Exodus 35 - 40 - Outline of Exodus (Book Notes menu page)
  For these closing chapters of Exodus, our study notes follow a somewhat different format. Rather than printing the text of these chapters in the notes, and moving through them paragraph by paragraph, our comments encompass these chapters together. Most of the themes that arise here have already been discussed in some detail in earlier chapters.
    The links for Scripture text in ch. 35-40 will display in the lower left window, while cross reference links will display in the lower right window (as usual). You are encouraged to read all Scripture passages.
  The Pattern, Construction and Materials of the Tabernacle.
  1. The Construction was consistent with the Pattern.-
    Construction Record details compared with the detailed Pattern.
    - Ex 35:1-29 - the Offerings of Construction Materials (Ex 25:1-9)
    - Ex 35:30-35 - the Designated Workmen (Ex 31:1-11)
    - Ex 36 - the Tabernacle, its Coverings, Veil and Door (Ex 26)
    - Ex 37 - the Ark, Table, Lampstand, Golden Altar (Ex 25:10-40; 30:1-10)
    - Ex 38 - the Brazen Altar & Laver, the Court and its Gate (Ex 27; 30:17-21)
    - Ex 39:1-31 - the Priestly Garments (Ex 28)
    - Ex 39:32-43 - Inspection of all components by Moses.
    - Ex 40 - the Tabernacle set up & consecrated (corresponds to Ex 29)
    Although these chapters seem repetitive, it is not idle repetition. Earlier chapters provided instructions for construction of the Tabernacle (ch. 25-30). Here, we are shown that the construction was accomplished with strict conformity to those instructions.
    This teaches us that...
    1. God's Word must be understood and obeyed, according to its plain meaning.
    2. God's Word is to be applied and "worked out" in real life experience
    (not neglected as theoretical or philosophical literature).
  - God's purposes are fixed designs, not to be reworked on my drawing board.
      God's Word is to be the foundation and structure of my faith and life.
  - God's provision must be appropriated and put into practice.
- The Pattern was rehearsed, in order, multiple times.
    1. The detailed Pattern as revealed (ch. 25-30)
    2. The detailed record of Construction (ch. 35-40)
    3. The Pattern rehearsed in the list of materials (35:4-19)
    4. The Pattern rehearsed as inspected by Moses (39:33-43)
    5. The Pattern rehearsed in God's setup instructions (40:1-16)
    6. The Pattern rehearsed in Moses' setup procedures (40:17-33)
    Whenever Scripture mentions something more than once, we should pay close attention, because the LORD is emphasizing it for some reason. As we have seen, the Tabernacle (including its furnishings, priesthood, and order of worship) depicts the Person and Work of Christ, whom God has set forth to provide salvation for all who believe (Rom 3:21-26). By this repetition, God is warning us, lest we disregard the only Way of salvation (Heb 2:1-3).
    A seventh review of the Pattern is provided in Hebrews chapters 8 - 9, which explain the heavenly reality, concerning the ministry of Christ, our High Priest.
- Additional Construction details (not specified in the Pattern).
    1. The source of brass for the laver (38:8)
    [Discussed in the Notes at Ex 30:17-21]
- The source and use of the silver (38:26-28)
    [Discussed in the Notes at Ex 30:11-16 (in that passage, the specific uses of this silver were not identified).]
- The total weight of gold, silver, and brass (38:24-31)
- The method of making gold thread for the priestly garments (39:3)
  The Persons involved in Construction of the Tabernacle.
  1. The Voluntary Participants - The Tabernacle was built by...
     1. Willing donors. Ex 35:4-5,21-22,29 (cp. 2Cor 9:7)
        Note the outcome: "much more than enough." Ex 36:4-7 (cp. 2Cor 9:8-11)
        - This 'over-supply' was attained without a 'fund raising campaign.'
        - This result was reported honestly by those in charge.
    They did not adjust the 'need' to absorb the excess.
    Neither did they redirect the excess to their personal profit.
- Willing workers -
  1. whose hearts stirred them up to the work. Ex 36:2; 35:26
       They were not serving 'by the clock' or 'by compulsion.'
       Rather, they engaged in joyful service to the LORD.
       cp. Psa 100:2,3; Eph 6:6,7; Col 3:22,23; 1Cor 9:16-18; 1Pet 5:2
  2. who were prepared by God for His work. They were...
     - called (Ex 35:30); cp. Acts 13:2
     - wisehearted (Ex 35:25,31; 36:2); cp. 1Cor 2:4-8; 3:10,11
     - filled with the Spirit of God,
         the Source of their wisdom, knowledge, understanding and skill (Ex 35:31,35); cp. 1Cor 2:12,13
     - able to teach (to prepare others for the work (Ex 35:34); cp. 2Tim 2:2; 1Pet 4:10,11
- Their Explicit Obedience - "according to all that the LORD had commanded." (Ex 36:1)
  The importance of this is emphasized by...
  1. the LORD's repeated warnings: Ex 25:40; 26:30; 31:11; cp. Heb 8:5
  2. the record of construction in Ex 35-39 is...
     - explicit to the smallest detail, item for item matching the pattern in Ex 25-30.
         See Construction Record details compared with the detailed Pattern (near page top).
     - consistent with the order in which the pattern was given.
         eg., The Ark was described before the Altar was described.
         Likewise, the Ark was built before the Altar was built.
       However, there are a few notable differences of order. Examples:
       - The Tabernacle and its Coverings were constructed before the Furniture, although the pattern of the Furniture was described first.
         This suggests that, from the beginning of construction, the items of Furniture were hidden within the Tabernacle, unseen by the congregation. Perhaps, this was meant to emphasize the separation between the Holy God and the people, whose sinfulness was demonstrated after the pattern was received.
     - The golden altar of incense was constructed along with the other furniture of the Holy places.
         However, when the pattern was revealed, the altar of incense was almost last in order, being mentioned after the design of the brazen altar, the priestly garments, and also after the procedure for consecrating the priests.
         Likewise, the brazen laver was constructed alongside the brazen altar, whereas in the pattern, the laver was the last item of furniture mentioned.
         Thus, the pattern indicated that there can be no access in prayer, until the sinner is cleansed and made holy (purged at the altar and purified at the laver). Once the Tabernacle was completed, this would be demonstrated in the course of the sacrificial system.
  3. the report of completion of the pieces (Ex 39:32)
  4. the required inspection of the pieces (Ex 39:33-43)
  5. the LORD's renewed instructions for assembly and consecration of the Tabernacle. Ex 40:1-15)
  6. the report of compliance and completion (Ex 40:16-33).
       The repeated reports of compliance to detail continued until everything was, not only finished, but also accepted by the LORD (40:34), as in perfect agreement with the pattern which He had given.
       Moses had been faithful, as a servant of the LORD, in His House. Heb 3:1-6
  - The details and the order of the Pattern of the Tabernacle speak of Christ:
      {See the Book Notes on relevant parts of the 'pattern' in [brackets] below.}
    1. His Person - He is the God/Man
         (depicted by the Ark of wood overlaid with gold). [Ex 25:10-22]
    2. His Character - He is the Law-Keeper
         (depicted by the Ark of the Testimony). [as above]
    3. His Blood, for remission of sin - [as above]
       - He is our Mercy-seat, in whom we are accepted before God.
       - He is our Mediator, our Meeting Place with God.
    4. His Fellowship with the Father -
         (the Table, the Lamp, the Golden Altar of Incense). [Ex 25:23-40; 30:1-10]
       - He is the basis of our Fellowship with the Father.
       - He is the believer's Bread, Light, Advocate, Intercessor, and Access before the Father.
    5. His Work to Cleanse the believer (the Brazen Laver). [Ex 30:17-21]
    6. His Work of Salvation, as the Sacrificial Substitute,
         who died in the sinner's place (the Brazen Altar). [Ex 27:1-8]
    As Moses "finished the work" of building the Tabernacle which speaks of Christ (Ex 40:33), so, Christ finished God's work of salvation depicted in the Tabernacle (Joh 19:30).
      In Him alone, God's people are brought to completion as the true House of God. Heb 3:5,6; Eph 2:18-22; Col 2:9,10; 2Pet 1:3,4
- The Manifest Presence of God - Ex 40:34,35
    The beauty of the Tabernacle was not in the rough exterior covering of animal skins, nor in the gold which overlaid the furnishings inside, but rather, in the God whose Glory shined between the cherubim above the Mercy Seat, within the Holy of Holies, unseen by the world. The external visible cloud was both a covering and a manifestation of that Glory.
  The Presence of the LORD...
  1. sanctifies God's people.- cp. Ex 33:12-17
     - The Glory of the LORD set Israel apart from the nations. Rom 9:4,5
     - The Lord of Glory sets the true Church apart from the world (see 1Cor 2:8-10).
    Jesus Christ is Emmanuel, "God with us."
    cp. Isa 7:14; Mat 1:23; Joh 1:14,16; Joh 14:15-27
- The Church, of true believers in Christ, is a dwelling place for God. Eph 2:19-22
- The individual believer is indwelt by the Spirit of God. 1Cor 3:16; 6:19,20
- sets the direction for God's people. cp. Ex 40:36-38; Num 9:15-23
    Christ is the head of the Church (Col 1:18).
  - Do we earnestly seek to know His mind?
      Do we truly follow His lead?
  - Do we choose elders based on their knowledge of the Lord?
      or, on their success in business?
  - Do we conduct our ministries by searching the Scriptures and seeking His face?
      or, according to opinion polls and management techniques borrowed from the world?
- was "in the sight of all... Israel" (Ex 40:38) -
  - It was not for Moses alone, to determine the course of God's people.
      All were responsible to watch, and to obey.
  - How do we determine the Lord's will?
      Is it according the 'pattern' of His Word? Isa 8:19,20; 2Tim 3:13-17
      Do our plans mesh with God's revealed will and purposes?
- was with them "throughout all their journeys" (Ex 40:38) -
  - Exodus begins with God's people in bondage in Egypt.
    It closes on the road to the promised land, in the glory of His Presence.
      There was still a long way to go. But the LORD promised to see them through, if they would only follow Him.
  - Likewise, the NT believer has escaped from the kingdom of darkness,
    and has been translated into the kingdom of God's dear {ie., beloved} Son.
    While He is with us (Mat 28:18-20), we have not yet entered fully into His Presence. Joh 14:1-3
      Our hope {confident expectation} is to be forever with Him. Col 1:13-18; 2:6-12; 3:1-4; 1Joh 2:28; Jude 1:24,25

  This concludes the study in Exodus.
  Return to Exodus - MENU page.
  Begin the supplemental study "Christ in the Tabernacle," by W.W.Rugh.

  Limited permission is granted to copy & distribute these notes from www.theBookwurm.com

  Go to The Book opening page.