2/15/21

"On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation.
And thou shalt put therein the ark of the testimony, and cover the ark with the vail." (Exodus 40:2-3)
The construction of the tabernacle has finally been finished! It was an amazing feat. The tabernacle was a glorified tent, but no expense was spared in its construction.
The tabernacle was a place of worship! It was placed in the center of the camp of Israel. The significance of the location was that God wanted to be in the midst of His people.
The ark of the testimony was mentioned in my A. M. reading assignment. This was a wooden chest, similar to a quilt chest, or a cedar chest. But it was much more than that!
It was made of wood, but covered with gold, inside and out. It had a lid that was ornately decorated in gold. On top of the lid, two solid gold angels knelt facing each other, their heads bowed in reverence. Each of the angels have four wings. Two of their wings go over their bowed heads, and touch the wings of the other. The ark of the testimony, (also called the ark of the covenant), must have been a beautiful work of art!
God told Moses that He would dwell between the two angels on the ark. It was a representation of the very presence of God!
Notice, this was the first piece of the furnishings of the tabernacle to be brought inside after its completion. This is very significant. As beautiful and extravagant as the tabernacle was, it was nothing without God!
Paul describes the human body as a tabernacle in II Corinthians 5.
Our earthly bodies are tabernacles, or tents, for our soul. We live in these tents of flesh and bone while we live on the earth. Our bodies are 'fearfully and wonderfully made'.
But, like the tabernacle, we are nothing without the presence of God.
God lived in a tent for many years. The Hebrews wandered in the wilderness for forty years. All of those years, God dwelt among them in a tent.
God lived in that tent until Solomon built His temple in Jerusalem. He wanted to be near His people!
God wants to live in your tent, with you. And He will, if you trust Jesus to save you from your sin.
He was first to move into the tabernacle. We should want Him to be first in our tent, as well.
From my heart to your heart.