It is not usual to do a bible study on records, so today’s passage may be strange to us. However, our conviction is that all of God’s word is useful for teaching, even this record of the tabernacle. Let us thus consider a few things: What can we learn from this? How do we worship?
The way and manner and attitude in which we worship a holy God has everything to do with how we obey. Let us consider how are we obeying as we worship, and what does our worship say about our obedience. If we hear God’s word and we walk away unchanged in actions, then we have wasted our time. We need to know how to apply and obey!
(A) The Cost of Worship: Specific and Exact, Tangible and Intangible (Exo 38:21-31)
Let’s begin by taking a look at the record of the tabernacle and compare to the instructions given by the LORD.
In examining the record of the tabernacle in Exodus 38 against the instructions which the LORD gave previously, we are able to observe a pattern. Where God has spoken to Moses, we see that it has been fulfilled exactly! When we get to the silver and bronze, we can do the math and it is mind-boggling. They collected 100 talents of silver for casting bases, for 100 bases. In reading Exodus 26, we see that the collection is in accordance to the command, down to the shekel for exactly 100 bases.
We see that God’s commands are specific, and that Israel’s obedience was likewise specific. The commandments were given in a precise manner and they were expected to be fulfilled. God didn’t only provide specific commands. He also provided the means. All of Israel’s treasures were provided by God, and now the instructions are for them to give it up for the building of the tabernacle.
How does this instruct us on how we are to obey? Is our obedience partial? Do we find ways to cut corners to “obey”? Do we try to find loopholes so that we can have an easier time? How does this pattern model how we are to obey God’s word?
Let’s think about loving our brother as ourselves. Do we love everyone except the one person who makes life hard for me? Do we tithe? How do we tithe? When it comes to our wallets, where is our heart? Do we try to find ways to get around the 10% tithe? Do you hear the pattern of finding loopholes, the whisper of the serpent? Do you hear echoes of the fall, the whispering of Satan that obedience can be partial. We must be mindful of our hearts and our intentions. We have been this way ever since the fall! What are some loopholes that you have tried to justify yourself out of?
From these verses, we also see the tangible and intangible costs of worship. A helpful parallel passage is in 2 Sam 24:18-25, where we read David’s response to a sacrifice. David wanted to buy the items from Araunah and would not offer anything that does not cost him anything (2 Sam 24:24). This burnt offering as worship is not something to be treated lightly. David refuses to offer an offering to God that costs him nothing.
We should not treat our worship lightly either! It is helpful for us to think about this because we tend to think of ourselves as consumers, to get the most for free and to worship where it costs the least. But that’s not how we should be thinking of worship. Worship is valuable and important, and do we approach it like David did, willing to bear a cost for it? Today, we tend to skirt our way around this cost. When we think about offerings, we are more interested in toeing the line, offering the 10% and thinking we’ve done our part. Our obedience seems rote, and conditional, even calculative. These verses challenge what we think of obedience, offering and worship. What will it look like if we obeyed?
Consider also the intangible cost of worship. what would it have meant for the people to stop their livelihood to build the tabernacle? There is a real sacrifice of plans, of life ambition, and of time. These are things they had to give up so that they could worship, build and obey. What is God calling you to obey? What things are we called to give up? What if God is calling you to give up your life plans and ambition? Plans to retire at 50? Own a HDB? Travelling twice a year? Singleness?
Obeying God and worshipping Him means forsaking these things too! What has following God cost you? Jesus says to leave the dead to bury their dead, to follow him. Jesus calls all who follow Him to give up and take up His cross. Obedience and following Him is always coupled with turning from something. Does your walk with God look like this – forsaking idols and turning to God in obedience fully? If following God has not cost you anything, perhaps, you’re not walking with God fully, and you’ve not made a pattern of walking with God.
How does what we have studied help us to follow God? Right now maybe you feel crushed because we are not following God, but let us look at the glory of the tabernacle to be encouraged! Left to ourselves, we are good at performing, good at putting up pretences to seem as if all is well. But if we are to be transformed from within, how do we guard our hearts from route obedience, where our hearts are hard and there is no love for God? The way to do this is to look at the glory of the tabernacle.
(B) The Glory of the Tabernacle: That a holy God would dwell with His people on His account
Let’s also consider the bigger picture, to see what the tabernacle was for and what it would have reminded the Israelites of. The Tabernacle was a space for God to dwell in, in the centre of the Israelite’s camp. There were offerings being made every day in the tabernacle. God’s presence was thus very tangible to Israel. The tabernacle was a way of reminding Israel of God’s glory. At the heart of these logistics and construction, was the fulfilment of God’s glory dwelling with them. This was their national identity and life and the core of their being.
What does this remind us of, and how does it help us to fuel our obedience? How does it help us to obey better? We no longer have a literal tabernacle in our lives to remind us daily of our sin and the need for a blood sacrifice. The tabernacle was about Israel’s fundamental problem, that a holy God cannot dwell with an unholy people. This was a daily reminder for the Israelites, that blood was being spilled to cover their sin.
The tabernacle is thus a picture of Christ for us! We are meant to look at the tabernacle and see Christ, seeing his perfect sacrifice that allows us to commune with God. We are meant to look at Jesus everyday, the same way that the Israelites looked at the tabernacle. We deserve death but Jesus’ sacrifice allows us to commune with God. This is the glory of the cross, that a Holy God would dwell with his people on His account. In Exodus, God’s dwelling with his people was costly, but God provided what was needed. This is what we are meant to see in this record of the tabernacle.
How then are we to apply this study and obey fully? What happens when we don’t feel God’s love? How are we supposed to obey? This is how we remind ourself of God’s love, by looking at the cross. This is what it means to preach the gospel to ourselves, to remind yourself of our sin, but also that we have been fully redeemed! When you do not feel God’s love, remind yourself of this, in the pattern of the old testament.
And the Bible doesn’t leave us guessing about what it looks like practically. How can we worship God with all of our lives? What does obedience look like? For a start, Rom 12:9-21 gives us a very practical list to think about:
Let love be genuine. (Rom 12:9a)
Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. (Rom 12:9b)
Love one another with brotherly affection. (Rom 12:10a)
Outdo one another in showing honor. (Rom 12:10b)
Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. (Rom 12:11)
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. (Rom 12:12)
Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. (Rom 12:13)
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. (Rom 12:14)
Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. (Rom 12:15)
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. (Rom 12:16)
Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. (Rom 12:17)
If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. (Rom 12:18)
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” (Rom 12:19-20)
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Rom 12:21)
As we wrap up this study, these verses in Phil 2:14-18 provide a benediction for the Christian:
“Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that tI did not run in vain or labor in vain. Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.”