacle of God.
Today, we do have not the Tabernacle or the Temple to visibly behold the presence and glory of God but God dwells with us by His Spirit. He is with us bodily. God is indeed abiding in every born-again believer, albeit, invisible.
The Apostle Paul brought this truth to the church in Corinth when he said, “19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” (1 Cor. 6:19 KJV)
Our privileged position as God’s people is further explained by the Apostle Peter when he said:
5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (1 Pet. 2:5 KJV)
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (1 Pet. 2:9 KJV)
The coming of Jesus Christ, the exact representation of God, in the human body, was the climax and fullness of God’s revelation to mankind. He was the living Tabernacle of God who walked the streets and highways of the Promised Land. Jesus lived a perfect life fulfilling all the laws of God, and He was crucified on the cross to heal sinful men from the disease of sin of which the result is death, and most miserably eternal death. Jesus shed His blood to wash away our sins and died on our behalf to bear the punishment for our sins, so that we may be reconciled to God. Jesus rose from the dead three days after He died, victorious over sin and death on the cross, giving all who repent of their sins, eternal life. Our “blessed hope” is absent in the body, present with God in heaven. This is the assurance that we have in Jesus Christ.
As the writer of Hebrews so wonderfully explained:
19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And having an high priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Heb. 10:19-25 KJV)
This is why we gather for worship on the Lord’s Day, it is a foretaste of heavenly worship. And the appointed way but which His people are sanctified and encouraged.
We rehearse the history of the Hebrew nation so that we are not ignorant of the work of God in the midst of mankind and that we can be a good witness for Him of the faith that is in us.
Paul Keine observed well, “For about 500 years services were performed in this tabernacle by the priests who were from the family of Aaron. These services consisted of the presentation of the many offerings and worshipful homage through the burning of holy incense before the Lord. This tent was also the place God manifested Himself, where He proclaimed His thoughts and council through Moses: “I will commune with thee from above the mercy-seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony.”
We have been exhorted to do our daily devotions. This quiet time of communion with God in the Spirit is our presentation of offering and worshipful homage through our prayers (the burning of holy incense) before the Lord. May we understand our privileged position as God’s people.
Israel’s mission as a nation was to point the nations of the world to come and worship the living and true God. The very presence of God gave them credence to the world that they are God’s people. What privilege.
The church of Jesus Christ is given this commission to be witnesses for the living and true God to a dying world. We are a holy nation, as the Apostle Peter instructed us, as God’s representatives on earth to point men and women to know the living and true God by the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Christ’s commandment for the church given in Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
In what way do we build the Tabernacle of God in our time? By building our lives strong in the Lord and being a living tabernacle for God in our time.
In the construction of the Tabernacle, there were two elements needful.
- (1) Spirit-Filled Skillful Workmen
- (2) Willing Offering of God’s People
(1) Spirit-Filled Skillful Workmen
30 And Moses said unto the children of Israel, See, the LORD hath called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; 31 And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship; 32 And to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, 33 And in the cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of wood, to make any manner of cunning work. 34 And he hath put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. 35 Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work, of the engraver, and of the cunning workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of them that do any work, and of those that devise cunning work. 36:1 Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom the LORD put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the LORD had commanded. 2 And Moses called Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whose heart the LORD had put wisdom, even every one whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it:
God raised skilful workmen for the construction of the Tabernacle. They were filled with the Spirit of God to implement the blueprint for the construction of the Tabernacle. There was Bezaleel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.
He was filled with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship.
What a blessing! The spiritual man can accomplish much for God. God endows such a consecrated vessel so that His work can progress.
Our Lord Jesus, when He was on earth, described the rigours of the work and the need for the raising labourers for His vineyard, instructing His disciples to pray.
Matthew 9:35-38 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
Our Lord’s example, the example par excellence, of a Spirit-filled life is for our learning and emulation. Jesus came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance (v13), the people laughed at Him to scorn. They made fun of him but Jesus continued the work that His Father has entrusted to Him. How did Jesus accomplish this work of soul-winning? We can glean from verses 35-38, it is hard work (v35), it is heart work (v36) and it is Holy Spirit-led Work (v37-38).
The adjective “all” and “every” is used three times to describe the scope of Jesus’ work, it is comprehensive. He covered the grounds and left no corner of cities and villages not evangelized. It is demanding physically speaking. Jesus set for us the example, “How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (Rom. 10:15b cf. Isa. 52:7).
The principal activities were preaching and praying. He was spreading the good news of the gospel. He preached the word to all who are willing to listen. Jesus also taught. He showed them the true sense of the laws of God in Matthew 5-7. How do we live our lives in the light of God’s Word that will bring God’s blessings?
He also healed the sick. We see this in Matthew 8-9. These mighty works authenticated Jesus’ credentials as the Messiah King. Today, we do not possess such supernatural power of miracle healing but we can pray for the needs of those we meet, acknowledging that power comes from God, and we submit ourselves to His sovereign power and will to heal.
Our Lord went about all the cities and villages and He was among the people. We can imagine the picture of weariness and toil in the work of the gospel. It required physical, mental and spiritual endurance.
Our Lord demonstrated to us this commitment by His excellent example for our emulation.
The hard work was undergirded with a resolve and purposeful determination in the heart to this gospel work despite setbacks. Matthew described by two verbs, Jesus “saw” and “moved with compassion”. Jesus is able to read the hearts to see the burdens in the hearts of the multitude. There was sorrow, grief, affliction, trouble, and sin that was in the heart of these. He was not thinking about Himself and His interest but He had in mind their interest and welfare.
This unconditional and sacrificial love is God’s power flowing into the life of God’s children. It comes as an overflow of the Holy Spirit’s power in the believer’s heart. It comes because the child of God has been touched by God’s love. Jesus demonstrated the greatness of this love in His ministry on earth. For us who are saved, it is a love that flows out of gratitude and indebtedness. We have been forgiven much, though undeserved. Unless we realize our lost estate and experience in our hearts reconciliation with God by the finished work of Christ on the cross, we cannot live out this love. It keeps us humble and loving.
In this verse, we see the great value of lost souls in the heart of our Lord.
Jesus utilized farming imagery to help us to see the urgency of the work. When the farmer first sows, there is a season of cultivation, where he waters and fertilizes.
But when harvest time comes, the entire field is ready at the same time. This is the picture of the harvest that Jesus wants us to see. It is urgent to reap quickly the fruits of the harvest before they turn bad before the birds come and the worms and insects come to feed on them. He is showing us the vast field of work still undone.
Jesus urged His disciples to pray, for no man by himself can discharge this work unless the Lord raises him or her up and endows him with the strength and ability to go forth. There is a great number of people who needs instruction but there are few able to instruct these poor people in the ways of righteousness and truth. Pray the Lord by His Spirit would call and commission more to serve in this ripe harvest field.
We are instructed to be Spirit-filled, walking with God to accomplish His will.
Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
(2) Willing Offering of God’s People
3 And they received of Moses all the offering, which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, to make it withal. And they brought yet unto him free offerings every morning. 4 And all the wise men, that wrought all the work of the sanctuary, came every man from his work which they made; 5 And they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the LORD commanded to make. 6 And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing. 7 For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much. 8 And every wise hearted man among them that wrought the work of the tabernacle made ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work made he them.
For the advancement of God’s work, there must be the willing offering of God’s people. The children of Israel brought unto Moses free offerings every morning. So much that there was much more than was needed for building work.
Indeed, as we mentioned, the materials were given by God to the children of Israel, as spoils from the Egyptians. They were instructed to be good stewards. And they responded readily to the call.
What a wonderful example. Recall they were building the golden calf when Moses had been up on the Mount.
This was healed when the golden calf was destroyed and the perpetrators were dealt with by God. There was renewal when the children of Israel repented of their idolatry and made right with God.
Malachi 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
Recall, Moses was instructed to remove himself from the midst of the people and pitched his tent outside the camp and the repentant of God’s people came out of the camp to seek the right way forward for themselves.
Indeed, there was no withholding but they people willingly offered to the Lord. What great blessing to see the fervency of spirit in their service for the Lord.
Recall the Apostle Paul’s prayer that God’s people in Philippi abound in their love yet more and more in knowledge and judgment. They may rally together for the cause of God in the advancement of the gospel in understanding the will of God and to do it so that they will receive the blessed reward of faithful service when the Lord comes again.
Philippians 1:9-11 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
CONCLUSION
May the Lord renew a right spirit within us and bless our service for Him. Amen.
Yours lovingly,
Pastor Lek Aik Wee