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Chapter 19—The Sanctuary
This chapter is based on
Exodus 25 to 40
.
The tabernacle was made according to the commandment of
God. The Lord raised up men and qualified them with more than
natural abilities to perform the most ingenious work. Neither Moses
nor those workmen were left to plan the form and workmanship of
the building. God Himself devised the plan and gave it to Moses,
with particular directions as to its size and form and the materials
to be used, and specified every article of furniture which was to be
in it. He presented before Moses a miniature model of the heavenly
sanctuary and commanded him to make all things according to the
pattern shown him in the mount. Moses wrote all the directions in a
book and read them to the most influential people.
Then the Lord required the people to bring a free-will offering,
to make Him a sanctuary, that He might dwell among them. “And all
the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence
of Moses. And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up,
and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the
Lord’s offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation,
and for all His service, and for the holy garments. And they came,
both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, and brought
bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and
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every man that offered offered an offering of gold unto the Lord.”
Great and expensive preparations were necessary. Precious and
costly materials must be collected. But the Lord accepted only the
free-will offerings. Devotion to the work of God and sacrifice from
the heart were first required in preparing a place for God. And while
the building of the sanctuary was going on, and the people were
bringing their offerings unto Moses, and he was presenting them to
the workmen, all the wise men who wrought in the work examined
the gifts and decided that the people had brought enough, and even
more than they could use. And Moses proclaimed throughout the
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