Scripture: “And you shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. It shall be made with cherubim skillfully worked into it. And you shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold, with hooks of gold, on four bases of silver. And you shall hang the veil from the clasps, and bring the ark of the testimony in there within the veil. And the veil shall separate for you the Holy Place from the Most Holy. You shall put the mercy seat on the ark of the testimony in the Most Holy Place. And you shall set the table outside the veil, and the lampstand on the south side of the tabernacle opposite the table, and you shall put the table on the north side.
“You shall make a screen for the entrance of the tent, of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, embroidered with needlework. And you shall make for the screen five pillars of acacia, and overlay them with gold. Their hooks shall be of gold, and you shall cast five bases of bronze for them.”
Exodus 26:31-37 ESV [Click here to read the entire chapter.]
Observation: Recapping Friday’s Daily Focus, Moses will supervise the construction of the tabernacle’s framework to meet the following specifications:
- Verticle supports: made of acacia wood; 15 feet high by 2.25 feet wide, held together by two tenons.
- South and north sides: twenty frames with two bases of silver under each frame.
- East (rear) and west (front) sides: six frames with two additional frames that form the corners (secured by golden rings); two bases made of silver for each of the eight frames.
- Top horizontal bars: five are placed on each frame (made of acacia wood).
- Middle horizontal bars: five are placed on each frame (overlayed with gold and held by golden rings).
Today’s reading addresses the veil separating the Most Holy Place (comprising the ark of the testimony and mercy seat) from the Holy Place (containing the table for the bread of the Presence and the lampstand) and the screen covering the entrance to the tabernacle. Regarding the veil, Moses must oversee the skillful weaving of blue, purple, and scarlet yarns and fine linen. Moses’ workers must hang it on the golden hooks extending from the four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold after placing all the sacred furniture in their designated rooms—beginning with the ark.
As for the tabernacle’s entrance screen, the woodworkers will make five pillars of acacia overlayed with gold and five golden hooks with bronze basins for its supporting infrastructure. The seamsters will weave the screen using the same material as the veil, adding embroidery.
Takeaway: As theologian Peter Enns contends, the details of the veil, screen, exterior curtains, framework, and accoutrements, with their precise specifications and measurements and their order of installation, represent a microcosm of creation itself and affirm the goodness of a created world and a sense of order amid the chaos (NIV Application Commentary: Exodus, p.521). As such, in addition to representing a copy of the perfect reality of heaven (see above link to yesterday’s Daily Focus for further discussion on this point), the tabernacle reflects the wonder and beauty of Israel’s earthly habitat as God intended it to be: unmarred by the Fall (see Genesis 3:17-19). So, as Israel continues their conquest to take possession of the Promised Land amid the chaos (whether from enemy warfare or their rebellious undoing), they may find order in their cultic worship as exhibited within the confines of the tabernacle and its later temple.
Our takeaway? As mentioned often in these devotions, Israel would fail miserably to sustain their reverent worship of their Creator, thereby necessitating the incarnation of the Son of God, who perfectly fulfilled the law by doing his Father’s will unto death. Thus, while only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies into the presence of God, Jesus, our Great High Priest, has entered once and for all into this sacred space to provide us direct access to him and the Father (Hebrews 9:11-12). How? When he paid the price in full (John 19:30), his atoning death sent seismic waves straight to the temple where the massive veil separating God’s people from the Holy of Holies miraculously tore from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51), in effect by the hand of God.
Our part? Indeed, through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, we have become new creations restored from the chaos of a fallen world. How should we respond? In the words of Paul, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:17-19 ESV).
From the first day of creation to the construction of the tabernacle and later temple to the climactic death and resurrection of Christ, our Triune God has spoken order into the chaos to spur new life. Hence, with gratitude for the immeasurable price the Father and Son paid to bring us new life and direct access to them, we submit to the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit and follow his lead to introduce others to the One who restores order from the chaos by transforming them into his image-bearers who pay it forward.
Prayer: Father God, we thank you for your Son, who, with you, brought order to the chaos and created our beautiful world and our unique life forms made in your image. We also thank the two of you for reestablishing order from the chaos of a fallen world through your Son bearing our sins in his body and sacrificially laying down his life for us so that we might become new creations redeemed by his blood. So, please help us to make the most of our salvation and pay it forward to the others still floundering in the chaos by following the lead of your Holy Spirit. Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
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