Title: Exodus 37 "The Ark was [Re]made"
Contents
God made the stone tablets of the broken covenant again and re-issued the word of the covenant (Exodus 34, 35). And here in chapters 36 and 37, he had the tabernacle and the equipment be made again. He had them make the tabernacle and utensils again in the same way as instructed in Exodus 25 and 26. Our life is a life of building tabernacles and temples. “It is being built together to be a dwelling place for God” (Ephesians 2:22).
1 “He made the ark” (1-5)
The ark was rebuilt according to God's instructions in Exodus 25:10-16. The ark was made of carved wood and fine gold. Inside the ark were kept the two stone tablets of the Ten Commandments, Aaron's rod that budded, and a gold jar containing manna (Numbers 17:10; Hebrews 9:4). We must always keep the ark at the center of our lives so that we can live by the word of God and our daily bread.
2. "He made a mercy seat" (6-9)
3 “I made a table for bread” (10-16)
According to God's instructions in Exodus 25:23-30, the table of bread was remade. The rice cakes are also made of carved wood and pure gold. The showbread (bread) to be placed on top of the bread can either symbolize the flesh of Jesus, who is the bread of life, or it can symbolize the devotion of believers who have been crushed into powder. We must always have the table before us so that the Lord's sacrifice and our devotion become the content of our lives.
4 “He made a lighthouse” (17-24)
The lighthouse was rebuilt according to God's instructions in Exodus 25:31-40. The lighthouse was also made of pure gold. The lighthouse can symbolize Jesus, who is the light of the world, or it can symbolize the life of light of the believers who carried him. We must always have a lighthouse before us so that our lives may be the light of the world.
5 "He made the altar of incense" (25-29)
According to God's instructions in Exodus 30:1-6, the altar of incense was rebuilt. The incense altar was also made of carved wood and pure gold. The incense altar is an altar of prayer. “This symbolizes the heart of a true believer who continues true prayer” (Rev. Park Yoon-sun). We must make an incense altar at the center of our lives so that prayer becomes the center of our lives.