Devotions

why have a courtyard?

Posted on October 13, 2014 by Jefferson Vann

Exodus 27:9-19

⁹ “You should make the courtyard of the tabernacle. On the south side the courtyard should have drapes of fine twined linen a hundred cubits long for one side.¹⁰ Its twenty pillars and their twenty bases should be of bronze, but the hooks of the pillars and their fillets should be of silver.¹¹ And likewise for its length on the north side there should be hangings a hundred cubits long, its pillars twenty and their bases twenty, of bronze, but the hooks of the pillars and their fillets should be of silver.¹² And for the breadth of the courtyard on the west side there should be drapes for fifty cubits, with ten pillars and ten bases.¹³ The breadth of the courtyard on the front to the east should be fifty cubits.¹⁴ The drapes for the one side of the gate should be fifteen cubits, with their three pillars and three bases.¹⁵ On the other side the drapes should be fifteen cubits, with their three pillars and three bases.¹⁶ For the gate of the courtyard there should be a screen twenty cubits long, of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, embroidered with needlework. It should have four pillars and with them four bases.¹⁷ All the pillars around the courtyard should be filleted with silver. Their hooks should be of silver, and their bases of bronze.¹⁸ The length of the courtyard should be a hundred cubits, the breadth fifty, and the height five cubits, with drapes of fine twined linen and bases of bronze.¹⁹ All the utensils of the tabernacle for every use, and all its pegs and all the pegs of the courtyard, should be of bronze.

why have a courtyard?

The tabernacle courtyard was a set of boundaries. Some people are not comfortable with boundaries. They want to be free to think and act outside the box. But worship cannot be entirely free, because our present relationship with God is still defined by our ancestral rebellion. Our natural inertia leans toward sin, even when it comes to worship.

The Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives since Pentecost does not change that. For that reason, the apostles had to put some kind of structure to worship services, because God’s people are inclined to worship according to the flesh.

Jesus is going to change that. In the new Jerusalem, there will be no temple, and no boundaries to worship, because our relationship with God then will not require those things. In the mean time, might I suggest that we keep others in mind when we display our love for him. Others will have come to him from different directions, and will not share our tastes in music, dress, and worship styles. It is not being considerate to force them to adopt our ways. In fact, each of us will change throughout our lives. Freedom to worship as I please is not an inalienable kingdom right.

The LORD gave himself up for us. We should seek to display that kind of grace towards each other when coming together to worship Him.

LORD, may our expressions of personal freedom in worship be controlled by your Holy Spirit, and express our mutual consideration of each other, as well as our united love for you.

Posted in consideration of others, grace, worship | Tagged Exodus 27 | 1 Comment

entrance fee

Posted on October 12, 2014 by Jefferson Vann

Exodus 27:1-8

¹ “You should make the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long and five cubits broad. The altar should be square, and its height should be three cubits.² And you should make horns for it on its four corners; its horns should be of one piece with it, and you should overlay it with bronze.³ You should make pots for it to receive its ashes, and shovels and basins and forks and fire pans. You should make all its utensils of bronze.⁴ You should also make for it a grating, a network of bronze, and on the net you should make four bronze rings at its four corners.⁵ And you should set it under the border of the altar so that the net extends halfway down the altar.⁶ And you should make poles for the altar, poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with bronze.⁷ And the poles should be put through the rings, so that the poles are on the two sides of the altar when it is carried.⁸ You should make it hollow, with boards. As it had been revealed to you on the mountain, this is how it should be made.

entrance fee

The bronze altar was the first piece of furniture one would see upon entrance to the tabernacle. The next, the washing basin, was beyond it in the courtyard. So the symbolism was conveyed by this arrangement that no one gets through into the presence of God without first having paid the entrance fee. Once that is done, he can take advantage of all the blessings of being in communion and covenant.

The trouble is, the entrance into the presence is a costly thing. That cost had already been shown by the scarlet threads woven into the curtain upon entrance. Our ancestors had put a barrier between us and our LORD. Sin prevented us access. Death paid the price. The sacrifices on the altar showed that the entrance fee must be paid.

But death does not actually give us access into God’s presence. If it did, David would not have prayed “let my soul live that it may praise you.”[1] Death puts an end to the soul’s life, making communion and covenant impossible. So, the altar is not a symbol of one’s own personal death. It is a symbol of the death of a substitute provided so that the living could have continued access without dying.

For the Israelites, the altar was a constant reminder of the substitute lamb that protected them from God’s wrath on Passover night. They gave up their sacrifices to be slain on that altar fully knowing that it was they who deserved to be slaughtered upon it, but that God in his grace provided another entrance fee.

LORD, thank you for your grace toward us, providing a sacrifice whose death gained us access into your presence, fellowship, blessing, and covenant.

[1] Psalm 119:175.

Posted in atonement, deliverance, Jesus Christ, relationship with God, wrath of God | Tagged Exodus 27 | 1 Comment

behind curtain number 2

Posted on October 11, 2014 by Jefferson Vann

Exodus 26:31-37

³¹ “And you should make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. It should be made with cherubim skillfully worked into it.³² And you should hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold, with hooks of gold, on four bases of silver.³³ And you should hang the veil from the clasps, and bring the ark of the testimony in there within the veil. And the veil should separate for you the Holy Place from the Most Holy.³⁴ You should put the mercy seat on the ark of the testimony in the Most Holy Place.³⁵ And you should set the table outside the veil, and the lampstand on the south side of the tabernacle opposite the table, and you should put the table on the north side.³⁶ “You should make a screen door for the entrance of the tent, out of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, embroidered with needlework.³⁷ And you should make for the screen door five pillars of acacia, and overlay them with gold. Their hooks should be made of gold, and you should cast five bases of bronze for them.

behind curtain number 2

The first curtain one came to upon entering the tabernacle was the access screen, and this symbolized the fact that EVERYONE has access to God through prayer. This curtain portrayed access through the sky. The second curtain was the veil, which spoke of a future time when God’s people would have even more intimate and lasting access to him because of the blood of Christ. It’s not the same word as a bridal veil, but the imagery might be there. The barrier of personal sins will be taken away, when Messiah is crucified and dies, removing the curse of the second death, and allowing free access to the heart of the Father because of the Son’s sacrifice.

Both curtains were made of a combination of three colors:

1. Blue represented the sky, and the incredible distance humanity has to cross to reach the throne.

2. Purple represented royalty, and the respect due our King of kings.

3. Scarlet represented death, the wages of sin. Our access to the Father in this age through prayer and praise will be cut off by our deaths, the result of our ancestors’ sin in Eden. Our access to the Father in eternity is provided for by the death of our Savior.

LORD, thank you for giving us access to your heart for eternity. We celebrate the opening of curtain number 2.

Posted in atonement, Jesus Christ, prayer, relationship with God | Tagged Exodus 26 | 1 Comment

putting together the holy place

Posted on October 10, 2014 by Jefferson Vann

Exodus 26:15-30

¹⁵ “You should make upright frames for the tabernacle of acacia wood.¹⁶ Ten cubits should be the length of a frame, and a cubit and a half the breadth of each frame.¹⁷ There should be two hand holds in each frame, for fitting together. You should do this for all the frames of the tabernacle.¹⁸ You should make the frames for the tabernacle: twenty frames for the south side;¹⁹ and you should make forty bases of silver under the twenty frames, two bases under one frame for its two hand holds, and two bases under the next frame for its two hand holds;²⁰ and for the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side twenty frames,²¹ and their forty bases of silver, two bases under one frame, and two bases under the next frame.²² And for the rear of the tabernacle westward you should make six frames.²³ And you should make two frames for corners of the tabernacle in the rear;²⁴ they should be separate beneath, but joined at the top, at the first ring. It should be like this with both of them; they should form the two corners.²⁵ And there should be eight frames, with their bases of silver, sixteen bases; two bases under one frame, and two bases under another frame.²⁶ “You should make bars of acacia wood, five for the frames of the one side of the tabernacle,²⁷ and five bars for the frames of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the frames of the side of the tabernacle at the rear westward.²⁸ The middle bar, halfway up the frames, should run from end to end.²⁹ You should overlay the frames with gold and should make their rings of gold for holders for the bars, and you should overlay the bars with gold.³⁰ Then you should erect the tabernacle according to the plan for it that you were shown on the mountain.

putting together the holy place

The framework of the tabernacle was designed to fit together, so that no part of the structure was loose and disjointed. Once put together, the structure would be strong, sound, and capable of surviving the actions performed in it for the purpose of worship, intercession, and atonement. The tabernacle was not a loose set of partitions, capable of being easily assembled and taken down for transport. It took careful and meticulous work to set up this magnificent tent structure. The fact that it was a tent did not lead to its being treated as an inferior object. The fact that it was a symbol of God’s presence among them meant that the Israelites must be meticulous in the maintenance of this object. It was designed and its creation sanctioned on Sinai itself. It was to be as holy as the furniture it housed.

Later the tabernacle would be replaced by the temple, the purposes of both structures being the same: to contain the presence of God and display his glory. The New Testament says that the bodies of believers are a temple of the Holy Spirit.[1] For that reason, our bodies should be well put together, and to the best of our abilities we should seek to make our bodies as healthy and fit as they can be. It is a shame that we often neglect this ministry, thinking somehow that it is more spiritual to focus on our minds rather than our muscles, our spirits rather than our stomachs.

It is true that we do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.[2] But that is no excuse for displaying God’s Spirit in vessels that are shabby and falling apart.

LORD, give us insight into how we can take care of these bodies that house your Holy Spirit.

[1] 1 Corinthians 6:19.

[2] Romans 8:4

Posted in discipleship, glory, integrity, responsibility, witness | Tagged Exodus 26 | 1 Comment

the LORD among us

Posted on October 9, 2014 by Jefferson Vann

Exodus 26:1-14

26:1 “Further instructions: you should make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen and blue and purple and scarlet yarns; you should make them with cherubim skillfully embedded into them.² The length of each curtain should be twenty-eight cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits; all the curtains shall be the same size.³ Five curtains should be coupled to one another, and the other five curtains should be coupled to one another.⁴ And you should make loops of blue on the edge of the outermost curtain in the first set. Likewise you should make loops on the edge of the outermost curtain in the second set.⁵ You should make fifty loops on the one curtain, and you should make fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that is in the second set; the loops shall be opposite one another.⁶ And you should make fifty clasps of gold, and couple the curtains one to the other with the clasps, so that the tabernacle may be a single whole.⁷ “You should also make curtains of goats’ hair for a tarp over the tabernacle; you should make eleven such curtains.⁸ The length of each curtain should be thirty cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits. The eleven curtains should be the same size.⁹ You should couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and the sixth curtain you should double over at the front of the tent.¹⁰ You should make fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that is outermost in one set, and fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that is outermost in the second set.¹¹ “You should make fifty clasps of bronze, and put the clasps into the loops, and couple the tent together that it may be a single whole.¹² And the part that remains of the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that remains, shall hang over the back of the tabernacle.¹³ And the extra that remains in the length of the curtains, the cubit on the one side, and the cubit on the other side, should hang over the sides of the tabernacle, on this side and that side, to cover it.¹⁴ And you should make for the tent a covering of tanned rams’ skins and a covering of goatskins on top.

the LORD among us

The tabernacle symbolized the presence of God among the Israelites. The construction of the tabernacle had to be of precise specifications because each of its elements told the Israelites something about the LORD who chose to dwell among them.

1. The fine twined linen which made up the inner tabernacle was a precious and pure fabric, and suggests that God is holy and unlike any of the base gods of the nations.

2. The heavy and protective outer coverings of the tabernacle suggests that the LORD is strong and protective, and cannot be harmed by anything. He is omnipotent.

3. The tabernacle was to be built so that it fit together as one piece. This suggests another difference between the LORD and his rival gods in the Gentile lands. The LORD is one. He is not one among many, but he is the only one of his kind. He has no true rival. As the tabernacle moved from place to place, God’s people followed his presence. They were not to follow the gods of the nations, nor were they to adopt their ways of worshipping. The LORD is one.

LORD, we honor you this day because you alone are God; you alone are holy, you alone are omnipotent. We declare our allegiance to you alone.

Posted in glory, holiness, loyalty, relationship with God, sovereignty of God | Tagged Exodus 26 | 1 Comment

lights for the world

Posted on October 8, 2014 by Jefferson Vann

Exodus 25:31-40

³¹ “You should make a lampstand of pure gold. The lampstand should be made of hammered work: its base, its stem, its cups, its flower buds, and its flower petals should be of one piece with it.³² And there should be six branches going out of its sides, three branches of the lampstand out of one side of it and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side of it;³³ three cups made like almond blossoms, each with flower bud and flower petals, on one branch, and three cups made like almond blossoms, each with flower bud and flower petals, on the other branch- and like so for the six branches going out of the lampstand.³⁴ And on the lampstand itself there should be four cups made like almond blossoms, with their flower buds and flower petals,³⁵ and a flower bud of one piece with it under each pair of the six branches going out from the lampstand.³⁶ Their flower buds and their branches should be of one piece with it, the whole of it a single piece of hammered work of pure gold.³⁷ You should make seven lamps for it. And each of the lamps should be placed so as to give light on the space in front of it.³⁸ Its tongs and their trays should be of pure gold.³⁹ It, with all these utensils, should be made out of a talent of pure gold.⁴⁰ And make sure that you make them following the pattern for them, which is being shown you on the mountain.

lights for the world

The face bread reflected back on a recent experience the Israelites had – a covenant confirming meal in fellowship with God himself – face to face. The lampstands also reflected on an experience the Israelites were having. The LORD had been leading them by a great light – a pillar of cloud by day, and a pillar of fire at night. The light served the purpose of giving the Israelites direction. The lampstands in the tabernacle indicated this fact as well, but also encouraged the Israelites to lead others to the LORD. He was the light of the world, and so were they.

Jesus came and proclaimed that he was the light of the word, showing us all the way into a relationship with God.[1] But he also challenged his disciples by declaring that they were the light of the world.[2] He expects citizens of the sky kingdom to lead the rest of the world in the direction of God as well. Light means more than influence in this context. It means leadership.

LORD, make us courageous and confident leaders, directing the world around us to follow you.

[1] John 8:12; 9:5.

[2] Matthew 5:14.

Posted in discipleship, Jesus Christ, leadership | Tagged Exodus 25 | 1 Comment

face bread

Posted on October 7, 2014 by Jefferson Vann

Exodus 25:23-30

²³ “You should make a table of acacia wood. Its length should be two cubits, its breadth a cubit, and its height a cubit and a half.²⁴ You should overlay it with pure gold and make a border of gold around it.²⁵ And you should make a rim around it a handbreadth wide, and a border of gold around the rim.²⁶ And you should make for it four rings of gold, and fasten the rings to the four corners at its four legs.²⁷ The rings should be placed close to the frame, serving as holders for the poles to carry the table.²⁸ You should make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold, and the table should be carried with these.²⁹ And you should make its plates and dishes for incense, and its pitchers and bowls with which to pour drink offerings; you should make them of pure gold.³⁰ And you should place the face bread on the table before me regularly.

face bread

Moses, Aaron, Nadab and Abihu and seventy elders had just had a communion meal before the LORD at Mount Sinai. Now, the LORD instructs the Israelites to construct a special table to go into the tabernacle to serve as a reminder of his continual presence. Fresh bread was to be regularly placed on that table. It was to be called “face bread”[1] In that special meal, those leaders saw God, and ate and drank. The table was to be a reminder that the covenant believers need not fear the face of the LORD, because he wants to have fellowship with them. The blood of the covenant has removed the barrier of fear.

LORD, thank you for your abiding presence. We come to you today boldly, enjoying fellowship with our Savior God.

[1] lechem panim.

Posted in atonement, communion, encouragement, fellowship, relationship with God | Tagged Exodus 25 | 1 Comment

the ark of the testimony

Posted on October 6, 2014 by Jefferson Vann

Exodus 25:10-22

¹⁰ “They should make an ark of acacia wood. Its length should be two and a half cubits, its breadth a cubit and a half, and its height a cubit and a half.¹¹ You should overlay it with pure gold, covering it inside and outside. And you should make on it a border of gold around it.¹² You should cast four rings of gold for it and put them on its four legs, two rings on the one side of it, and two rings on the other side of it.¹³ You should make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.¹⁴ And you should put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, using them to carry the ark.¹⁵ The poles should remain in the rings of the ark; they shall not be taken away from it.¹⁶ And you should put into the ark the testimony that I will give you.¹⁷ “You should make a mercy seat of pure gold. Its length should be two and a half cubits, and its breadth a cubit and a half.¹⁸ And you should make two cherubs of gold; you should make them of hammered work, on the two ends of the mercy seat.¹⁹ Make one cherub on the one end, and one cherub on the other end. You should make the cherubs of one piece with the mercy seat on its two ends.²⁰ The cherubs should spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings, their faces one to another; the faces of the cherubim should be toward the mercy seat.²¹ And you should put the mercy seat on the top of the ark, and in the ark you should put the testimony that I shall give you.²² There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, I will speak with you about all that I will give you as commands for the sons of Israel from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony.

the ark of the testimony

The ark containing the testimony God gave to Moses was to have a central position in the sacred tabernacle – not spatially, but theologically. It had to be made out of the most precious material available because God’s interaction with his people is the most important reality. The testimony inside the ark was the symbol of that divine interaction, and the images of cherubs were facing that testimony, essentially providing a constant witness to its veracity. They were not facing outward, which would be the case if they were symbolizing the guarding of its contents.

The ark inside the tabernacle told the people of Israel that wherever they would go, God and his promises would go with them. Also, he would be among them to give them direction by providing commands. The people would not have to conjure up the LORD’s presence, nor speculate about his will.

Lord Jesus, you promised to be with us always, even to the end of the age. May we never doubt your presence, or feel the lack of your counsel all the days of our lives.

Posted in dependence upon God, relationship with God | Tagged Exodus 25 | 1 Comment

a sacred place

Posted on October 5, 2014 by Jefferson Vann

Exodus 25:1-9

¹The LORD told Moses,² “Speak to the people of Israel, so that they take for me a donation. You should receive the donation for me from every man whose heart moves him.³ And this is the kind of donation that you should receive from them: gold, silver, and bronze,⁴ blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, goats’ hair,⁵ tanned rams’ skins, goatskins, acacia wood,⁶ oil for the lamps, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense,⁷ onyx stones, and stones for setting, for the ephod and for the sacred pouch.⁸ And let them make me a sacred place, and I will live in their midst.⁹ You should make it exactly as I am showing you according to the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture.

a sacred place

The LORD had commanded his people not to make an altar out of their silver and gold. He had commanded them not to fashion it with tools, but only to use earth or stones which had not been carved. So, why did he insist now that they make him an intricately fashioned dwelling place from their riches? Part of the answer lies in what the Mikdash[1] represented. It did not stand for what the people could do for God, but it stood for what God planned to do for them. The LORD intended to travel with them as they journey to the holy land.[2] Also, unlike the altar, which could be constructed by a single person, the mobile sacred place in the desert would be the result of the donations from all the people, as the LORD put it on their hearts to give. Some would donate the raw materials, and others would construct the tabernacle according to God’s plan. One farmer might plant, and another water, but God is responsible for the final harvest. In the same way, the tabernacle would bring glory to its designer, and would be sacred not because of its sources or its contents, but because of its inhabitant.

When our Lord Jesus came to earth to tabernacle among us for a while,[3] his appearance was also accompanied by gifts from great men. The gifts were of the same type as those the Israelites contributed for the tabernacle. But the great men who gave those gifts were not Israelites. They represented an new people the LORD was going to call to himself. A people from among all the peoples of the planet. When the LORD descends to take up his permanent residence among us, we will all be one tribe, one family. Also, when he does that, the sacred place in which he resides will be us.

LORD, come to dwell in our hearts today, as we journey toward the future which you have promised us.

[1] literally, the Holy place.

[2] Psalm 78:54; Zechariah 2:12.

[3] John 1:14.

Posted in giving, Jesus Christ, missions, worship | Tagged Exodus 25 | 1 Comment

preparing ourselves for his presence

Posted on October 4, 2014 by Jefferson Vann

Exodus 24:12-18

¹²The LORD told Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and wait there, that I may give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.”¹³ So Moses rose with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God.¹⁴ And he said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we return to you. And see, Aaron and Hur are with you. Whoever has a dispute, let him go to them.”¹⁵ Then Moses climbed the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain.¹⁶ The glory of the LORD dwelt on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud.¹⁷ Now the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain before the eyes of the sons of Israel.¹⁸ Moses entered the cloud and went up on the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

preparing ourselves for his presence

Moses is called back up to the mountain, giving instructions for Aaron and Hur to take over his judicial duties until he returns. The LORD has told him that he would be receiving another symbol of the covenant he had just made with the sons of Israel: the tablets of stone. But before that, Moses spends some quality time with the LORD, because there would be another symbol to be constructed. The LORD himself will etch the ten words into the two tablets, but he will give precise details to the people, and they are to construct the tabernacle. On the mountain, the LORD appears as a devouring fire. But his desire is to dwell among the people. A means to approach this holy, consuming fire GOD must be introduced. The ministry of Moses was in essence to carry the presence of God down the mountain with him, preparing the people to dwell with him in righteousness.

Christ brought the presence and glory down from heaven with him, but only for a time. His commands given to his disciples to follow were designed to prepare humanity for God’s permanent indwelling presence among us. When we are ready, the LORD himself will come down to earth to live among us. The way for us to prepare for that dwelling among us is for us to spend time in fellowship with him in prayer and in his word. So, we need to approach our LORD, not as part of our vocation, but preparing ourselves for his presence.

LORD, we come to you today, awaiting your instructions. Teach us how to prepare ourselves for your eternal presence.

Posted in commitment, discipleship, Moses, preparation | Tagged Exodus 24 | 1 Comment