When Moses met with God atop Mt Sinai, God gave him instructions on the tabernacle, a portable worship structure that the Israelites were to build. God explained the purpose of the structure in Exodus 25:8:
"And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst."
The tabernacle would be made of fine materials---precious metals, fine fabrics, precious gems, animal skins, spices, and oil. Remember that the Egyptians had provided the Israelites with these things when they left Egypt (Exod 12:35-36).
The precious metals included gold, silver, and bronze. There is a tradition that iron was not used because of its association with weapons of war.
Why make such a detailed listing of materials? Dennis Prager suggests that this made for a transparent construction process without kickbacks or other corruption.
The materials would be collected in a voluntary offering. By contributing something to it, each Israelite could feel a personal connection with the tabernacle. The whole process of building the tabernacle seems to have been devoid of strife or complaining, with people gladly contributing materials and labor.
The most important object for the tabernacle was the ark of the covenant, a gold-plated wooden box that would contain the tablets of the Ten Commandments. The ark had pleasing dimensions----2.5 cubits by 1.5 cubits by 1.5 cubits. Note that 2.5/1.5 = 5/3, which is just a bit bigger than the "golden ratio."
Atop the ark would be images of two cherubim. Cherubim were guardians of thrones or sacred space, like the cherubim that guarded the entrance to the Garden of Eden (Gen 3:24). Images of cherubim (e.g., sphinxes) in royal courts of the ancient near East often had bodies of lions, human heads, and wings. In Ezekiel's vision in Ezekiel 10, the cherubim supporting God's throne had four faces, hands, and wings.
Dennis Prager notes that the wings of the cherubim would shield the cover of the ark, which would shield the ark, which would shield the tablets, which would shield and safeguard civilization.
God's presence would appear atop the ark, between the cherubim, and from there God would provide the Israelites with continuing revelation (Exod 25:22). The tabernacle has been likened to a "portable Mt Sinai."
There would always be food on the table in God's house, with twelve loaves placed on top of a special gold-plated table (vv 23-30). And the lights would always be on there, with light provided by the seven-branched menorah, a beautiful lampstand that would have features of an olive tree and an almond tree (vv 31-40).
Rob Wilson gave a sermon on Seder 63 at Church of the Messiah on July 10, 2021. He explained that God had no need for anyone to build a house for him, and that the tabernacle reflected God's desire to dwell among his people. The fact that God gave careful instructions for the construction of the tabernacle reflects the importance of worshiping God on his terms.
Rob showed that the ark and the altar would be situated at the centers of their areas of the ark. God should be at the center of our lives.
The ark would be covered with gold on the inside and outside. In Jewish tradition, this detail is said to signify that the lives of those who strive to obey God's commandments should exhibit a consistency between outward behavior and inner character.
Today there is no tabernacle, and God's people collectively constitute the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 3:16; 6:19).
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