Weds.’s Devo - Taking Down the Tabernacle

Read: Numbers 4:1-5:31; Mark 12:18-27; Psalm 48:1-14; Proverbs 10:26 The Kohathites were the clan of Levites that were in charge of the most holy objects for the Tabernacle. There were 2,750 Kohathites recorded by name who were thirty to fifty years old and eligible to work in the Tabernacle. When it was time to move, Aaron and his sons were to go with them and assign the duties to the Levites. Aaron’s son, Eleazar was put over the Kohathites and responsible for the entire Tabernacle and all its furnishings. His name means “God is helper”. He was like the Holy Spirit. *** They would first take down the curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies and cover the Ark with it. This curtain stood for the veil between God and man. It was placed first. The next covering was the goat skin and would represent the sacrifice made for man’s sin. The last covering was blue and represented God’s realm. Jesus made a way for man to reconnect with God. This blue cloth also meant that this piece is also in Heaven. Moses was shown these pieces in heaven and was to duplicate them on earth. Then the poles for carrying were inserted. The Table of Shewbread was to be covered with a blue cloth indicating this piece was in heaven. Then the cups and plates and other utensils were put on the blue cloth and covered with a red cloth. Jesus’ blood made a way for us to dine with Him. Over this would be a covering of goat skin leather. Then the poles were inserted. *** The lamp stand and the altar of incense were each covered with the blue cloth first and then the goatskin leather. They were both put on carrying frames to carry. *** The bronze altar that represented the cross had a purple cloth to show the perfect meshing of the blood of Christ with heaven since blue and red make purple. It was covered with the goat skin. *** Practically, the goatskin leather protected the holy furniture from the weather and other elements just like our skin protects our internal organs that give us life. Only on the Ark was the blue fabric on the outside. How very appropriate - heaven protected God’s presence. *** The Gershonite men ages 30-50 were also recorded and their job was to carry loads. They numbered 2,630. They carried the curtains in and around the Tabernacle, directed by Aaron and his sons. They were directly responsible to Ithamar, Aaron’s son. Ithamar means “a coast of palms” which gives the connotation of resting. How interesting his name means “rest” when he is carrying the loads. We are supposed to find that place of rest when we are carrying heavy burdens. That is the way we make it through. *** Lastly, the clan of Merarites was numbered from the ages of 30-50 or their men and their total came to 3,200. Their job was to carry the frames of the Tabernacle with all that pertained to the skeletal building of the Tabernacle. They were directly responsible to Ithamar whose name means “bitterness.” *** Moses was commanded by God to remove from he camp those who were unclean so they wouldn’t defile the others. Then he told the people to restore anything they had stolen from another and how to deal with their transgressions. *** God have them a test to prove if a wife suspected of adultery was guilty. If the husband suspected she had been unfaithful to him, the husband was to bring her before the priest along with an offering of two quarts of barley flour. The priest would take some holy water in a clay jar and pour dust from the Tabernacle floor in it. The priest then presents the woman before the Lord. He unbinds her hair and places the offering in her hand. The priest proclaims that if she is innocent, she is immune from the effects of the bitter water, but if she is guilty of being unfaithful, then she will feel the curse. It will make her infertile causing her womb to shrink and her abdomen to swell. It will appear she is pregnant, but there will be no baby. *** She must agree to what he says, then drink the water. When she drinks it, it will cause bitter suffering if she is guilty. But, before he gives it to her, he will take the offering from her hand and lift it up to the Lord and carry it to the altar. He will burn some of it on the altar and then require the woman to drink the rest. The results will prove if she is guilty or not. *** When Israel was put to this test, they were found guilty and had to drink the water of suffering which amounted to 40 more years of wandering in the wilderness where they died and their children received their promise. Many times in their history they have had to drink this water of suffering. *** In Acts, the Sadducees came to Jesus with a trick question about the resurrection. Jesus saw through the smoke screen and went to the point. He explained to them why the resurrection was true which silenced them. *** But, standing there was a man who had a legitimate question from a hungry heart. He asked which commandment was the most important. Jesus told him to love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. The second was equally important which was to love your neighbor as yourself. *** The man agreed with Jesus and added that he understood that loving the Lord was more important than sacrifices. Jesus told this man that he wasn’t far from the Kingdom of God. *** Later, Jesus was teaching in the Temple and dispelled another of the religious leaders’ teachings. They taught that the Messiah was the son of David making the Messiah lesser than David. Jesus explained that David called the Messiah his Lord. *** Lord, may we put emphasis on what you put emphasis and minor on what you minor on. May we be fruitful and produce a harvest of righteousness for your Kingdom.