Chapter 30—The Tabernacle and Its Services
This chapter is based on
Exodus 25
to
40
;
Leviticus 4
and
16
.
The command was communicated to Moses while in the mount
with God, “Let them make Me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among
them;” and full directions were given for the construction of the taber-
nacle. By their apostasy the Israelites forfeited the blessing of the
divine Presence, and for the time rendered impossible the erection of a
sanctuary for God among them. But after they were again taken into
favor with Heaven, the great leader proceeded to execute the divine
command.
Chosen men were especially endowed by God with skill and wis-
dom for the construction of the sacred building. God Himself gave to
Moses the plan of that structure, with particular directions as to its size
and form, the materials to be employed, and every article of furniture
which it was to contain. The holy places made with hands were to
be “figures of the true,” “patterns of things in the heavens” (
Hebrews
9:24, 23
)—a miniature representation of the heavenly temple where
Christ, our great High Priest, after offering His life as a sacrifice, was
to minister in the sinner’s behalf. God presented before Moses in the
mount a view of the heavenly sanctuary, and commanded him to make
all things according to the pattern shown him. All these directions
were carefully recorded by Moses, who communicated them to the
leaders of the people.
For the building of the sanctuary great and expensive preparations
were necessary; a large amount of the most precious and costly mate-
rial was required; yet the Lord accepted only freewill offerings. “Of
every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take My offer-
ing” was the divine command repeated by Moses to the congregation.
Devotion to God and a spirit of sacrifice were the first requisites in
preparing a dwelling place for the Most High.
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All the people responded with one accord. “They came, every one
whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made will-
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