Exodus 40:17 And it came to pass in the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was reared up.
18 And Moses reared up the tabernacle, and fastened his sockets, and set up the boards thereof, and put in the bars thereof, and reared up his pillars.
19 And he spread abroad the tent over the tabernacle, and put the covering of the tent above upon it; as the LORD commanded Moses.
20 And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy seat above upon the ark:
21 And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the vail of the covering, and covered the ark of the testimony; as the LORD commanded Moses.
22 And he put the table in the tent of the congregation, upon the side of the tabernacle northward, without the vail.
23 And he set the bread in order upon it before the LORD; as the LORD had commanded Moses.
24 And he put the candlestick in the tent of the congregation, over against the table, on the side of the tabernacle southward.
25 And he lighted the lamps before the LORD; as the LORD commanded Moses.
26 And he put the golden altar in the tent of the congregation before the vail:
27 And he burnt sweet incense thereon; as the LORD commanded Moses.
28 And he set up the hanging at the door of the tabernacle.
29 And he put the altar of burnt offering by the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation, and offered upon it the burnt offering and the meat offering; as the LORD commanded Moses.
30 And he set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and put water there, to wash withal.
31 And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet thereat:
32 When they went into the tent of the congregation, and when they came near unto the altar, they washed; as the LORD commanded Moses.
33 And he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the hanging of the court gate. So Moses finished the work.
In our text we are now in the first day of the first month of the second year since God delivered Israel from Egyptian bondage. God’s timing is always right. God did not begin to instruct Moses in the matter of the tabernacle immediately after they left Egypt. It is assumed that from the time God called Moses into the mount and gave him the instructions, to the completion of the tabernacle involved about five months.
When we look at what God required of them, we can see that Moses and Aholiab and others took this task quite seriously. They took up the challenge and this was their daily work for that time period.
In this text, we are again reminded of the process that was involved in setting up the tabernacle and making and placing the vessels inside that tent.
The covering for the tabernacle would have had some weight to it. The skins used were fastened together and there would have been weight to those skins. It would take some manpower to hoist them up over the frame of that tabernacle.
After the tent was assembled, the vessels needed to be put into their place. The ark was put into its place and the vail was set to separate that section from the larger portion of the tabernacle. The table of shewbread was put in its place and the bread was put upon it.
The candlestick was put in its place and the lamps were lit to give light to that place. Obviously in order to light those lamps, the oil would have been prepared and ready to use.
The golden altar of incense was also put into its place and Moses burnt the sweet incense on it. The aroma coming off of that would have had quite an impact on Moses. This was all something new to him. He did not get overwhelmed or sidetracked by all these new things. No doubt they affected his emotions as he was putting everything in its place. We know that the aroma coming off of that altar was pleasing to the Lord, when done in accordance with His will.
Next, the hangings for the door would be put in their place. Then the brazen altar was put in its place. This would be where all the sacrifices would be made. This altar was important. It was the place where the offerings of the people would be given to the Lord by the priest. This would be for an atonement for the sins of the offerer, or as a peace offering or a thank offering.
The laver was also set up. This was the place where the priests would wash themselves in preparation for service for the Lord. Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet at this laver.
After this the court for the congregation was set up. Moses finished the work that God gave him with regard to the tabernacle. Moses would have been a busy man. God is not unreasonable and thus He would have allotted all the time needed to get this work done efficiently. Moses, being a man of God, kept the work moving in an orderly manner. Some of the people might not have had the same interest; however, Moses was not appointed by the people. He was a servant of God. He was learning the importance of taking that calling very seriously.
We are living in the post tabernacle/temple time. Jesus Christ has come and He demonstrated Himself to be better than that which came before. The tabernacle/temple was right for its time. The Old Testament saints were given as much opportunity to be right with God as we are today. The blood of the Lord Jesus Christ would complete the necessary requirements of God for those saints to be forgiven.
No doubt there was a curiosity in the people as that tabernacle was being assembled and constructed. The finished product would have been quite impressive to the people. The tabernacle was never designed to be something to be worshipped. It was designed to point people to God. Jesus Christ is the Son of God and thus He is worthy of our worship. We have access to the throne of grace through the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Moses finished all that God wanted of him in the construction of the tabernacle. Jesus Christ finished all that was required to do away with the curse of sin upon the repentant sinner. Those who will trust in His finished Work have the blessing of the forgiveness of sin and the hope of eternal life.
Pastor Bartel
