Bible Discussion — Exodus 35-40

August 15, 2007, 12:00 pm; posted by
Filed under Bible, Chloe, Connie, David, Josh J, Steve  | 1 Comment

This week, Bweinh.com looks at the next six chapters of the Bible, Exodus 35-40.

Previously in Exodus:
1-4 | 5-8 | 9-11 | 12-14 | 15-18
19-22 | 23-26 | 27-30 | 31-34

The book of Genesis:
1-4 | 5-9 | 10-14 | 15-18 | 19-22 | 23-26 | 27-29
30-32 | 33-36 | 37-39 | 40-43 | 44-46 | 47-50

 
INTRODUCTION:
David:
The last few chapters here deal with the tabernacle and its trappings. Tabernacles are temporary dwellings; but the real resting place came not when a finished temple was completed, but when God fulfilled Ezekiel 36:27. “I will put my Spirit within you:”

 
SOMETHING YOU’D NEVER NOTICED BEFORE:
Connie:
I think this is the only time in the Bible when the people had to be asked to stop giving to the Lord.

Chloe:
The half shekel from each person counted in the census, which was called “atonement for your lives,” is put towards the sanctuary. Because of that, even the poorest family could say they had contributed to the construction of the Lord’s Tabernacle.

Josh:
I think I tend to forget just how extravagant the tabernacle really was. I picture some tent, then I come to the scripture and see the people bringing gold and silver, fine linen, precious stones — all of their finest materials and craftsmanship for the Lord.

David:
Moses called for an offering of common household items, like “ram skins dyed red, badger skins, and shittim wood.” Just normal stuff everyone has laying around the house, I guess.

Steve:
There were special, ornate, jeweled, royal “garments for ministry” that the priests apparently wore every time they entered the Tabernacle. God was apparently pretty immodest and ostentatious, eh Job?

 
BEST BAND NAME FROM THE PASSAGE:
Steve: Golden Spoon, A Bekah For Each Man
David: Holiness to the Lord
Josh: One Talent
Chloe: Southside Tabernacle

 
DEEP THEOLOGICAL MEANING:
David:
“The house of the wicked shall be overthrown, but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.” The Tabernacle was symbolic of the temporary nature of our existence here. Houses are permanent; tents mean, “This really isn’t my home.”

Chloe:
Gabriel Garcia Marquez wrote a short story about a rich man who went from town to town asking people how much money they needed to solve their problems. He would then ask them what they could do, whether it be playing checkers, juggling, digging ditches or washing clothes, then pay them to do that mundane thing until they had earned the sum they named. Every skill was useful to this man.

Chapter 35 says God gave the Israelites their abilities, and they were obligated to use them for the Lord. That hasn’t changed to this day. For a long time I thought I couldn’t be a missionary because I would be a terrible teacher and had no desire to be a doctor – and those are the two most common missionary professions. I thought God couldn’t use my talents on the mission field. But just as God used weaving, logging, painting and welding for His glory back then, He can do the same today, if we “commit to the Lord whatever we do” (Proverbs 16:3).

 
RANDOM THOUGHT:
Josh:
A 75-pound lampstand?!? I’m surprised they didn’t have carrying poles just for that thing.

David:
It’s against the law to stare at the Mayor of Paris.

Chloe:
I wish I had a sea cow hide. Are those illegal?

 
WHERE IS JESUS IN THIS PASSAGE:
David:
1 Corinthians 10:3 says that during this time, “they did all drink from the spiritual Rock that followed them; and that Rock was Christ.”

Josh:
Waiting to tear the curtain.

Steve:
The source of those gifted artisans who knew how to do all the manner of necessary work to make an amazing and beautiful structure. I’m very thankful for those people and the creative gifts with which God has blessed them, because I am not one of them.

 
VERSE TO REMEMBER:
David:
36:5 — “And they spoke to Moses, saying, ‘The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work which the LORD commanded us to do.'”

Josh, Steve:
40:38 — “For the cloud of the LORD was above the tabernacle by day, and fire was over it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.”

 
PORTION YOU WOULD MOST LIKE EXPLAINED IN HEAVEN:
Chloe:
What kind of cleansing ritual was Bezalel required to undergo to make him pure enough to construct the ark?

Steve:
Imagine being there during the first time the Tabernacle was opened, seeing the completed beauty of its craftsmanship, then the indescribable glory of God’s presence embodying the tent. I somehow believe that would have been more breathtaking than seeing a sea parted or rivers turn to blood.

David:
Where is the Ark now?

 
LESSON TO TAKE AWAY:
David:
When God ordains a work, he ordains men (or women) with wisdom to complete the work he wants done. Find those people, not the people you like, to fill ministry positions.

Steve:
Before God told the people how to build the Tabernacle, he reiterated the law of the Sabbath, meant to honor Him and protect the people from burnout. So many times, God teaches (and re-teaches) us a lesson, then gives us the perfect opportunity to apply it.

Josh:
The fact that the Israelites gave freewill offerings to the point of being asked to stop due to excess should be quite convicting to much of the church today. Many treat entreaties for tithing as legalism and expect the church to serve them.

 
GENERAL RESPONSE TO THE PASSAGE:
Steve:
I find these long lists of schematics and plans reassuring. Who would ever make up a sacred text with this kind of detail? And who could ever devote themselves so fully to a project like this unless they KNEW it was divinely inspired?

David:
TGIO. Thank God it’s over.

Josh:
The attention to detail in this passage can seem overwhelming, but we see at the end of chapter 40 that this was quite literally God’s house. The importance of the place that would hold the glory of the Lord could not possibly be overstated.

 
CONCLUSION:
David:
Onto Leviticus where we can tackle much easier topics, like mold, leprosy and bestiality.

Steve:
Thousands of years of history is behind us now; still ahead, the greatest literature and poetry in the English language. But before we get to any of that, exposition of skin discharges! I’m not quite sure yet how we’re going to handle Leviticus (the source of my greatest triumph at summer camp), but come back next week to find out!


Comments

1 Comment to “Bible Discussion — Exodus 35-40”

  1. Bible Discussion — Jonah 3-4 : Bweinh! on February 3rd, 2009 11:04 pm

    […] | 40-43 | 44-46 | 47-50 Exodus: 1-4 | 5-8 | 9-11 | 12-14 | 15-18 19-22 | 23-26 | 27-30 | 31-34 | 35-40 Romans: Ch. 1 | Ch. 2 | Ch. 3 | Ch. 4 | Ch. 5 | Ch. 6 | Ch. 7 | Ch. 8 (I) Ch. 8 (II) | Ch. 9 | Ch. […]

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