The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Exodus 37:25-28,
"They made the altar of incense out of acacia wood. It was square, a cubit long and a cubit wide and two cubits high—its horns of one piece with it. They overlaid the top and all the sides and the horns with pure gold, and made a gold molding around it. They made two gold rings below the molding—two on each of the opposite sides—to hold the poles used to carry it. They made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold."
As today, gold was a precious metal when the tabernacle was built. A very valuable commodity. All of the furnishings for the tabernacle were overlaid with it as seen in this snippet on the construction of the altar of incense.
The inestimable value of the tabernacle together with all of its furnishings was due to its dedication and use by the Lord. However, the use of gold throughout its design and construction speaks to me of the precious value of the things of God. Here are some of the ways I see that expressed in Scripture:
"Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death." Proverbs 11:4. It simply makes no difference how rich we might find ourselves in this life, when we gain the righteousness of God through Jesus Christ our wealth simply cannot come close to the value of having that righteousness from God.
"For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect." The blood of Jesus Christ, that which brings us a righteous standing with God, is precious. Very precious. The things of silver or gold simply cannot measure up to it.
"As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: 'See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.' Now to you who believe, this stone is precious." 1 Peter 2:4-7a. Jesus Christ: precious to God the Father and precious to us!
"They made the altar of incense out of acacia wood. It was square, a cubit long and a cubit wide and two cubits high—its horns of one piece with it. They overlaid the top and all the sides and the horns with pure gold, and made a gold molding around it. They made two gold rings below the molding—two on each of the opposite sides—to hold the poles used to carry it. They made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold."
As today, gold was a precious metal when the tabernacle was built. A very valuable commodity. All of the furnishings for the tabernacle were overlaid with it as seen in this snippet on the construction of the altar of incense.
The inestimable value of the tabernacle together with all of its furnishings was due to its dedication and use by the Lord. However, the use of gold throughout its design and construction speaks to me of the precious value of the things of God. Here are some of the ways I see that expressed in Scripture:
"Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death." Proverbs 11:4. It simply makes no difference how rich we might find ourselves in this life, when we gain the righteousness of God through Jesus Christ our wealth simply cannot come close to the value of having that righteousness from God.
"For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect." The blood of Jesus Christ, that which brings us a righteous standing with God, is precious. Very precious. The things of silver or gold simply cannot measure up to it.
"As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: 'See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.' Now to you who believe, this stone is precious." 1 Peter 2:4-7a. Jesus Christ: precious to God the Father and precious to us!
In communicating to the Israelites through the design and construction of the tabernacle and its furnishings, it becomes very apparent why gold was mandated by God.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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