Fri.’s Devo - The Furniture for the Tabernacle

Read: Exodus 37:1-38:31; Matthew 28:1-20; Psalm 34:11-22; Proverbs 9:9-10 It always surprises me to read that the ark of the covenant was only 45 inches long and 27 inches wide and 27 inches tall. It was a chest that was made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold. It had two rings on both sides to slip the poles in to carry it. On its cover sat two cherubim who faced each other and their wings covered the mercy seat. This piece sat alone in the Holy of Holies and represented God’s mercy seat. *** The table of shewbread was made of acacia wood, three feet long and 18 inches wide. It had a decorative lip all around the top of it and the same rings for the poles. The poles were made of wood and covered with gold. All the utensils were made of gold. This was where the priests would sit to eat the shewbread with the Lord in the Holy Place. This represents our communion and fellowship with God. *** The lamp stand was made of pure hammered gold. It was to represent a budding almond tree. It had the buds and branches - three buds on a branch and three branches on either side of the main branch. At the top of each branch was a bowl that had oil and a wick in it to light. This lamp stand was the light of illumination physically and spiritually. *** The altar of incense was made like the other pieces but was 18 inches square and three feet tall. It had the decorative lip and was covered with gold. It had horns on the four corners and rings on the sides for the poles. It was where the priest would offer incense which represented prayer to the Lord. The horns represented God’s mercy. *** The oil used to light the lamp stand and the incense used was all a special formula which was holy to the Lord. God’s anointing mixed with our prayers was accepted by God. *** The altar for the burnt offerings was made for the courtyard outside of the Holy Place. It was made of wood and overlaid with bronze. It was 7.5 feet square and 4.5 feet tall. This was where they sacrificed the animals. It also had horns on the corners for God’s mercy and a huge grate in the center like a bar-b-que pit. This altar represented the cross. Everything used for it was made of bronze which represented judgment. This is where sin was judged and burned up. *** A bronze basin or laver was put at the door of the tabernacle. It was made of the mirrors of the women. They gave up looking at themselves to be able to behold God. This laver would be where the priests would wash before and after offering the sacrifices. When they washed before the sacrifice, they could see themselves in the reflection of the mirrors but when they ended making atonement for the people, all they could see was the blood when they washed. *** The curtains were hung around the whole area separating them from the outside world when they came into the tabernacle to meet with God. *** Every man 20 years and older was required to give a half shekel to the sanctuary. They collected from 603,550 men which means there were well over one million people that Moses had brought out of Egypt. The people also gave additional gifts of gold, silver, and bronze. *** In Matthew, the soldiers that were guarding Jesus’ tomb were in for a shock. It was early the morning of the third day after Jesus died. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to the tomb to visit. The earth shook and an angel came down and rolled the stone away and sat on it. He shone like lightning and when the guards saw this they fell as dead. *** The angel spoke to the women and told them not to be afraid, but Jesus had risen, just like he said he would. He would meet them in Galilee. *** They ran to tell the disciples. As they went, they ran into Jesus and fell down and worshiped him. Jesus told them not to be afraid, but to go and tell the disciples to meet him in Galilee. *** Some of the guards went to report what had happened to the leading priests. The priests paid the soldiers a large sum to lie and say that while they were sleeping, Jesus’ disciples came and took his body. *** The eleven disciples went to Galilee to where Jesus had told them to meet him and appeared to them. When they saw him, they worshipped him but some of them wavered in their faith. *** Jesus told them that God had given him all the authority on earth and heaven and they were to go out and make disciples of people from all the nations. They were to baptized them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. They were to teach the people what he had taught them and he would be there with them. That is our commission and promise too. *** Lord, may we go take your presence with us to make disciples of You and baptize them into your kingdom.