OLD TESTAMENT READING- EXODUS 37:1- 38:31
The Tabernacle gets off the drawing board today as the construction begins.
The ark is constructed of the donated acacia wood, 3 ¾ feet long, 2 ¼ feet wide and 2 ¼ feet high. It is then covered with pure gold. Gold molding went all around the sides.
The four gold rings were fastened to the four lower corners so that the gold-plated poles could be inserted, enabling the Kohathites to carry it when necessary.
The golden mercy-seat was 3 ¾ feet long and 2 ¼ feet wide. The two cherubim, angels that were protectors of God’s holiness, were placed on the two sides of the mercy seat and were all of the same piece of beaten gold. The cherubim had their eyes focused on the place of mercy, the solid gold cover of the ark of the testimony, where the blood of the atoning sacrifice would be placed.
The table of shewbread was constructed with acacia wood overlaid with gold. It was three feet long, 1 ½ feet wide, and 2 ¼ feet high. Like the ark of the covenant, gold molding was found all around the edges. Four gold rings were cast into the table legs for the gold-covered acacia poles that were used to transport the table.
The lampstand was also made of pure beaten gold. There was a central lamp holder and three other branches on each side, with decorative almond blossoms carved on them. The lampstand weighed 107 pounds (pure gold).
The Altar of Incense was 18 inches square and 3 feet high with corner horns all of one piece constructed of gold-plated acacia wood. It also had the 4 golden rings for the gold-plated poles that would be used for transporting it.
Those who were experts in perfumery made the sacred anointing oil and the incense.
The Brazen Altar for the burnt offerings was 7 ½ feet square at the top and 4 ½ feet high with 4 horns on the four corners which were one piece with the rest. The Altar was covered with brass, as were the transporting poles that fit into the brass rings.
Where did they get the brass? Exodus 38:8 provides the answer.
Exodus 38:8 8 Moreover, he made the laver of bronze with its base of bronze, from the mirrors of the serving women who served at the doorway of the tent of meeting.
Mirror glass was not invented yet and polished brass was the means of getting a good reflection.
The northern and southern walls of the Tabernacle were 150 feet in length, with twenty posts with silver posts and rods holding the linen drapes. The west and east sides were 75 feet in length with drapes supported by 10 poles and silver hooks and rods. The drapes at each side of the entrance were 22 ½ feet wide, held up by 3 posts on 3 bases of brass. The hooks, the rods, and the tops of the posts on the eastern and western walls were made of silver. The drapes at the entrance were made of purple, blue, and scarlet thread. The entrance was supported by 4 posts with four bronze bases and silver tops.
All the nails in the construction of the tabernacle were made of brass.
The silver from the tabernacle tax, (the ransom money) furnished the 9,575 pounds of silver needed. The people’s gifts furnished the 3,140 pounds of gold, and the 7,540 pounds of bronze from the people’s collection provided for the brazen altar, the nails, and the brass utensils.
Once again, we see the expositional constants in the typology- gold representing deity, acacia wood representing the incorruptible humanity of Christ, silver representing redemption, and brass representing judgment.
NEW TESTAMENT READING: MATTHEW 28:1-20
Today’s reading in Matthew 28 tells us of the resurrection of Christ and His Great Commission.
The resurrection declares that:
- Jesus is who He says He is- the Son of God (Romans 1:3-4).
- Jesus is fully vindicated as The Holy One, having lived a perfect life without sin (Psalm 16:10).
- Jesus’ sacrifice was sufficient to atone for the sins of the repentant believer. He was successful in taking the death penalty incurred by our sin, as our sinless substitute, and paid our full debt to satisfy God’s righteous law. The proof of this is that Jesus was released from the indictment of condemnation and death, proving that the Law was satisfied on our behalf. We who believe are therefore acquitted from all our guilt (Romans 4:25).
- Jesus is victorious over death and Satan. He has given the death blow to the one who has power over death, that is the devil (Hebrews 2:14-15; 1 John 3:8).
- There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. Jesus’ death answers any charge that might come against us (The law of double jeopardy says that you cannot try a person twice for the same crime. We have been tried and legally acquitted on all counts) and now Jesus is alive to intercede for us: OUR LIVING PROOF (Romans 8:34).
- We are able to be born again of the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead and therefore have a living abiding indwelling hope of the imperishable inheritance that is to come (1 Peter 3-5).
- We can be assured that believers shall have resurrection bodies like the resurrection body of Jesus, the first-fruit of resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:49; Phil 3:21; 1 John 3:1-3).
And THE GREAT COMMISSION
- THE IMPERATIVE (COMMAND): Make disciples! (share the gospel and lead by example new believers into a lifestyle of love and obedience, following and glorifying Christ).
- THE PARTICIPLE BEARING IMPERATIVAL VALUE: Go! (This involves intentionality!)
- THE PARTICIPLES DESCRIBING THE PROCESS:
- baptizing– initiating their outward identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection as a partaker of eternal life- fellowship with the Triune God.
- teaching– modeling and instructing in a lifestyle of joyful obedience to God’s revealed will, fulfilling His commands in the power of the Holy Spirit.
- THE PROMISE– (verse 20). “And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Disciple-makers are promised the full provision of His presence, power, and provisions to resource our obedience to His commission.
Matthew 28:19-20 (NASB)
19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
TODAY’S PSALM- Psalm 34:11-22;
There’s a lot of good instruction here. We are ultimately accountable to God who is so ready to redeem, comfort, forgive and save to the uttermost those who put their trust in Him.
PROVERBS FOR TODAY- Proverbs 9:9-10 
Proverbs 9:9-10 9 Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser, Teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning. 10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
PRAYER: Lord, You showed us today in Your Word that in building the Tabernacle the children of Israel proved that they were not hearers only, but they were doers of the Word (James 1:22). Help us, Lord, to respond to Your grace with fresh obedience. You have risen from the dead and commissioned us to go and tell! Help us to be obedient and redeem the time, making disciples of all kinds of people! In Jesus’ Name! Amen.
PRAY FOR AMERICAN SAMOA TODAY
http://www.operationworld.org/country/ames/owtext.html