April 18th, 2012
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

The Presence of God

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Opening Prayer

Lord God, You gave Your people of old the means to know Your presence. May I learn from this teaching.

Read Exodus 25:1-22

[1] The LORD said to Moses, [2] “Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from each man whose heart prompts him to give. [3] These are the offerings you are to receive from them: gold, silver and bronze; [4] blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair; [5] ram skins dyed red and hides of sea cows; acacia wood; [6] olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; [7] and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece. [8] “Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. [9] Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you. [10] “Have them make a chest of acacia wood-two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high. [11] Overlay it with pure gold, both inside and out, and make a gold molding around it. [12] Cast four gold rings for it and fasten them to its four feet, with two rings on one side and two rings on the other. [13] Then make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. [14] Insert the poles into the rings on the sides of the chest to carry it. [15] The poles are to remain in the rings of this ark; they are not to be removed. [16] Then put in the ark the Testimony, which I will give you. [17] “Make an atonement cover of pure gold-two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. [18] And make two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. [19] Make one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other; make the cherubim of one piece with the cover, at the two ends. [20] The cherubim are to have their wings spread upward, overshadowing the cover with them. The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the cover. [21] Place the cover on top of the ark and put in the ark the Testimony, which I will give you. [22] There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the Testimony, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Meditate

We offer God our “firstfruits,” the best of what we have. Nothing less than the best will do for the purposes of God.

Think Further

Where does God dwell? In heaven? In our hearts? The immortal God who “lives in unapproachable light” (1 Tim. 6:16) has chosen also to live among his people (8). Scripture gives an amazing series of God’s dwelling places: the tabernacle, the Temple, Jesus, the body of the believer, the local church. What does this mean? We will let the question of where God dwells intrigue us until we reach the design of the tabernacle itself.

God’s first instructions were for the tabernacle’s most significant sacred furnishings. The Ark, a tangible witness to the presence of God, housed the covenant law engraved on stone (16). Other evidence of God’s abiding presence was added later, including manna and Aaron’s rod (Heb. 9:4). Before Sinai, there was no special people, no holy nation, only the mixed rabble of ex-slaves. There at Mount Sinai they heard the voice of the Lord; there they responded to him; there the ex-slaves became the Lord’s covenant people. However, they were still frail humans. God knew how hard it was to contain the covenant only in their minds. God gave them tangible things, holy things, to help assure their flickering faith. Far more than a mere symbol, the God-given Ark visibly attested to God’s enduring presence.

There is deep meaning in the very name “atonement cover” (17). There God will meet with them. There sin will be “covered.” A simple word for a simple thing that humans themselves create—a cover—becomes a profound theological term for what God does every time he forgives our sin and lets us begin again. In Leviticus, the word recurs at the end of sacrifices for sin. The priest will cover the sin and the person will be forgiven (Lev. 4:26,31,35).

Apply

Notice that more important than the value of the items’ given is the giver’s motive (2). Examine your motives in regard to your gifts and service in the Lord’s work.

Closing prayer

Lord God, I come to You in awe and reverence as Your people did of old. Cover my sins with the blood of Your Son and forgive me.

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