Bible Devotion

Meditative Reflection
Is it worth it?

“These are the amounts of the materials used for the tabernacle…” (Exod. 38:21)

I like visiting Europe and I like to frequent cathedrals, whether Romanesque, Gothic or Neo-Gothic. Apart from taking the time to appreciate the many great works on the inside of the domes, the beautiful arches and buttresses, the awe-inspiring spires, and the many biblical stories re-told on the paintings or stained glasswork, I love to just sit there to soak up the presence of God. One has to admit that these places offer one a sense of transcendence that is not quite the same as in other places of worship. And yet, one is also reminded of how much money had been spent to build such cathedrals, and their degradation into being more of a tourist attraction to many pagans today!

One wonders the same as we read the account of the building of the tabernacle. In my rough estimation, one ton (2,210 lbs) of gold—$50 million; 3¾ tons (7,601 lbs) of silver—$3 million; and 2½ tons (5,350 lbs) of bronze (or copper) —$19,000. Was it worth it? Where is the tabernacle (or the subsequent temple) now?

Since this tabernacle and its contents were mandated to be built by the Lord who even specified the exact measurements and materials for everything to be made, who can challenge whether it was worth it or not! Indeed, what is a mere $50 million to God? He is worth far more than anything the world can muster, not to mention that He owns everything that He has created.

When I think of how this community, in the wilderness, with no means of job creation nor creation of wealth, were willing to part with such wealth in obedience and gratitude to the Lord, it is really heart-warming.

Of course, the tabernacle and its replacement, the temple, are no more, but it was not the fault of this generation. Each generation is meant to be faithful to its charge assigned to them.

Meditative Reflection
People are Precious

“They mounted the onyx stones in gold filigree settings and engraved them like a seal with the names of the sons of Israel.” (Exod. 39:6)

Although chapter 39 is almost an identical account of chapter 28 (except that the purpose and function of the priestly garments were omitted), the three things that stand out to me at this reading are still the onyx stones on the shoulder pieces of the ephod, and 12 pieces of gems on the breastpiece and the turban.

Not that I do not find the color and type of materials used for these sacred garment interesting, but the precious stones that contain the names of the twelve tribes remind me powerfully that the people of God are indeed very precious to the Lord. We are very precious to the Lord.

As a servant of the Lord, the even more powerful and haunting reminder is that I have to treasure the people, the flock that God has entrusted me as precious. In fact, they are my responsibility, as the location of the onyx stones on the shoulder piece indicates. They are people that are closest to my heart, as the position of the breastpiece powerfully conveys.

We like to think that God is most important to us, and it is true, as the words on the turban, HOLY TO THE LORD unmistakably show. However, people are also extremely important to us who serve the Lord, because they are precious to the Lord. Anytime we overlook the people as if they were not very important, anytime we do not treasure the people as God treasures them, anytime we serve without regard to the people of God, we are not worthy to put on the sacred garments of the priests.

Meditative Reflection
The Litmus Test

“Moses inspected the work and saw that they had done it just as the Lord had commanded. So Moses blessed them.” (Exod. 39:43)

Moses inspected the work brought before him, and the Bible carefully lists all the items: the tent, furnishings, clasps, frames, cross-bars, posts and bases down to the utensils of the bronze basin. As I was reading the list, all of a sudden, it reminded me of the day I shall be standing before the Lord and every detail of my life is to be inspected. If Moses had to inspect everything concerning the building of the tabernacle, to see if they had been done “just as the Lord had commanded”, certainly I will have to give account of everything I have done to see if they had been done, also “just as the Lord had commanded”. It is quite a scary thought.

This is not just a thought I created in my imagination, but is what the Apostle Paul reminds us:

“If any man builds on his foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work.” (1 Co. 3:12-13)

What constitutes gold and what constitutes straw? I guess, the standard used by Moses will be the same standard used on our Day of testing—and that is whether we have served the Lord just as He had commanded us! In other words, the litmus test is “obedience”.

Meditative Reflection
The Difference a Year Can Make

“So the Tabernacle was set up on the first day of the first month in the second year.” (Exod. 40:17)

When it comes to the selection of a leader in the church, it is always prudent not to select any recent convert or they may become conceited, as Paul admonishes us in 1 Timothy 3:6. But it does not mean that the length of time necessarily indicates or dictates one’s maturity in Christ. The Apostle Paul himself is a case in point. He threw himself into ministry right after his conversion, and conceit or pride had not been his mark.

The same with Moses.

As we come to the final chapter of Exodus, we are reminded that it was only 12 months ago that they left Egypt and yet Moses has turned into a totally different person, a totally different leader in this short period of time.

He has changed from a reluctant leader into a most humble servant; from not knowing even the name of God to knowing the heart of God; from avoiding the people of God to embracing them as his own! All these happened within roughly span of a little over 12 months. Spiritual maturity has less to do with time, and more to do with love—love for God, and love for the people.

I wonder how long you have been a Christian. Have you matured in the Lord since then?

Meditative Reflection
Preparing to Worship

“Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting...Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments…” (Exod. 40:12-13)

Because our Lord Jesus has pointed out that our worship of God should be “in spirit and in truth” (Jn. 4:23), we tend to downplay the significance of any outward symbols in worship and this includes the robe worn by some high-church ministers. In fact, I have found some of their robes rather awkward with colors that do not really match. Of course, I would have found the sacred garments of Aaron unpleasant, given their blue, purple and scarlet combination. Wouldn’t you?

However, since these sacred garments are mandated by the Lord, I believe they would only enhance the true worship of the Lord in spirit and in truth, because every time they entered into the tabernacle, the putting on of these sacred garments would inevitably remind them of the sacredness of their duties and the holiness of the God they served.

It is also true that, if their hearts are not in the right place, wearing of any garments, however sacred would not make a difference. But if their hearts are in the right place, then the sacred garments would have greatly enhanced their sense of worship.

For people like myself who do not belong to a high-church tradition, the preparation of worship is equally essential, but it will take the form of prayers—undressing ourselves of  worldly cares and putting on the garments of praise, and this is best be done the night before Sunday.

Meditative Reflection
A Life of Worship

“Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.” (Westminster Shorter Catechism)

The Westminster Shorter Catechism begins its first question by asking, “What is the chief end of man?" And the answer is, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.” This is exactly what the setting up of the Tabernacle represents.

On the one hand, God is not so much glorified by the manifestation of His glory when He descends upon the Tabernacle, because He is simply revealing Who He is, but the fact the people of God worship and fear Him singularly brings Him glory. Therefore, it is not surprising that the Short Catechism begins with this answer which echoes the words of Isaiah, “…everyone who is called by my name whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” (Isa. 43:7) It is through our worship of this One True God that He is glorified. But such a worship that truly brings Him glory is a life of worship which is not confined to that which takes place within the Tabernacle only. True worship begins in our daily life, a life of willingness and obedience to the Word of the Lord (Isa. 1:19).

On the other hand, the Tabernacle represents a place where the people come and enjoy Him forever. The furnishings within the Holy Place speak volumes of this wonderful privilege of God’s people. The Altar of Incense which is closest to the Ark reminds us of how God treasures our communion with Him through prayers. The Bread of the Table points to our feeding on the Bread of Life, the Lord Jesus Himself, through the reading and obeying of His Word. And His Presence shines forth light in our heart as the Psalmist says in Psalm 89:15, “Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord.” Indeed, the Golden Lampstand stands to symbolize that we can surely walk in the light of His Presence. While the people of God could only attend the Courtyard and gain access to His Presence at a distance, through the sacrifice made on their behalf by the priests, we now can gain access to His Presence anytime, through the atoning sacrifice already made on the cross by our Lord Jesus Christ. In other words, we have achieved and realized the chief end of being as men and women, to enjoy God. The question remains: “Have you taken this privilege seriously? Are you enjoying God as you should?”

Meditative Reflection
The Messages of Exodus

“So the cloud of the Lord was over the Tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel during all their travels.” (Exod. 40:38)

As history, the Book of Exodus describes the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt, their journey to Mount Sinai, and the events that occurred during their journey there. However, the theme of the book is unmistakably about redemption, not just for the Israelites, but for the entire human race.

The slavery of the Israelites in the hands of the Egyptians is a vivid imagery of the human condition enslaved in sin. Just as the Israelites had lost their freedom in the land of Egypt, we have lost our freedom in the bondage of sin.

Moses is a type of Christ. Just as He led the Israelites out of the land of slavery into the Promised Land, so has Christ led us out of the slavery in sin into Eternal Life.

But Christ is far more than Moses can represent: He is also the Passover Lamb—the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world (Jn. 1:29).

But redemption could, at best, be only half complete if the Israelites were left alone after their freedom from slavery. But they were brought before Mount Sinai and became a covenanted people who belong to God and enjoy the ever-presence of the Lord. So is our redemption through Jesus Christ: We are now also “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God” (1 Pet. 2:9), and we have the Holy Spirit dwelling within our heart, “who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of His glory.” (Eph. 1:14). This reminder in Ephesians speaks to the end of the Book of Exodus in that as the Book closes with the presence of the Lord following them during all their travel, guaranteeing their inheritance in the Promised Land that had yet to come, God’s presence through His Spirit’s daily presence also guarantees the completion of our bodily redemption one day upon the return of the Lord.