Today's passage describes the careful construction of the Tabernacle, a "tent of meeting," that would serve as the site of the Israelites' communal worship. This Tabernacle replaces Moses's first tent of meeting and foreshadows the Temple in Jerusalem and, ultimately, heaven.
Although the specific terms for measurements and weights may sound foreign to us, it is clear that the people were careful to follow all that God had commanded them through Moses. The Israelites eagerly offer their gold, silver, yarn, and fine linen and their time and talents as well. It is fascinating to see how a people, who had given their gold jewelry only a few chapters earlier to the production of the golden calf, have now turned their focus to honoring the Lord through this Tabernacle, where He will meet with them. We also note how the craftsmen constructed these items for portability, placing poles in many items so that the Israelites might reconstruct the Tabernacle after God has led them elsewhere.
The Tabernacle is truly a celebration of God's presence. The people go forth with the building project with joy because they have seen God's presence. As Scott wrote yesterday, we should seek nothing greater than His presence. (On this Super Bowl Sunday, we are challenged by the reminder of the many idols in American life: sports, celebrity, sensual pleasure, food, and material possessions. How many of these idols will appear in a single half-hour of the game's broadcast today?)
We also witness a helpful picture of the ingredients for serving the Lord faithfully: the Lord equips the craftsmen for His work through sending the Holy Spirit, and they dedicate themselves to serving with diligence and excellence. This interaction of God's work and man's work results in a beautiful place for celebrating His presence. We must not rely only on ourselves to serve the Lord, but we can't stand idly by either.
Questions:
1. How can you offer your "craftsmanship" in excellence to the Lord this week? How can you honor Him with the talents He has given you?
2. How can you better celebrate God's presence?
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