Exodus 25-28
Ten Commands:
Sanctify, Unify, Bless
Psalm 14:1-4 Seek God
1.“The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt. They have done abominable works. There is none who does good.2.Yahweh looked down from heaven on the children of men, to see if there were any who did understand, who did seek after God.3.They have all gone aside. They have together become corrupt. There is none who does good, no, not one.4.Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and don't call on Yahweh?”Observations
14:1.Unless you are a self-caused being, it is more reasonable to believe in a Creator than not. Thus it is foolish to choose the unreasonable. (See 7 QUESTIONS and outlines on Truthbase.net in Resources below.)
14:3.
“gone aside” and “become corrupt” points to the move away from what's right. We're either headed uphill or sliding downward.
14:4.
Note that this is not a blanket condemnation of humanity, but of a group of evil doers who oppress God's people (see rest of the Psalm).
Application
Don't live like a practical atheist. Seek God, do good, call on Him.Jeremiah 29:13 You shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart.
Prayer
God, thanks that you promised I will find You when I seek You wholeheartedly. Amen.
Proverbs 4:14-16 Avoiding the Paths to Sin
14.“Don’t enter into the path of the wicked. Don’t walk in the way of evil men.15.Avoid it, and don’t pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on.16.For they don’t sleep, unless they do evil. Their sleep is taken away, unless they make someone fall.“Observation
4:14-16.If you don't walk down the path toward sin, you can't enter or fall in its traps. Therefore, don't follow the ways of the wicked, or you'll become wicked. The wise person will take preventative action to identify and avoid the entry points on the expressway to evil. If they find themselves near it or are caught unawares, they will turn from it and pass by it. The wicked actively do their master's will, compelled to make others like themselves. Don't even go near them.
Application
Identify the entrance or trigger points for sin (temptation) and avoid at all costs.
Prayer
God, give me insight into the paths to sin that I might be tempted by, and give me the grace to flee. Amen.
Exodus 25-28 Ten Commands: Sanctify, Unify, Bless
Lots of architectural and fashion details, which are elaborated later in the book. Some people devote more time than is wise speculating on the symbolism. We'll spend our time on the things God specifically states He wants us to believe and do. The Tabernacle was a portable temple (tent) which led Israel into the Promised Land. Eventually Solomon built a more permanent temple in Jerusalem.
Exodus 25 The Tabernacle
1.Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,2."Speak to the children of Israel, that they take an offering for me. From everyone whose heart makes him willing you shall take my offering.8.Let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.10."They shall make an ark11.You shall overlay it with pure gold. Inside and outside...16.You shall put the testimony which I shall give you into the ark.17.You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold...18.You shall make two cherubim of hammered gold..,20.The cherubim shall spread out their wings upward, covering the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces toward one another22.There I will meet with you, and I will tell you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the testimony, all that I command you for the children of Israel.23."You shall make a table24.overlay it with pure gold28.You shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be carried with them.29.You shall make its dishes, its spoons, its ladles, and its bowls to pour out offerings with. Of pure gold shall you make them30.You shall set bread of the presence on the table before me always.31."You shall make a lampstand...40.See that you make them after their pattern, which has been shown to you on the mountain."Observations
25:2. Giving for the tabernacle was a free-will response to God. They had the gold because they obeyed God in asking the Egyptians for it.2Cor 9:7 Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart; not grudgingly, or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver.
25:10. Note the order of importance, first place goes to the ark that would contain the testimony or covenant. The mercy seat, where they sprinkled the blood of certain sacrifices, was placed between the law and God. When He looked down upon the law and and saw that it was violated (rebellion punishable by death) He would see the blood covering over (atoning for) their sin until Christ could pay the actual penalty.
Hebrews 10:4 For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.
25:30.
The table on which was placed the bread, was followed by the lampstand, and then the tent/tabernacle itself in chapter 26.
The lampstand contained a talent of gold (75 pounds) worth over two million US dollars today. There is not a specific explanation of the meaning of the tabernacle table of bread and the lamp in Scripture, although bread and lampstands are mentioned. Decent explanations might be that the table of bread symbolized fellowship with God, since covenants were initiated and renewed with a meal. The covenant served as the basis of Israel being a light to the nations, a light resulting from their pure relationship with God, which was never to go out.
25:40.
Everything had gold rings, through which went gold covered poles to carry them. All had to be made as God showed Moses. Heb 9:23 says these are copies of the originals in the heavens.
Exodus 26 Mercy Seat
1."Moreover you shall make the tent30.You shall set up the tent according to the way that it was shown to you on the mountain.31."You shall make a veil...with cherubim. The work of the skillful workman shall it be made.33....and the veil shall separate the holy place from the most holy for you.34.You shall put the mercy seat on the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.35.You shall set the table outside the veil, and the lampstand..."Observation
26:33.The most holy place, in which was the ark of the covenant covered with the mercy seat, was separated, by a veil, from the holy place containing the table, bread, and lampstand.
Application
God gives to us so we can give to him.
Prayer
Lord, thanks that by Your mercy, I have a new heart. May I honor You with all my responses to Your goodness to me. Amen.
Exodus 27 Altar, Court, and Tent of Meeting
1."You shall make the altar of acacia wood...2....overlay it with brass.3.You shall make its pots to take away its ashes, its shovels, its basins, its flesh hooks, and its fire pans: all its vessels you shall make of brass.9.You shall make the court of the tent...20.You shall command the children of Israel, that they bring to you pure olive oil beaten for the light, to cause a lamp to burn continually.21.In the tent of meeting, outside the veil which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall keep it in order from evening to morning before Yahweh: it shall be a statute forever throughout their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel.Observation
27:2.A gold altar for incense was in the holy place, at the entrance to the holy of holies (Exodus 30). A brass altar was outside the holy place in the courtyard, where sin offerings were made.
Exodus 28 Holy to Yahweh
1."Bring Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, near to you from among the children of Israel, that he may minister to me in the priest`s office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron`s sons.2.You shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty.3.You shall speak to all who are wise-hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they make Aaron`s garments to sanctify him, that he may minister to me in the priest`s office.4.These are the garments which they shall make: a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a coat of checker work, a turban, and a sash9.take two onyx stones, and engrave on them the names of the children of Israel:12.put the two stones on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod...and Aaron shall bear their names before Yahweh on his two shoulders for a memorial.15."You shall make a breastplate of judgment17.set in four rows of stones:21.according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve....like the engravings of a signet29.Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment on his heart, when he goes in to the holy place, for a memorial before Yahweh continually.30.You shall put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim...31."You shall make the robe of the ephod all of blue.33.On its hem you shall make pomegranates and bells of gold 35 It shall be on Aaron to minister: and the sound of it shall be heard when he goes in to the holy place before Yahweh, and when he comes out, that he not die.36."You shall make a plate of pure gold, and engrave on it, like the engravings of a signet, `HOLY TO YAHWEH.38.It shall be on Aaron`s forehead, and Aaron shall bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall make holy in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always on his forehead, that they may be accepted before Yahweh.40."You shall make coats for Aaron`s sons, and you shall make sashes for them and headbands shall you make for them, for glory and for beauty.41.You shall put them on Aaron your brother, and on his sons with him, and shall anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister to me in the priest`s office.42.You shall make them linen breeches to cover the flesh of their nakedness; from the loins even to the thighs they shall reach.
Observations
28:3.Here's an example where wisdom is artistic, knowing what to make (right objective) and the skill to execute the design (means of attaining the objective).
28:36.
It might not be a bad idea to impress on our brain "Holy to Yahweh," that way good actions might follow.
Application
We approach God on the basis of the sacrifice that paid for our sin (brass altar) in covenantal obedient fellowship (bread) and purity (oil), maintaining our witness. Only then can we offer prayers that are a pleasing sweet aroma (altar of incense) to Him.
Prayer
Holy God, I praise You for making an intimate relationship with You possible, may I live in Your presence continually. Amen.
Digging Deeper
God in a nutshell: God not only guides by general principles, but sometimes has something very specific in mind for us to do. God gives to us (usually through obedience) so we have all we need to do His will. God is only intimate with those who are holy, and He makes provision for our holiness.Us in a nutshell: We should consider ourselves privileged to be invited into a relationship with God, and do whatever it takes to be in His presence. If we don't keep holiness in the forefront of our thinking, we'll default into defilement.
Where to go for more
Truthbase.net
Get a grip on getting and giving money by skimming the series on
Faithfulness with our Treasure/Money Pt 1
Faithfulness with our Money Pt 4 Giving to God
It's got five parts (you might have to hunt for all of them), but considering the amount of your time spent in the acquisition and use of money, it might be wise to have God's perspective on it. Actually, it'd be foolish not to.