Sat.’s Devo - The Furniture of the Tabernacle

Read: Exodus 35:10-36:38; Matthew 27:32-66; Psalm 34:1-10; Proverbs 9:7-8 Bezalel built the ark to hold the covenant. It would be made of wood and covered with gold. It would be carried by poles that would go through two rings on each side. He hammered gold to form two cherubim whose wings would overshadow the mercy seat. This would be the place the high priest would come and receive God’s mercy for himself and for the people. He made an incense table much like the mercy seat but smaller and taller. This would be where the priest would offer incense to please the Lord. This stood right outside the curtain that lead to the Holy of Holies. When the Temple was built, this was the table where Zechariah was offering incense and the angel appeared to him and told him of his son, John the Baptist (Luke 1:5-17). *** In the Holy Place sat the incense table, the large menorah, and the table of shewbread. The large menorah was made of beaten gold and resembled an almond tree with branches. Three branches came out on both sides to form seven in all. The branches had knobs to represent the almond bud and the almond flower which held the cup to hold the oil and the wick. This was the whole process of becoming a priest. First you were planted by the Lord, then you produced a bud, then matured into a flower. This was the same thing that happened to Aaron’s rod when the Lord chose him as his priest. As priests to the Lord, we go through the same process. *** Outside the tabernacle in the courtyard was where the bronze altar stood. It was made of bronze and had a gutter around it with a downspout on the right side. This was where the priest would offer the burnt offerings given by the people. This altar stood for the cross and Jesus’ sacrifice for our sin. All the people could watch their sacrifice be accepted by the Lord. *** Beside the bronze altar was a bronze basin where the priest would wash their hands and feet before and after they ministered as priests. This stood for our continual cleansing of our sinful nature which we do by confessing to the Lord and letting his blood cleanse us. *** In Matthew, it was the third day after Jesus had been sacrificed. Both Mary’s came to the tomb. There had been an earthquake and the angel had rolled by the stone and was sitting on it. He was glorious. The guards had been slain in the spirit and were lying on the ground. The angel told the women not to be afraid, but Jesus had risen from the dead. The angel invited them to come and see where he had been, then go tell the disciples what had happened. As they were leaving, Jesus met them and told them to tell the disciples to meet him in Galilee. *** Some of the guards got up and went into the city and told the chief priests all that had happened. They paid them off to lie and say that the disciples had come and stolen his body. *** The eleven of Jesus disciples went to the mountain Jesus had told them to meet him in Galilee. Jesus told them that he had been given all authority in heaven and on earth. They were to go in this authority and make disciples of the nations and baptize them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. They were to teach them all he had taught them. He would be with them till the end of the age. (We are at the end of that age.) *** Lord, may we walk in Jesus’ authority and make disciples of the nations. May we live all Jesus taught and be an example to those around us.