READ Exodus 37-40
Yesterday I watched a fashion show from Italy. It’s theme was patchwork but these garments were not anything like the traditional or even modern versions seen at quilt shows. The fabrics ranged from ordinary to lame, metallics, fur, satins, everything and every color. Some models wore boots of brilliantly colored leathers in patches. Some carried lavish patchwork handbags. The caption said viewers would love it or hate it. I loved it. Even the background and the ramp they walked on looked like a fine patchwork quilt.
Then I read from Exodus this morning a detailed description of what was used to make the OT tabernacle. It was just a tent, but materials used put that fashion show down a peg.
Wood base for furnishings: Acacia, a deep brown color with attractive natural grain, durable, water-resistant and will not warp readily, resistant to fungus, not out of sight in price but more expensive today than most hardwoods.
Furnishings: Overlaid with pure gold for the furnishings and bronze for the utensils. Today, gold is about $1800 an ounce. It was not cheap back then either. Imagine a layer of it on tables, lampstands, the mercy seat and other structures inside a tent covered with rough animal skins!
Utensils: Bronze was necessary for utensils; it withstand heats, something gold does not do well. It can be grinded and buffed and is a wonderful metal to sculpture or make anything that features hard, sharp edges and precise shapes. Bronze also resists corrosion, perfect for these utensils.
Fabrics: The curtains and other fabrics used in this structure were fine linens and yarns, woven and embroidered, some with gold threads and all embellished with “skilled designs” including the garments of the priests. When all of this was constructed, the parts were brought to Moses and assembled precisely as God commanded.
Thoughts of three NT passages run through my mind
If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple. (1 Corinthians 3:17)
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19–20)
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (Matthew 5:8)
God’s OT temple points to the NT temple, to the value and suitable materials He uses to build our lives, to make us pure and holy, our hearts a place of worship. The bottom line is also similar:
And he erected the court around the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the screen of the gate of the court. So Moses finished the work. Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out. But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys. (Exodus 40:33–38)
The fashion show filled me with delight. The image of the temple is even more glorious for it points to a life filled with the Spirit and glory of God, led by Him day by day, and experiencing His presence throughout my journey. I know I have been ransomed from my futile ways . . . not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. (1 Peter 1:18–19)
I am in awe of You, Lord Jesus. Without You, I am a mere stick, a tin pot, a rag, overlaid with selfishness and unable to withstand the heat of life’s pressures. You are with me always and have bought me with an incredible price. I am so incredibly blessed. Thank You is not nearly enough.
No comments:
Post a Comment