LESSON 36
THE WORKMEN, THE WORK and THE WORSHIP
—by E. L. Bynum and W. W. Mosley
Memory Verse: Ex. 31:3 (N.W. 32:26)————Lesson: Ex. 31:1-18
God had given the plans for the tabernacle, now He provides the Workmen.
I. THE WORKMEN DIVINELY APPOINTED AND DIRECTED. v. 1-11
A. Bezaleel And The Skills Needed. v. 1-5
1. The Workman called. v. 2. (Not left to chance or Israel’s choosing). The Egyptians never were able to make workers like these from the Israelites. Only grace could do it.
a. Bezaleel means “in the shadow of God.” He was a type of Christ who is ever in the shadow of God, and who keeps His own safely in the shadow. Psa. 17:8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings, 57:1 Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast. 63:7 Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. John 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
b. Uri means “the light of Jehovah.” This reveals in a typical sense who the Lord Jesus Christ is. 1 John 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. John 9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
c. Hur means “white” or “free.” This speaks of Christ who is all of this and much, much more.
d. Bezaleel was of the tribe of Judah, the same tribe into which our Lord was born.
2. The Workman equipped. v. 3. When God calls, He equips. Isa. 11:1-4 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: 2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; 3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: 4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. This is speaking of Christ.
a. Filled with the Spirit of God. This is ever the first qualification for doing God’s appointed work. Eph. 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Of course Christ possessed the Spirit without measure. John. 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
b. This resulted in wisdom, understanding, and knowledge.
c. This resulted in workmanship, including manual dexterity, and artistic execution.
3. The Workman’s job. v. 4-5. All this speaks of Christ.
a. To work in gold. v. 4. Gold speaks of the deity of our Saviour. John 17:4-5 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
b. And in silver. v. 4. Silver is a type of redemption, and speaks of the work of our Saviour. Psa. 49:7-8 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: 8 (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:) I Pet. 1:18,19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Rev 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
c. And in brass. v. 4. Brass is a symbol of divine judgment, and speaks of what Christ suffered for us. II Cor. 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Gal. 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: John 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:; 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
d. And in cutting of stone. v. 5. This refers to the stones which adorned the shoulders and the breastplate of the High Priest. These jewels speak of God’s people and Christ’s work in producing them. Mal. 3:17 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. 1 Pet. 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
e. In carving of timber. v. 5. Wood speaks of His humanity, but it also refers to our humanity and His workmanship. Eph. 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Note this work, v. 4-5, was given in five details, and five is the number of grace.)
B. Aholiab And The Work To Be Done. v. 6-11
1. Aholiab means “the tent of the father.” He is a type of Christ who became flesh and dwelt among us. John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. II Cor. 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. I Tim. 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. John 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?
2. Aholiab was of the tribe of Dan. v. 6. Bezaleel was of the tribe of Judah, the first of the tribes, while Aholiab was of Dan, the last of the tribes. Christ in His death represented the last and the worst also. 1 Tim. 2:3,4 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 2 Pet 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
3. The work they were to do. v. 7-11. (Note that 14 things are mentioned.) God selected, equipped, and appointed their work according to His own sovereign will. They were not volunteers, neither were they chosen by Moses or the children of Israel. We have too many in the Lord’s work who were not selected by God.
II . THE SABBATH A DIVINELY APPOINTED SIGN. v. 12-18
A. The Sabbath A Sign Between God And Israel. v. 12-17
1. The Sabbath was given to Israel and never to any gentile.
2. The Sabbath law was very strict and carried severe penalties for those who broke it. They could not build fires (Ex. 35:3); carry wood (Num. 15:32-36); do any work (Ex. 20:10); or walk a mile (Acts 1:12).
3. The Lord’s day is prophesied in Psa. 118:22-24 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. 23 This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. 24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. That this is Sunday, the resurrection day, is verified in Acts 4:10-12 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
4. Christ met his disciples on the first day of the week. John 20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
5. Christ met His disciples on the second Sunday after His resurrection. John 20:26-29
6. The early church met on the first day of the week. Acts 20: 1-7
7. There is no record of the early Christians meeting on the Sabbath. They went to the synagogues on the 7th day to reach the heathen Jews who met on the Sabbath day.
8. We are told not to let any man judge us in regard to the Sabbath day. Col. 2:16
9. The Church offerings were received on the first day. I Cor. 16:1-2 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
10. Nine of the ten commandments are repeated in some form in the N.T., but not the Sabbath commandment.
11. None of the apostles commanded the Sabbath. Acts 15
12. The Sabbath was a day of bodily rest for the Jew; the Lord’s day is a day of spiritual rest for the Christians. (See our tract # C-415, “Why I Am A Baptist And Not A Seventh Day Adventist,” by D. B. Estep)
B. The Tables Of The Law. v. 18
1. They were given by God.
2. They were written by the finger of God. The liberals object to this verse and say that it cannot mean what it says, but it still stands.
—by E. L. Bynum & W. W. Mosley
STUDY QUESTIONS
1. Who were the two men chosen of God to build the tabernacle?
2. What tribes were they from?
3. What did God do for Bezaleel which equipped him for the work he was to do?
4. What five materials was he to work with?
5. What is the meaning of the number five?
6. Who was the Sabbath given to as a sign?
7. What were the Israelites prohibited from doing on the Sabbath?
8. State several of the many reasons why Christians are not to keep the Sabbath today.
9. How many tables of law was there?
10. Who wrote on the stone and how?