Exodus 25 - 28

I Can Live Among Them
Today's portion describes in great detail the Ark of the Covenant, the Tabernacle, the Table, Lampstand, brazen Altar, Aaron's garment, and other items to be used in service to the Lord.  The portion begins with a call by the Lord for sacred offerings from the people - to be used in financing and making the items in the Tabernacle.

What impresses me are the details the Lord provides Moses for the construction of the Tabernacle. They are well articulated and meticulous.  First, the Lord describes how the Ark of the Covenant is to be made.  Acacia wood lined in and out with pure gold. The "pure" adjective is significant.

Like all the articles in the Tabernacle and the Tabernacle itself - all of this is a spiritual type of the believer and the Holy Spirit today.  The acacia wood types humans. The pure gold types the spirit of God completely surrounding the believer. When one sees the Ark they do not see the wood, they see the pure gold.  When a person is totally sold out to God and filled with His spirit - others observe the Lord and not the flesh of the believer.

The rings and poles were also covered with gold. Note that the "pure" adjective is not used.  The spirit of God is what provides our means of moving.  It is not pure because a part of our spirit - i.e. our free will - is involved.  Once the poles were inserted into the rings (25:15) they must never be removed.  Once we submit ourselves to the Holy Spirit - we must forever allow Him to guide us, to bear us up.

The symbolism in the Tabernacle is overwhelming and beyond the scope of this blog. (An excellent reference is the book The Tabernacle, by M.R. De Haan, M.D).  Suffice it to say, that every detail relates to us as believers.  The cherubim that were molded to the cover of the Ark (which was pure gold - no wood) had to be made of hammered gold - from a single piece of gold. These are representative of the Old and New Testaments - the Word of God in two dispensations - that guards the spirit of God in the believer. Praise the Lord!!!  Both Testaments come from the same source - hammered out through the prophets and apostles.

The construction of the Tabernacle served a critical purpose.  In 25:8, the Lord commands, "Have the people of Israel build me a holy sanctuary so I can live among them."  It was important, after the Lord gave His commandments and instructions, that the Children of Israel have a place to meet God.