Bible Study Materials

THE COMPLETION OF THE TABERNACLE

by   11/12/2019  

Question


1. What is specifically mentioned about the Sabbath? (35:1-3) How were the materials for the tabernacle prepared? (35:4-29) What did Moses say to the Israelites about Bezalel and Oholiab? (35:30-36:1) What is written about their offering? (36:2-7) 2. How were the tabernacle, the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering, the basin for washing, and the courtyard made? (36:8-38:20) What is written about the materials used? (38:21-31) 3. How were the priestly garments made? (39:1-31) How was Moses’ inspection conducted? (39:32-43) 4. How was the tabernacle set up? (40:1-33) What happened when the tabernacle was set up? (40:34-38)


Attachment


Message


In the last lesson we thought of Moses’ intercessory prayer for his people. He would risk his life even eternally to make atonement for the sin of his people, a stiff-necked people so that their sins might be forgiven. Yet, atonement for man’s sin is found only in God’s Son Jesus Christ, who is the atoning sacrifice for our sins. May we dwell in this grace through the life of repentance, and because of this grace may we also offer our intercessory prayer for God’s flock of sheep even risking our lives. Today’s passage covers people’s willing offering, the completion of the tabernacle and God’s glory filling the tabernacle. Especially may we go deeper into the meaning of the completion of the tabernacle. First, willing offering (35:1-36:8). Until now the LORD spoke to Moses. Now Moses speaks to the Israelites. Look at 35:4-9. “Moses said to the whole Israelite community, ‘This is what the LORD has commanded: From what you have, take an offering for the LORD. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the LORD an offering of 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 breastpiece.’” God had said in 25:1-7, “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:…’” Moses delivered God’s message to the Israelites exactly, not adding or subtracting anything about the material offerings to build the tabernacle. Moses had to be sure to receive all these offerings without missing one from the people. Also, he was to be sure that the offering should be from their willing heart. It is written, “everyone who is willing” “each man whose heart prompts him to give.” It is written again in verse 21, “and everyone who was willing and whose heart moved him came and brought an offering to the LORD…” Again in verse 22, “All who were willing, men and women alike, came and brought gold jewelry of all kinds….” Again in verse 26, “All the women who were willing and had the skill spun the goat hair.” And again in verse 29, “All the Israelite men and women who were willing brought to the LORD freewill offerings for all the work…” Their freewill offering was more than enough to do all the work. So Moses gave them an order to restrain from brining more. One’s willing heart or freewill is very precious and important. This is the reason God said to man in the Garden of Eden, “You are free to eat from any tree in the Garden; but your must not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it, you will surely die” (Gen. 2:16-17). From the beginning what God wanted from man was his willing obedience using God’s given freedom in the right way. When we were in slavery to sin, we were free to sin, doing whatever we wanted to do. Yet, in reality we lost true freedom, willingness to serve God. However, in Christ Jesus we regained freedom. So Apostle Paul said in Galatians 5:1, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” We must keep this newly found freedom as a matter of life or death, as a man of God said, “Give me liberty, or give me death” (Patrick Henry, a founding father of America). With this freedom we can serve God freely with a willing heart. God is pleased with our willingness. In 2 Corinthians 8 Paul said to the Corinthians about Macedonian churches. They were poor, but they offered to God in rich generosity. 8:12 says, “For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.” Jesus once said of the parable of two sons. A man had two sons. He asked each of them to go to work in the vineyard. The first one answered, “I will not.” But later he changed his mind and went. However, the second one answered, “I will”, but did not go (Mt. 21:28-30). The second son did not know the value of willingness, while the first son knew it. We must watch out that noting can rob us of our freedom, willing heart to serve God. We see that the Israelites’ willing offering was the basis for the tabernacle building. Second, tabernacle completed (36:8-40:33). In 35:10 Moses said to the whole Israelites continually, “All who are skilled among you are to come and make everything the LORD has commanded:” Then there is the list of things (definitely more than 40) that they are to make, from the tabernacle with its tent and its covering to sacred garments for Aaron and his sons. Then the actual work began. The tabernacle was made first. 36:2 says, “All the skilled men among the workmen made the tabernacle with ten curtains of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, with cherubim worked into them by a skilled craftsman.” In 26:1, the LORD had said to Moses, “Make the tabernacle with ten curtains of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, with cherubim worked into them by a skilled craftsman.” They made the tabernacle exactly as God commanded Moses, following all the detailed instructions. They made curtains of goat hair for the tent over the tabernacle. They made upright frames, crossbars, and curtains. In 37:1, “Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood—two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and half high…” A skilled craftsman Bezalel made specially the ark along with the atonement cover and two cherubim. All the skilled men made the table and all its articles. They made the lampstand and all its accessories. They made the altar of incense and the sacred anointing oil and the pure, fragrant incense. They built the altar of bunt offerings and the bronze basin and its bronze stand. And they made the courtyard. These were all carried out according to the LORD commanded Moses as written in 38:22-23 in parenthesis, “(Bezalel…made everything the LORD commanded Moses; with him was Oholiab…). It draws our attention that the description of what they made in chapters 36-38 was the same as the description of what God had said to Moses about what to make in 25-28. Almost three chapters written later was nearly the copy of the previous three chapters. It seems to be a tedious meaningless repetition. There is no reiteration of such a long passage as this in the Bible. We know that Bible is written in understatement. Then why such a repetition? Certainly, it is to make sure that the tabernacle was made exactly as God commanded Moses and showed him. God had said in 25:9, “Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.” In 25:40, “See that you make them according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” In 26:30, “Set up the tabernacle according to the plan shown you on the mountain.” Also, in 27:8, “Make the altar hollow, out of boards. It is to be made just as you were shown on the mountain.” Not only God commanded Moses but also showed the pattern to him. Hebrews 8:5 says, “They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: ‘See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain,’” quoted from Exodus 25:40. The tabernacle is related to Jesus in certain aspects (inner beauty of the tabernacle, the ark of the Testimony, the atonement cover, the table and the bread of the Presence on it, the lampstand and its lamps, the altar of burnt offerings, etc). Jesus once said that the Scriptures testifies about him” (Jn 5:39). Jesus came into this world to tabernacle with us. Christian life can be expressed in many ways. However, it is of supreme importance that the life of Christian is to follow and imitate Christ. It is God’s purpose that we might become like him. Romans 8:29 says, “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” When Christians deviate from Christ, various kinds of serious problems arise. There should be no deviation from Christ, however the world changes. Christ is very clearly and wonderfully depicted in the Bible and we are to follow the example of Christ according to the exact description of the Bible, as Moses had to make everything for tabernacle to the pattern shown him. We cannot emphasize too much the importance of following and imitating Christ and be like him in our Christian life. There is the clear Christian life pattern, whereas there is the pattern of this world. In Paul’s time it was very painful to him that many lived as enemies of the cross of Christ. He urged the believers in Philippians 3:17, “Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.” There is the pattern of Christian life to be followed in all ages, as Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Heb. 13:8). In short the pattern is to deny ourselves and take up our own cross and follow Jesus at each step of life. And it can also includes to be joyful always, pray continually and give thanks in all circumstance (1 Th. 5:16-18). Paul said in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” When we follow the example of Christ, our life will be most safe and sound in this confused and deceptive world and truly blessed in eternity. In our practical life it is not easy at all to focus on Christ because of many distractions. We lose the sight of Jesus because of people, those who don’t like or even our loved ones in a close human relationship. We also lose the sight of Jesus because of painful events and difficult life situations or a very comfortable and enjoyable life situation or too busy life. People cannot see Jesus to follow him in a legalistic and merely religious life and system. That’s why the Scripture says, “Fix your thoughts on Jesus” or “Consider Jesus” (Heb. 3:1) and “Fix your eyes on Jesus” (Heb. 12:2). After living more than 30 years of Christian life, I realize that I need to renew my life direction to follow Jesus and imitate him according to the pattern God has shown me and will show me. May God bless each of you to see Jesus beyond people and events and follow the example of Christ and imitate him in this generation. In chapter 39 the description about the priestly garments is also the exact repetition of chapter 28. 39:1 says, “From the blue, purple and scarlet yarn they made woven garments for ministering in the sanctuary. They also made sacred garments for Aaron, as the LORD commanded Moses.” They made the ephod, shoulder pieces and waistband as the LORD commanded Moses. They mounted onyx stones in gold filigree settings and engraved them with the names of the sons of Israel, and fastened them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as the LORD commanded Moses. They fashioned the breastpiece, and the names of twelve precious stones are repeated from a ruby to a jasper. And verse 14 says, “There were twelve stones, one for each of the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes.” In 28:11, “There are to be twelve stones…” Now here “there were…” They did all as the LORD commanded Moses. They made the robe of the ephod and bells and pomegranates as the LORD commanded Moses. They made tunics of fine linen and sash as the LORD commanded Moses. They made the plate, the sacred diadem as the LORD commanded Moses. “As the LORD commanded Moses” is written 6 times about making the priestly garments. It stresses that Aaron and his sons were God’s appointed priests with God’s given honour and glory in God’s designed clothes. There would be no other such priests. This refers to Jesus, our true great eternal high priest, the very one God appointed. The author of Hebrews wrote in 5:4-6, “No one takes this honour upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was. So Christ also did not take upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, ‘You are my Son; today I have become your Father,’ And he says in another place, ‘You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” So the author says further in 7:23-25, “Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” Now 39:32 says, “So all the work on the tabernacle, the Tent of the Meeting, was completed. The Israelites did everything just as the LORD commanded Moses.” Then they brought the tabernacle to Moses. All they brought were listed in 39:33-41 (9 verses), which were exactly the same as the list of those they were told to make in 35:11-19 (9 verses). And verse 42 says, “The Israelites had done all the work just as the LORD had commanded Moses.” And Moses inspected the work and saw that they had done it just as the LORD had commanded. Moses was the right one to inspect since he received all the instruction from the LORD. His inspection was to make sure that nothing was omitted and all things were made just as the LORD had commanded. Then Moses blessed them. Even setting up was done as the LORD commanded him. 40:16 says, “Moses did everything just as the LORD commanded him.” In setting up “as the LORD commanded him” is written 7 times related to each of the tabernacle, the ark of the Testimony, the table, the lampstand, the gold altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering, and the basin for washing. Then in verse 33b, “And so Moses finished the work.” The tabernacle was made and set up as the LORD commanded Moses. There would be the only one tabernacle made and set up in this way, the only copy of the heavenly one. There would be no other such tabernacle on earth. Later this would be the only temple in Jerusalem. Again, this certainly refers to Christ Jesus who was God in the beginning and became flesh and made his dwelling among us. He became our tabernacle through his death and resurrection. So when Jesus died on the cross, he said, “It is finished.” There would be no other Saviour and no other tabernacle and sanctuary where we can meet God. And he is our high priest and the only Saviour. May we live in him and follow his example and imitate him unto finishing our life of faith in this world. Third, the glory of the LORD filling the tabernacle (40:34-38). Now it is written in verse 34-35, “Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the Tent of the Meeting because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.” The tabernacle was made through the people’s willing offering and their obedience. So God’s glory filled the tabernacle. God is pleased and glorified through our life of willing obedience to him. In verses 36-38, “In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out—until the day it lifted. So the cloud of the LORD was over the Israelites by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel during all their travels.” In this way the LORD and his people Israelites traveled together in the wilderness. Our God is a pilgrim God through the moving of tabernacle. Our Lord Jesus promised, “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” He can guide us in our pilgrim journey in this world to the final destination of our journey in his heavenly kingdom. Today, we mainly thought of the completion of the tabernacle exactly done as the LORD had commanded and shown to Moses. Again I pray that we may not lose sight of Christ Jesus but see him at each time through his word and follow him in willing obedience to him and imitate the example of Christ until we finish our life of faith in this world.


Attachment




Toronto University Bible Fellowship

344 Bloor Street West, #308 Toronto, ON M5S 3A7, Canada
(647) 529-7381 ut12disciples@gmail.com


  Website : UBF HQ | Chicago UBF | Korea UBF | Pray Relay Site |   YouTube : UBF HQ | UBF TV | Daily Bread

Copyright Toronto UBF © 2020