Exodus 36

 

The LORD put wisdom and understanding in the wise-hearted to know how to do the work

 

1 And Bezaleel and Aholiab worked, and every wise hearted man in whom the LORD put wisdom and understanding to know how to do all kinds 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 to do the work: 3 And they received from Moses all of the offering that the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, to make it all. And they still brought more free offerings to him every morning.

 

  • Job 38:36 Who has put wisdom inside man? Who has given understanding to the heart?

 

4 And all the skillful men that did all the work of the sanctuary, every man came from his work that they made; 5 and they spoke to 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 material they had was enough too make all the work, and too much. 8 And every wise hearted man among them that did the work of the tabernacle made ten curtains of fine linen, blue, purple, and scarlet: he made them with cherubim of skillful work. 9 The length of each curtain was 42 feet, and the width was six feet: the curtains were all of one size.

 

  • Exodus 29:46 that I may dwell among them: I am the LORD their God.
  • Ephesians 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
  • Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hears my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

 

10 And he joined five curtains one to another: and the other five curtains he joined one to another. 11 And he made loops of blue on the edge of one curtain from the selvedge in the joining: he made the outer edge of another curtain the same way, in the joining of the second. 12 He made fifty loops in one curtain, and he made fifty loops in the edge of the curtain that was in the joining of the second: the loops held one curtain to another. 13 And he made fifty clasps of gold and joined the curtains one to another with the clasps: so it became one tabernacle. 14 And he made curtains of goats’ hair for the tent over the tabernacle: he made eleven curtains. 15 The length of one curtain was 45 feet, and six feet was the width of one curtain: the eleven curtains were of one size. 16 And he joined five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves. 17 And he made fifty loops on the outer edge of the curtain at the joining, and he made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that joined the second. 18 And he made fifty clasps of brass to join the tent together, that it might be one.

 

  • ‘'That it might be one.’
  • That God’s dwelling place might be one.
  • God’s church is now His dwelling place and He wants it to be united but not at the expense of truth, right or holiness.
  • John 17:11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to you. Holy Father, guard through Your own name/person those whom You have given me, that they may be one, as we are.
  • John 17:22 And the glory which You gave me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

 

19 And he made a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of badgers’ skins above that. 20 And he made boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood, standing up. 21 The length of a board was fifteen feet, and each board was two and a quarter feet wide. 22 One board had two pegs, equally distant one from another: he made all the boards of the tabernacle like this. 23 And he made twenty boards for the south side of the tabernacle: 24 And he made forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for its two pegs, and two sockets under another board for its two pegs. 25 And he made twenty boards for the other side of the tabernacle, which is toward the north corner. 26 And their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.

 

  • 1Peter 1:18 For you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain way of life received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

 

27 And he made six boards for the west side of the tabernacle. 28 And he made two boards for the corners of the tabernacle in the two sides. 29 And they were joined at the top and the bottom to one ring: he did this to both of them in both corners. 30 So there were eight boards; and their sockets were sixteen sockets of silver, two sockets under every board. 31 And he made poles of acacia wood; five for the boards of one side of the tabernacle, 32 And five poles for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five poles for the boards of the tabernacle for the west side. 33 And he made the middle bar to shoot through the boards from one end to the other. 34 And he overlaid the boards with gold, and made rings of gold to be placed for the poles, and overlaid the poles with gold. 35 And he made a veil of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine linen: he made it with cherubim of skillful work. 36 And he made four pillars of acacia wood for it, and overlaid them with gold: their hooks were of gold; and he cast for them four sockets of silver.

 

  • The gold represented Deity and the wood represented humanity. Together they portrayed Jesus Christ as God become man to die for our sins displaying God’s infinite love for us.

 

37 And he made a hanging for the tabernacle door of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine linen, of needlework; 38 And its five pillars with their hooks: and he overlaid their tops and their hands width gold: but their five sockets were of brass.

 

  • Brass was the symbol for judgment, as illustrated by the bronze altar where the burnt offering was sacrificed, symbolizing Christ’s death as God’s judgment against our sins.
  • John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life.

 

                                              Exodus 37

 

God’s furniture was made by God’s people

 

1 And Bezaleel made the ark of acacia wood: it was 3 3/4 feet long, 2 1/4 feet wide and 2 1/4 feet high. 2 And he overlaid it with pure gold inside and outside, and made a crown of gold for it all around. 3 And he cast four rings of gold for it to be set at its four corners; two rings on one side, and two rings on the other side. 4 And he made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold. 5 And he put the poles into the rings at the sides of the ark to carry the ark.

 

  • God had commissioned Israel to take a freewill offering from the Israelites to build a movable house for God so that He could travel with the people.
  • Just as our homes often reflect our character by the design and furnishings, so too, God’s home reflected Him.
  • The ark was the main article of furniture.
  • Acacia wood was a beautiful hardwood of the desert resistant to disease and insects.
  • It is a perfect picture of he humanity of Jesus Christ because He resisted the corruption of sin.
  • Gold symbolized Deity because of its incorruptible worth throughout the centuries.
  • The wood overlaid with gold was a picture of God becoming man.
  • Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

 

6 And he made the mercy seat of pure gold: it was 3 3/4 feet long and 2 1/4 feet wide. 7 And he made two cherubim of gold on the two ends of the mercy seat, he made them beaten out of one piece; 8 One cherub on each end, made out of the mercy seat. 9 And the cherubim spread their wings on high, and covered the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces one to another; the faces of the cherubim were toward the center of the mercy seat.

 

  • The mercy seat was the lid for the Ark of the Covenant, a perfect fit.
  • The Ten Commandments written on the two stone tablets by God Himself were placed inside the Ark of the Covenant.
  • The mercy seat was placed on top.
  • Cherubim represented the attendants at God’s heavenly throne.
  • They are described in Ezekiel 1.
  • God met with the high priest from there.
  • The glory of God (described in Ezekiel 1) sat on the mercy seat inside the tabernacle. God met with His people from the mercy seat.
  • Exodus 25:22 And I will meet with you there, and I will commune with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony…

 

10 And he made the table of acacia wood: 3 feet long, 1 1/2 feet wide, and 2 1/4 feet high: 11 And he overlaid it with pure gold, and made a crown of gold around it. 12 He also made a rim about 3 inches wide attached along the edges of the table, with a gold molding around the rim. 13 And he cast four rings of gold for it, and put the rings on the four corners that were in its four feet. 14 The rings were against the border, the places for the poles to carry the table. 15 And he made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold to carry the table. 16 And he made the plates, dishes, bowls, and pitchers that were on the table and covers to cover them all of pure gold.

 

  • Unleavened bread was placed on this table.
  • The bread was called showbread, which means the bread of the face of His presence.
  • The face of God is the food of our hearts.
  • Psalm 11:7 The righteous LORD loves righteousness; his countenance beholds the upright.
  • Psalm 21:6 For you have made him most blessed forever: you have made him exceeding glad with Your countenance.
  • Psalm 16:11 You will show me the path of life: in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
  • John 6:35 And Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life: he that comes to me will never hunger; and he that believes on me will never thirst.

 

17 And he made the candlestick of pure gold; he made the candlestick of beaten work; its shaft, and its branch, its bowls, its wreaths, and its flowers, were of the same: 18 And six branches went out of its sides; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side and three branches of the candlestick out of its other side: 19 Three bowls shaped like almonds were in one branch with a wreath and a flower; and three bowls made like almonds in another branch with a wreath and a flower throughout the six branches going out of the candlestick. 20 And in the candlestick were four bowls made like almonds with wreaths and flowers: 21 And a wreath under two branches of the same, and a wreath under two branches of the same, and a wreath under two branches of the same, according to its six branches going out of it. 22 Their wreaths and their branches were of the same: all of it was one beaten work of pure gold. 23 And he made its seven lamps, and its snuffers, and its trays, of pure gold. 24 He made it and all its utensils from a talent of pure gold.

 

  • Jesus is the light of the world, of life, and of our hearts.
  • The candlestick was made of one piece of gold because God is three separate and distinct persons in One.
  • This lamp stand was the only light inside the tabernacle.
  • John 10:30 I and my Father are one.
  • 1John 1:5 This then is the message that we have heard of him and declare to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
  • John 8:12 Then spoke Jesus again to them saying, I am the light of the world: he that follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

 

25 And he made the incense altar of acacia wood: it was eighteen inches square and three feet high, its horns made were of the same. 26 And he overlaid it with pure gold, both its top, and its sides all around, and its horns: he also made a crown of gold for it all around. 27 And he made two rings of gold for it under its crown, by its two corners, on its two sides, to be places for the poles to carry it. 28 And he made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold.

 

  • The incense altar was placed just outside the veil that separated the holy place from the holy of holies or innermost place of God’s dwelling.
  • The incense on it represented prayers rising to God.
  • Revelation 8:4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.
  • Psalm 65:2O You that hear prayer, to you all flesh will come.

 

29 And he made the holy anointing oil, and the pure incense of sweet spices, according to the work of the apothecary.

 

  • The oil was a symbol of God the Holy Spirit.
  • John 15:26 But when the Comforter has come, whom I will send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will testify of me:
  • John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I do not go away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him to you.

 

                                             Exodus 38

 

1 And he made the altar of burnt offering from acacia wood: it was 7 1/2 feet long, and 7 1/2 feet wide; it was square; and 4 1/2 feet high. 2 And he made horns on the four corners of it; its horns were made of the same: and he overlaid it with bronze. 3 And he made all the utensils of the altar, the ash buckets, shovels, basins, meat hooks, and fire pans: he made all its utensils of bronze. 4 And he made a network of bronze grating for the altar that rested on a ledge halfway down into the firebox. 5 And he cast four rings for the four ends of the bronze grate, for the poles. 6 And he made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with bronze. 7 And he put the poles into the rings on the sides of the altar, to carry it; he made the altar hollow with boards.

 

  • Bronze was the symbol of judgment.
  • Innocent animals were tied to the horns of the altar and sacrificed as burnt offerings to the Lord.
  • They portrayed Christ’s death for the sins of the world.
  • Christ was judged in our place though completely innocent.
  • The whole tabernacle was a teaching tool to bring man back to God who is life.
  • John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming to him, and said, Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.
  • 2Corinthians 5:21 For he made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

 

8 And he made the basin of bronze, and its stand of bronze, from the mirrors of the serving women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

 

  • The basin was where they washed.
  • It symbolized God’s cleansing of man.
  • God has cleansed us so thoroughly by the death of Christ for our sins and His word in our hearts that we unholy beings are free to enter the presence of our infinitely holy Maker.
  • John 15:3Now you are clean through the word that I have spoken to you.

 

9 And he made the court: on the south side southward the hangings of the court were of finely twined linen, 150 feet: 10 Their were twenty pillars, and their twenty bronze sockets; the hooks of the pillars and their clasps were of silver. 11 And for the north side the hangings were 150 feet, their were twenty pillars, and their twenty sockets of bronze; the hooks of the pillars and their clasps were of silver. 12 And for the west side were hangings of 75 feet, their ten pillars, and their ten sockets; the hooks of the pillars and their clasps of silver. 13 And for the east side eastward 75 feet. 14 The hangings of the one side of the gate were 22.5 feet; their three pillars, and their three sockets. 15 And on both sides of the gate of the court were hangings of 22.5 feet; their three pillars, and their three sockets. 16 All the hangings surrounding the court were of fine linen. 17 And the sockets for the pillars were of bronze; the hooks of the pillars and their clasps of silver; and the overlaying of their heads of silver; and all the pillars of the court were clasped with silver. 18 And the hanging for the gate of the court was needlework of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen: 35 feet long and 7 1/2 feet high, matching the hangings of the court. 19 And there were four pillars and four bronze sockets; their hooks were of silver, and the overlaying of their heads and their clasps of silver. 20 And all the tent pegs of the tabernacle and of the surrounding court were of bronze.

 

  • Silver symbolized redemption.
  • We are joined or held to God by the work of Jesus Christ.
  • The gate covering was 35 feet long and 7.5 feet tall.
  • The blue represented heaven, the purple represented royalty, and the scarlet, blood, the price God paid to make us His, the precious blood of His Son.
  • This should make us all feel so loved that we are never lonely…ever!
  • 1Peter 1:18 you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your empty lifestyle received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and without spot:

 

21 This is the inventory of the materials used to build the tabernacle, the tabernacle of testimony, as it was counted, according to the commandment of Moses, for the service of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, son to Aaron the priest. 22 And Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made all that the LORD commanded Moses. 23 And with him was Aholiab, son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver, and a skillful workman, and an embroiderer in blue, and in purple, and in scarlet, and fine linen.

 

  • God had given Moses full, detailed instructions.
  • God chose the craftsmen and gave them the wisdom and skill to do the work (Exodus 28:3, 31:2).

24 All the gold used for the work in all the work of the sanctuary was the gold of the wave offering: 29 talents, and 730 shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary. 25 And the silver that were numbered of the congregation was 100 talents, and 1,775 shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary: 26 A bekah for every man, that is, half a shekel, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for every one that went to be numbered from twenty years old and upward, for 603,550 men. 27 And from the hundred talents of silver the sockets of the sanctuary were cast, and the sockets of the veil; a hundred sockets of the hundred talents, a talent for a socket. 28 And from the 1,775 shekels he made hooks for the pillars, and overlaid their heads, and joined them. 29 And the bronze of the offering was seventy talents, and 2,400 shekels. 30 And with it he made the sockets to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the bronze altar, and the bronze grate for it, and all the utensils of the altar, 31 And the sockets of the court round about, and the sockets of the court gate, and all the pins of the tabernacle, and all the pins of the court round about.

 

  • A talent is 3000 shekels or 125 pounds.
  • So the gold of the tabernacle weighed 3,625 pounds, a portable Fort Knox.
  • The silver weighed 125,000 pounds plus 1,765 shekels.
  • The shekel is the main unit of currency in Israel today.
  • Each socket was 125 pounds.
  • The tabernacle was an astonishing piece of workmanship directed and inspired by God.
  • The value of it was beyond measure as should be the dwelling place for the Creator of the universe as He dwelt among and traveled with His people.
  • Every small detail taught an important truth to the people.
  • They didn’t have a complete Bible.
  • Since the day of Pentecost God lives in the hearts of His people through His Holy Spirit..
  • Ephesians 3:17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

 

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SUMMARY: Exodus 36-38

 

  • The LORD put wisdom and understanding in their hearts to do the work
  • God's furniture was made by His people