Take Two: Exodus 27, Proverbs 9
Chapter 27 contains more information about construction of the tabernacle. Again, God is specific in the details: from the size, construction material, design…every detail is prescribed by God.
As the details are provided, the altar is the next in the sequence. (God gave instructions from the Holy of holies moving outward). One must come past the altar to enter into the presence of God. Another way of thinking of this…is that one cannot bypass sacrifice and enter into God’s presence. The sacrifice is what allows us to come into the presence of God. From our NT perspective…we recognize that Jesus is the sacrifice (Once for All) that makes us justified in entering into God’s presence.
Perhaps what struck me from the chapter was the final two verses. In vv.20-21 God directs that the people are to be charged to bring to the Tabernacle a sufficient supply of olive oil so that the lamp outside of the Holy of holies could remain perpetually lit. The priests (Aaron and his sons) were charged with keeping the lamp serviced and constantly burning…while the people were charged with providing the supply to accomplish it.
The issue of the lamp is not that God is afraid of the dark. The lamp was behind the walls of linens we discovered yesterday…so it served no distinct purpose apart from being an act of worship. It was a testimony to God and of God. The fact that the lamp was to remain lit speaks of God’s continual presence. You don’t turn the lights off with someone in the room and you don’t leave the lights on when no one is in the room. The fact that God commanded that the light be ever-burning…signifies His continual presence.
I am certain that some might object and speak of the impracticality of burning a lamp perpetually. They might declare that there is a better way or offer some alternative understanding. But, God is not always “practical” as we understand the word. He operates according to His own plan and purpose. His commands are good…always. His purpose is perfect…always. Our acceptance, by faith, of God’s instructions is worship. Our obedience is worship. Our obedience is a perpetual testimony to those who believe…and to those who do not yet believe.
Proverbs 9:8 is the takeaway today. “Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you, reprove a wise man and he will love you.” Sometimes we want to correct those who act sinfully and are separated from God…by pointing out that their actions are against God’s will. Hey…they don’t care. They have no relationship. Our first focus is not to fix their outside conduct…but to help them come to know and revere God. Once relationship is established, we have a baseline for conduct, but not before then. As someone said, “Rules without Relationship breed Rebellion.”
