Worship the True God

September 19, 2010

Lesson: Exodus 25:1–40

Key Verse: Exodus 25:8

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Introduction

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them” (Ex. 25:8). Jehovah gives to his people a visible form of his covenant relationship with his people. In this earthly sanctuary, a palace set apart for the King of kings,and God will dwell in the midst of his people.

Moses, at the command of the Lord, asks the people to give gifts from the willingness of their hearts, for the building of a tabernacle. God tells Moses to receive the gifts from those who give willingly. The implication seems to be that gifts which are given grudgingly were not to be received. The attitude of the heart bears much upon the giving of our tithes and offerings, of the use of our talents and gifts. As the Bible exhorts us: “Every man according as he purposes in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7).

The people of God were to build the tabernacle, and all it would contain, according to the pattern that the Lord would show Moses. Not only was the furniture included, but also the materials for the tent and the execution of the work involved. Also, the moral law of God was not set aside for convenience sake. As in the observance of the Sabbath day: “Six days shall work be done but on the seventh day there shall be to you a holy day, a sabbath of rest to the Lord” (Ex. 35:2).

The understanding of the visible tabernacle is to be seen in the presence of God in the midst of his people. The Lord declares: “My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people” (Ez. 37:27). Thus we can sing with David: “Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth” (Psa. 26:8). This loved is manifested in us as we look to “Christ, being come a high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, …but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us” (Heb. 9:11–12).

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The Ark—Exodus 25:10–22

The people of God were to make an ark of wood. This was the Ark of the Covenant into which Moses “put the testimony” (25:16, 40:20). These tables of testimony were the ten words which God wrote upon the two tablets of stone, declaring the covenant relationship between God and His people. The ark was to be carried by “two staves into the rings by the sides of the ark;” for, when it needed to be moved, no one “shall touch any holy thing, lest they die” (Num. 4:15). This would be the throne from which Jehovah would lead and judge his people with mercy and truth. The prophet spoke: “Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan” (Joshua 3:11).

The Bible records that the Ark of the Covenant was overlaid with gold, into which was placed a golden pot with manna, “and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant” (Heb. 9:4). Moses was commanded to “make a mercy seat of pure gold” and “two cherubim of gold,” to be placed on each side of the mercy seat. “And the cherubim shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings,” with their faces toward the mercy seat.

The mercy seat was to be placed upon the ark, a place where Jehovah would meet with his people: “I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.”

The cherubim were angels of God who were “placed at the east of the garden of Eden” along with “a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life” (Gen. 3:24). They are called the “cherubim of glory shadowing the mercy seat” (Heb. 9:5). The Psalmist prays to the “Shepherd of Israel” that the Lord who dwells “between the cherubim, shine forth” (Psa. 80:1).

Discussion: What was the purpose of having the ark?

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The Table—Exodus 25:23–30

There was to be in the tabernacle a table: “And thou shalt make the dishes thereof, and spoons thereof, and covers thereof, and bowls thereof, to cover withal: of pure gold shalt thou make them. And thou shalt set upon the table showbread before me always.” The showbread was made from fine flour, with frankincense on the bread as a memorial (Lev. 24:5–7).

The Lord again gives full instructions as to what wood to use, how big it shall be, and the use of pure gold. The showbread, with its utensils and their use, was carefully regulated. God’s grace in establishing his covenant fellowship with his people is not by chance, but by his choice, will, and purpose. “Accordingly as he hath chosen us in (Christ) before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him …for by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.”

The showbread, or “bread of the face,” was to be set before the Lord always. The people were to offer this bread before the Lord. Each Sabbath it would be set “in order before the Lord continually, being taken from the children of Israel by an everlasting covenant” (Lev. 24:8). The offering of the covenant was set “before the Lord.” As the Ark of the Covenant spoke of the presence of God with his people, so the table of showbread was a symbol of his people coming to him with thanksgiving for the abundance they received at his hand.

Our Good Shepherd has prepared a table for us, and our cup overflows. For from his throne of mercy Christ has appointed for us a kingdom, a kingdom given to him by the Father; “That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom” (Luke 22:30). God’s provision is daily and eternal. His fellowship is without end. He has prepared a place for us, “that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:3).

Discussion: What can we set before the Lord that will be a sweet savor of our gratitude?

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The Lampstand—Exodus 25:31–40

The lampstand was to be of pure gold; “his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knobs, and his flowers, shall be of the same.” Three branches were to come out of each of the sides of the center stem. The lampstand had seven places where the seven lamps or lights would be placed. The purpose of the lampstand was to carry the seven lights. The lamps were trimmed and filled every morning, and lighted every evening. This was the light which was to shine in the darkness. We are to be “blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world” (Phil. 2:15).

The beloved apostle, John, in the Spirit of God, turned to see the voice that spoke to him, and he saw seven golden lampstands (Rev. 1:10–12). In the midst of these seven lampstands was “one like the Son of man” (Rev. 1:13). Christ Jesus reveals the meaning of the seven lampstands as the “seven churches” (Rev. 1:20). Jesus continues to reveal the relationship of the church with the lampstand. For those who will not repent, He will come quickly and remove the lampstand (Rev. 2:5). The church of our Lord Jesus Christ is the lampstand. A lampstand holds the lamp which gives light and power to the gospel, which has been given to the church. When the lampstand is removed, then the light and power of the Holy Spirit is removed; and there is no longer any light, any gospel. The Spirit of God was the light to his covenant nation, Israel. The Spirit of God is still the light to his covenant nation, the church. The Christian church worships and serves God as lampstands, representatives of the Son on earth, appointed to preach the gospel in the teaching and power of the Holy Spirit.

Christ said: “I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness” (John 12:46). We were in that darkness, but we are now “light in the Lord: (therefore let us) walk as children of light” (Eph. 5:8). Let us be true to the gospel of our Lord. For we are “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that (we) should shew forth the praises of him who hath called (us) out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).

Discussion: How is the church a lampstand?

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Lessons are based on the International Sunday School Lessons for Christian Teaching, copyright © 2010 by the Committee on the Uniform Series.