Moses’ Work

Ex 40:13-32

Moses conducts the original setup of the tabernacle and tent of meeting personally.

The freedom to act is motivated by value. When Moses took initiative to personally setup the tabernacle and court, he was motivated to serve both the people and God.

The value was the assurance that God would receive the work of his hands – that He would be pleased. Another value was that the Israelite, and especially the priests, would have a living pattern to work from, an example to reference, as they subsequently began to participate in the priestly work.

Today, as you do what you do, execute as though what you are doing is unto the Lord.

New Religion

Ex 39:39-40:12

Moses accepts the works of the tabernacle from Bezalel and prepares to begin the sacrificial system under Aaron the priest.

It’s a curious distinction how specific and detailed the commissioning of the tabernacle was compared to the sloppy way the children of Israel attempted to start their own religion with the golden calf.

The freedom to love another is dependent on my ability to recognize what things look like from the other person’s perspective. If it’s really good, then it’s probably specific – and likely not primarily about my convenience.

Deliberately, focused attention for the good of the other.

“How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life…”

Finished

Ex 39:24-38

There is something about being finished – knowing that everything that was asked of you was done. Everything that could be done, was completed.

Of course, every time someone says, “It is finished”, it means that something else is about to begin.

“…It is finished” John 19:30

The Breast piece

Ex 39:10-23

The Breast piece is sometimes described as the Breast piece of Judgement or the Breast piece of Decision.

The idea of mediation combines representation and communication. An individual person might approach God in praise and devotion. Each might approach God making known individual petitions on their own, anywhere.

But the community was represented and communicated with God through the high priest.

The authentic community is built on this coalescing phenomena – the one from the many bound together in relationship with God and mediated by the high priest.

Scale, in the modern sense, and love in the eternal sense.

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. Heb 4:14

Ephod and Stones

Ex 38:29-39:9

On the shoulder straps of the ephod were onyx stones each engraved with the name of one of the 12 sons of Israel.

Memorial stones, like all monuments, have the potential of making a moment in time present again. They represent so the moment is not lost in forgetfulness.

Your freedom is born in part from knowing where you come from. The legacy-in-story about your ancestors is the context of your coming into being. You proceed into being from the confluence of their lived lives. For good or for bad, this is where we all start. Over this, we have no control.

But if you want meaning for your life, it begins here.

Don’t forget.

Metal

Ex 38:20-28

The extraordinary capacity of sacred objects, or sacred space for conveying a visceral experience of value. Metal speaks. It’s tangible. It’s valuable.

When a person sees a glint of gold in a river, it’s a thrill. “Maybe it’s gold.” As children and adults alike, we just have to reach in and pick it up.

The experience of entering a sacred space like the basilicas of Rome has a similar visceral quality. They evoke an experience of value.   Like beauty of every kind, it can be overwhelming.

The tabernacle of Moses had this quality. The gold, silver and other exotic materials all existed in the community before the tabernacle. But concentrating them in this portable, sacred space created an experience of the value of relating to the Most High God.

The exotic and precious evoke a response to the value. It’s just in us.

Of course, we are the tabernacle of the Lord. The precious and exotic potential in you and me is manifest when we act in love, and mercy, and compassion and solidarity. These are the sacred things of life. These are the exotic and precious that never fail to elicit a response.

Basin from Mirrors

Ex 38:8-19

Women gave up their personal mirrors, which were made of bronze, as a contribution from which the priest’s ceremonial washing basin should be made.

So they blinded themselves to their own appearance in order that God might be made known to the people. They looked past their own concern for “self” and invested in what God was doing.

The freedom to give generously comes from seeing the possibility in another and wanting that person’s success even more than you want your own.

No anxiety. No worry. In the words of Mother Teresa, “It is so simple”.

Simple to understand the possibility for our lives. It’s the doing where things get a little more difficult.

“Bless the Lord O my soul”

Tabernacle Elements

Ex 37:22-38:7

Building the capacity to worship.

Freedom of every kind is the result of the formation of capacity. This is so for the individual and for the community. There must be a forming of technca and the committing of resources.

Skill and resources.

Motivation and purpose won’t drive action without skill and resources.

“Give us some of your oil…” Matt 25:8

Table and Menorah

Ex 37:8-21

What were Bezalel and Oholiab thinking when they were making all these articles?

I’d be wondering about the patterns that were so carefully described. The detailed vision. What is the meaning of it all?

Seven branches and almond blossoms – how were they supposed to understand this?

The creation of the tabernacle was a matter of obedience first. The making of the articles came before the understanding of their purpose and meaning. It might even be said that their purpose and meaning could not have been known with the act of bringing them into existence.

And God tasked the children of Israel with this creative process.

Benedictine monks have the expression, “Work is prayer”. Acting in this spirit is the way of revelation.

“…which are the seven spirits of God sent forth into all the earth” Rev 5:6

Ark and Tabernacle

Ex 36:30-37:7

Construction of tabernacle and ark.

How will we build for You a tabernacle today Lord?

The choicest materials in our hearts. The time devoted to you; to dwelling in Your presence and doing Your will. The effort devoted to loving what You love.

In brokenness, to receive what You have given as opportunity and to build what You want built.

Create a clean heart in us, O Lord.