Category: God Plans To Move In

Exodus 31:12-13 (NIV) –  Then the Lord said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy.

“Why make mention of the Sabbath at this point, within the section of Exodus that deals with the tabernacle? The answer is that the tabernacle was for worship; worship occurred weekly, on the Sabbath; and if the Sabbath were not properly observed, worship would not properly take place; so therefore the tabernacle would not be properly used.” [Douglas K. Stuart, The New American Commentary: Exodus, Vol. 2, 653]

“The implied point is that the commands to build the sanctuary and to make provision for it do not supersede the command to observe the Sabbath.  In short, despite everything that had to be done, construction work was not to be done on the Sabbath, and Israelites were not to violate Sabbath under the justification that their extra labor provided the income to help maintain the sanctuary.  Behind this is the greater theological point that God was the one who provided for Israel and the sanctuary.  The issue here is trust in God’s provision.” [Duane A. Garrett, A Commentary on Exodus, 613]

The heart behind the Sabbath is keeping or guarding the heart of worship unto the Lord. It was the Lord who instructed the people to build the tabernacle, but “doing” the “good work” of building it with seeming “good intentions” was not to precede the heart of worship, which trusts in the Lord God who alone who provides. Just as the Sabbath was to be kept holy for the Lord, it signified those who belonged and were set apart for the Lord.  Let’s not get so caught up in the “doing” of things, but rather how we are to worship the Lord.

Let’s pray that the Lord will help us to guard this heart of worship for him alone.  Let’s also pray that we would grow in our passion and desire for greater worship of him in our lives and as we grow together in the church.

Let’s close singing to Matt Redman’s song, “Heart of Worship.’

– EK

Exodus 29:42-46 (NIV) – “The Song of the Tent”

“For the generations to come this burnt offering is to be made regularly 
at the entrance to the tent of meeting, before the Lord.
There I will meet you
and speak to you; 
there also I will meet with the Israelites,
and the place will be consecrated by my glory.
“So I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar
and will consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve me as priests. 
Then I will dwell among the Israelites
and be their God. 
They will know that I am the Lord their God,
who brought them out of Egypt 
so that I might dwell among them.
I am the Lord their God.

“I believe that verses 29:42-46 are poetry. This song is a celebration of the Tent of Meeting as a place of constant communion between YHWH (Yahweh) and Israel via the sacrifices offered there daily. The significance of the act is brought out in the poem. The mood is positive and joyful, and it celebrates the significance of the Tent of Meeting: YHWH is present with Israel. He instructs them, sanctifies the sanctuary and its priests, and maintains the covenant relationship – that he is their God.  So understood, the ritual is not burdensome, but a realization of the promise that Israel will be unique among the nations, a treasured possession and holy people belonging to YHWH (Exod. 19:5)” [Duane A. Garrett, A Commentary on Exodus, pages 598, 600]

We are God’s temple. He is dwelling among us and what a great joy and privilege that we can live a life of worship un to the Lord. Worship in all its details and preparation is a joyful privilege.  As we are reminded of this wonderful reality in Christ, may the Holy Spirit fill our hearts afresh in joyful worship unto the Lord. Let’s pray that we will worship him in all that we do today.

Let’s close in prayer to this song, “10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)‘ by Matt Redman.

– EK

Exodus 25:8-9 (NIV) – Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.

In what is to follow in the remainder of Exodus chapter 25 to 31, God gives careful and detailed instructions for the tabernacle that is to be built for him. Both the materials that are to be used and the process of building and being able to enter in reflect his holiness and his kingship over the people. It is clear that the primary focus is worship unto the Lord.

The privilege of being able to meet with God and have him dwell among them was no casual occasion at all. There was no compromising or negotiations on materials, patterns, budget, process and so forth. All things are to center on God who is holy who would be dwelling in there and the tabernacle would be constructed, exactly, to the detail, how the Lord patterned or designed it to be.

Worship is to be carried out in accordance with divine revelation.  Worship is on God’s terms, in his order, in his ways, in line with his desires and his character.

Our daily lives of worship matter to the Lord. And today, let’s ask the Lord – what is your order of worship for me?  How can I worship you today – in line with who you are as God in my life and according to what you desire?

As we prayerfully seek the Lord in this way, let’s follow along in this song of worship unto Him – “Yes and Amen‘ by Matt Redman,

 

– EK

Exodus 25:8 (NIV) – Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.

1 Corinthians 3:16 (NIV) – Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?

Having God’s presence dwelling among the people would set them apart from any other people. Through the building of this tent of meeting (tabernacle) – God would make his presence known to them and to all. What we have been reading in Exodus has been building up to this point – God rescues and delivers his people and is setting them apart as a people for himself and what sets them apart or identifies them from all other people? His very presence is with them, dwelling with them.

Let’s also reflect on this from Gordon Fee, page 19, Paul, the Spirit and the People of God: “The gathered church is the place of God’s own personal presence, by the Spirit.  This is what marks off God’s new people from ‘all the other people on the face of the earth’ (Exodus 33:16). There is not a more important word in all the New Testament as to the nature of the local church than this one! The local church is God’s temple in the community where it is placed; and it is so by the presence of the Spirit alone, by whom God has now revisited his people.”

Let’s spend time thanking the Lord for how he has called us to be his church as his Spirit dwells with us. Let’s remember in thanksgiving the brothers and sisters that we have in the church and pray that together we will continue and in greater measure make known his presence to the places we are ministering – whether in our cities and campuses.

Let’s close in worship to this song, “Hands to the Heavens‘ by Kari Jobe.

– EK

Exodus 25:8 (NIV) – Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.

John 1:14 (NIV) – The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 3:16-17 (NIV) – For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

After making His covenant with the people, God’s plan is to move in, dwell among them through this tabernacle they are to build. God is displaying his faithful love to be with his people through the journey. He would not leave them alone, but make his presence known among them.

Ultimately, we see God’s heart as he sent his Son, Jesus, to come and dwell among the people. In the same way, neither did he leave us alone, but through Jesus coming, he made a way possible for us to be saved from death to life and be able to be reconciled in relationship with Him. We can know his presence daily with us through the Holy Spirit.

This is all because….God so loved…

As we start things off this week, let’s simply dwell on this, “God so loved the world…God so loved us…that he came to dwell.” Who are we that he would make known his love and presence to us in such a way? May we be undone by the amazing love God showed us through Jesus!

Let’s close in worship to this song, ‘How He Loves’ by John Mark Mcmillan.

– EK