Reading: Exodus 26-28
And thou shalt make an altar of shittim wood, five cubits
long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be foursquare:
and the height thereof shall be three cubits. And thou shalt
make the horns of it upon the four corners thereof: his
horns shall be of the same: and thou shalt overlay it with
brass(Ex. 27:1-2).
After His initial instruction on the Law, the Lord gave Moses
directions for constructing His holy Tabernacle. And let them
make Me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. According
to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle,
and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall
ye make it (Ex. 25:8-9). God covered every detail, from what
type of animal skin was needed for the outside protective tent
covering (26:14) to what kind of wood to use when constructing
the sacrificial altar that would be placed in the courtyard of the
Tabernacle. Nothing was left to chance or to the whims of human
nature. The design of the Tabernacle was intended to reinforce
the separate holiness of God. In the tabernacle of the congregation
without the vail, which is before the testimony, Aaron
and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before
the Lord: it shall be a statute for ever unto their generations
on the behalf of the children of Israel (27:21). The placement of the altar of sacrifice was pivotal to this
understanding. And thou shalt set the altar of the burnt offering
before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the
congregation (40:6). It was the first thing the Israelites saw
when they entered the outer courtyard, and it stood directly
between them and the Most Holy Place. The Most Holy Place
housed the Ark of the Testimony, upon which was placed the
mercy seat whereon abode the presence of God (26:33-34).
And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with
thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two
cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all
things which I will give thee in commandment unto the
children of Israel (25:22). The altar of sacrifice stood as a reminder
to the Israelites of their fallen, sinful nature. They knew
that the only way that the priests could approach God on their behalf would be through the sacrifices of atonement that would
be made there. There was no other way. Although we no longer have the physical reminders the
Tabernacle offered, the message applies equally to us today.
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God
(Rom. 3:23). Our sinful human nature still causes us to be
barred from the presence of God. But your iniquities have
separated between you and your God, and your sins have
hid His face from you, that He will not hear (Is. 59:2). The
only path open that will lead us into His presence is the path of
sacrificial atonement. And almost all things are by the law
purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no
remission (Heb. 9:22). Yet, unlike the Israelites, we are not
subject to an endless progression of temporary sacrifices. Instead,
we are privileged to live under the grace of Jesus Christ,
by the which will we are sanctified through the offering of
the body of Jesus Christ once for all (Heb. 10:10). Only by
accepting His perfect sacrifice will we be granted access to
God. There is no other way. So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many;
and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second
time without sin unto salvation(Heb. 9:28). Thought For Today:We have loaded ourselves down with
the almost unbearable weight of sin; God is the only one who
can help us remove it. Christ Revealed:Through the Brasen Altar, upon which the Sin Offering
was burned (Ex. 27:1-8; Lev. 4:1-35). Jesus’ offering of Himself as the final
sacrifice was the fulfillment of all Old Testament altars as well as all sacrificial
offerings. In whom we have redemption through His (Jesus Christ)
blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace (Eph.
1:5-7; John 1:29,36; Col. 1:14; Heb. 9:12). Word Studies:26:1 cunning work = skillful workmanship; 26:2 have
one measure = be the same measurement; 28:2 holy garments = Godappointed
clothing was required to participate in worship services; 28:8
curious girdle = skillfully made belt. Pray For Staff:Ryan McCrary • Government Officials: Rep. Kevin
McCarty(CA) • Country: Peru (30,147,935) Western South America • Major
Languages: Spanish, Quechua, Aymara • Restricted Religious Freedom •
81.3% Roman Catholic; 12.5% Evangelical; 3.3% Other; 2.9% Unspecified/
None • Prayer Suggestion: Can you say you are ready for the Lord's
coming (Mal. 3:2)? Optional ReadingMatthew 26