LESSON 40
PREPARATION FOR BUILDING
By E. L. Bynum, Pastor
Memory Verse: Ex. 35:5————Lesson: Ex. 35:1-35
The first time that Moses spent 40 days on the mount, he returned to find the people in idolatry and sin. When he returned the second time after 40 days, he finds no calf worship. They had enough of gods of gold. Since chapters 32-34 are parenthetical more or less, our lesson takes up where chapter 31 ends.
I. THE NEED. v. 1-19
A. Making God First In The Sabbath. v. 1-3
1. They assembled to hear the word of the Lord. v. 1
2. They were instructed to work six days weekly. v. 2. This is often overlooked, but God specifically commands six days of work before a day of rest.
3. The sabbath was a day of rest to the Lord. v. 2. It was not a day for recreation, but for meditation and rest.
a. The were to set aside the desires of the flesh.
b. It was not a day for pleasure. Isa. 58:13-14, If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
4. The penalty for sabbath breaking. v. 2
5. Not even a fire could be kindled in ones place of habitation v. 3. This does away with the idea that Gentiles should keep the Sabbath. It would be too cold in many northern countries to survive in the winter without a fire.
6. This did not exclude certain duties of the priest on the Sabbath. Matt. 12:5, Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless? Num. 28:9-10, And on the sabbath day two lambs of the first year without spot, and two tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, and the drink offering thereof: This is the burnt offering of every sabbath, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.
7. The New Testament Church did not observe the Jewish Sabbath, as is explained below.
a. In his resurrection body Jesus appeared on the first day of the week. Mark 16:9, Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
b. Jesus me with the assembled Church on the first day of the week, not on the Sabbath. 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.
c. Years later the churches were still meeting on the first day of the week. Acts 20:7, And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.
d. This was the day the Church assembled and when they brought their offerings. I Cor. 16:2, 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. (For more information about the Sabbath, see tract number C-415, “Why I Am a Baptist and Not a Seventh Day Adventist.”)
B. Making God First In The Offering. v. 4-9
1. The offering commanded by God. v. 4
2. It is an offering to the Lord. v. 5
3. It is to come from a willing heart. v. 5. I Chron. 29:14, But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.
4. The content of the offering. v. 5-9
a. God which speaks of Christ’s deity. v. 5
b. Silver a type of redemption. v. 5. Ex. 30:16; 38:27. I Pet. 1:18, 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; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
c . Brass which is a type of judgement. v . 5. N um . 21:6-9; John 3:14-15, And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
d. Blue which speaks of heaven. v. 6
e. Purple which speaks of His royalty and wealth. v.6. Luke 16:19, There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day. Mark 15:17, And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head.
f. Scarlet a type of the sacrificial blood. v. 6
g. Fine linen speaks of righteousness. (Christ’s) v. 6. Rev. 19:8, And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
h. Goat’s hair speaks of Christ as the sin bearer. v. 6. Lev. 16:5,15, 21
i. Rams’ skins died red speaks of His consecration. v. 7
j. Badgers’ skin speaks of Christ’s humiliation. v.7. Isa.53:2, For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
k. Shittim wood speaks of His humanity. v. 7
l. Oil and spices point to His annointed fragrant life, v. 8
m. The onyx stones and the other stones speak of the glory of Christ. v. 9
C. Making God First In The Tabernacle And Furniture. v. 10-19
1. The tabernacle was God’s meeting place with man, and it al points to Christ where God and man can meet. v. 10-11
2. The ark and the mercy seat speaks of Christ’s atonement for our sins. v. 12
3. The table of shewbread speaks of Christ the bread of life. v. 13
4. The candlestick speaks of Christ the Light of the world. v. 14
5. The incense altar speaks of the fragrant intercession of Christ. v. 14
6. The brazen altar speaks of the cross of Christ. v. 16
7. The laver speaks of Christ’s cleansing of the day to day defilement of sin on His people. v. 16
8. The linen fence speaks of His perfect righteousness. v. 17
9. The hanging for the door speaks of Christ the door. v. 17
10. The pins and cords speak of Christ providing security and stability to His people. v. 18. Heb. 6:19-20, Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
11. The cloths of service point to our Great High Priest who is perfectly clothed in His own spotless righteousness. v. 19
II. THE PROVISION. v. 20-35
A. The Offering Provided. v. 20-29
Three things which are closely connected characterize the giving mentioned in these verses. Everything we do for the Lord must proceed from the heart.
1. Their hearts were stirred up to give. v. 21
2. They were willing hearted. v. 22. II Cor. 8:7, 12, Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also. For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. II Cor. 9:9, (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. I Cor. 16:2, 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.
3. The women who were wise hearted. v. 25
B. The Workmen Provided. v. 30-35
These workmen were divinely called and divinely equipped. This must be true of all God’s workmen and that is why we need to obey John 4:35-38, Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.
1. The Lord called them. v. 30, 34
2. This Spirit filled man had four necessary qualities. v. 31-33
a. Wisdom
b. Understanding
c. Knowledge
d. Workmanship.
3. The training of workers. v. 34
4. They are filled with wisdom of heart. v. 35
—by E. L. Bynum
STUDY QUESTIONS
1. Moses spent 40 days on the mountain twice. Contrast the way Israel was behaving when he returned both times.
2. How many days a week were they required to work?
3. What were they to do on the sabbath day?
4. What was the penalty for breaking the sabbath?
5. Name some of the things they were forbidden to do on the Sabbath,
6. Could the priests work on the sabbath day?
7. The offering they were to bring was unto the
8. The offering was to come from a heart.
9. What does our lesson tell us about the heart of the giver?
10. Name the 4 things that characterize the necessary qualities of the men in charge of building the Tabernacle and furniture.