Quarantine Epistles Vol 4:82

Setting up the Tabernacle, Part 2 Exodus 40:16-38.This Moses did; according to all that the LORD commanded him, so he did. 17#In the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was erected. 18#Moses erected the tabernacle. He laid its bases, and set up its frames, and put in its poles, and raised up its pillars. 19#And he spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering of the tent over it, as the LORD had commanded Moses. 20#He took the testimony and put it into the ark, and put the poles on the ark and set the mercy seat above on the ark. 21#And he brought the ark into the tabernacle and set up the veil of the screen, and screened the ark of the testimony, as the LORD had commanded Moses. 22#He put the table in the tent of meeting, on the north side of the tabernacle, outside the veil, 23#and arranged the bread on it before the LORD, as the LORD had commanded Moses. 24#He put the lampstand in the tent of meeting, opposite the table on the south side of the tabernacle, 25#and set up the lamps before the LORD, as the LORD had commanded Moses. 26#He put the golden altar in the tent of meeting before the veil, 27#and burned fragrant incense on it, as the LORD had commanded Moses. 28#He put in place the screen for the door of the tabernacle. 29#And he set the altar of burnt offering at the entrance of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, and offered on it the burnt offering and the grain offering, as the LORD had commanded Moses. 30#He set the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it for washing, 31#with which Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet. 32#When they went into the tent of meeting, and when they approached the altar, they washed, as the LORD commanded Moses. 33#And he erected the court around the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the screen of the gate of the court. So Moses finished the work. 34#Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 35#And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 36#Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out. 37#But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up. 38#For the cloud of the LORD was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys. Dear Pilgrims and Sojourners,One may wonder why the details of the construction of the tabernacle are repeated several times – first the instructions on how it was to be done, then the report of it being done and again, the recap of how it was done. While this may be tedious the modern mind, it was novel, extraordinary and worthy of repetition to the ancients. In addition, repetition was the surest way to retain information. Completion (vv.16-33). Moses followed the instructions God had given him to erect the tabernacle and set its furniture in place. He was the first to set the bread of the presence on the table and to burn incense on the altar of incense. He and Aaron and his sons immediately started to observe the ceremonial washing required of priests. Cloud (vv. 34-35). As a sign of both his approval and his presence, God filled the tabernacle with his glory. This was symbolised by the cloud, which so filled the tabernacle that Moses could not enter. Control (vv. 36-38). The presence of God was more than just an assurance of security. By his cloud, God determined when the Israelites could move or camp. When the cloud (by day) or the fire (by night) was lifted, the people broke camp and set out. When it came down, the people stopped, set up camp and stayed put, until the cloud was lifted. The presence of God today is through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. He prompts those who are his through the word of God – the Bible, through the conscience, and through the counsel of godly men and women. Do not wander aimlessly. God has provided the means to guide you.