Title: Exodus 25
Content Exodus 25:1-9
According to Exodus 24:12, "The LORD said to Moses, "Go up the mountain and come to me and stay there, and I will give you the tablets of stone, on which I have written the law and the commandments, so that you may teach them." Then, in chapter 25, he speaks of gathering gifts from the people and building the tabernacle. Did God forget that he would give Moses the tablets of stone?
Rather, God gave the tablets of stone so that Israel could simply get rid of the thought that it was enough to receive the stone tablets, see the law, and keep it well. In other words, Israel in the covenant relationship with God must be a kingdom of priests that shows that it is in God's covenant, not because it keeps God's laws well. Its mark is observance of the law.
But the question is whether Israel can keep the law well. God has already given up hope for sinners. In other words, he knew that they were not able to keep the law completely. Therefore, the one who keeps the covenant is to reveal that it is God. The evidence is the tabernacle.
For this reason, God's instructions to build the tabernacle and its execution are recorded separately. The instructions for the construction of the tabernacle are given in chapters 25-31, and the events of Israel's construction of the tabernacle are recorded in chapters 35-40. Here, between the instruction and implementation of the tabernacle, chapters 32-34 record the golden calf incident. The Golden Calf incident was an event that broke the covenant among the Israelites. By breaking God's covenant on the part of Israel, it is God who ultimately fulfills the covenant.
According to verses 8-9, God said, "I have made them build a sanctuary for me, which I will dwell among them, according to the pattern of the tabernacle and its furnishings, as I show you. The tabernacle is given as a sign that God dwells in Israel and accompanies them in their wilderness life. Then, from the people's point of view that the tabernacle was given in Israel, it is evidence that they cannot keep the covenant and can only keep it by the God who walks with them.
In the end, it can be seen that the people of Israel unilaterally broke the covenant and settled in the center of Israel. Therefore, it can be seen that the tabernacle is a shadow intended to show the reality of the covenant by revealing and accusing God of the sinful nature of man.
The tabernacle consists of three parts as follows.
① Most Holy: There is the ark of the covenant and the mercy seat.
② Sanctuary: There are rice cakes, a lighthouse, and an altar of incense.
③ Outer courtyard: There is a laver and a brass altar.
Exodus 25:10-16 (37:1-5)
This is about the ark of the covenant.
It is made by wrapping the inside and outside of a piece of wood with pure gold.
It measures 2.5 cubits long, 1.5 cubits wide, and 1.5 cubits high.
Since it is forbidden to touch with hands, it has to be carried through a pole with four hooks attached to it.
There are two tables of stone (testimony) inside (1 Kings 8:9/ 2 Chronicles 5:10). Hebrews 9:4 tells us that a jar of manna and Aaron's rod that budded were additionally included.
The ark of the covenant (Numbers 10:33) is the ark of the covenant (Leviticus 16:2), the ark of the testimony (Ex 25:22), the ark of the LORD (Joshua 8:15), the ark of God (1 Samuel 3:3), and the ark of the LORD God (1 Kings). 2:26), the holy ark (2 Chronicles 35:3), and the ark of the Lord's power (Psalm 132:8). The fact that the stone tablets of the commandments are contained in the ark of the covenant means that God rules with the word (commandments) according to the covenant he made with the people of Israel.
Exodus 25:17-22 (37:6-9)
It's about the mercy seat.
Made of pure gold.
The size is 2.5 cubits long and 1.5 cubits wide, and there is no mention of thickness.
It is in the shape of a plate that covers the ark of the covenant, and the two cherubim are made of pure gold so that they face each other.
The high priest sprinkled the blood of atonement here on the Day of Atonement, and it was here that God spoke to man and also met man.
This mercy seat (the seat of mercy) served as a lid to cover the ark of the covenant. However, it has meaning not only as a lid, but also as a mercy seat itself. God did not allow us to create any image of Himself. Therefore, in the system of the tabernacle, only the symbols of the two cherubim were made in the mercy seat above the ark of the covenant and only the symbols seated in them were displayed. For this reason, the ark of the covenant is referred to as God's throne over His people (1 Samuel 4:4; 2 Samuel 6:2; 1 Chronicles 13:6; Psalm 99:1; Isaiah 37:16).
Exodus 25:23-30 (37:10-16)
It is a word about the table of bread and its accessories.
It was made by wrapping a piece of wood in pure gold.
It measures 2 cubits long, 1 cubit wide, and 1.5 cubits high.
A gold frame was put around and a chin to protect the rice cake was attached, and this chin was also framed. It was carried by attaching four hooks and threading a pole.
The 12 loaves of bread symbolizing Israel were presented and exchanged for new ones every Sabbath.
In other words, it is also referred to as a display case, and includes a bowl, a spoon, a bottle, and a pouring cup. The rice cakes presented here must be mixed with oil and salt, and on the contrary, leaven and honey must not be mixed. In this sense, showbread represents grain offerings and drink offerings, and it means consecrating one's life to God (cf. 25:30; Leviticus 24:5-8).
This bread could only be eaten by the priests. And even when eating, they were to eat only in holy places, that is, the tabernacle, so they could not take it out of the tabernacle.
Exodus 25:31-40 (37:17-24)
It's about the lighthouse.
The whole, including the accessories, was made of one talent of gold.
No mention of size.
Three branches were made on each side, and the shape of an apricot flower was made at the end of the branch.
The entire lighthouse was formed as one body by connecting the two branches on both sides with the calyx at the meeting point of the stem.
This lighthouse used olive oil as oil and kept the light on from evening to morning (27:20-21).
This lighthouse is intended to illuminate the sanctuary and includes 7 lamps, fire tongs, and a pyrotechnic bowl. It was also made to light the darkness of the sanctuary through the seven cups. Therefore, the sparks were removed with gold tongs so that they always emit a bright light. Thus, the lighthouse becomes a light characterized by the concept of Jesus Christ and those who belong to him (Matt. 5:14).