Ex 25:40 (NIV) See that you make them according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.
Ex 26:30 (NIV) "Set up the tabernacle according to the plan shown you on the mountain.
- The word "pattern" is not used very often in scriptures; it shows up nine times, five referring to the tabernacle
- The word "plan," while occurring often (31 times), only seems to reference the tabernacle once
Planning is a broad term, while pattern is very specific. Planning assumes that the detail or patterns may differ from one plan to another, even when the plan is the same. But pattern is something that is to be followed specifically. One case, Rom 5:14, refers to Adam as pattern of Jesus who was to come. The three other cases are as follows:- Rom 12:2 (NIV) Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.
- Phil 3:17 (NIV) Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.
- 2 Tim 1:13 (NIV) What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus.
- Rom 12:2 (NIV) Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.
APPLICATION:- So we are not to mimic the world in our thoughts
- We are to mimic those who live as Paul taught
- And, we are to mimic sound teaching, as Paul did
- So we are not to mimic the world in our thoughts
Beyond that, there is a lot of freedomEx 28:1-2 (NIV) Have Aaron your brother brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, so they may serve me as priests. 2 Make sacred garments for your brother Aaron, to give him dignity and honor.
Why the importance of dignity and honor?- The garments give dignity and honor, they do not make the person better, holy, or closer to God
- The garments are required to serve as Priests in the tabernacle
- The garments "cover" the person in a way that God says is acceptable. In that sense, they are holy. But the person is not holy because he wears sacred garments. He has dignity and respect not because he is something special, but because he is called to a special task before God.
- The garments give dignity and honor, they do not make the person better, holy, or closer to God
In the new covenant, all believers are priests- 1 Peter 2:9-10 "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."
- So, we are no different from a Priest in the OT.
- 1 Peter 2:9-10 "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."
APPLICATION: We should give dignity and honor to other believers, especially those who are serving the Lord well. But they are not better, they are just obedient, and an example to all who call themselves by the name of Christ.Ex 28:29-30 (NIV) "Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place, he will bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the breastpiece of decision as a continuing memorial before the Lord. 30 Also put the Urim and the Thummim in the breastpiece, so they may be over Aaron's heart whenever he enters the presence of the Lord. Thus Aaron will always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the Lord.
Do you see the key concept of leadership expressed in this passage?- Spiritual leadership recognizes that decisions always concern people. The decision may be unrelated in fact to people, but stills have a people side to it when considered carefully.
- There are people who make a name for themselves by running roughshod over people. I think that describes myself when I was young. God took me through a lot to realize that there are more important things than deadlines and projects, there are people with real needs.
- Also, Aaron carries the names of the sons of Israel over his heart as well as over the breastpiece of decision. The heart clearly signifying care and love for people.
- Spiritual leadership recognizes that decisions always concern people. The decision may be unrelated in fact to people, but stills have a people side to it when considered carefully.
APPLICATION: As I continue to walk with God, I need to remember that people are on God's heart, not projects and not money, but people. I need to make sure that my decisions never neglect the people aspect.Ex 30:30-38 (NIV) "Anoint Aaron and his sons and consecrate them so they may serve me as priests. 31 Say to the Israelites, 'This is to be my sacred anointing oil for the generations to come. 32 Do not pour it on men's bodies and do not make any oil with the same formula. It is sacred, and you are to consider it sacred. 33 Whoever makes perfume like it and whoever puts it on anyone other than a priest must be cut off from his people.'"
34 Then the Lord said to Moses, "Take fragrant spices — gum resin, onycha and galbanum — and pure frankincense, all in equal amounts, 35 and make a fragrant blend of incense, the work of a perfumer. It is to be salted and pure and sacred. 36 Grind some of it to powder and place it in front of the Testimony in the Tent of Meeting, where I will meet with you. It shall be most holy to you. 37 Do not make any incense with this formula for yourselves; consider it holy to the Lord. 38 Whoever makes any like it to enjoy its fragrance must be cut off from his people."
Why not make copies of the perfume and the incense -- we have the recipe here?- It makes it too commonplace
- The smell would not be unique to tabernacle
- People might create their own idols and mini-tabernacles in their homes
- It emphasizes the word "holy" or set-apart. Holy does not always signify sinless, sometimes it communicates sacredness or differentness. Israel was called to be different from the world around them. Their holiness was to identify them as different, and then their lives were to attract people to God
- It makes it too commonplace
Leads to a number of APPLICATIONS:- Is worship too commonplace?
- We can worship anywhere, but there is something different about gathering together with the body of believers. Do we see it is special?
- Are our lives different from those around us? Could someone, who only knew us for a short period of time, identify us as Christians? Why or why not?
- Is worship too commonplace?
- Some people think that this passage expands our definition of spiritual gifts. Bezalel is filled with the Spirit of God and with skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of crafts -- in others words, a gift of craftmanship
Do you think there can be a spiritual gift of craftmanship?- I don't know the answer -- although, I would never want to restrict God in what he can do
All of the passages on spiritual gifts in the New Testament are different. So one thought is that there is no single definition of spiritual gifts, except that it is a spiritual enabling by God- In which case, there has to be a difference between before and after conversion
- In which case, there has to be a difference between before and after conversion
- My final thought is -- whatever God has called you to do, do it with all your heart as serving Him and not man
- I think if we spent less time worrying about what our gift is and more time serving in the kingdom, we would know what God has called us to do
14 "'Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it must be put to death; whoever does any work on that day must be cut off from his people. 15 For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must be put to death. 16 The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. 17 It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he abstained from work and rested.'"
- I don't know the answer -- although, I would never want to restrict God in what he can do
What does God call the Sabbath?- Verse 13: A sign between me and you (the you being the Israelites)
- Verse 17: A sign between me and the Israelites forever
- Verse 13: A sign between me and you (the you being the Israelites)
Is the command to observe the Sabbath repeated in the New Testament?- No. In fact, three times Jesus goes out of his way to violate the oral tradition of the Sabbath
Jesus says the Sabbath was created for man- People need a day of rest
- People need a day of rest
- Also, the Sabbath is never spoken of as a day of worship, it is always a day of rest
- No. In fact, three times Jesus goes out of his way to violate the oral tradition of the Sabbath
- The concept of a day of rest is a good idea. The concept of a day of worship is a good idea too. The early church never mistook the Sabbath for the first day of the week, which is when they worshipped as a remembrance of Jesus rising from the dead
- Also, Israelite men, were required to appear for worship at the tabernacle / temple three times a year, not every week
- There were no synagogues. Synagogues were created in the captivity when the temple was destroyed and they could not return three times a year for worship
- Rest is good; worship is good, but don't burden people by teaching the Sabbath as a command for Scripture. It is a command in the OT law, but we are not under the OT law
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