KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Thursday, February 07, 2019
Chapters: Exodus 25-27
Message: One Tabernacle, One Body of Christ
Hello My Friend,
Bear with me today as there is a lot of Scripture as it gives details of the first sanctuary that God would have made for Him. Sanctuaries are truly amazing, while we can spend time with God anywhere and anytime, there is something comforting when likeminded Christians come together for worship, prayer, fellowship, and to comfort and encourage one another. “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” – Acts 2:46-47.
God sent Moses up to the mountain, for forty days and nights he was up there, and it was there that He gave him the plans for building the tabernacle, an enormous tent that would be used for worship, reconciliation, and an altar for communication between God and man.
“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering. And this is the offering which ye shall take of them; gold, and silver, and brass, Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense, Onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate. And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.” – Exodus 25:1-3,6-9.
“of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.” You know, it is very important that we have a church we can attend to worship, reconcile, and have an altar to come to God with. Yes, we can do this anywhere by ourselves, but God does not want that. And by the way, we are to tithe too, but giving tithe is not all about money, it is willingly giving from the heart the things that God asks for. My church only collects tithe on Sunday mornings, the very first church I have ever known to do this. Now, God gives Moses instructions for building the tabernacle, beginning with the Ark of the covenant.
“And they shall make an ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof. And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee. And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof. And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat. And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee. And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.” – Exodus 25:10,16-18,21-22.
“And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee.” This would be the two stone tablets that God gave Moses that had the ten commandments written on them. Did you know that when Israel was invaded by Babylon that they took the Ark, and it has never been found? People are still searching for it, and are most likely like the majority of people who followed Jesus every day, no faith, just trying to prove Him, rather tempt. “In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” – Luke 12:1.
“which is hypocrisy” Anyone can be religious and believe that Jesus Christ was here, but it takes a true believer to believe that He is all He says He is without all the proofs that all of these events really did take place. While we may not ever see the significance of knowing why every detail into building God’s sanctuary is written not only once, but twice, they are significant to God. Every part of the tabernacle, down to the very last loop of a curtain had a very special meaning to God, and if we take the time to study it we will see that it is quite amazing. Now, God goes on to give Moses instructions on building the table for the showbread.
“Thou shalt also make a table of shittim wood: two cubits shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof. And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, and make thereto a crown of gold round about. And thou shalt make unto it a border of an hand breadth round about, and thou shalt make a golden crown to the border thereof round about. 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 shewbread before me alway.” – Exodus 25:23-25,29-30.
“And thou shalt set upon the table shewbread before me alway.” The table was placed in the holy place, the area before the veil. The showbread was twelve small loaves of unleavened bread (think of corn cakes), representing the twelve tribes, they remained on the table daily, and were interchanged with fresh every Sabbath day, the stale bread was eaten by the priests around that table. Many scholars point this as a union of God and His people, how we will all feast with Him, but I think I can add to that. You see, Jesus is the bread of life, only believers can eat of this bread, and when we do it is a holy union like no other, and we will feast with Jesus at His table forever. “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” – Revelation 3:20.
“and will sup with him, and he with me.” How amazing will it be to sit with Jesus and eat with Him? You know, when we see Jesus we will never be hungry ever again. Praise God! And even today, if we fully trust Him, and feed on His bread then we will always be taken care of. Now, the third thing God instructed Moses to have built for the tabernacle was a golden lamp stand, and on it would be a golden candlestick. “And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same. And in the candlestick shall be four bowls made like unto almonds, with their knops and their flowers. And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it. And the tongs thereof, and the snuffdishes thereof, shall be of pure gold.” – Exodus 25:31-34,37-38.
“that they may give light over against it.” The lamps were to be lit continuously, they represent the light of God’s Word and Spirit which is given to us through Jesus Christ, who is the Light to His people in this dark world. Now, came the instructions for the walls of the tabernacle, which were to be curtains.
“Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work shalt thou make them. The length of one curtain shall be eight and twenty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and every one of the curtains shall have one measure. The five curtains shall be coupled together one to another; and other five curtains shall be coupled one to another. And thou shalt make loops of blue upon the edge of the one curtain from the selvedge in the coupling; and likewise shalt thou make in the uttermost edge of another curtain, in the coupling of the second. Fifty loops shalt thou make in the one curtain, and fifty loops shalt thou make in the edge of the curtain that is in the coupling of the second; that the loops may take hold one of another. And thou shalt make fifty taches of gold, and couple the curtains together with the taches: and it shall be one tabernacle.” – Exodus 26:1-6.
“and it shall be one tabernacle.” Every piece was designed perfectly that when they were joined together it became one piece. This is a great illustration of Christ, and how His believers are all joined together as one body. Now, it is important to understand that within the building of the body of Christ that it is not just four walls that we assemble together in so to speak, there are different rooms for different things, such as one for fellowship, and one for the altar. God instructs Moses to make a veil, and this veil would be used separate the holy place where the priests would be most of the time, and the most holy place, where God would be.
“And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made: And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver. And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy. And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.” – Exodus 26:31-24.
“and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.” God’s Spirit would dwell in the most holy place, which would be where the mercy seat as well as the Ark of the covenant would be placed. The veil was what separated God from man, even the high priest, no one was ever allowed to go pass that veil and enter the most holy place. Jesus took down that veil for His believers at the cross, any one of us, who are saved, can now stand before God and live to tell about it. “But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.” – II Corinthians 3:14-16.
“Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord,” The world is blinded to Jesus Christ frankly because His light is so bright it cannot stand to see Him, but those who take the veil off their heart will see, and believe in Him, and then they will get to fellowship with Him forever. Praise God! Now, God gives instructions for the altar.
“And thou shalt make an altar of shittim wood, five cubits long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be foursquare: and the height thereof shall be three cubits. And thou shalt make the horns of it upon the four corners thereof: his horns shall be of the same: and thou shalt overlay it with brass. And thou shalt make his pans to receive his ashes, and his shovels, and his basons, and his fleshhooks, and his firepans: all the vessels thereof thou shalt make of brass. And thou shalt make for it a grate of network of brass; and upon the net shalt thou make four brasen rings in the four corners thereof. And thou shalt make staves for the altar, staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with brass. And the staves shall be put into the rings, and the staves shall be upon the two sides of the altar, to bear it.” – Exodus 27:1-4,6-7.
“and the staves shall be upon the two sides of the altar, to bear it.” The altar was placed in the court before the holy place, it was there for the people to bring there offerings to God. When we come to God to the altar, it is Jesus who hold us up, and He truly is there to not only hear us, but clean us from the guilt of every care that we bear. Well, now, God gives instructions for the court.
“And thou shalt make the court of the tabernacle: for the south side southward there shall be hangings for the court of fine twined linen of an hundred cubits long for one side: And the twenty pillars thereof and their twenty sockets shall be of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets shall be of silver. All the vessels of the tabernacle in all the service thereof, and all the pins thereof, and all the pins of the court, shall be of brass. And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always. In the tabernacle of the congregation without the vail, which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before the LORD: it shall be a statute for ever unto their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel.” – Exodus 27:9-10,19-21.
“to cause the lamp to burn always.” Pure olive oil was to be burned before God daily, it signifies the gifts and graces of His Spirit, who indwells permanently in all believers of Christ. Christ is the Light, and without Him we will remain lost and in the dark, even if we are saved we can get lost in the dark, so, we are to keep the light of Jesus Christ burning in us always, for it is what guides the dark world to Him, and it also keeps us motivated and encouraged to keep going. And this is why Jesus wants us to be a part of His Church. “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.” – I Corinthians 12:12-14.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always.” – Exodus 27:20.
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ to become the sacrifice needed that would redeem me of my sins and bring me to know that You are always with me. Thank You also for taking the veil off my heart so that I could see You, it is comforting to know that You indwell in me. Lord, I want to be a living sacrifice for You, to offer myself willingly, and be used in anyway that You need me. Lead me and guide me, help me know Your will and follow it so I can be the light so many desperately a searching for. Give me Your power to understand and know Your Word so that I can be ready and prepared to handle any situation You place before me, and let me shine through You every day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure You Are Going To Heaven?: http://readytofollow.com/
Receive The KJB Daily Devotions In Your Email: http://eepurl.com/2WMzT
Missed A Message: http://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/
Visit I’m Following Jesus Missions: http://imfollowingjesus.com/index.html
I’m Following Jesus On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/byhisstrength
Copyright © 2019 I’m Following Jesus, All rights reserved.