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Exodus 26 English Standard Version (ESV)

The Tabernacle

¹ “Moreover, you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen and blue and purple and scarlet yarns; you shall make them with cherubim skillfully worked into them. ² The length of each curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits; all the curtains shall be the same size. ³ Five curtains shall be coupled to one another, and the other five curtains shall be coupled to one another. ⁴ And you shall make loops of blue on the edge of the outermost curtain in the first set. Likewise you shall make loops on the edge of the outermost curtain in the second set. ⁵ Fifty loops you shall make on the one curtain, and fifty loops you shall make on the edge of the curtain that is in the second set; the loops shall be opposite one another. ⁶ And you shall 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 shall also make curtains of goats’ hair for a tent over the tabernacle; eleven curtains shall you make. ⁸ The length of each curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits. The eleven curtains shall be the same size. ⁹ You shall couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and the sixth curtain you shall double over at the front of the tent. ¹⁰ You shall 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 shall 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, shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle, on this side and that side, to cover it. ¹⁴ And you shall make for the tent a covering of tanned rams’ skins and a covering of goatskins on top. …….

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

³⁶ “You shall make a screen for the entrance of the tent, of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, embroidered with needlework. ³⁷ And you shall make for the screen five pillars of acacia, and overlay them with gold. Their hooks shall be of gold, and you shall cast five bases of bronze for them.

REFLECTION

• Moses was told to make the tabernacle and its furnishings “exactly like the pattern I will show you” (25:9). Chapter 26 shows us how detailed God’s instructions were in the construction of the tabernacle. Refer to the following diagram ( livedoor.blogimg.jp/hideki4612/imgs/2/d/2ddebad8.jpg ) as you read the whole chapter will give you a clearer understanding of the tabernacle.
• There are two holy places in the tabernacle – the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies, which are separated by a curtain. The priests were responsible for the daily sacrifices and other functions, as well as regular feasts.  On the Day of Atonement, it was the high priest’s responsibility to take the blood of the sacrificed goat into the Holy of Holies on behalf of all God’s people, for forgiveness of their sins. When Jesus Christ died on the cross, the curtain of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom (Mark 15:38).  Therefore, this signifies that through Jesus, we can approach God directly with confidence.  We no longer need sacrifices in order to approach God.
• Is there a special “Holy of Holies” in your home where you could feel close to God and meet with Him regularly? You may want to set aside a sacred space for yourself to have your devotions there. It may be a small corner table or a particular chair and time of day.  Think of how you can use the space to help you focus on God

PRAYER

Compare your experience of coming into God’s presence with those of the Israelites then, do you appreciate the privilege?  Do you comprehend what God has done for you?  Do you welcome the opportunity to meet with God? Where is your “Holy of Holies” at home or in your heart where you meet God?  Talk to God about it and listen to His response.

HYMN

Beneath the Cross of Jesus – youtu.be/qCETRBUCEZw