Exodus Chapter 37

Exodus 37:1 And Bezaleel made the ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half was the length of it, and a cubit and a half the breadth of it, and a cubit and a half the height of it:
2 And he overlaid it with pure gold within and without, and made a crown of gold to it round about.

Here we see Bezaleel making the ark of God with wood and overlaying it with gold. He was given this ability by the spirit of God and did this work under divine instructions that God gave to Moses and then to this person. What a privilege it must have been to have been able to serve God in this way.

The ark was a sign of the covenant between God and Israel. No one today knows where this ark is. Could it be because the first covenant was fulfilled in Jesus Christ and we now have a way to God that is available for everyone, not just Israel. The good news is that many of the Jewish people have come to Christ and are coming to Christ by the thousands. Israel as a nation has not recognized their Messiah but many Jewish messianic congregations are cropping up all over the world. God is turning His grace back to the nation of Israel.

As the church goes into apostasy, the time of the Gentiles may be drawing to a close. It is up to us as a church to be revived and repent from dead works and seek God with all our hearts so that we can join Israel in enjoying the benefits of the return of Jesus Christ.

Is there going to be a church to be raptured when He returns? Are we ready for His coming? Are we concerned with only accumulating things in this life only? Are we involved in the false prosperity gospel that is being preached? Do we love this present world or are we looking forward to the coming of the Lord. Jesus said that His kingdom is not of this world. Are we preaching the right gospel which will cause the listener or be born again by the spirit as they repent and turn to Christ being delivered from the love of this world and transformed into people who love the Lord and love His appearing?

There was a time when the ark was being build and the tabernacle was being constructed that Israel was in their first love. They followed the Lord and worshipped Him. There came a time later though when Israel fell away and broke the covenant they had with God.

Jesus Christ brought a new and living way first to Israel and then to the Gentile nations. Many believers were made partakers of the promises given to Israel by faith in Jesus Christ.

The Gentile believers go through many similar trials that Israel went through in the wilderness. We too, tend to leave our first love and get into other things rather than the true gospel of Jesus.

Just as the pattern of the ark and tabernacle were specific and given to Moses by God Himself, so the way of salvation is given by God and there is no other way to be saved. Jesus, the Son of God is the only way to salvation and the only way to God. If there would have been another way, Jesus would not have had to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind.

All the Old Testament ordinances and laws were pointing to the one to come. They could not take away sins but showed us what sin was and how bad we needed God to save us and provide for us a way of salvation.

God has to save, we cannot save ourselves. If we made it a point to keep all the law of God, we could not do it. We had to have one to come from God and keep the law for us. This was Jesus Christ.

Exodus 37:3 And he cast for it four rings of gold, to be set by the four corners of it; even two rings upon the one side of it, and two rings upon the other side of it.
4 And he made staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold.
5 And he put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, to bear the ark.

This ark was so holy that no one could touch it but it had to be carried by the priests and born by staves placed in the rings to carry it from place to place. This shows us how holy God is and that the natural man cannot enter His presence. The law shows us how sinful mankind is and how holy God is. We cannot just enter into the presence of God without being cleansed from sin.

All the rituals, baptisms, sacraments, ordinances, and services could not make one free from sin and ready to enter into God's presence. A change in the inner soul and spirit of man (woman) had to be made. This is what we call being "born again" by the spirit of God.

To be born again one must believe they are sinners in need of a savior. They must believe in the savior God provides for them to be saved. This savior kept the law in all points but was put to death, shedding His own blood when He was crucified on the cross. The law of God says the soul that sins, it shall die. Jesus didn't sin, yet He died willingly for our sins. He died, was buried and then rose again so that those that receive Him can also die and rise again. We who believe this can be born again by the spirit. When we turn away from sin and turn to Christ we are cleansed from sin by the blood of Jesus and made a new creature in Jesus Christ.

Christ fulfilled the requirements of the law and made a new and better way not only for Israel but for all who will simply believe.

Exodus 37:6 And he made the mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half was the length thereof, and one cubit and a half the breadth thereof.
7 And he made two cherubims of gold, beaten out of one piece made he them, on the two ends of the mercy seat;

The fact that God instructed a mercy seat to be built tells us that only mercy will save any one of us. It's by His grace and not our own goodness that we are saved.

Exodus 37:8 One cherub on the end on this side, and another cherub on the other end on that side: out of the mercy seat made he the cherubims on the two ends thereof.
9 And the cherubims spread out their wings on high, and covered with their wings over the mercy seat, with their faces one to another; even to the mercy seatward were the faces of the cherubims.

I believe these were build to show the glory of God. These cherubims were never objects of worship but brought glory to God. It is the only place God allowed any use of images. These were not worshipped but these faced the mercy seat and covered it with their wings showing that all mercy comes from God and all worship is to be directed toward Him.

We are never to use images to bow down to or to represent God. This ark was made by the directions from God. After Christ, no images are necessary and should never be used. We now worship God in spirit and in truth.

Exodus 37:10 And he made the table of shittim wood: two cubits was the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof:
11 And he overlaid it with pure gold, and made thereunto a crown of gold round about.
12 Also he made thereunto a border of a handbreadth round about; and made a crown of gold for the border thereof round about.
13 And he cast for it four rings of gold, and put the rings upon the four corners that were in the four feet thereof.
14 Over against the border were the rings, the places for the staves to bear the table.
15 And he made the staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold, to bear the table.
16 And he made the vessels which were upon the table, his dishes, and his spoons, and his bowls, and his covers to cover withal, of pure gold.

I'm not sure what this table represented but I can guess that it shows God spreads a table before us who live for Him. They could only gaze upon this table but we can come to the table of the Lord and receive all He has provided for us.

What God provides for us is like a banquet. Some mistake the blessings of God as an accumulation of worldly riches. This is not the case. God does provide things necessary for us while we live upon the earth in our natural bodies; but both unbelievers and believers receive that kind of blessing. The real blessings from God our spiritual things. The things God gives to believers cannot even be compared to the things in this life. There is no comparison. Having a table spread with good things is like receiving the things of the spirit that God gives to those who believe and obey Him.

When we begin to hunger and thirst after these things, we will receive.

Exodus 37:17 And he made the candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work made he the candlestick; his shaft, and his branch, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, were of the same:
18 And six branches going out of the sides thereof; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side thereof, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side thereof:
19 Three bowls made after the fashion of almonds in one branch, a knop and a flower; and three bowls made like almonds in another branch, a knop and a flower: so throughout the six branches going out of the candlestick.
20 And in the candlestick were four bowls made like almonds, his knops, and his flowers:
21 And a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, according to the six branches going out of it.
22 Their knops and their branches were of the same: all of it was one beaten work of pure gold.
23 And he made his seven lamps, and his snuffers, and his censers, of pure gold.

Seven lamps of light may represent the seven spirits that are before the throne of God mentioned in Revelation.

Revelation 4:5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God

This is where the power comes from that reproves the world of sin, of righteousness and judgment. Without His presence the whole earth becomes violent.

Exodus 37:24 Of a talent of pure gold made he it, and all the vessels thereof.
25 And he made the incense altar of shittim wood: the length of it was a cubit, and the breadth of it a cubit; it was foursquare; and two cubits was the height of it; the horns thereof were of the same.

The altar was the place where incense was offered as worship to God. The prayers of true believers are like incense offered to God.

Revelation 8:3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.

Saints refers to all believers who have been faithful to Jesus Christ and have not defiled their garments by returning to sin or unbelief after believing on Jesus Christ. It is not people who are canonized by the church to become saints. All believers are saints.

Exodus 37:26 And he overlaid it with pure gold, both the top of it, and the sides thereof round about, and the horns of it: also he made unto it a crown of gold round about.
27 And he made two rings of gold for it under the crown thereof, by the two corners of it, upon the two sides thereof, to be places for the staves to bear it withal.
28 And he made the staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold.
29 And he made the holy anointing oil, and the pure incense of sweet spices, according to the work of the apothecary.

God always has His prophets anoint with oil someone called of God for a purpose. In the New Testament the sick were anointed with oil when they came to be healed. The oil itself does not heal but is a method used by God to show mercy. In the Old Testament this was limited to only special people. Because of our beloved Jesus Christ all the promises of God are available to all who come and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. No wonder the angels rejoiced at His birth. DC

Exodus 38

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