Exodus 35:1-40:38

Good evening, everyone!

I apologize but I think until I get through the next week and a half, and finish my finals, these posts are going to be every couple of days. Nevertheless, we will continue our journey through Holy Scripture - my posts just may be a little further between.

1) Sabbath - we Christians live in a world where Sundays are no longer days of rest, but another day for business. But it is important to remember that the word "Sabbath" means rest. It is a day we set aside each week for rest, pleasure and worship of God. Not everyone can take the Sabbath on Sunday (which is the Christian Sabbath - the Jewish Sabbath described here was on Saturday). For instance, as a pastor, I have duties in worship and teaching on Sundays. So I must set aside another day for pleasure and rest (typically Saturdays at this point). But the point is still the same - the Sabbath is a gift from God, and we should set aside that day to honor Him, and to rest.

2) The Work of Buidling/Decorating the Tabernacle and its furnishings - I love this passage, weird as it sounds. I think that God's people should be given the opportunity to contribute to decorating the place of worship using their gifts and talents. Of course, these things were done in accordance with God's commands, and ours should be done in accordance with the rich traditions of the New Testament faith, and the succeeding generations. Still, I believe it neat that the people of God have the opportunity here to worship God by making furnishing and the like for the tabernacle. In fact, this was a really neat line in here too: "Then Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every skillful person in whom the LORD had put skill, everyone whose heart stirred him, to come to the work to perform it." The people's hearts were stirred to create ... creativity is a part of the image of God still visible within us humans. Of course, they end up with more than what they were commanded or needed, so they had to tell people to stop. But I just really like this passage because it encourages the creativity of God's people as a part of their worship of Him.

3) The tabernacle - you might call this a "temple on wheels." It was a sanctuary where the Lord's presence dwelled and where the people worshipped God. The point of it being on wheels was so that God's presence could continue to dwell with His people wherever they went.

4) The Glory of the Lord - the Lord descended on the tabernacle, His glory veiled by a cloud during the day and by fire at night. This is such a cool thing to think about. The movement of these signs determined where the people when and when they moved.

5) Why all these details? Well, it goes to show just how important proper worship was/is to God. Granted, the regulations for us Christians are not the same (considering that many of these practices are functions/actions now done by the Lord Jesus on our behalf, and no longer necessary for us to practice), still, I believe it is a reminder that worship is important to God, and something he desires we practice properly and in line with His will. It is not something we take lightly, but rather should be something we give proper consideration to.

Well, that's it for tonight. God bless!

In Christ,
Pastor Nathan