Author: PGC Administrator

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Exodus 26 English Standard Version (ESV)

The Tabernacle

¹ “Moreover, you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen and blue and purple and scarlet yarns; you shall make them with cherubim skillfully worked into them. ² The length of each curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits; all the curtains shall be the same size. ³ Five curtains shall be coupled to one another, and the other five curtains shall be coupled to one another. ⁴ And you shall make loops of blue on the edge of the outermost curtain in the first set. Likewise you shall make loops on the edge of the outermost curtain in the second set. ⁵ Fifty loops you shall make on the one curtain, and fifty loops you shall make on the edge of the curtain that is in the second set; the loops shall be opposite one another. ⁶ And you shall make fifty clasps of gold, and couple the curtains one to the other with the clasps, so that the tabernacle may be a single whole.

⁷ “You shall also make curtains of goats’ hair for a tent over the tabernacle; eleven curtains shall you make. ⁸ The length of each curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits. The eleven curtains shall be the same size. ⁹ You shall couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and the sixth curtain you shall double over at the front of the tent. ¹⁰ You shall make fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that is outermost in one set, and fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that is outermost in the second set.

¹¹ “You shall make fifty clasps of bronze, and put the clasps into the loops, and couple the tent together that it may be a single whole. ¹² And the part that remains of the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that remains, shall hang over the back of the tabernacle. ¹³ And the extra that remains in the length of the curtains, the cubit on the one side, and the cubit on the other side, shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle, on this side and that side, to cover it. ¹⁴ And you shall make for the tent a covering of tanned rams’ skins and a covering of goatskins on top. …….

³¹ “And you shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. It shall be made with cherubim skillfully worked into it. ³² And you shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold, with hooks of gold, on four bases of silver. ³³ And you shall hang the veil from the clasps, and bring the ark of the testimony in there within the veil. And the veil shall separate for you the Holy Place from the Most Holy. ³⁴ You shall put the mercy seat on the ark of the testimony in the Most Holy Place. ³⁵ And you shall set the table outside the veil, and the lampstand on the south side of the tabernacle opposite the table, and you shall put the table on the north side.

³⁶ “You shall make a screen for the entrance of the tent, of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, embroidered with needlework. ³⁷ And you shall make for the screen five pillars of acacia, and overlay them with gold. Their hooks shall be of gold, and you shall cast five bases of bronze for them.

REFLECTION

• Moses was told to make the tabernacle and its furnishings “exactly like the pattern I will show you” (25:9). Chapter 26 shows us how detailed God’s instructions were in the construction of the tabernacle. Refer to the following diagram ( livedoor.blogimg.jp/hideki4612/imgs/2/d/2ddebad8.jpg ) as you read the whole chapter will give you a clearer understanding of the tabernacle.
• There are two holy places in the tabernacle – the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies, which are separated by a curtain. The priests were responsible for the daily sacrifices and other functions, as well as regular feasts.  On the Day of Atonement, it was the high priest’s responsibility to take the blood of the sacrificed goat into the Holy of Holies on behalf of all God’s people, for forgiveness of their sins. When Jesus Christ died on the cross, the curtain of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom (Mark 15:38).  Therefore, this signifies that through Jesus, we can approach God directly with confidence.  We no longer need sacrifices in order to approach God.
• Is there a special “Holy of Holies” in your home where you could feel close to God and meet with Him regularly? You may want to set aside a sacred space for yourself to have your devotions there. It may be a small corner table or a particular chair and time of day.  Think of how you can use the space to help you focus on God

PRAYER

Compare your experience of coming into God’s presence with those of the Israelites then, do you appreciate the privilege?  Do you comprehend what God has done for you?  Do you welcome the opportunity to meet with God? Where is you “Holy of Holies” at home or in your heart where you meet God?  Talk to God about it and listen to His response.

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Exodus 25 English Standard Version (ESV)

Contributions for the Sanctuary

¹ The Lord said to Moses, ² “Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me a contribution. From every man whose heart moves him you shall receive the contribution for me. ³ And this is the contribution that you shall receive from them: gold, silver, and bronze, ⁴ blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, goats’ hair, ⁵ tanned rams’ skins, goatskins, acacia wood, ⁶ oil for the lamps, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, ⁷ onyx stones, and stones for setting, for the ephod and for the breast piece. ⁸ And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. ⁹ Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it.

The Ark of the Covenant

¹⁰ “They shall make an ark of acacia wood. Two cubits and a half shall be its length, a cubit and a half its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. ¹¹ You shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and outside shall you overlay it, and you shall make on it a molding of gold around it. ¹² You shall cast four rings of gold for it and put them on its four feet, two rings on the one side of it, and two rings on the other side of it. ¹³ You shall make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. ¹⁴ And you shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry the ark by them. ¹⁵ The poles shall remain in the rings of the ark; they shall not be taken from it. ¹⁶ And you shall put into the ark the testimony that I shall give you.

¹⁷ “You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold. Two cubits and a half shall be its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth. ¹⁸ And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work shall you make them, on the two ends of the mercy seat. ¹⁹ Make one cherub on the one end, and one cherub on the other end. Of one piece with the mercy seat shall you make the cherubim on its two ends. ²⁰ The cherubim shall spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings, their faces one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubim be. ²¹ And you shall put the mercy seat on the top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the testimony that I shall give you. ²² There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel.

REFLECTION

• Read the passage. For a better picture read the whole chapter.  Imagine you were there, what would your emotions be?
• The Old Testament emphasizes the importance of the tabernacle ( kdmanestreet.files.wordpress.com/2017/09/tabernacle.jpg ), a portable tent, in Israel’s worship. Exodus takes seven chapters (25-31) to list tabernacle specifications, and then devotes six more to its construction (35-40). The New Testament touches on some of the symbolism, saying that the tabernacle design and use was intended to reflect heavenly realities (cf. Heb 9-10).
• The first item in the tabernacle mentioned, and the most important, is the ark ( carm.org/images/arkofthecovenant4.jpg ). The ark is also the only furniture inside the Holy of Holies.  God’s glory resides here.  God speaks to the Israelites through the Mercy Seat on the ark.  It represents the presence of God, symbolized God dwelling among His people.
• It contains the Tablets of Stone on which the Ten Commandments were inscribed (v16), along with manna (16:33-34) and Aaron’s rod (Num 17:10). These three items testify to the unchanging love of God, the covenant between God and His people, and the faithfulness and power of God. They serve to remind the people to remember the God of their deliverance, and the God of unfailing mercy and love.  They also remind them to obey God’s commands and to keep a thankful and humble heart.

PRAYER

What might you carry around with you to remind you of God’s past actions and continuing presence in your life?  Recall the situation, note what God did and how you responded.  Thank God for His past grace (prevenient) and His persevering grace.

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Exodus 24 English Standard Version (ESV)

The Covenant Confirmed

¹ Then he said to Moses, “Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and worship from afar. ² Moses alone shall come near to the Lord, but the others shall not come near, and the people shall not come up with him.”

³ Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord and all the rules. And all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words that the Lord has spoken we will do.” ⁴ And Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord. He rose early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. ⁵ And he sent young men of the people of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the Lord. ⁶ And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he threw against the altar. ⁷ Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” ⁸ And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.”

⁹ Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up, ¹⁰ and they saw the God of Israel. There was under his feet as it were a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness. ¹¹ And he did not lay his hand on the chief men of the people of Israel; they beheld God, and ate and drank.

¹² The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and wait there, that I may give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.” ¹³ So Moses rose with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God. ¹⁴ And he said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we return to you. And behold, Aaron and Hur are with you. Whoever has a dispute, let him go to them.”

¹⁵ Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. ¹⁶ The glory of the Lord dwelt on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. ¹⁷ Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. ¹⁸ Moses entered the cloud and went up on the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

REFLECTION

• Read through the whole chapter twice.
• Moses carefully explained what God expected of people who would live in personal relationship with Him (Ex 20-23; 24:3). The Israelite people committed themselves to keep God’s commands, and were then fully responsible for their acts.
• God invited His people into a covenant relationship. But He wanted to make sure that the Israelites understood just what life with Him would involve.
• It’s true that people can put their trust in Christ without a deep understanding of the Gospel or of the Bible. But unless we go on to learn all God’s words, we will fall short of knowing God more fully and living the lives God desires to bless us with.  As we come to know and understand the character of God, we will also be more sensitive to the work of the Holy Spirit guiding us through our daily decisions and obstacles.

PRAYER

How well do you know and love God’s Word?  How well do you understand God’s desire of your commitment to Him?  Thank God for His Bible.  Thank God for the 260 project and ask the Spirit for the perseverance you need to do it every day in order to increase your knowledge, love and obedience of God and His Word.