Week 43, Day 2: Instructions for the Tabernacle (Cont.)

Today’s Reading:  Exodus 26:1-37

Some thoughts from the reading…

We are given some indications in chapter 26 regarding the dimensions of the tabernacle.  I find it a little challenging to follow exactly how the curtains all fit together.  Notice that the curtains are to be made of “fine twisted linen”, mad with cherubim, and made by a skillful workman.  The skillfulness of the workman would be aided by God (chapter 31:2-7) which we will talk about more later.  For now I want to simply point to a few concepts that we are introduced to.  First, we see mentioned in verse 1 & 31 cherubim.  Images of these creatures were to be woven into the curtains of the tent.  All around the tent would be images of these creatures.  Golden cherubim were also mentioned in Exo 25:17-22 as being fashioned to be upon the ark of the covenant, with their wings overspreading the mercy seat.  From between the two cherubim Jehovah would speak.  These heavenly beings are often spoken of in reference to the throne of God.  We are not given clear details regarding what all these creatures do but they appear to be some kind of servants of Jehovah.  We see them depicted in other passages (Ezek 1:4-11 & 10:1-2 & Rev 4:5-8) but I do not know that we have any detailed description of what a cherubim looks like.  Exodus 25:20 mentions that they have wings and that they face the mercy seat (seems to indicate that they have one face).  Whatever they are in appearance, they are always depicted as in the presence of God.  I do believe that cherubim are the same creatures as the seraphim in Isaiah 6:1-8 because of similarities between the two.

The other thing I wanted to point towards is that we are also introduced in this chapter to the concept of their being a separation within the tent, the holy place and the holy of holies (vs 33).  This separation will become more important for our understanding as Bible students as we continue to study God’s interaction with His people.

Question:  Why do you think the articles of the tent and the pillars, posts, etc were made out of gold or overlaid with gold?