I admit that this is another one of those passages that make my eyes glaze over a little and I find myself skimming instead of reading. Not good.Since we just got back from vacation, I haven't had too much time to dig into this too much, but I was able to find a few things that I wanted to share.
First of all - all the detail in these passages of exactly how everything in the tabernacle was to be made, is incredible. Here are a few images I found to help visualize what this is supposed to look like.
Here is a replica of the Ark of the Covenant.
Below is a replica of the table described in today's readings where the Bread of Presence is kept - (image below courtesy of BiblePlaces.com)
Here are a couple of images of the tabernacle and it's layout.
From the NIV Life Application Study Bible....
But what can all these ancient, complicated construction details show us today? First the high quality of the precious materials making up the tabernacle shows God's greatness and transcendence. Second, the curtain surrounding the Most Holy Place shows God's moral perfection as symbolized by his separation from the common and unclean. Third, the portable nature of the tabernacle shows God's desire to be with his people as they traveled. Fourth, the tabernacle, its furnishings, and the service performed there provide a picture of the atonement that would one day come through Jesus Christ.
The curtain separated the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. The Most Holy Place was where God himself dwelt and the High Priest could only enter it once a year to make atonement for the sins of the nation as a whole. When Jesus died on the cross, this curtain in the temple (which replaced the tabernacle) was torn in two (Mark 15:38) symbolizing that His death now enabled us to have free access to God - we no longer had to approach Him through priests and sacrifices.
Here is a picture of the priest's ephod and breastplate.
SOAP
Scripture - Exodus 28:3 Tell all the skilled men to whom I have given wisdom in such matters that they are to make garments for Aaron, for his consecration, so he may serve me as priest.
Observation - God gave these skilled men the wisdom needed for the task He had given them.
Application - We need to think about our talents and abilities and how we can use them for God's glory - through His wisdom and strength.
Prayer - Lord, we thank you that your death on the cross has enabled us to have free access to You. We can approach your throne and have a relationship with you. Lord, we know you have given us our talents, our gifts, our strengths. Help us to use those gifts to glorify You through Your strength alone. Help us not to become proud of our abilities, but to always use them to glorify You. Amen
Tomorrow's passage is Exodus 29-31. Click here to read online.
4 comments:
I do find the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant just amazing! They would tie a rope around the priet's ankle when he went to make the sacrifice in the Holy of Holies. This was so they could pull him out if he died; since they couldn't go in there and get him without dying themselves. It truly shows how holy God is, and how far short we fall! I think so many people take our modern churches for granted and think of them of more of a social gathering place, than a holy place of worship.
So good to have you back Tammy!
Thanks for posting the pictures...One of the reasons I have a hard time paying attention when reading these detailed instructions is because I find it hard to translate that to an image of what the item looked like. My first thought when reading the instructions was "Man, that's gotta be heavy... so much gold!" Whew!
This also served as a reminder to me that God deserves our best... not our leftovers.
Thanks for sharing that excerpt from the Life Application Study Bible ~ what a great look at the reason for all these repetitive, seemingly unimportant details!
I agree with your prayer for thanks for access to God and Kristi's reflecting on the priest and the rope to pull him back. It reminds me of the power of Christ's work on the cross for each of us individually. The curtain being torn away. Sometimes I don't think to thank Jesus for giving me access to God, the heavenly Father. I'm sure had I lived in these times I would be more in awe at that New Covenant aspect.
The Tabranacle has always facinated me since I was a child and we had a puzzle that depicted it with it's inner elements on the side.
I hope you had a great time away!
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