Exodus 31 - Artisans for Building the Tabernacle, The Sabbath Law

Summary https://marksbiblejourney.blogspot.com
"God tells Moses that he has appointed various Israelites and given them wisdom in order to be skilled craftsmen.  These craftsmen will make all the things that the Lord has commanded Moses to make for the tabernacle.  God tells Moses that for six days work may be done, but on the seventh day, there must be a Sabbath of complete rest, dedicated to the Lord.  It is a sign forever between Me and the Israelites, for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the Earth, but on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.  When God finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, He gave hum the two stone tablets of the testimony (containing the Ten Commandments) inscribed by the finger of God."

Exodus 31 Amplified Bible (AMP)

https://www.biblegateway.com 
 

Now the Lord said to Moses, 2 “See, I have called by name Bezalel, son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. 3 I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom and skill, in understanding and intelligence, in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship, 4 to make artistic designs for work in gold, in silver, and in bronze, 5 and in the cutting of stones for settings, and in the carving of wood, to work in all kinds of craftsmanship. 6 And behold, I Myself have appointed with him Oholiab, son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; to all who are wise-hearted I have given the skill and ability to make everything that I have commanded you: 7 the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the Testimony, the mercy seat that is upon it, all the furnishings of the tent— 8 the table [for the bread] and its utensils, the pure gold lampstand with all its utensils, the [golden] altar of incense, 9 the [bronze] altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, the basin and its base— 10 the finely worked garments, the holy garments for Aaron the [high] priest and the garments for his sons to minister as priests, 11 and the anointing oil and the sweet and fragrant incense for the Holy Place. They are to make them according to all that I have commanded you.”

 

 https://www.goodsalt.com/details/prcas5161.html

• SKILLED CRAFTSMEN. Moses, as a prophet and leader of Israel, was given by God the instructions about building the Tabernacle, but he will not be the one to 'build' it. He will be like a 'foreman' to the workers/builders, as he was the one who saw everything in vision from God. With God's great powers, He has appointed and chosen specific people in whom He has given His Spirit of wisdom and skill. That is truly amazing! The Israelites were just a slave and brick-makers while they were in Egypt, so they did not have any training about arts and craftsmanship, I think. So in order to follow all of God's commands, God has gifted Bezalel and Oholiab outstanding talents and skills. And this was all for God's glory.

"For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10

 "There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work." 1 Corinthians 12:5-6 

 
"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen." 1 Peter 4:10-11  

 
12 And the Lord said to Moses, 13 “But as for you, say to the Israelites, ‘You shall most certainly observe My Sabbaths, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, so that you may know [without any doubt] and acknowledge that I am the Lord who sanctifies you and sets you apart [for Myself]. 14 Therefore, you shall keep the Sabbath, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it must be put to death; for whoever does work on the Sabbath, that person (soul) shall be cut off from among his people [excluding him from the atonement made for them]. 15 For six days work may be done, but the seventh is the Sabbath of complete rest, sacred to the Lord; whoever does work on the Sabbath day must be put to death. 16 So the Israelites shall observe the Sabbath, to celebrate the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.’ 17 It is a sign between Me and the Israelites forever; for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He ceased and was refreshed.”
18 When He had finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, He gave Moses the two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God.

 

 https://www.wattpad.com/729576369-the-holy-bible-the-message-version-exodus-31-the

• THE 'REST' THAT IS JESUS. The Lord gave emphasis and highlight in keeping and observing the "Sabbath" or the 7th day rest among all the Israelites, as it will be SIGN of God's covenant to them. If they love God, they should obey Him and all His commandments. Israel was chosen, and God's firstborn, they were set apart. Sabbath means 'complete rest' and I think it also represents or foreshadow who Lord Jesus is. He is the only one who can give us a 'complete rest'. He is rest Himself, He is peace Himself. The Sabbath Law was just the physical symbolism of what Jesus will do and accomplish for us, and for God's glory. One can rest for a day, but without Jesus in his heart, he can never be truly at rest.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28
 
"Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:29-30
 
"Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him." Psalm 62:1

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:1-2

"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;" 1 Peter 2:9  
  



After reading, I always check out the Study Guide Commentary from David Guzik (very helpful!):

God supernaturally enabled Bezalel to do the work of building the Tabernacle. God saw this work as just as spiritual, and just as dependent on the Holy Spirit’s power, as the work Moses and Aaron did.

 i. This divine empowering wasn’t restricted only to Bezalel: I have put wisdom in the hearts of all who are gifted artisans. God wanted every worker’s labor to be blessed and prompted by the Holy Spirit.
 ii. Yet they were filled with the Holy Spirit not to work unto themselves, but unto the Lord: that they may make all that I have commanded you. God’s empowering isn’t to be used for our own selfish ends. Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men (Colossians 3:23).

 b. According to all that I have commanded you they shall do: This reminds us that God wanted the tabernacle and its furnishings built according to a specific pattern. It was a deliberate model of a heavenly reality.
 b. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever: Though in the New Covenant we are not bound by the Sabbath (Romans 14:5; Colossians 2:16-17), the principle is still important. Our rest in the finished work of Jesus is never to be eclipsed by our work for God. When workers for God are burnt-out, they have almost always allowed their work for God to be bigger in their minds than His work for them.

i. The difference between what Jesus has done for us and what we do for Him is like the difference between the sun and the moon, and the sun is almost unbelievably larger than the moon. Yet if the moon is in the exactly right (or wrong) place, it is possible for the moon to eclipse the sun. Some Christians live in a constant state of total eclipse, allowing what they do for Jesus to seem more important than what Jesus did for them.

 b.Two tablets of the Testimony: These tablets of stone were placed in the Ark of the Testimony, also known as the Ark of the Covenant. They were kept in the ark, later joined by Aaron’s rod that budded and a jar of manna. 

  Reference and credits to https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/guzik_david/StudyGuide2017-Exd/Exd-31.cfm ©2013 David Guzik         

Exodus 30 - The Altar of Incense, The Ransom Money, The Bronze Laver, The Holy Anointing Oil, The Incense

Summary https://marksbiblejourney.blogspot.com
"God gives Moses instructions on how to build an incense altar, where to place it in the tabernacle, and when to perform an incense offering before the Lord.  Once a year, Aaron is to perform the purification rite on the horns of the  altar.  He  is to use the blood of the sin offering for atonement.  Atonement money for the purification of sin is to be collected from the Israelites.  Both the poor and the rich are to give the same amount of money.  This money is used for the service of the tent of meeting.  It will serve as a reminder for the Israelites before the Lord to atone for, or ransom, their lives.  The Lord tells Moses to make a bronze basin for washing and a bronze stand for it.  Before entering the tent of meeting the priests must wash their hands and feet or they will die.  The Lord tells Moses to prepare an anointing oil and to anoint the tent of meeting and all the things within it. Also, Aaron and his sons are to be anointed and consecrated to be able to serve God as priests.  The Lord tells Moses to prepare a sacred incense and put it in front of the testimony in the tent of meeting. This is where God will meet with the Israelites."

Exodus 30 Amplified Bible (AMP)

https://www.biblegateway.com

The Altar of Incense
30 “You shall make an altar upon which to burn incense; you shall make it of acacia wood. 2 It shall be a cubit long and a cubit wide. It shall be square and it shall be two cubits high. Its horns of one piece with it. 3 You shall overlay it with pure gold, its top and its sides all around, and its horns; and you shall make a gold molding all around it. 4 You shall make two gold rings under its molding, make them on the two side walls—on opposite sides—they shall be holders for the poles with which to carry it. 5 You shall make the poles of acacia wood overlaid with gold. 6 You shall put the altar of incense [in the Holy Place] in front and outside of the veil that screens the ark of the [a]Testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the Testimony, where I will meet with you. 7 Aaron shall burn sweet and fragrant incense on it; he shall burn it every morning when he trims and tends the lamps. 8 When Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he shall burn incense, a perpetual incense before the Lord throughout your generations. 9 You shall not offer any strange incense on this altar, or burnt offering or meal offering; you shall not pour out a drink offering on it. 10 Once a year Aaron shall make atonement [for sin] on its horns. He shall make atonement on it with the blood of the sin offering of atonement once a year throughout your generations. It is most holy to the Lord.” 

  https://dwellingintheword.wordpress.com/2013/11/07/1179-exodus-30/ 

• ALTAR SPECIFICALLY FOR INCENSE. Incense means "a substance that is burnt to produce a sweet smell, especially as part of a religious ceremony." Every altar was important to God, and were made of pure gold. One of our five senses was 'smelling', and if we have been made in the image and likeness of God, then God can smell too and He loves sweet and fragrant smells, like in the incense. Our lives can also figuratively smell good, or bad, before God.

"Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing." 2 Corinthians 2:15

Our sins make our lives smell bad. But through Lord Jesus Christ's death, and resurrection on the cross, giving us salvation and a blessed living hope-- our lives can now smell good before the Lord. When we receive and accept Jesus in our hearts, we are being "atoned". The https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/atone gives a very interesting meaning of the word "atone":

"To atone is to do something "right" to make up for doing something wrong. Religious believers are known to atone for their sins, but even students can atone for a past failure by acing a quiz or two.
The word atone came to English as a contraction of the words at and one. The verb means to make amends or reparations for an offense or wrong doing. You can remember the meaning by thinking of it as a sort of Zen concept, to be "at one" or in harmony with someone, you have to atone for your mistakes and be forgiven. In a religious sense, it means to repent for sins ("to atone for his sins")."

To be atoned by Christ, is to be AT ONE with Him.❤️ That means, we surrender to Christ. We let go and abandon our sinful nature or lifestyles, we repent, and then we receive Jesus' atonement, redemption, and restoration :)

The Ransom Money
11 Then the Lord said to Moses, 12 “When you take the census of the Israelites, each one shall give a ransom for himself to the Lord when you count them, so that no plague will come on them when you number them. 13 This is what everyone who is counted shall give [as he joins those already counted]: a half shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel (the shekel is twenty gerahs); a half shekel as a contribution to the Lord. 14 Everyone who is counted, from twenty years old and over, [as he joins those already counted], shall give this contribution to the Lord. 15 The rich shall not give more and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when you give this contribution to the Lord to make atonement for yourselves. 16 You shall take the atonement money from the Israelites and use it [exclusively] for the service of the Tent of Meeting, so that it may be a memorial for the Israelites before the Lord, to make atonement for yourselves.”

• CONTRIBUTION TO THE LORD. I wonder how long it took for Moses and the leaders to get all the census (an official count or survey of a population, typically recording various details of individuals), of all the Israelites, who were 2 or more million at that time. Anyway, God gave a commandment that the Israelites were to pay or to give a specific amount as a "ransom" for themselves. It ensured their protection (from plagues). Ransom means "
  a sum of money or other payment demanded or paid for the release of a prisoner." This act is very symbolic of what Christ did on the cross-- we were a prisoner/captive of our sins, and it is Jesus who paid the price in full for all of us. In the past, Moses and the Israelites, did in physical the things that was needed for "atonement" of sins. These were all foreshadowing and pointing to what Jesus will do spiritually.

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

"Knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot." 1 Peter 1:18-19

• ONLY JESUS CAN ATONE US. Atonement means 'reparation for a wrong or injury'. We can never repair or pay our way to 'salvation' with our own good works. Only Jesus can save us.

"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace," Ephesians 1:7
 
"He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed." 1 Peter 2:24

The Bronze Basin
17 Then the Lord said to Moses, 18 “You shall also make a basin of bronze, with a base of bronze, for washing. You shall put it [outside in the court] between the Tent of Meeting and the altar [of burnt offering], and you shall put water in it. 19 Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet. 20 When they enter the Tent of Meeting, they shall wash with water, so that they will not die. Also, when they approach the altar to minister, to burn an offering in the fire to the Lord [they shall do the same]. 21 They shall wash their hands and their feet, so that they will not die; it shall be a perpetual statute for them, for Aaron and his descendants throughout their generations.”

https://slideplayer.com/slide/8586304/

• SPIRITUAL CLEANLINESS. Again, this bronze basin for the washing of hands and feet of the priests seems the "physical" representation or foreshadowing of what Jesus, our "High Priest" was destined to do for us, in His death on the cross. He is the "Living Water" who will not only fill us up, but also spiritually cleanse us from all our sins.
  

"I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." Ezekiel 36:25-26
  
"The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!" Hebrews 9:13-14
  
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin." 1 John 1:7 

The Anointing Oil
22 Moreover, the Lord said to Moses, 23 “Take for yourself the best spices: five hundred shekels of liquid myrrh, half as much—two hundred and fifty—of sweet-scented cinnamon, and two hundred and fifty of fragrant cane, 24 and five hundred shekels of cinnamon blossom according to the sanctuary shekel, and a hin of olive oil. 25 You shall make of these a holy anointing oil, a perfume mixture, the work of a perfumer; it shall be a sacred anointing oil. 26 You shall anoint the Tent of Meeting with it, and the ark of the Testimony, 27 and the table [for the bread] and all its utensils, and the lampstand and its utensils, and the altar of incense, 28 and the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the basin [for cleansing] and its base. 29 You shall consecrate them, that they may be most holy; whatever touches them must be holy (set apart for God). 30 You shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may serve as priests to Me. 31 You shall say to the Israelites, ‘This shall be a holy and sacred anointing oil, to Me [alone] throughout your generations. 32 It shall not be poured on anyone’s body, nor shall you make any like it in the same composition. It is holy, and it shall be sacred to you. 33 Whoever prepares any like it or puts any of it on a layman shall be cut off from his people [excluding him from the atonement made for them].’”

•  OIL AS SYMBOL OF GOD'S SPIRIT. Anoint means "
  to smear or rub with oil, typically as part of a religious ceremony" ;  "to rub or sprinkle on; apply an unguent, ointment, or oily liquid to. to smear with any liquid. to consecrate or make sacred in a ceremony that includes the token applying of oil: He anointed the new high priest. to dedicate to the service of God." The task or calling as a priest or a High Priest was big deal, and it is very serious, or else it could lead to deaths. Sin separated us from God, but God made a way for us to be near Him. For the time of Moses, He made arrangements so the Israelites could be near God, or could be called His people. God made a way, and they needed to obey. But their obedience was limited, because of man's sins (in general). But through them, God will send His Son Jesus to fulfill everything that was foreshadowed from this "Tabernacle", including the oil, which He anoints (or gifted to) everyone who believe and accepted Him as their Lord and Savior.

"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners;" Isaiah 61:1   

"You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him." Acts 10:38    

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit 
“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” John 14:15-21

 

https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/155303887161769129/?lp=true

The Incense
34 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Take sweet and fragrant spices—stacte, onycha, and galbanum, sweet and fragrant spices with pure frankincense; there shall be an equal amount of each— 35 and make incense with it, a perfume, the work of a perfumer, salted, pure and sacred. 36 You shall crush some of it [into a] very fine [powder], and put some of it before the Testimony in the Tent of Meeting, where I will meet with you; it shall be most holy to you. 37 The incense which you shall make, you shall not make in the same proportions for yourselves; it shall be holy to you for the Lord. 38 Whoever makes any like it, to use as perfume shall be cut off from his people [excluding him from the atonement made for them].”
 
Footnotes: Exodus 30:6 This is a reference to the two stone tablets inscribed by God that will be given to Moses (31:18).

  
After reading, I always check out the Study Guide Commentary from David Guzik (very helpful!): 

 i. It was in the holy place of the tabernacle together with the golden lampstand and the table of showbread. “The table of showbread represented communion with God, the lampstand spoke of testimony to the world, and now the golden altar speaks of the offering of adoration.” (Morgan)

i. Incense is a picture of prayer, in the sweetness of its smell and the way it ascends to heaven (golden bowls of incense, which are the prayers of the saints, according to Revelation 5:8). The ministry at the altar of incense speaks of how God’s people should continually come to Him in prayer.

ii. Revelation 8:3-4 describes the golden altar of incense standing before Gods’ throne: Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand.

 i. Prayer is not the place sacrificial atonement is made; it is the place sacrificial atonement is enjoyed. We don’t save ourselves through prayer; we pray because of Jesus’ saving work on the cross.

 ii. This illustrates the principle that prayer does not atone for our sins, but must always be made in reference to Jesus’ atoning blood. The Day of Atonement was only once a year, but every day when the priests brought a morning and evening offering of incense they saw the blood stained horns of the altar. This was a constant reminder of the work of atoning blood.

 b. That there may be no plague among them when you number them: A census put Israel at risk of plague because a census (a numbering) signified ownership. This spoke against God’s ownership of Israel, because in their thinking, a man only had the right to count or number what belonged to him. Israel didn’t belong to Israel; Israel belonged to God. It was up to Him to command a counting.
 i. If a count was made without receiving the ransom money, a census communicated the idea that a king or a human leader owned Israel, when God alone did. This was David’s problem in 2 Samuel 24:1-25, when David took a census without the ransom money and God plagued Israel.

 i. This ransom money spoke clearly: everyone owes God; everyone is obligated to Him. “The Lord commanded that every male over twenty years of age should pay half a shekel as redemption money, confessing that he deserved to die, owning that he was in debt to God, and bringing the sum demanded as a type of a great redemption which would by-and-by be paid for the souls of the sons of men.” (Spurgeon)

 ii. Instead of a pattern of our own giving, this money was a picture of the cost of our own redemption. “The rich were not to give more, the poor not to give less; to signify that all souls were equally precious in the sight of God, and that no difference of outward circumstances could affect the state of the soul; all had sinned, and all must be redeemed by the same price.” (Clarke)

The bronze laver speaks of the washing that is necessary for anyone who would come into the presence God.

i. The idea was later expressed in a Psalm: Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and pure heart. (Psalm 24:3-4)
ii. When Jesus washed the disciple’s feet, He told them: He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean (John 13:10). When we come to Jesus we are initially cleansed (1 Corinthians 6:11), but must also be continually washed from the dust and dirt of the world by having our feet washed by Jesus.
iii. An important way this washing takes place is through God’s Word: the washing of water by the word. (Ephesians 5:26)

 c. Nor shall you make any other like it…it is holy, and it shall be holy to you: This shows that the work of the Holy Spirit is never to be imitated. There is to be no place for encouraging a man-made imitation of the gifts or operations of the Holy Spirit. To do this denies the holiness of the Holy Spirit, regarding His work as something we can do just as well on our own.

 b. Whoever makes any like it, to smell it, he shall be cut off from his people: God was so concerned to protect the unique character of the tabernacle incense that He commanded excommunication for anyone who would make these holy things common.  

 Reference and credits to https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/guzik_david/StudyGuide2017-Exd/Exd-30.cfm ©2013 David Guzik        

Exodus 29 - Aaron and His Sons Consecrated, The Daily Offerings

Summary https://marksbiblejourney.blogspot.com
"God tells Moses what he is to do in order to consecrate Aaron and his descendants after him so they will be worthy to serve God as priests.  A young bull and two unblemished rams are to be sacrificed as a sin offering and fire offering to the Lord in order to consecrate Aaron and his descendants as priests of the sanctuary.  Also, Aaron and his sons are to be ordained for seven days with a sacrificial bull as a sin offering each day for atonement.  God also instructs Moses to conduct a regular burnt offering at the entrance to the tent of meeting before the Lord.  This is where the Lord will meet with the Israelites and speak with them.  The tent of meeting will be consecrated by God's glory.  Afterward, God says that He will dwell among the Israelites and be their God." 

 https://www.alamy.com

Exodus 29 Amplified Bible (AMP)
https://www.biblegateway.com

Consecration of the Priests
29 “This is what you shall do to consecrate Aaron and his sons so that they may serve Me as priests: take one young bull and two rams, without blemish, 2 and unleavened bread and unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers spread with oil; you shall make them of fine wheat flour. 3 You shall put them in one basket, and present them in the basket along with the bull and the two rams. 4 Then bring Aaron and his sons to the doorway of the Tent of Meeting [out where the basin is] and wash them with water. 5 Then you shall take the garments, and put on Aaron the tunic and the robe of the ephod and the ephod and the breastpiece, and wrap him with the skillfully woven sash of the ephod; 6 and you shall put the turban on his head and put the holy crown on the turban. 7 Then you shall take the anointing oil and pour it on his head and anoint him. 8 You shall bring his sons and put tunics on them. 9 And you shall wrap them with sashes, Aaron and his sons, and put the [ornamental] caps on them; and the priest’s office shall be theirs by a perpetual statute. So you shall ordain Aaron and his sons.

http://pastorpauley.blogspot.com/2010/04/reading-41-preparing-for-worship.html

• WHAT CONSECRATION IS. "The Meanings of qds in the Sinai Legislation. In the Sinai material ( Exod 19:1-nu ; 10:10 ) qds [v;d'q], which is translated "consecrate/sanctify/make holy, " means separation with relationship to God." Consecrate means "dedicated to a sacred purpose", or "to officially make something holy and able to be used for religious ceremonies." Aaron and his sons were chosen and called by God, for priesthood. While it is a big responsibility, it is also a great privilege from God-- and it is God's grace and lovingkindness that will sustain them.
• WASHING WITH WATER, ANOINTING WITH OIL. The Lord gave step by step instructions in ordaining and consecrating the priests (Aaron and sons). I'm sure every step has a meaning and significance.. I noticed 2 things that are quite symbolic, with Jesus Christ. Lord Jesus is the Living Water, that ultimately cleanses us from all sins and darkness, while "oil" usually pertains to the "Holy Spirit." Therefore, being a priest is a big deal to God.. I think, in reality, there was no one qualified to be a priest, because all the people were sinful and unholy-- that's why there's a step or ritual wherein 1 bull and 2 rams will be sacrificed. We have been separated from God because of sin, but Jesus is the mediator that sacrificed (Lamb of God) and reconciled us to God, who is Holy.

"For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak [frail, sinful, dying men], but the word of the oath [of God], which came after [the institution of] the Law, permanently appoints [as priest] a Son who has been made perfect forever." Hebrews 7:28

The Sacrifices
10 “Then you shall bring the bull before the Tent of Meeting, and Aaron and his sons shall [a]lay their hands on the bull’s head. 11 Then you shall kill the bull before the Lord by the doorway of the Tent of Meeting. 12 And you shall take some of the blood of the bull and with your finger put it on the horns of the altar [of burnt offering], and you shall pour out the remainder of the blood at the base of the altar. 13 You shall take all the fat that covers the intestines and the lobe of the liver, and the two kidneys and the fat that is on them, and offer them up in smoke on the altar. 14 But the meat of the bull, its hide, and the contents of its intestines you shall burn in the fire outside the camp; it is a sin offering.
15 “And you shall take one of the rams, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the ram; 16 then you shall kill the ram and you shall take its blood and sprinkle it around the altar [of burnt offering]. 17 Then you shall cut the ram into pieces, and wash its intestines and legs, and place them with its pieces and its head, 18 and you shall burn the whole ram on the altar. It is a burnt offering to the Lord: it is a sweet and soothing aroma, an offering by fire to the Lord.
19 “Then you shall take the other ram, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the ram. 20 Then you shall kill the ram, and take some of its blood and put it on the tip of the right ears of Aaron and his sons and on the thumbs of their right hands and on the big toes of their right feet, and sprinkle the [rest of the] blood around on the altar [of burnt offering]. 21 Then you shall take some of the blood that is on the altar and some of the anointing oil, and sprinkle it on Aaron and his garments and on his sons and their garments. Now Aaron and his garments and his sons and their garments shall be consecrated (dedicated, made holy, declared sacred for God’s purpose).
22 “You shall also take the fat of the ram, the fat tail, the fat that covers the intestines, the lobe of the liver, the two kidneys with the fat that is on them, and the right thigh; (for it is a ram of ordination), 23 and one loaf of bread and one cake of oiled bread and one wafer out of the basket of the unleavened bread that is before the Lord; 24 and you shall put all these in the hands of Aaron and his sons, and wave them as a [b]wave offering before the Lord. 25 Then you shall take them from their hands, add them to the burnt offering, and burn them on the altar for a sweet and soothing aroma before the Lord; it is an offering by fire to the Lord.
26 “Then you shall take the breast of the ram of Aaron’s ordination, and wave it as a wave offering before the Lord; and it shall be your (Moses) portion. 27 You shall consecrate the waved breast offering [of the ram] used in the ordination and the waved thigh offering of the priests’ portion, since it is [a contribution] for Aaron and for his sons. 28 It shall be for Aaron and his sons as their due portion from the Israelites forever, for it is a [c]heave offering. It shall be a heave offering to the Lord from the Israelites from the sacrifices of their peace offerings.
29 “The holy garments of Aaron shall be for his sons after him, to be anointed and ordained in them. 30 That son who is [high] priest in his place shall put them on [each day for] seven days when he comes into the Tent of Meeting to minister in the Holy Place.

Footnotes: Exodus 29:10 By laying his hands on the head of the sacrifice the offerer identified himself with it and through its death it became an atonement or covering for his sin. Because the sacrifice “covered” his sin it placed the offerer in a right relationship with God, just as later under the new covenant the perfection and sacrifice of the Christ would cover (atone for) the imperfection and sin of those who identified with Him and accepted Him as Savior.
Exodus 29:24 The wave (undulation, wavelike) offering and the heave (lifted up, raised) offering were named after their manner of presentation. These were either voluntary gifts or contributions required for a specific religious purpose such as the atonement offering. It was understood that God received these offerings and then designated them for a religious purpose such as the support of the priests and their families, or the preparation and maintenance of the tabernacle.
Exodus 29:28 See note v 24.

 https://slideplayer.com/slide/8882519/

"and walk continually in love [that is, value one another—practice empathy and compassion, unselfishly seeking the best for others], just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God [slain for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance."  Ephesians 5:2

Food of the Priests
31 “You shall take the ram of the ordination and boil its meat in a holy place. 32 Aaron and his sons shall eat the meat of the ram and the bread in the basket, at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting. 33 They shall eat those things by which atonement was made at their ordination and consecration; but a layman shall not eat them, because they are holy [that is, set apart to the worship of God]. 34 And if any of the meat of ordination or the bread remains until morning, you shall burn it in the fire; it shall not be eaten, because it is holy.
35 “So you shall do to Aaron and to his sons in accordance with all I have commanded you; during seven days you are to ordain them. 36 You shall offer a bull every day as a sin offering for atonement. You shall cleanse the altar from sin when you make atonement for it, and you shall anoint it to consecrate it [for God’s sacred purpose]. 37 For seven days you shall make atonement for the altar [of burnt offering] and consecrate it; then the altar shall be most holy. Whatever touches the altar must be holy (set apart for God’s service).
38 “Now this is what you shall offer on the altar: two one year old lambs shall be offered each day, continuously. 39 One lamb you shall offer in the morning and the other lamb [d]at twilight; 40 and with the one lamb there shall be one-tenth of a measure of fine flour mixed with one-fourth of a hin of beaten [olive] oil, and one-fourth of a hin of wine for a drink offering [to be poured out]. 41 And the other lamb you shall offer at twilight, and do with it as with the grain offering of the morning and with the drink offering, for a sweet and soothing aroma [to appease God], an offering by fire to the Lord. 42 This will be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting before the Lord, where I will meet with you, to speak to you there. 43 There I will meet with the Israelites, and the Tent of Meeting shall be [e]sanctified by My glory [the [f]Shekinah, God’s dwelling presence]. 44 I will sanctify the Tent of Meeting and the altar [of burnt offering]; also I will sanctify Aaron and his sons to serve as priests to Me. 45 I will dwell among the sons of Israel and be their God. 46 They shall know [from personal experience] and acknowledge that I am the Lord their God who brought them out of the land of Egypt so that I might dwell among them; I am the Lord their God.

Footnotes: Exodus 29:39 See note 12:6.
Exodus 29:43 Only God can sanctify (set apart) something for His divine purpose. Man can consecrate (dedicate) something as sacred, that is, declare it separated from secular use.
Exodus 29:43 This Hebrew word is not found in the Bible, but was used by the rabbis to describe the presence of God. Its basic meaning is “royal residence.” Among other things, the rabbis said that the Shekinah is present where ten people pray together, or where three people are sitting as a court of judges.

• 7 DAYS. Since 'priesthood' is a life-long service to God, in behalf of all the people-- it will take 7 days to ordain and consecrate the priests (Aaron and sons). Here, the significant number 7 of God was mentioned again. While reading all these, it seems that it was Moses (and the people) who were doing everything, for God, but it's actually God who was doing 'everything' He can for all the people-- and Moses and the people will just obey and follow. It was God who provided, guided, and made everything possible. 430 plus years, God is still the same (yesterday, today and forever), to the Israelites (Abraham's descendants). By the end of the chapter, God promised that He will dwell among the sons of Israel and He will be their God. God will make them remember that He is the God who rescued them from the land of Egypt, into the promised land (Canaan).

https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/400327854356285803/?lp=true

 After reading, I always check out the Study Guide Commentary from David Guzik (very helpful!):

  a. One young bull and two rams without blemish: The ceremony for consecration required animals intended for sacrifice. Consecration couldn’t happen without shedding sacrificial blood.
b. Unleavened bread, unleavened cakes: The ceremony for consecration required bread for fellowship with God. Consecration couldn’t happen without true fellowship with God.

 a. Aaron and his sons: This was not a ceremony for just anyone in Israel. There were special consecration ceremonies available to anyone – such as the Nazirite vow in Numbers 6. But the ceremony described here and carried out in Leviticus 8 was for priests, for Aaron and his sons.

iii. Like these ancient priests, every Christian is washed by the work of God’s word (Ephesians 5:26), by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5). This cleansing work was accomplished by the death of Jesus for us (Revelation 1:5) and appropriated by faith.

 a. Take the garments, put the tunic on Aaron: After being cleansed, the priest had to be clothed – but not in his own clothes. He had to put on garments given by God.
i. Like these ancient priests, every believer is clothed in Jesus Christ and in his righteousness (Revelation 3:5). These are clothes that are given freely by Jesus, but received and “worn” by faith.
ii. “Note, that these garments were provided for them. They were at no expense in buying them, nor labor in weaving them, nor skill in making them; they had simply to put them on. And you, dear child of God, are to put on the garments which Jesus Christ has provided for you, at his own cost, and freely bestows upon you out of boundless love.” (Spurgeon)

 b. And you shall take the anointing oil, pour it on his head, and anoint him: Priests must be anointed. The oil (a picture of the Holy Spirit) was poured over their heads, indicating that it was given in great measure, not in small measure (Psalm 133:2).
i. Like these ancient priests, every believer has an anointing (1 John 2:20) that they may receive and walk in by faith.

 a. Aaron and his sons shall put their hands on the head of the bull: The washing at the door of the tabernacle was only one aspect of the symbolic cleansing from sin. There had to be the punishment of the guilty, and this happened. As Aaron and his sons put their hands on the head of the bull, they symbolically transferred their sin to the bull.
 ii. Like these ancient priests, every believer can only be consecrated to God through sacrifice. Our consecration should be greater, because it was made through a far greater sacrifice – the sacrifice of God’s own Son.

 i. The idea behind the ancient Hebrew word for altar is essentially, “killing-place.” The ancient altar – a place of death – was made holy and was consecrated to God. Like that ancient altar, the altar of the New Covenant – the cross – is transformed from a place to death to a place set apart to bring life.

 c. Tip of the right ear…thumb of their right hand…big toe of their right foot: These consecrated priests were stained with the blood of sacrifice. They should hear differently because the blood was on their ear. They should work differently because the blood was on their thumb. They should walk differently because the blood was on their toe.
i. Specifically, it was applied to the right ear, hand, and foot. This isn’t because God felt they could do whatever they wanted to with their left ear, hand, and foot. It is because the right side was considered superior, with more strength and skill (because most people are right-handed). God wanted their best to be dedicated to Him.

 iii. In this way, eating is a good picture of a healthy, continuing relationship with Jesus.
    · Eating is personal. No one can eat for you, and no one can have a relationship with Jesus on your behalf.
    · Eating is inward. It does no good to be around food or to rub food on the outside of your body – you must take it in. We must take Jesus unto ourselves inwardly, not merely in an external way.
    · Eating is active. Some medicines are received passively – they are injected under the skin and go to work. Such medicines could even be received while one sleeps – but no one can eat while asleep. We must actively take Jesus unto ourselves.
    · Eating arises out of a sense of need and produces a sense of satisfaction. We will have a healthy relationship with Jesus when we sense our need for Him and receive the satisfaction the relationship brings.

 b. They shall eat those things with which the atonement was made, to consecrate and to sanctify them: For seven days they lived at the tabernacle and ate the ram of the consecration and the bread of consecration. The consecration ceremony wasn’t quick and easy. It took time, reflection, and a constant awareness of sacrifice and atonement.
i. Leviticus 22:11 says, But if the priest buys a person with his money, he may eat it; and one who is born in his house may eat his food. Since Jesus, our High Priest, has purchased us with His own life, we may eat of the priestly portion. And since we are born again as children of God – born in his house, the family of our High Priest – we also may eat his food and enjoy the priestly privileges of our High Priest.

 c. For a sweet aroma, an offering made by fire to the Lord: These burnt offerings – completely consumed by fire – pleased God and “smelled good” to Him. God is honored and glorified by our complete surrender to Him.

 a. So I will consecrate: God made it clear who performs the work of consecration. We are tempted to think that we sanctify our self because we are so immersed in the sanctifying process and because it draws so much out of us. Yet God does the work – what we do is remove barriers and spend time with the focus on Him.

d. I will dwell among the children of Israel and will be their God: God again stressed the idea of relationship in the process of consecration. This worship-filled relationship with God is both the instrument and the fruit of consecration. 

 Reference and credits to https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/guzik_david/StudyGuide2017-Exd/Exd-29.cfm ©2013 David Guzik       

Exodus 28 - Garments for the Priesthood

Summary (https://marksbiblejourney.blogspot.com)
"God tells Moses to instruct all the skilled craftsmen to make Aaron's garments for consecrating him to serve God as priest.  These craftsmen are to make the ephod, the breastpiece, the robe, the turban, and other priestly garments such as tunics, sashes and headbands."

 https://biblia.com

Exodus 28 Amplified Bible (AMP)

https://www.biblegateway.com 

“Now bring your brother Aaron near, and his sons with him from among the sons of Israel, so that he may serve as priest to Me—Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons. 2 You are to make sacred garments [official clothing reserved for holy services] for Aaron your brother, for honor and for beauty (ornamentation). 3 Tell all the skilled and talented people whom I have endowed with a spirit of wisdom, that they are to make Aaron’s garments to sanctify him and set him apart to serve as a priest for Me. 4 These are the garments which they shall make: a breastpiece and an ephod [for the breastpiece] and a robe and a tunic of checkered work, a turban, and a sash. They shall make sacred garments for Aaron your brother and his sons, so that he may serve as a priest to Me. 5 They are to use the gold and the blue and the purple and the scarlet fabric and fine twisted linen [from the people],

https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/266486502924890388/?lp=true

• BEAUTIFUL, SACRED GARMENTS. Still at Mt. Sinai-- after giving all the instructions about the making of 'Tabernacle' or God's sanctuary, God proceeded to detail about the making and preparing of garments for the priests, that will be led by Aaron and sons. What is a priest and 'Why is a Priest Required?' According to https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Hebrew_Roots/Holy_Priesthood/Define:

- The Dictionary definition of a priest is "one especially consecrated to the service of a divinity and through whom worship, prayer, sacrifice, or other service is offered to the object of worship - and pardon, blessing, or deliverance is obtained by the worshipper." (Funk and Wagnall Vol. 21 p.273) 
- A priest is required to act as a mediator. He is one who represents the Divine being to His subjects and in return from them to their God. He acts as an ambassador, a chosen vehicle through whom Yahweh God has chosen to serve the people and represent Him, on His behalf. He also mediates between the people and their God. 

God is a God of beauty, He makes beautiful things, and He is also sacred/holy. It makes sense that the priest's garments shall also be the same, because the priests will go before God, in behalf of all the people.

The Ephod
6 and they shall make the ephod of gold and blue, purple, and scarlet fabric and fine twisted linen, skillfully woven and [beautifully] worked. 7 It is to have two shoulder pieces joined to its two [back and front] ends, so that it may be joined together. 8 And the skillfully woven sash, which is on the ephod shall be made of the same material: of gold, of blue, purple, and scarlet fabric and fine twisted linen. 9 You shall take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the [twelve] sons of Israel, 10 six of their names on one stone and the remaining six names on the other stone, arranged in the order of their births. 11 With the work of a jeweler, like the engravings of a signet, you shall engrave the two stones according to the names of the sons of Israel. You shall have them set in [a]filigree [settings] of gold. 12 You shall put the two stones on the [two] shoulder pieces of the ephod [of the high priest], as memorial stones for Israel; and Aaron shall bear their names on his two shoulders as a memorial before the Lord. 13 You shall make filigree [settings] of gold, 14 and you are to make two chains of pure gold like twisted cords, and fasten the corded chains to the settings.
Footnotes: Exodus 28:11 I.e. ornamental openwork of delicate or intricate design.

 https://truthsnitch.com

https://www.slideshare.net/newlifebiblechapel/high-priestly-garments-2267706 

• EVEN THE GARMENTS POINT TO JESUS CHRIST. As always with God, everything points to Jesus, our Lord and Savior-- even the parts of the priest's garments. The human priests (like Aaron and sons) that will serve as a mediator between God and the people of Israel, also foreshadows Jesus as the High Priest, the ultimate 'mediator' between us and God.

"Inasmuch then as we [believers] have a great High Priest who has [already ascended and] passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession [of faith and cling tenaciously to our absolute trust in Him as Savior]. For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations, but One who has been tempted [knowing exactly how it feels to be human] in every respect as we are, yet without [committing any] sin. Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment]." Hebrews 4:14-16 

The Breastplate
15 “You are to make a breastpiece of judgment, the work of a skilled and talented craftsman; like the work of the ephod you shall make it: of gold, of blue, purple, and scarlet fabric and of fine twisted linen. 16 The breastpiece shall be square and folded double; a span [about nine inches] in length and a span in width. 17 You shall mount on it four rows of stones: the first row shall be a row of ruby, topaz, and emerald; 18 the second row a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond; 19 the third row a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst; 20 and the fourth row a beryl and an onyx and a jasper; they shall be set in gold filigree. 21 The [engraved] stones shall be twelve, according to the names of [the twelve tribes of] the sons of Israel; they shall be like the engravings of a signet, each with its name for the twelve tribes. 22 You shall make for the breastpiece chains of pure gold twisted like cords. 23 You shall make on the breastpiece two rings of gold, and shall put the two rings on the two ends of the breastpiece. 24 You shall put the two twisted cords of gold in the two rings which are on the ends of the breastpiece. 25 The other two ends of the two cords you shall fasten in the two filigree settings in front, putting them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod. 26 You shall make two gold rings and put them at the two ends of the breastpiece, on its inside edge next to the ephod. 27 You are to make two gold rings and attach them to the lower part of the two shoulder pieces of the ephod in front, close to the place where it is joined, above the skillfully woven sash of the ephod. 28 They shall bind the breastpiece by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a blue cord, so that it will be above the skillfully woven sash of the ephod, so that the breastpiece will not come loose from the ephod. 29 So Aaron shall carry the names of the sons of Israel (Jacob) in the breastpiece of judgment over his heart when he enters the Holy Place, to bring them in continual remembrance before the Lord. 30 In the breastpiece of judgment you shall put the [b]Urim (Lights) and the Thummim (Perfections) [to be used for determining God’s will in a matter]. They shall be over Aaron’s heart whenever he goes before the Lord, and Aaron shall always carry the judgment (verdict, judicial decisions) of the sons of Israel over his heart before the Lord.
Footnotes: Exodus 28:30 I.e. unspecified articles used like lots when the high priest asked God’s counsel for Israel.

http://www.teresawilson.com/2016/08/renovate-your-life-in-his-word-8-22-16.html

http://christrescuemission.org/212exodus_28__the_priestly_garments 

• DETAILS AND PURPOSE. The breastpiece was for 'judgment'. It was very ornate, made of gold and jewels, but it has a great significance and purpose in the whole priestly garment. The names of the 12 tribes was engraved to the precious stones. "Aaron shall carry the names of the sons of Israel (Jacob) in the breastpiece of judgment over his heart when he enters the Holy Place, to bring them in continual remembrance before the Lord." (v.29) The (appointed) priest mediates and represents the whole tribe of Israel when coming to the Holy Place. The breastplate also served as a continual remembrance to God and all the people 'God's covenant' and promises to Israel. 

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesians 6:10-17

  https://asistanza.wordpress.com/2018/02/26/urim-and-thummin/

Other Priestly Garments
31 “And you shall make the [c]robe of the ephod all of blue. 32 There shall be an opening at its top in the center [for the head], with a binding of woven work around the opening, like the opening in a coat of armor, so that it will not tear or fray. 33 You shall make pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet fabric all around its hem, with gold bells between them; 34 a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, all around the [bottom] hem of the robe. 35 Aaron shall wear the robe when he ministers, and its sound shall be heard when he goes [alone] into the Holy Place before the Lord, and when he comes out, so that he will not die there.
36 “You shall also make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it, like the engravings of a signet, ‘Holy to the Lord.’ 37 You shall fasten it on the front of the turban with a blue cord. 38 It shall be on Aaron’s forehead, and Aaron shall take away the guilt from the holy things which the sons of Israel dedicate, with regard to all their holy gifts. It shall always be on his forehead, so that they may be accepted before the Lord.
39 “You shall weave the tunic of checkered work of fine linen, and make a turban of fine linen. You shall make a sash, the work of an embroiderer.
40 “For Aaron’s sons you shall make tunics and sashes and [ornamental] caps, for glory and honor and beauty. 41 You shall put the various articles of clothing on Aaron your brother and on his sons with him, and shall anoint them and ordain and sanctify them, so that they may serve Me as priests. 42 You shall make for them [white] linen undergarments to cover their bare flesh, reaching from the waist to the thighs. 43 The various articles of clothing shall be on Aaron and on his sons when they enter the Tent of Meeting, or when they approach the altar [of incense] to minister in the Holy Place, so that they do not incur guilt and die. It shall be a statute forever to Aaron and to his descendants after him.
Footnotes: Exodus 28:31 I.e. the robe worn underneath the ephod.

• WHY THE GOLDEN BELLS? I got curious about the 'golden bell and a pomegranate' all round the bottom hem of the robe of the priest. The resource https://scriptoriumblogorium.blogspot.com/2014/02/what-is-meaning-of-bells-and.html offered an interesting view about it!

https://www.slideshare.net/vijiroberts/high-priestly-garments

  After reading, I always check out the Study Guide Commentary from David Guzik (very helpful!):

 a. Take Aaron your brother, and his sons with him: The priesthood of Israel was not earned by effort nor aspired to by ambition. It could only be inherited by birthright. One must be born into a priestly family.
 i. The priesthood was no place for ambition or self-glory. It was only entered into by God’s call and invitation. In the New Covenant, our priesthood is also not earned nor aspired to. We are priests because of our new birth into Jesus’ priestly family (1 Peter 2:5).

 i. It was not enough that the High Priest worked for the people (having them on his shoulders). He must also love the people – that is, bear them on his heart.
ii. It isn’t enough for a priest to have a heart for God. He must also have a heart for the people, and bear them on his heart in his entire ministry unto the Lord.

 i. We cannot neglect the fact God commanded the tribes to have their names inscribed on gemstones – truly precious things. God’s people are indeed precious to Him.

 ii. The names Urim and Thummim mean “Lights and Perfections.” We aren’t sure what they were or how they were used. The best guess is that they were a pair of stones, one light and another dark, and each stone indicated a “yes” or “no” from God. The High Priest would ask God a question, reach into the breastplate, and pull out either a “yes” or a “no.”
iii. Meyer suggests the Urim and Thummim were brilliant diamonds, which flashed brightly with a “yes” or dimly with a “no” answer from God.

 b. Bells of gold between them all around: On its hem, between the ornate pomegranates of blue and purple, were bells, so the priest could be heard while ministering before God – if he were to die, the bells would stop ringing and he could be pulled out of the Most Holy Place. The sound of the bells would remind the priest of the solemn nature of his work, and remind him so that he may not die.
i. “The tinkling bells were presumably so that the people outside could trace the movements of the priest within, who was of course invisible to them. By this they would know that his offering had been accepted, and that he had not been struck dead.” (Cole)
ii. “The pomegranates (symbols of fruitfulness) were either hanging as ‘bobbles’ between the bells, or else embroidered on the fabric.” (Cole)
iii. “The alternating bell and pomegranate on the skirts of the priest’s robe were typical of his obligation to testimony and fruit bearing.” (Morgan)

 ii. Even so, the High Priest’s clothing, in total, speaks more of Jesus’ glory and beauty than of ours. We are (or should be) content with simple linen robes.

 b. You shall anoint them, consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister to Me as priests: Here God explained three important and essential aspects to the preparation of His servants: anointing, consecration, and sanctification. They are separated because here they indicated three different ideas.
i. Anoint describes the application of the sacred oil upon the head. In the consistent idiom of the Bible, it represents the filling and continual reliance upon the power and work of the Holy Spirit.
ii. Consecrate “Is the translation of two Hebrew words, meaning the filling of the open hand, and signifies the perfect equipment of the anointed one for the discharge of that ministry.” (Morgan)
iii. Sanctify “Means literally, to make clean, and refers to the spiritual and moral separation of the priest from all defilement.” (Morgan)

 C. A Contrast between Jesus’ clothing when He accomplished His great priestly work and the garments of the High Priest.
    -Jesus wore no beautiful ephod – only a purple robe for mocking.
    -Jesus had no precious gems were on His shoulders, only a cross that we deserved.
    -Jesus had no breastplate with “Israel on His heart,” yet He died of a broken heart for Israel – and all of mankind.
    -As the High Priest, Jesus had a seamless robe that was not torn, but it was stripped away at the cross.
    -Jesus heard no delicate sound of bells proving that the High Priest was alive, only the sound of pounding nails ensuring our High Priest’s death.
    -Jesus wore no fine linen turban, rather a painful crown of thorns.
    -Jesus had no headplate reading Holiness to the Lord, but a life and death showing nothing but holiness to the Lord!
    -Jesus had no linen trousers to hide His nakedness, rather He bore our sins on the cross in a naked shame.
 

 Reference and credits to https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/guzik_david/StudyGuide2017-Exd/Exd-28.cfm ©2013 David Guzik      

Exodus 27 - The Altar of Burnt Offering, The Court of the Tabernacle

Summary https://marksbiblejourney.blogspot.com
"Chapter 27 is a continuation of the construction design and specifications of God's tabernacle.  Moses is told to construct more for God's sanctuary and tabernacle.  The Israelites are to construct an altar for burnt offerings.  Also, they are to construct pots, shovels, basins, meat forks, firepans, and utensils that are to be used at the altar.  God gives Moses the design and specifications for the tabernacle courtyard.  Lastly, Moses is to command the Israelites to bring pure oil from crushed olives in order to keep the lampstand burning continually.  Aaron and his sons are to tend the lamp from evening until morning before the Lord.  This is to be a permanent statute for the Israelites throughout their generations."

 https://www.pinterest.at/pin/509329039103539529/?lp=true

 Exodus 27 Amplified Bible (AMP) 
https://www.biblegateway.com 

The Bronze Altar
“And you shall make the altar [for burnt offerings] of acacia wood, five cubits long and five cubits wide; the altar shall be square, and its height shall be three cubits. 2 Make horns (horn-shaped projections) for it on its four corners; the horns shall be of one piece with it, and you shall overlay it with bronze. 3 You shall make pots to remove its ashes, and shovels, basins [to catch the blood of the sacrificed animal], meat-forks, and firepans [to store live coals]. You shall make all its utensils of bronze. 4 Also make a grate for it, a network of bronze; and on the grid you are to make four bronze rings at its four corners. 5 And you shall put it under the ledge of the altar, so that the grid will extend halfway up the altar. 6 You shall make [carrying] poles for the altar, poles of acacia wood, overlaid with bronze. 7 The poles shall be inserted through the rings on the two sides of the altar so that it may be carried. 8 You are to make the altar hollow with planks; as you were shown on the mountain [of Sinai], so shall it be made.

• WHY BRONZE? For the 'Altar of Burnt Offerings', the Israelites were to use bronze. Bronze is a brown metal made of copper and tin (alloy). According to https://biblestudentsdaily.com/tag/what-does-bronze-represent-in-the-bible/, "Bronze, (chiefly copper) representing human nature which is noted in the bronze serpent (Numbers 21:9) — representing the justified human nature of Jesus that was sacrificed for us to remove our sins.", "It is interesting to note that there was no bronze inside the Tabernacle, showing that the calling of the saints is away from the flesh, into the spirit."
• It is interesting to know and learn more, again and again, that everything has a purpose, and everything symbolizes something, with God. The whole Bible points to Jesus, God's only Son, the Messiah that was given (offered, sacrificed) for the forgiveness and redemption of our sins. The Bible points out our sins, but it also points us to our Savior.
  

https://www.slideshare.net/pegbaker/exodus-2730 

  
Court of the Tabernacle
9 “You shall make the court of the tabernacle. The south side of the court is to have curtains of fine twisted linen, a hundred cubits long for one side; 10 it shall have twenty pillars and twenty bronze sockets; but the hooks of the pillars and their fasteners shall be silver; 11 likewise for the north side there shall be curtains, a hundred cubits long, and its twenty pillars and twenty bronze sockets; but the hooks of the pillars and their fasteners shall be silver. 12 For the width of the court on the west side there shall be curtains of fifty cubits, with ten pillars (support poles) and ten sockets. 13 The width of the court [to the front], on the east side shall be fifty cubits. 14 The curtains for one side [of the gate] shall be fifteen cubits with three pillars and three sockets. 15 On the other side [of the gate] the curtains shall be fifteen cubits with three pillars and three sockets. 16 For the gate of the court there shall be a screen [to provide a covering] of twenty cubits, of blue, purple, and scarlet fabric and finely woven [embroidered] linen, the work of an embroiderer, with four pillars and four [base] sockets. 17 All the pillars (support poles) around the court shall be joined together with silver rods; their hooks shall be of silver and their sockets of bronze. 18 The length of the court shall be a hundred cubits, and the width fifty [cubits] throughout, and the height five cubits of fine twisted linen, and their sockets of bronze. 19 All the tabernacle’s utensils and instruments used in all its service, and all its stakes, and all the stakes for the court, shall be of bronze.
20 “You shall command the Israelites to provide you with clear oil of beaten olives for the light, to make a lamp burn continually [every night]. 21 In the Tent of Meeting [of God with His people], outside the veil which is in front of the [ark of the] Testimony [and sets it apart], Aaron [the high priest] and his sons shall keep the lamp burning from evening to morning before the Lord. It shall be a perpetual statute [to be observed] throughout their generations on behalf of the Israelites. 

https://biblestudentsdaily.com/2016/09/20/study-4-the-court-holy-place/

• KEEP THE LAMP BURNING. Beaten olive oil (which was in abundance in the area), were to use to keep the lamp light burning from evening to morning. I found out in this resource (Israeli website, https://kad-esh.org/the-oil-of-the-beaten-olives/) that beaten "OLIVES" represent and foreshadow Lord Jesus, too, wowwwwww!😍😍😍

"You know it as Gethsemane — the place where Yeshua was crushed as an olive and began to sweat drops of blood.

And in His anguish, He was praying fervently; and His sweat was like drops of blood falling down on the ground. Luke 22:44 TLV

This was the place where He could have turned back and quit, then angels would have come to assist Him. But NO! He allowed Himself to be crushed until His Father could obtain the most Precious Oil of the Beaten Olive.

Yeshua was now established as the Light of the World, the ever-burning Menorah for all generations!

He also left us an example to follow. If you feel crushed like a beaten olive, you also have a choice to make. You can escape to “safety” or cry out as an agonizing Yeshua cried the following words,

And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” Matthew 26:39 NASB

We are alive today in Him because Yeshua chose to become a beaten olive to keep the Light of the Kingdom of Heaven burning for eternity!"

Jesus is our light in the dark! Jesus is our only hope. He is the 'Light of the World'.

https://slideplayer.com/slide/7772121/

https://kad-esh.org/the-oil-of-the-beaten-olives/ 

After reading, I always check out the Study Guide Commentary from David Guzik (very helpful!):

 a. You shall make an altar: The idea behind the Hebrew word for altar is essentially, “killing-place.” It was a place of death and sacrifice, where atonement for sin was made and consecration unto God was marked.
 ii. Under the new covenant, we also have an altar: We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat (Hebrews 13:10). Our altar – our “killing-place” – is the cross, where Jesus died for our sins and we follow by dying unto self and living for Jesus.
 iii. We lay down our lives on that same altar: I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me….But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. (Galatians 2:20 and 6:14)

 c. Make its horns on its four corners: There were to be horns on the altar, so the altar would “reach out” to all directions. Horns were also thought of a display of strength and power. In sacrifice, atoning blood was applied to each horn.
i. The horns were “To bind the beasts unto, that were to be slain in sacrifice (Psalm 118:27). And to signify the power of Christ’s priesthood (Habakkuk 3:4).” (Trapp)

 i. Silver (a metal illustrating redemption) was the foundation for the tent of meeting. It was also the top – the most visible part – of the pillars surrounding the courtyard. But the courtyard fence hung on a foundation of refined bronze, a metal associated with judgment because it is forged in the fire. One could say that the tabernacle court was based on, founded upon the judgment Jesus took in our place.

 c. All the pillars around the court: The court of the tabernacle or the temple is an important theme throughout the rest of the Old Testament. This is mainly because the temple itself was inaccessible except to a few priests. All others in Israel met God in the court. We can say by application that God also invites us to come into His courts to praise Him.
· Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. (Psalm 100:4)

 i. Under the New Covenant we appreciate this longing for the court of God’s house, but we don’t need to stop there. Because of the perfect sacrifice of Jesus and His finished work on our behalf, we can come – not only to the courts, but also right on into the holy presence of God. We thank God for the right to come into his courts, but we don’t have to stop there.
 i. The entire tabernacle was a tent – a moveable structure. God wanted Israel to know He was with them wherever they went. It wasn’t a case of “You come to Me,” but the idea was “I have come to You”.
 a. That they bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light: The oil for the lamps on the lampstand – the only light in the tabernacle – came from pressed olives, not beaten olives.
 ii. God uses a pressing work in the life of His people. We, like Paul, may be hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed (2 Corinthians 4:8) – and God uses our times of pressing for His glory.
 iv. “Oil is uniformly the symbol of the Holy Spirit of God. Here, then, is the true value and meaning of this sacred oil. The elect light-bearers of the world are only able to fulfill their function by the Holy Spirit.” (Morgan)

 b. Aaron and his sons shall tend it from evening until morning: The priests were to tend the lamps, making sure that the lamps had oil to burn and that their wicks were trimmed, so that the lamps would never go out – especially during the night.
i. God never wanted the lamps to lose their fire. Only by a continual supply of oil and trimming of the wicks could keep them burning. We can only continue to be on fire for God if we are continually supplied with the oil of the Holy Spirit, and are “trimmed” by God to bear more light.
ii. In dark days there is all the more reason to be filled with the Holy Spirit and to be “trimmed wicks” for the Lord. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6) For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (Ephesians 5:8).  

 Reference and credits to https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/guzik_david/StudyGuide2017-Exd/Exd-27.cfm ©2013 David Guzik