Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 39:32
Thus was all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation finished: and the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did they.
32. Subscription, in P’s manner (cf. Gen 2:1), to the entire enumeration (Exo 36:8 to Exo 39:31).
the Dwelling of the tent of meeting ] the pleonasm, as Exo 40:2; Exo 40:6; Exo 40:29; cf. v. 40.
and, &c.] for the form of sentence (in the Heb.), see on Exo 7:6.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Exo 39:32-43
They brought the Tabernacle unto Moses.
The delivery of the work to Moses
I. The presentation of the work: They brought the Tabernacle unto Moses. So, whatever work or service is done in connection with the Christian Church should be solemnly presented to Christ, who is the Chief Builder of the Christian Temple.
II. The inspection of the work; Moses did look upon all the work; and so does Christ inspect every offering that is brought to Him. Paul tells us in 1Co 3:13, that a day is coming in which every mans work will be tried of what sort it is–tried by fire–tried with the most terrible exactness.
III. The approbation of the work: Behold, they had done it as the Lord had commanded. So in Christian service nothing can be accepted that is not minutely in accordance with the Divine specification.
IV. The remuneration of the work: And Moses blessed them. So is all faithful service done to Christ rewarded even here with spiritual blessing. So will it be in the end (1Co 3:14). Lessons:
1. The dignity of Christian work as presented to Christ.
2. The duty of fidelity in Christian work, considering it must be inspected by Christ.
3. The grand aim in Christian work, to be accepted by Christ. Cf. 2Co 5:9.
4. The high stimulus in Christian work, the certainty of being rewarded by Christ. (J. S. Exell, M. A.)
The Tabernacle itself
The Tabernacle held an important position in the divinely-appointed worship of the Jewish Church. No less than thirteen chapters in the Book of Exodus (Exodus 25-31; Exodus 35-40) are devoted to the account of it; an account twice repeated, extending to the minutest details of shape, size, material, colour, and workmanship. Special stress is laid upon the fact that it was made after a heavenly design exhibited to Moses during the forty days of his mysterious communing with Jehovah on Mount Sinai (Exo 29:9; Exo 29:40; Exo 26:30). The smallest details are included in this heavenly pattern (Exo 27:8; Num 8:4). This heavenly pattern of the Tabernacle is twice referred to in the New Testament (Act 7:44; Heb 8:5). Not only was the Tabernacle made after a heavenly pattern, but divinely-inspired artificers carried the design into execution (Exo 31:1-6; Exo 35:30-35; Exo 36:1). We see from these passages that, in matters which concern the worship of God, the minutest details as to the colour, shape, material, and make of the ornaments of Divine service, and of the ministers of it, are not thought unworthy of a special Divine revelation as to their design, and of a special Divine inspiration for the carrying of that design into effect. At the close of the work we are told, in words that carry our thoughts back to the blessing bestowed upon the first creation (Gen 1:30), that Moses recognized its exact accordance with the heavenly pattern which he had seen (Exo 39:43). (E. F. Willis, M. A.)
Names of the Tabernacle
It is called the House of Jehovah (Exo 23:19; Jos 6:24; 1Sa 3:15); The Temple of Jehovah (1Sa 3:3), the Sanctuary (Exo 25:8; Lev 12:4; Lev 16:33; Lev 19:30; Lev 20:3; Lev 21:12; Num 3:38, etc.); or simply, the Tabernacle (Exo 25:9; Exo 26:16; Exo 27:9; Exo 27:19, etc.); or Dwelling, i.e., of God. The two most characteristic names, however, are, the Tent or Tabernacle of the Testimony (Num 9:15; Num 17:7-8, etc.), and the Tent or Tabernacle of Meeting (Exo 27:21; Exo 39:32; Exo 39:40; Exo 40:7; Exo 40:34-35, etc.). The name Tent or Tabernacle of the Testimony had reference to that which was one of the two chief objects of the Tabernacle, viz., to serve as a shrine for the Testimony–the two tables of stone on which were engraved the ten words of the Divine Law. The other characteristic name, that of Tabernacle or Tent of Meeting, speaks of the other chief end for which the Tabernacle existed, viz., to be a place of meeting between God and His people (Exo 25:8; Exo 25:22; Exo 29:42-45; Exo 30:6; Exo 30:36). (E. F. Willis, M. A.)
Completed labour
I. The work was completed according to plan.
II. It was completed in a short time.
III. It was completed with great joy. The joy of–
1. Knowing that each had done something, and that something his best.
2. Anticipation.
IV. The completed work may remind us of the words of Him who said, I have finished the work Thou gavest Me to do.
V. As the house in the wilderness was finished down to the last pin, so the Church in the world, of which it was a type, shall be perfected down to the last and meanest member. The Jewish Tabernacle:–
1. It was a school of object-lessons, designed to teach the ignorant and sensual Israelites the truths of the invisible and eternal kingdom of God. It was a small model of heavenly realities–a pattern of sight in the heavens (Heb 9:23). It was, in the realm of religious truth, something like the planetarium used in a recitation room in teaching astronomy.
2. The principal lessons it taught were–
(1) The holiness of God.
(2) The sinfulness of man.
(3) The distance between God and man.
(4) The fact that God will abide with man.
(5) The Divine plan for bringing God and man into union..
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 32. Did according to all that the Lord commanded Moses] This refers to the command given Ex 25:40; and Moses has taken care to repeat every thing in the most circumstantial detail, to show that he had conscientiously observed all the directions he had received.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Thus was all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation finished,…. Both the tabernacle, consisting of the court, the holy place, and the most holy place, and the tent or covering that was over it, with all things appertaining to the service of it, as before described:
and the children of Israel did according to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so did they: both the people in general, and the artificers in particular; the people brought gold, silver, and brass, c. as was proposed to them and the artificers wrought these and all other things, according to the directions and instructions they received.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Delivery of the work to Moses. – The different things are again mentioned one by one. By “the tent,” in Exo 39:33, we are to understand the two tent-cloths, the one of purple and the other of goats’ hair, by which the dwelling ( , generally rendered tabernacle) was made into a tent ( ). From this it is perfectly obvious, that the variegated cloth formed the inner walls of the dwelling, or covered the boards on the inner side, and that the goats’ hair-cloth formed the other covering. Moreover it is also obvious, that this is the way in which is to be understood, from the fact, that in the list of the things belonging to the ohel the first to be mentioned are the gold and copper hooks (Exo 26:6, Exo 26:11) with which the two halves of the drapery that formed the tent were joined together, and then after that the boards, bolts, pillars, and sockets, as though subordinate to the tent-cloths, and only intended to answer the purpose of spreading them out into a tent of dwelling.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
| The Tabernacle Completed. | B. C. 1491. |
32 Thus was all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation finished: and the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did they. 33 And they brought the tabernacle unto Moses, the tent, and all his furniture, his taches, his boards, his bars, and his pillars, and his sockets, 34 And the covering of rams’ skins dyed red, and the covering of badgers’ skins, and the vail of the covering, 35 The ark of the testimony, and the staves thereof, and the mercy seat, 36 The table, and all the vessels thereof, and the showbread, 37 The pure candlestick, with the lamps thereof, even with the lamps to be set in order, and all the vessels thereof, and the oil for light, 38 And the golden altar, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the hanging for the tabernacle door, 39 The brazen altar, and his grate of brass, his staves, and all his vessels, the laver and his foot, 40 The hangings of the court, his pillars, and his sockets, and the hanging for the court gate, his cords, and his pins, and all the vessels of the service of the tabernacle, for the tent of the congregation, 41 The cloths of service to do service in the holy place, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and his sons’ garments, to minister in the priest’s office. 42 According to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel made all the work. 43 And Moses did look upon all the work, and, behold, they had done it as the LORD had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them.
Observe here, I. The builders of the tabernacle made very good despatch. It was not much more than five months from the beginning to the finishing of it. Though there was a great deal of fine work about it, such as is usually the work of time, embroidering and engraving, not only in gold, but in precious stones, yet they went through with it in a little time. Church-work is usually slow work, but they made quick work of this, and yet did it with the greatest exactness imaginable. For, 1. Many hands were employed, all unanimous, and not striving with each other. This expedited the business, and made it easy. 2. The workmen were taught of God, and so were kept from making blunders, which would have retarded them. 3. The people were hearty and zealous in the work, and impatient till it was finished. God had prepared their hearts, and then the thing was done suddenly, 2 Chron. xxix. 36. Resolution and industry, and a cheerful application of mind, will, by the grace of God, bring a great deal of good work to pass in a little time, in less than one would expect.
II. They punctually observed their orders, and did not in the least vary from them. They did it according to all that the Lord commanded Moses,Exo 39:32; Exo 39:42. Note, God’s work must be done, in every thing, according to his own will. His institutions neither need nor admit men’s inventions to make them either more beautiful or more likely to answer the intention of them. Add thou not unto his words. God is pleased with willing worship, but not with will-worship.
III. They brought all their work to Moses, and submitted it to his inspection and censure, v. 33. He knew what he had ordered them to make; and now the particulars were called over, and all produced, that Moses might see both that they had made all, omitting nothing, and that they had made all according to the instructions given them, and that, if they had made a mistake in any thing, it might be forthwith rectified. Thus they showed respect to Moses, who was set over them in the Lord; not objecting that Moses did not understand such work, and therefore that there was no reason for submitting it to his judgment. No, that God who gave them so much knowledge as to do the work gave them also so much humility as to be willing to have it examined and compared with the model. Moses was in authority, and they would pay a deference to his place. The spirit of the prophets is subject to the prophets. And besides, though they knew how to do the work better than Moses, Moses had a better and more exact idea of the model than they had, and therefore they could not be well pleased with their own work, unless they had his approbation. Thus in all the services of religion we should labour to be accepted of the Lord.
IV. Moses, upon search, found all done according to the rule, v. 43. Moses, both for their satisfaction and for his own, did look upon all the work, piece by piece, and behold they had done it according to the pattern shown him, for the same Being that showed him the pattern guided their hand in the work. All the copies of God’s grace exactly agree with the original of his counsels: what God works in us, and by us, is the fulfilling of the good pleasure of his own goodness; and when the mystery of God shall be finished, and all his performances come to be compared with his purposes, it will appear that behold all is done according to the counsel of his own will, not one iota or tittle of which shall fall to the ground, or be varied from.
V. Moses blessed them. 1. He commended them, and signified his approbation of all they had done. He did not find fault where there was none, as some do, who think they disparage their own judgment if they do not find something amiss in the best and most accomplished performance. In all this work it is probable there might have been found here and there a stitch amiss, and a stroke awry, which would have served for an over-curious and censorious critic to animadvert upon; but Moses was too candid to notice small faults where there were no great ones. Note, All governors must be a praise to those that do well, as well as a terror to evil-doers. Why should any take a pride in being hard to be pleased? 2. He not only praised them, but prayed for them. He blessed them as one having authority, for the less is blessed of the better. We read not of any wages that Moses paid them for their work, but this blessing he gave them. For, though ordinarily the labourer be worthy of his hire, yet in this case, 1. They wrought for themselves. The honour and comfort of God’s tabernacle among them would be recompence enough. If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself. 2. They had their meat from heaven on free-cost, for themselves and their families, and their raiment waxed not old upon them; so that they neither needed wages nor had reason to expect any. Freely you have received, freely give. The obligations we lie under, both in duty and interest, to serve God, should be sufficient to quicken us to our work, though we had not a reward in prospect. But, 3. This blessing, in the name of the Lord, was wages enough for all their work. Those whom God employs he will bless, and those whom he blesses are blessed indeed. The blessing he commands is life for evermore.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
Verses 32-43:
The workmen brought everything to Moses for his inspection. It is not likely that it was brought all at once, but as each item was completed. The text implies that Moses examined all that was done, and saw it was according to the pattern God had showed him in the mount, Ex 25:40; 26:30, et. al. There is no hint that Moses disapproved of anything which they brought for his inspection.
After the final item was inspected, Moses “blessed” the people.
This signifies not only Moses’ approval, but Jehovah’s approval, of their diligence and faithful obedience.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
32. Thus was all the work of the tabernacle. A brief summary is now subjoined, whereby he indicates that in no part was there the least defect, and also declares that the children of Israel had so obeyed God’s commands, that the work itself varied in no respect from its pattern. “The children of Israel,” he says, “did according to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so did they;” whence we gather that no part of the building was impaired by any admixture. Afterwards it is added, that the tabernacle with its utensils and furniture was brought before Moses, and that all things were approved of by his judgment; for he is said to have “blessed them,” because they had duly and faithfully obeyed God’s command. This, however, was not a simple prayer, as of a private individual; but it was a promise of reward, such as might awaken confidence in the minds of the people, when they heard from the mouth (“D’un tel Prophete;” of such a Prophet. — Fr.) of this excellent and unimpeachable witness that their labor was pleasing to God.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
The Final Summation.
Exo 39:32
‘Thus was finished all the work of the Dwellingplace of the Tent of Meeting: and the children of Israel did in accordance with all that Yahweh commanded Moses; so did they.’
In final summation the fact that all the work was done exactly as Yahweh commanded is again stressed. All was done according to His will. Would that we could all say the same, that we could say, ‘I have done all as Yahweh has commanded me’.
Note the equation of the Dwellingplace with the Tent of Meeting. The old Tent of Meeting has been replaced by it.
All That Has Been Made Is Brought To Moses ( Exo 39:33-43 ).
Exo 39:33
‘And they brought the Dwellingplace to Moses: the Tent, and all its furniture, its clasps, its boards, its bars, and its pillars, and its sockets; and the covering of rams’ skins dyed red, and the covering of dolphin skins, and the veil of the screen; the ark of the testimony, and its staves, and the mercy-seat; the table, all its vessels, and the showbread; the pure lampstand, its lamps, even the lamps to be set in order, and all its vessels, and the oil for the lamp; and the golden altar, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the screen for the door of the Tent; the brazen altar, and its grating of bronze, its staves, and all its vessels, the laver and its base; the hangings of the court, its pillars, and its sockets, and the screen for the gate of the court, its cords, and its pegs, and all the instruments of the service of the tabernacle, for the Tent of Meeting; the finely wrought garments for ministering in the Holy Place, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest’s office. In accordance with all that Yahweh commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did all the work. And Moses saw all the work, and, behold, they had done it; as Yahweh had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them.’
Finally all has been brought to Moses. It will be noted that the goatskin covering is clearly seen as part of ‘the Tent’, although they were not part of ‘the inner Sanctuary’, whereas the final protective skins were neither. The first showbread has also been made and that too has been brought. And it is observed that after his inspection all the work was declared as being in accordance with the pattern that had been shown to him in the Mount. That was of crucial importance. And so Moses not only approved all but gave them the divine blessing.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Moses Approves the Work
v. 32. Thus was all the work of the Tabernacle of the Tent of the Congregation finished; and the children of Israel did according to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so did they.
v. 33. And they brought the Tabernacle unto Moses, v. 34. and the covering of rams’ skins dyed red, and the covering of badgers’ skins, v. 35. the Ark of the Testimony, and the staves thereof, and the mercy-seat, v. 36. the table, and all the vessels thereof, and the showbread, v. 37. the pure candlestick, with the lamps thereof, even with the lamps to be set in order, v. 38. and the golden altar v. 39. the brazen altar and his grate of brass, his staves and all his vessels, the laver and his foot, v. 40. the hangings of the court, his pillars, and his sockets, and the hanging for the court gate, his cords, and his pins, and all the vessels of the service of the Tabernacle for the Tent of the Congregation, v. 41. the cloths of service to do service in the Holy Place, and the holy garments for Aaron, the priest, and his sons’ garments, to minister in the priest’s office.
v. 42. According to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so the children of Israel made all the work, v. 43. And Moses did look upon all the work, and, behold; they had done it as the Lord had commanded, even so had they done it;
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
tabernacle. Hebrew. mishkan, habitation (App-40). and the children of Israel did, &c. Read “thus did the children of Israel, according”, &c.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the Tabernacle and its Furniture
Exo 39:32-43
Ten times over we are told that all the work was done, as the Lord commanded Moses. See Exo 39:43. Their obedience had been minute and exact; and the blessing of the Lawgiver was the outward and audible assurance of the divine Well done. We are carried forward in thought to anticipate the verdict, which will be passed upon our own life-work. Will our Lord, when He beholds it, be able to say that it has all been wrought according to His pattern and in obedience to His command? Alas, that is too much to expect! We have been, too often, disobedient and unprofitable. We would love to hear the Master say Well done! I know thy works, and thy love, and faith, and patience, and that thy last works are more than the first. But is there not reason to fear that He may say: I have found no works of thine perfected before my God? See Rev 2:19; Rev 3:2. Let us repent, seek forgiveness and start again!
Fuente: F.B. Meyer’s Through the Bible Commentary
all the: Exo 39:33, Exo 39:42, Exo 25:1 – Exo 31:18, Exo 35:1 – Exo 40:38, Lev 8:1 – Lev 9:24, Num 3:25, Num 3:26, Num 3:31, Num 3:36, Num 3:37, Num 4:4-32
according: Exo 39:42, Exo 39:43, Exo 25:40, Exo 40:32, Deu 12:32, 1Sa 15:22, 1Ch 28:19, Mat 28:20, Heb 3:2, Heb 8:5
Reciprocal: Gen 7:5 – all that Exo 40:33 – So Moses Lev 1:1 – out of Lev 8:4 – General Num 1:54 – General Num 9:5 – according 1Ki 7:40 – So Hiram Heb 9:2 – a tabernacle
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
FINIS CORONAT OPUS
All the work of the Tabernacle was finished.
Exo 39:32
The mysteriousness, and unapproachable glory of Jehovah, could only be impressed on the Hebrews in figures and ways which they would appreciate. The portable temple of the Israelites had in its whole arrangement a resemblance with the temples of antiquity. In many of the Grecian temples the back part was not to be entered by anybody; and here the statue of the deity was placed. In the Egyptian temples the inner or sacred part was shrouded in darkness, and divided from the front or outer portion by a curtain embroidered with gold. From this impress two things
I. God educates His creatures in Divine things with the help of picture-teachings, and in each age the pictures have to be painted in the style, and in accordance with the ideas, of the age. This will enable teachers to explain that the mere form of the picture is never of first importance, the great thing is the truth illustrated. Infidelity attacks the mere picture-subject, which the taste of our day may think unlovely. We must force men to consider the truths which are of value for every age, which were taught in one way then.
II. Awe and reverence toward God are always at the very foundation of religion.They were impressed by the separateness and sanctity of a building for the Hebrews. They are sadly imperilled in our days, and we hear even mere boys talking about what is consistent and proper for God to do. Piety never can base itself on familiarity with God. Jesus reverently called Him, Holy Father, Righteous Father. Preachers should earnestly plead for worthier and more solemn apprehensions of God. Then,
III. The right view to take of the claims of Gods sanctuary should be discussed.The tabernacle was not a place for worshippers, it was the shrine of deity. The outer courts alone represented our churches. There is danger lest we should come to look on churches and chapels as places to which we go that we may enjoy ourselves, or, at most, get good. We need to feel much more than we do, that it is our bounden duty, as Gods creatures, and as Gods redeemed creatures, to offer together solemn, reverent, adoring worship to Him. Whoso offereth praise glorifieth Me.
The following are the main doctrinal ideas that were kept before the minds of the people, as they looked on the Tabernacle, thought on its ritual, and shared in its services:(1) The fact that God was graciously pleased to dwell among them, and take them into covenant with Himself. (2) The fact that they through sin were unfit to appear in Gods presence and enjoy His favour. (God was behind two veils.) (3) The fact that before any approach to God could be made, the guilt of sin must be expiated, and the pollution of sin removed. (Note the presence of the altar of burnt-offering in the outer court.) (4) The fact that when sin is expiated, and cleansed, a sinful being passes into a state of acceptance with God. (5) The fact that Gods continued presence in the midst of them depended on the great atoning sacrifice of the ever-living High Priest. (This was pointed at by the entrance once a year into the Holy of Holies of the high-priest, with his official robes, and the blood of sprinkling wherewith to sprinkle the Mercy Seat.)
Notice, also, the double manifestation of Jehovahs abiding presence. 1. Within the dwelling as an unapproachable glory. 2. Without the dwelling as a visible cloud. Help towards realising how Christ is God manifest in the flesh. The unseen seen by mortal eyes.
Illustration
(1) Let me be holy to the Lord in my thoughts. The real battle often is there, with the imaginations which wish to lodge in the heart, and which will do me much harm if I let them stay.
Let me be holy to the Lord in my words. When Hugh Latimer was on his trial, he heard a pen scratching behind the tapestry, and he knew that every word he uttered was being taken down. Let me remember that God takes my words down, and I shall seek to have them such as He can approve.
And let me be holy to the Lord in my deeds. It should be my ambition to go about my little world doing things which everyone feels are the very things that Christ would have done. He gives His highest dignity, He assigns His noblest work, to those who have performed the small services graciously and well. I would rise to the Christ-like life.
(2) The completed Tabernacle was the type and emblem of Jesus Christ. The Word was made flesh, and tabernacled among us. As the Shekinah dwelt in the sanctuary, filling it with a light and glory which sometimes flowed over into the outer courts, so did God dwell in the person of Jesus, sometimes irradiating His whole being, as at the transfiguration, We beheld His glory. The Tabernacle is also a symbol of every true child of God: for God still dwells in human spirits, and shines out through them, so that there is no part of them left dark. Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you? The Tabernacle is also a type of the collective Church, in whom God dwells. It must have been a very affecting and triumphant moment when Moses looked on the completed Tabernacle, not yet set up, but awaiting the next step of erection.
(3) The Tabernacle was both a symbol and a type; that is, it expressed in material form certain great spiritual needs and truths; and, just because it did so, it pointed onwards to the full expression and satisfaction of these in Christ Jesus and His gifts. In other words, it was a parable of the requisites for, and the blessings of, communion with God.
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
Seeing Christ in the Tabernacle
Exo 39:32-43; Exo 40:35-38
INTRODUCTORY WORDS
I. A lesson in obedience. Perhaps, the outstanding thing relative to the erection of the Tabernacle, and the preparation and placing of its furnishings is the perfect obedience displayed on the part of Moses and the Children of Israel. In Exo 39:43 we read: “And Moses did look upon all the work, and, behold, they had done it as the Lord had commanded.” As we read the 40th chapter we find the expression continually stated: “Thus did Moses: according to all that the Lord commanded him, so did he.” There is a similar statement, “As the Lord commanded Moses.”
There is a verse in Heb 8:5 which gives reply to this query: “Who serve unto the example and shadow of Heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith He, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.”
It was necessary, therefore, to make the tabernacle and its furnishings as the Lord outlined them, because everything connected with the Tabernacle was typical. In Heb 9:8-9 we read: “While as the first Tabernacle was yet standing: which was a figure for the time then present.” Thus, everything in the tabernacle was telling us of Christ, and was a shadow of the good things to come.
2. A lesson in typology. There is a verse in 1Co 10:1-33, which speaks of the journeyings of the Children of Israel after they had left Egypt. Read 1Co 10:11.
Relative to types there are two things which we would impress.
(1) We should always perfectly perform types lest by malperformance we mar the testimony of Jesus Christ. We give an example in the life of Moses. God had commanded Moses to “speak” to the rock. Moses, however, being angry with the rebelliousness of Israel, struck the rock, and struck it twice. Prior to this time Moses had, under God’s command, struck the rock and the water had gushed forth. On the authority of the Book, we discover that that Rock was Christ-that is, typically speaking, it spoke of Christ and of how He was smitten upon the Cross, when the Blood ran from His side.
It was for this cause that Moses was told to speak to the rock, because the rock had already been smitten. When, therefore, Moses struck it the second time, and struck it twice, he entirely spoiled the type-for Christ was once offered, and once only, for our sins.
(2) We should always, in the study of types look for Christ. We remember how Moses lifted up a serpent in the wilderness. Jesus Christ Himself spoke of that historical act, and said: “Even SO must the Son of Man be lifted up.”
I. THE TABERNACLE WAS A TENT OF TESTIMONY (Exo 25:16; Exo 25:21-22)
1. The word “tent” and also the word “tabernacle,” is a testimony of the fact that all things of earth are temporal and passing. We are all familiar with that little verse:
“Here in this body pent,
Absent from Him we roam,
Yet daily pitch our moving tent
A day’s march nearer home.”
Abraham considered himself no more than a transient, journeying toward a City whose Builder and Maker is God. It is written that he dwelt in tents along with Isaac and Jacob.
The Book of Hebrews emphasizes this transient feature of the Christian’s life. We are to be first strangers to this world, and then pilgrims to another, and a better world, When this fact grips our lives we will no longer look upon the things which are seen, neither will we love the world and the things of the world. The true Christian does not lay up for himself treasures upon the earth.
2. The words “tent” and “tabernacle” speak to us of the fact that we may walk with God in the midst of a wicked and perverse generation. Wherever the Children of Israel went, the Lord went with them. The Tabernacle in all the depths of its’ meaning was theirs, every step of the way. They were in the world but were not of it. Though separated from God, yet, they walked with God, and knew God.
All of this may be true in our lives. As the world loses its grasp upon us, the Lord will be the more and more manifest. He will come and take up His abode with us. He will manifest Himself to us.
II. THE MINOR DETAILS OF THE TABERNACLE (Exo 39:33-34; Exo 26:31; Exo 36:1-38; Exo 36:35)
1. We see the importance of even the details which mark the erection and furnishings of the Tabernacle. We will not have time to enter into a discussion of each of these singly. However, it will be well to study the taches, the boards, the pillars, the sockets, the skins, the veil and everything else connected with the tabernacle. Relative to these things we suggest a few.
(1) The curtains of the Tabernacle. They were commanded to be of blue, of purple, of scarlet, and of fine linen. Each one of these colors show a distinctive glory in our Lord Jesus.
(2) The blue presents to us His Heavenly nature. We think of the blue sky and in thinking of it we remember that Jesus Christ came from the Father when He came into the world; and we beheld Him as the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truth.
(3) The purple stands for royalty. It is so unto this day. Jesus Christ is not only the Lord of glory, but He is the King of David’s throne. When He comes again, He will come as King of kings with many diadems upon His brow.
(4) The scarlet represents the Blood of the Cross. It foreshadowed Calvary, where Christ went forth as the sacrificial Lamb to die the Just for the unjust.
(5) The fine linen stands for the righteous character of our Lord. When saints’ are robed in linen, white and clean, they are robed in the righteousnesses of their acts and deeds (Rev 19:8).
2. We see how the Tabernacle was a Tabernacle of testimony. This was because the taches, the boards, the bars, the pillars, the sockets, the rams’ skins dyed red, the badgers’ skins, the veil of covering and all of the rest spoke of Christ.
III. THE ARK OF TESTIMONY (Exo 40:35)
There are wonderful verses in Heb 9:4-5 concerning the ark. Read them.
We hope to give a fuller study upon the ark. Just now, we want to press one thing only, and that is this that Christ dwells with His people.
1. Of old the Lord dwelt in the midst of the cherubim. There did He meet His people. Today, the Lord Jesus dwells in the midst of His Church, Has He not said, “Where two or three are gathered together in My Name, there am I in the midst of them”?
Again, we are a building, “Fitly framed together” growing “unto an holy temple in the Lord.” This building is for the express habitation of God through the Spirit. God doth not now dwell upon earth in the midst of the cherubims, the tabernacle is gone. God does dwell in the midst of His Church.
2. Of old God dwelt in the midst of the cherubim, now He dwells in the believer. Have we not read this Scripture: “Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” Truly, “if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.”
The Lord is not only with us, and for us, but He is in us. Oh, the glory of it all! When Solomon was dedicating the Temple the glory of the Lord filled the Temple. That same glory often fills our own souls as we minister unto God, and do His will. There is no experience more glorious than this.
IV. THE TABLE AND THE SHEWBREAD (Exo 39:36)
1. Our minds naturally think of Christ, as the Bread which came down from Heaven. The very table itself made of cassia wood and covered with gold speaks to us of Christ made flesh, and of Christ in the flesh, veiled as God the Son, and Son of God. The shewbread, however, speaks to us of Christ as He said “I am the Bread of Life: he that cometh to. Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst.”
When the Lord Jesus Christ in speaking of the manna said: “I am the Living Bread which came down from Heaven,” many of His disciples turned back from following after Him. He had said: “And the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” He had also said: “Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink His Blood, ye have no life in you.” He had also said: “For My flesh is meat indeed, and My Blood is drink indeed.” It was because of these and similar sayings that many of His disciples said: “This is an hard saying; who can hear it.”
2. Our minds readily think of Jesus Christ as our Strength and the Sustainer of our life. Did not the Lord once say: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God”? We now begin to understand the reason that so many believers carry a starved and hungry look. It is because they fail to feed upon the Heavenly Manna.
In conclusion, will you think of Christ as the Bread? If so, think of the wheat that is plucked from the field of grain. Think of the grinding of that wheat in the mill. Think of its being baked into the loaf, and then think of the bread being crushed and ground in your own teeth; and you will get some idea of the sufferings of Christ and the anguish which was His ere He became to us the Bread of Life.
V. THE CANDLESTICK WITH THE LAMPS THEREOF (Exo 39:37)
1. When we think of the candlesticks we think of light. Jesus Christ is the Light of the world. It is He who lighteth every man who cometh into the world. However, we must remember that men love darkness rather than light.
We must also remember that the Light shone into the world but the world received it not. Remember that the golden candlesticks gave their light in the holy of holies.
2. When we think of the candlesticks we think more particularly of Christ as the Light of His own people. In the First Book of Thessalonians we read: “Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.” In the Epistle of John we have a great deal about light. We read, for instance, this statement: “God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.” Then we read this: “If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another.”
3. When we think of the candlesticks we think of Divine guidance as we journey on our Christian way. Our Lord becomes a Lamp unto our feet and a Light unto our path. He shows us the way where we should go.
4. When we think of the candlesticks we think of Christ as the illumination and revealer of Truth. The Word of God is filled with wonderful, unspeakable glory. For this cause we need a light from Heaven to shine upon us, that we may understand its riches of glory, and its fullness of truth. Of course the Holy Spirit who gave the Word does shine upon it; even so, also, did the candlesticks lighten the Truth.
5. When we think of the candlesticks we think of God as Light. Remember the candlesticks were of wrought gold. We are not seeking the light of men, but the light of God. God is light.
VI. THE ALTAR OF INCENSE (Exo 39:38)
We have before us an altar made with wood, and covered with gold. Upon this altar the incense was placed. The altar stood near to the veil that separated from the holy of holies.
In the study today we want to speak more particularly of Jesus Christ, our great High Priest,
1. The believer’s prayer life is a vital part of spiritual worship. Prayer is the vital connection between the believer and his God. Prayer bespeaks of approach to the Father, It also suggests the fellowship which we have with Him. Prayer even reaches into comradeship. Praper leads us to share with God, His glories on the one hand; while He, on the other hand, stoops down to share our poverty and our needs with us.
2. The believer’s prayer life is enforced by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit Himself maketh intercession along with our spirits. We never pray as we should pray, unless we pray in the Spirit.
3. The believer’s prayer life reaches God only by the way of the altar of incense, that is, by the way of Christ Jesus, our great High Priest. “He ever liveth” to intercede for us. He is our Representative at the throne of grace. It is for this reason that we dare to come boldly that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in the time of need.
The altar of incense seems even now to be speaking to me. It is saying, we have in Heaven a faithful High Priest. It tells me that we have an High Priest who has passed through the heavens, and there He holds an unchangeable and an eternal priesthood for us.
VII. THE BRAZEN ALTAR (Exo 39:39)
We began our lesson with the study of the Tabernacle as a testimony. We began in the holy of holies, passed backward into the holy place and now we stand in the outer court, at the brazen altar. This altar speaks of the initial step Godward.
1. There is no approach unto God excepting by the way of the Cross. It is the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, His Son, which cleanseth us from all sin. It is at the Cross that our sins were rolled away. It is there that we were made the righteousness of God in Him.
On the one hand, at the brazen altar our sins are placed on Christ. He suffers the Just for the unjust. He bears our stripes. He makes His soul an offering for sin. He carries our sorrows, bears our shame.
On the other hand, at the brazen altar we are clothed with the imputed righteousness of Christ. We are washed in the Blood of the Lamb. God no longer beholds iniquity in us. What a glorious imputation! What a blessed consummation!
2. Having passed by the brazen altar we come to the laver. This laver stood in a direct line, which from the outer door, passed the brazen altar, and went on to the holy place, and holy of holies. It stood to block the way of our approach to the holy place.
We have entered by Christ who is the door; we have paused at the brazen altar, where our sins are taken away. Before we proceed, however, we must stop at the laver.
The brazen altar stands for imputed righteousness. The laver stands for imparted holiness. Justification must be followed by sanctification. If we are children of the light, we must walk in the light. If our sins have been washed away at the brazen altar, we must reckon ourselves to be dead unto sin, and freed from its power and sway at the laver. The grace of God may never be an excuse for an unholy walk. God calls us unto holiness.
AN ILLUSTRATION
In preaching the Tabernacle do not cover up Christ.
A rendition of Handel’s famous. Oratorio, “The Messiah,” was to take place in one of the old churches in Bern, Switzerland’s quaint city on the Aar. It was the night of the last rehearsal. Every part of the famous production had been faultlessly and triumphantly sung, as might be expected under the skillful direction of so masterly a leader as Father Reich el.
There was, however, something lacking in the soprano solo, “I know that My Redeemer Liveth.” The technique was perfect; the breathing, the placing of the notes, the enunciation of the young Woman’s faultlessly trained voice were all beyond criticism, and as the last note died away those who were listening waited for the high praise which they knew must fall from the lips of the noted director. Imagine their surprise at what took place; the old man, whose snow-white hair hung gracefully almost to his shoulders, tapped sharply with his baton for silence and, turning to the beautiful singer, said, “Daughter, you do not really know that your Redeemer liveth, do you?”
Being a Christian, the young woman replied, “Why, yes, Monsieur Reichel, I think I do. Why do you ask?”
“Do you really believe Him to be your Redeemer?” said he.
“Why, yes, I know He is,” came the earnest reply.
“Then, sing it,” cried the old man, “sing it with all your heart; sing it in the measure in which you believe it; sing it so that I and all these here will know that you do understand the joy and the power of it!”
Then, as with commanding gesture he made ready for the orchestra’s accompaniment, the soprano took up her part again. This time she forgot herself and all thought of applause. There was the same faultless voice and the same brilliant technique though the singer was unconscious of it as she sang with all her heart the truth she experienced in her soul. True, as she closed, they applauded her, but it was with tears in their eyes because of the glorious message they had received. As she paused, all unmindful of the applause, the famous old musician stepped over to her and, kissing her on the forehead said, with tears in his eye, “You do know, daughter, for you have told me so.”
What a lesson here for everyone! Put heart into your work.
My brother minister, what a mighty lesson here for you and me!-W. E. Biedenwolf.
“Let us not fail to reveal Christ.”
Fuente: Neighbour’s Wells of Living Water
Exo 39:32. Thus was all the work finished In not much more than five months. Though there was a great deal of fine work, such as used to be the work of time, embroidering, and engraving, not only in gold, but in precious stones, yet they went through with it in a little time, and with the greatest exactness imaginable. The workmen were taught of God, and so were kept from making blunders, which would have retarded them. And the people were hearty and zealous in the work, and impatient till it was finished. God had prepared their hearts, and then the thing was done suddenly, 2Ch 29:36.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Presentation to Moses 39:32-43
The builders and craftsmen then presented the finished tabernacle items to Moses. The fact that he listed them again in the text reflects their importance. The statement that they did their work just as God had commanded Moses brackets the section (Exo 39:32; Exo 39:42). As in the Creation narrative (Gen 1:28), a blessing concludes the tabernacle construction narrative (Exo 39:43).
"The readiness and liberality with which the people had presented the gifts required for this work, and the zeal which they had shown in executing the whole of the work in rather less than half a year (see at Exo 40:17), were most cheering signs of the willingness of the Israelites to serve the Lord, for which they could not fail to receive the blessing of God." [Note: Keil and Delitzsch, 2:255.]
The sections of Exodus dealing with the tabernacle are a fruitful field for study. [Note: See Paul F. Kiene, The Tabernacle of God in the Wilderness. This book contains many color pictures of a model as well as explanations of the furniture, priestly garments, etc.]