By Mike Peek

The Lord commanded Moses to set up the tabernacle and all of the furnishings on the first day of the first month. He was also commanded to anoint all of the articles used in ritual worship of the Lord with the perfume oil. They were all to be considered holy once they were anointed with the oil. Aaron and his sons were to be washed with water at the doorway of the tent of meeting. Then they were to be dressed in the priestly garments and anointed with the perfume oil. The Lord declared that this anointing qualified this family as a perpetual priesthood throughout their generations. So, as long as Israel was a nation, a Son of Aaron was to be a priest to the Lord. The articles, the priestly garments, and Aaron with his sons were not innately holy. Nor does anointing with perfume oil make something or someone holy. They are holy once anointed with the perfume oil because the Lord is King in Israel, and it was the Lord’s decree.  On the first day, of the first month, of the second yea...

What does it say? Of the blue and purple and scarlet material they made finally woven priestly garments for ministering in the holy place. They made these with skillful craftsmanship as the Lord had commanded Moses. Memorial stones with the names of the sons of Israel were engraved and set on the shoulder pieces. They made a breast piece, a pocket on a chain of gold and blue and purple and scarlet material with four rows of three stones engraved with the names of the sons of Israel. They made a robe of blue material and put pomegranates and bells alternating the placement around the hem of the robe just as the Lord commanded Moses. They made the caps and the undergarments just as the Lord had commanded Moses. When the craftsmen completed the work they brought the tabernacle, the articles for worship service and the priestly garments to Moses; after examining the work Moses blessed them. What does it mean? The Lord God does whatever he wants to do however he wants to do it. If you obser...

What does it say? Two more items for the tabernacle and a court for the tabernacle were made by Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. (Ex.35:30-33) The two items were a bronze altar for burnt offerings and a bronze laver for the priest’s ritual washing. Both of these items were beautifully constructed and designed to be transported. He also made a court for the for the bronze altar and laver of fine twisted linen which included a gate. The entire court was constructed with fine twisted linen hung on pillars and sockets. Gold, silver and bronze was given for the sanctuary and the cost was based on the men twenty years old and upward who numbered 603,550 men.  What does it mean? The tabernacle was completed. It was Aaron and his sons whom the Lord elected to work in the tabernacle. It was the tribe of Levi whom the Lord elected to carry and set up the tabernacle. But the tabernacle was built by and was built for the people in order that God might dwell amongs...

What does it say? First, Bezalel constructed the ark and the mercy seat, with the cherubim facing the mercy seat, and their wings spread out covering the mercy seat, exactly as the Lord had commanded Moses . Second, he made the table of acacia wood and the utensils that were placed on the table, exactly as the Lord had commanded Moses. Third, he made the lampstand of pure gold, with seven lamps, snuffers and trays, exactly as the Lord commanded Moses. Lastly, he made the table of incense of acacia wood overlaid with gold and he made the holy perfume, exactly as the Lord had commanded Moses. The Lord had commanded Moses to make these things, and the Lord put his Spirit in Bezalel to make them. Bezalel made them exactly as the Lord commanded Moses on Mount Sinai.  What does it mean? The Hebrew name (Bezalel) means, "in the shadow (i.e. protection) of God" (Olive Tree Enhanced Strong's Dictionary) It is in the shadow of God that Bezalel made these articles used in the ritual...

What does it say? With Bezalel and Oholiab set apart by the Lord as their leaders, every man whom the Lord had given skill was to perform all the work in constructing the sanctuary. Moses gave to those who were performing the work, the freewill offerings brought by the people for the construction of the sanctuary. The workers told Moses that the people had given more than enough; therefore, Moses commanded that the people give no more. The inner wall of the tabernacle was made with fine twisted linen and blue and purple and scarlet material. They also made curtains of goats’ hair for the outer wall. The boards that made the frame for the tabernacle were made of acacia wood. The frame consisted of upright boards and cross bars fitted together with silver sockets. The veil for the holy of holies was made of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen, with pillars of acacia wood overlaid with gold and golden hooks to hold up the veil. I screen for the doorway to the holy ...

What does it say? Moses assembled the congregation and said this is what the Lord commands. You are to work for six days and rest on the seventh day. Everyone who has a willing heart is to give a contribution for building the tabernacle and making the priestly garments. Everyone who is skillful shall build the tabernacle and the articles that are put into the tabernacle. All of the people whose heart stirred within them brought gold and silver and materials for the building of the tabernacle as a freewill offering to the Lord. Then Moses told the people that the Lord has filled Bezalel of the tribe of Judah with his Spirit to have wisdom and knowledge in craftsmanship; also, Oholiab of the tribe of Dan. What does it mean? There are three specific things that we should take from this text: The Lord has commandments that he expects his people to follow. The Lord gives people the freedom to chose. The Lord chooses people to do his will. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of ...

What does it say? The Lord commanded Moses to cut out two stone tablets, like the former ones that Moses had thrown down and shattered, and come up to Mount Sinai, early in the morning by himself. So, Moses did as the Lord commanded and the Lord passed before Moses while proclaiming the name of the Lord. The Lord proclaimed that God is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; that he keeps lovingkindness for thousands and forgives iniquity, transgression and sin but he will not leave the guilty unpunished and there children will suffer as a result. Hearing this, Moses worshiped the Lord and he asked the Lord to go along in the midst of the people even though they are so obstinate. He prayed that the Lord would forgive their iniquity and sin and take them as his own people. The Lord spoke to Moses of a covenant that he will make and miracles which he will preform that have never been done on the earth. The Lord commanded Moses to write down t...

What does it say? The Lord tells Moses to go to the land which he promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but he the Lord would not go with them, he will send an angle before them to drive out the inhabitants of the land. The sons of Israel went into morning and striped themselves of their ornaments because of the word of the Lord who said: “I will not go in your midst, because you are an obstinate people, and I might destroy you on the way.” (Ex.1:3, 5) Moses pitched a tent, that he called the tent of meeting, outside of the camp, and when he entered the tent, the Lord would descend in a pillar of cloud and meet with Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend. While the Pillar of cloud was at the entrance of the tent, the people worshiped the Lord. Joshua was Moses servant and he remained in the tent whenever Moses departed from it. Moses prayed to the Lord to let him know the ways of the Lord, that he may know the Lord and find favor in his sight. He prays that the Lord wi...

What does it say? Moses was a long returning from the mountain and the people became restless, so Aaron made them an idol, a molten calf to worship as their god who took them out of the land of Egypt. The Lord told Moses that the people have broken the covenant by making an idol to worship; therefore, the Lord was angry. Moses prayed to the Lord, that he would not destroy the people and he reminded the Lord of the covenant that he made with Abraham, Isaac and (Jacob) Israel; that he would multiply there descendants and give them the land that they stood on forever. Hearing this, the Lord withheld his wrath from destroying the sons of Israel. Moses descended from the mountain with the two tablets of testimony given to him by the Lord and while descending he heard the people singing. When Moses saw what they were doing he became angry and threw down the tablets which shattered. Moses ground up the golden calf, scattered the grindings over the surface of the water and he made the sons of ...

What does it say? The Lord called Bezalel from the tribe of Judah and filled him with the Holy Spirit , along with Oholiab from the tribe of Dan; there were others but these two led the work done on the articles that the Lord commanded through Moses. The Lord reinforced the sabbath rest which is the sign of the covenant between the Lord and the sons of Israel; the sabbath rest acknowledges that God created all things in six days and rested on the seventh day. The Lord concluded speaking on Mount Sinai and gave Moses the two stone tablets of the testimony, written by the finger of God. What does it mean? The fact that the Lord called two men from separate tribes to do the work on the sanctuary indicates plurality in the work of the Lord. It should also be noted that these men were not of the priestly tribe of Levi but they were called by the Lord to work. The work that they were called to do was not work that most would consider holy, yet the Lord filled Bezalel with the Spirit of God i...

What does it say? The Lord gave Moses instructions to make an ornate altar for burning incense on which is to be placed in front of the veil that separates the holy place from the holy of holies. Like the other articles, the altar of incense was designed to be carried with poles. This altar was for burning incense in the morning and in the evening and was not for sacrifice, but once a year the high priest was to make atonement on it with the blood of the sin offering of atonement. The Lord then instructs Moses to take a census of the sons of Israel, and every man numbered from twenty years old and older is to pay a ransom for himself; a half shekel for the service of the tent of meeting. A laver of bronze filled with water is to be placed between the altar and the tent of meeting; the priest are to wash their hands and feet before entering the tent of meeting or before approaching the altar with a sacrifice. A recipe for making a special perfume is given but this perfume is only to be ...

What does it say? Instructions were given to Moses regarding the ordination ceremony of his brother Aaron and Aaron’s sons as priest. A bull is to be sacrificed during the ordination ceremony as a sin offering. Then a ram is to be sacrificed as a burnt offering to the Lord. A second ram is sacrificed and the blood of this lamb is to be used for anointing Aaron and his sons and their garments. The fat of the ram, with the liver, the kidneys, the right thigh, a cake of bread, a cake mixed with oil, and one wafer of unleavened bread from the basket set before the Lord is to be put in the hands of Aaron and his sons as a wave offering which they will offer up in smoke on the altar before the Lord. The breast and the thigh of the ram are to be eaten by Aaron and his sons; this portion is theirs forever of the heave offerings. Aarons holy garments are to be passed down to the generations of his sons. The meet of the ram is to be boiled and eaten with the bread in the basket by Aaron and his ...

What does it say? Aaron and his sons: Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ilthamar were elected by the Lord as priest on behalf of the people before the Lord; the Lord also raised up skillful people to make garments for the priests. The outer piece of the priestly garment was a long vest called an ephod which had a stone on each should with the names of the sons of Israel engraved on the stones. The breast piece of judgment was finely knitted and decorated (four rows of precious stones representing the twelve tribes) pouch that contained the Urim and the Thummim (lights and perfections) before the Lord. The cloth of the ephod was blue and the him was decorated with bells and pomegranates so that the priest jingled when he walked before the Lord. Aaron wore a turban with a plate of pure gold with the engraving (Holy to the Lord) fastened to the turban with a blue cord. The turban of the high priest was more ornate than that of the other priests. The priest also wore linen breeches (boxer short...

This chapter gives instructions on the construction of and use of the bronze altar and the court of the tabernacle; lastly, the oil to be used for the lamp in the tent of meeting. The tabernacle was constructed as such: The holy of holies is the place of God. In the holy of holies was the ark of the testimony. A box with attached carrying poles. In the box were two tablets on which were written, Ten Commandments for the sons of Israel. On top of the box was a led called the mercy seat. We will come back to the mercy seat in a later writing but its purpose is for atonement of sins. Going out from the holy of holies we have the holy place. This is were the priest are to meet with God. The holy place is separated from the holy of holies by a linen curtain. In the holy place was a table and a lamp. Placed on the table were twelve loaves of bread which represent the twelve tribes of Israel, the people of God. The lampstand had on it seven lamps that were to be kept lit throughout the night ...

The Lord is very detailed in how he wants the tabernacle constructed. We could look at the tabernacle from outside to inside and this is the way that it is written and they way that it would have been seen but we could also go from inside out.  I spent about one year in a U. S. Army Field Hospital unit which used very large canvas tents to construct the Field Hospital. Theses tents were about the size and dimensions of the tabernacle and used framework, clasps and rings to construct them.  Once constructed an entire wall looked as a single curtain. Inside the tent could be further partitioned into rooms with additional curtains. There was also two sets of curtains that made the walls of these great tents. There was an inner wall that was made of softer material and an outer wall of thicker and more rigged material. I imagine the construct of the tabernacle to be much like these great tents although much much much more innate and glorious in appearance.   I would like to t...

At this point in the story of the Exodus and the giving of the Mosaic covenant to the sons of Israel we enter what the covenantal theologians call ceremonial law. The covenantal theologian patricians the Law into three parts: Moral Civil Ceremonial He does this because he wants to bring the Christian back to the law for sanctification after he has been saved from the penalty of the law but does not want him to follow the civil or ceremonial law. He says that the civil law was for the nation of Israel only and the ceremonial law was done away with at the cross but the moral law (The Ten Commandments) are forever.  Jesus said in Matthew 5:17, “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. All of the laws given to Moses for the sons of Israel are related to The Ten Commandments. The civil laws are based on the ten commandments and the ceremonial laws are based on the ten commandments. In this chapter four commands are given by t...

The people saw the cloud descend on Mount Sinai and they heard the voice of God speaking the ten commandments and they feared the voice of the Lord; therefore, the elected Moses to be their intercessor. The Lord gave Moses commandments on how the people are to live in the promise land. The Lord told Moses to come up to the Lord with his brother Aaron, Aaron’s two sons Nadab and Abihu, and with seventy elders to worship the Lord at a distance.  Moses recounted to all the people the things that God had said to him when they sent him to the Lord as their intercessor. The people agreed to do all the words that the Lord had spoken. Moses wrote down all that the Lord had spoken in a book. Moses built an altar at the foot of the mountain with twelve pillars. One pillar for every tribe. They sacrificed young bulls as burnt offerings on the altar as peace offerings to the Lord. When the bulls were sacrificed, Moses used half of the blood to sanctify the altar. Then he read the words of the ...

The Lord is a just and holy God. And he expects his people to act justly. Jesus said: “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Mt. 5:48) The ninth commandment: You shall not testify falsely against your neighbor is a commandment about justice. The Lord expects individuals to act justly no matter what the masses are doing. He expects his people to act justly towards both friend and foe. Some people are partial to the poor and others are partial to the rich. Justice should be blind to all partiality, nor should it be bribed. (vv. 1-9) Why the Sabbath rest? The Sabbath was a test to see if the sons of Israel would obey the Lord but it also was given to them for their good. Men do best when they work hard followed by a period of rest. I know that I work best after resting and I rest best after working. Men were made for work but must have rest. This rest was not for the land owner only but was required of him to rest his animals and the slaves that worked for...

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This chapter begins what the covenantal theologian calls civil law.  They are laws for the people, living with one another; nonetheless, they are moral because they are related in spirit to the Ten Commandments. As said in chapter 20, the Ten Commandments, when used properly brings the knowledge of sin and make all who hear the law accountable to God. These laws, however, are civil laws for the sons of Israel living in a theocracy.  When reading these I do not believe that they would be a better way of life; however, we should note that they are much much better than the way other nations were living at the time. C. S. Lewis pointed out in Mere Christianity that we should not judge Christianity when comparing the worst Christian’s behavior with the best unbelievers behavior, for this is not comparing apples to apples. What would that person have been like if they did not know the Lord Jesus Christ and what would this moral unbeliever be like if he did know the Lord? I think th...