SCRIPTURE: EXODUS 25
IMPORTANT VERSE:
“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.” (Exodus 25:2)
“Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.” (Exodus 25:8)
OFFERINGS FOR THE TABERNACLE (vs. 1-9)
The Lord said to Moses, “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. These are the offerings you are to receive from them: 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 the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense’; and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breast-piece.
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.
THE ARK (vs. 10-22)
“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 her. 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 forward to the top 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 (vs. 23-30)
“Make a table of acacia wood – two cubit 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 (vs. 31-40)
“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 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 to you on the mountain.
THOUGHTS (From Life Application Study Bible)
God gave directions for building the Tabernacle. It used high quality of the precious materials to make the Tabernacle. This shows God’s greatness and transcendence. It had curtains surrounding the Most Holy Place to show God’s moral perfection as symbolized by his separation from the common and unclean. The Tabernacle was portable to show God’s desire to be with the people as they traveled. The Tabernacle and its furniture was made of acacia wood. The wood was brownish-orange and very hard, making it an excellent material for furniture.
The cover of the Ark of the Covenant was called the atonement cover. This is where, between the two golden cherubim (mighty angels), the presence of God would dwell in a cloud above their outstretched wings. The atonement cover was where the highest and most perfect act of atonement would be made when the high priest would enter the Most Holy Place on the Day of Atonement to atone for the sins of all the people.
THOUGHTS: (By Warren Wiersbe)
God asked the people to bring Him their offerings. They were privileged to make a sanctuary for God. Today, when we build His church, do we use the best materials? Are you willing to give God for what He has given to you?
God gave Moses the pattern for the tabernacle just as He later gave David the pattern for the temple. When God wants a work done on earth, He has a plan for His people to follow. It is dangerous to turn from God’s plan and follow the wisdom of this world.
The ark was the throne of God in the Holy of Holies, and God’s glory dwelt between the cherubim on the mercy seat. Our mercy seat is in heaven and the way is always open to God.
The table reminds us that God is the source of our sustenance. The bread also speaks of the spiritual nourishment we have in His Word. The golden candlesticks tell us that “God is light” and that we are to be lights in this dark world. Just as the lamps were fed by the oil, so we must have the power of the Holy Spirit to be effective witnesses for the Lord.