God gave Moses exact measurements on how to construct His holy sanctuary, just like He did for Noah and His ark. These instructions were given specifically to him, starting in Exodus 25. In this chapter we learn that this sanctuary was to be made 1“after the pattern of the tabernacle”. (Exodus 25:9) This was not an average place for them to dwell with God, but a place holy to the Lord. This is why God came to Moses and told him His exact purpose for it. He said that building a tabernacle was 1“that I may dwell among them.” (Exodus 25:8)Â This is where God would dwell, and it was only to be made as He commanded and not man. Therefore, these instructions were given by God. It was told that In this sanctuary was to be made 1“an ark of shittim wood”. (Exodus 25:10) In which they would overlay it 1“with pure gold, within and without”. (Exodus 25:11) On the four sides, 1“four rings of gold” were to be made. (Exodus 25:12) Inside these rings would be put 1“staves of shittim wood” (Exodus 25:13), or wooden poles that would also be overlaid with pure gold. This would be used to lift up and carry the ark by God’s chosen. And within the ark was put the testimony, which God would give unto them.
The covering to the ark was also very specific in how it would be made and appear. On top of the ark was to be made 1“a mercy seat of pure gold” (Exodus 25:17) On the two ends of that mercy seat was sculped 1“two cherubims of gold”. (Exodus 25:18) The cherubims were made that they 1“shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be.” (Exodus 25:20) This was not an analogy, but that they would give protection to anyone in the presence of the ark or lifting up and bearing the ark. God would lead them to safety. You may wonder what the importance was with the mercy seat and the cherubims. God said, 1“there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.” (Exodus 25:22) This is where God would dwell and commune with His people. Upon the testimony is God’s holy commandments.
In the sanctuary of God the people would also make 1“a table of shittim wood” (Exodus 25:23), which would be overlaid with pure gold. Upon it was to be made 1“a candlestick of pure gold.” (Exodus 25:24) There would also be made dishes, which were spoons, covers and bowls, of pure gold. It was also directed by God to 1“set upon the table shewbread before me always.” (Exodus 25:30) Seven lamps would also be made of pure gold and spread out upon the table, in order to give light. This was the first part of the building of God’s holy tabernacle. What I mentioned is only a brief summary of what Exodus 25 describes. So please read this chapter in detail. And although we don’t have a sanctuary or an ark like this now, these things are in heaven. John even saw this and recorded, 2“and the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.” (Revelation 11:19) So this tabernacle is also for those that are welcomed into heaven one day. This is where we will be in God’s presence forever.
Let us pray:
Oh Lord, although we cannot experience what your holy tabernacle was like, I am so grateful to have Your presence in my life now. Through Your words in the Bible and in prayer I am left in awe at Your beauty and grace. Just having You near is like having the heavens opened up to me and seeing You and Your sanctuary for myself. It is so breathtaking just to meditate on You and the things You have taught us through scripture. I am made a better person each day that I seek You with my whole heart. Nothing can take me down, when You are in my life. I am strong, for You are my guide. Temptation has nowhere to strike, for You are my protection. I have a shield and it is raised up with my God as my defense. There is holiness in my life, because You are welcomed in and have made your home in my heart. Thank You God for Your mercy. I would be lost without You. Because I am forgiven and am free from the sins of the past, I am able to worship You with all my heart, mind, body and strength. Nothing is held back, for You are my greatest delight. Since there is holiness in You, may there be more holiness in me also. Make unto me clean hands and a pure heart, that I may always dwell with You in Your presence. You are my God and my King and I love You so much. Nothing could ever take Your place. It’ll be a glorious time when I am able to be with You, one day, in heaven. Until then, my life is dedicated for working for You in Your kingdom. So use me as You will. I trust in You, God. Amen.
Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.
1Exodus 25 (KJV)
1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.
3 And this is the offering which ye shall take of them; gold, and silver, and brass,
4 And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair,
5 And rams’ skins dyed red, and badgers’ skins, and shittim wood,
6 Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense,
7 Onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate.
8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.
9 According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.
10 And they shall make an ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.
11 And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about.
12 And thou shalt cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in the four corners thereof; and two rings shall be in the one side of it, and two rings in the other side of it.
13 And thou shalt make staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold.
14 And thou shalt put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, that the ark may be borne with them.
15 The staves shall be in the rings of the ark: they shall not be taken from it.
16 And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee.
17 And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof.
18 And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat.
19 And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof.
20 And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be.
21 And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.
22 And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
23 Thou shalt also make a table of shittim wood: two cubits shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.
24 And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, and make thereto a crown of gold round about.
25 And thou shalt make unto it a border of an hand breadth round about, and thou shalt make a golden crown to the border thereof round about.
26 And thou shalt make for it four rings of gold, and put the rings in the four corners that are on the four feet thereof.
27 Over against the border shall the rings be for places of the staves to bear the table.
28 And thou shalt make the staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be borne with them.
29 And thou shalt make the dishes thereof, and spoons thereof, and covers thereof, and bowls thereof, to cover withal: of pure gold shalt thou make them.
30 And thou shalt set upon the table shewbread before me alway.
31 And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same.
32 And six branches shall come out of the sides of it; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side:
33 Three bowls made like unto almonds, with a knop and a flower in one branch; and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, with a knop and a flower: so in the six branches that come out of the candlestick.
34 And in the candlesticks shall be four bowls made like unto almonds, with their knops and their flowers.
35 And there shall be a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, according to the six branches that proceed out of the candlestick.
36 Their knops and their branches shall be of the same: all it shall be one beaten work of pure gold.
37 And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it.
38 And the tongs thereof, and the snuffdishes thereof, shall be of pure gold.
39 Of a talent of pure gold shall he make it, with all these vessels.
40 And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.
2Revelation 11 (KJV)
1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.
11 And after three days and an half the spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14 The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.
15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
