Scripture Reading : Ex 35-39
Theme : Second Chance
Each aspect of the making of the tabernacle is mentioned in detail because each part was important to God. The smallest wooden peg had to conform to the pattern God gave Moses on the mount. If we expect God to be concerned about the details of our lives, we must pay attention to the details of His instructions.
The construction of the tabernacle involved God’s pattern and man’s provision. The people had plundered the Egyptians (12:35–36), and they willingly brought that wealth to the Lord. It was an act of spontaneous generosity and not something that was forced from them (35:5, 21–22, 26, 29). Christians today should give in the same way (2 Cor. 8:1–12).
God gave the plan, and He also gave the workers the wisdom needed to do the job right (35:10, 25, 34–35 There is nothing wrong with dedicated artistry, for God built beauty into His tabernacle. God wants skillful hands as well as dedicated hearts (Ps. 78:72).
Praying the Scripture
- In this section, the Israelites constructed the tabernacle as God so prescribed in 25:1–31:18. The report of the work done is repeated in the past tense. This report also highlighted how careful the workers were in carrying out the instructions and blueprints received. Note the repeated phrase on doing all just as the Lord had commanded Moses (39:1, 5, 7, 21, 26, 29, 31, 32, 42, 43 and 40:19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 32). We thank God for the second chance given to us so that we can repent from our sins and obey God again.
- The phrase “As the Lord had commanded” had been repeated a number of times (vv. 1, 5, 7, 21, 26, 29, 31). This signals to the reader of every age, or to the listener in Israel back then, that God’s detailed instructions to Moses on the fabricating of the ephod (vv. 2–7), breastpiece (vv. 8–21), and priestly garments (vv. 22–31) were followed to the letter. Obedience in every detail was taken seriously by Israel’s artisans. Are we carefully obey God’s commandments or are we find opportunity to break it?
[1] Warren W. Wiersbe, With the Word Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991), Ex 35:1.
经文：出35-39章
主题：第二次机会
神仔细交代建造帐幕的所有细节，因为每个部分对祂来说都是重要的。就算是最小的木钉，摩西都必须按照神在山上所给的模式来建造。如果我们希望神关注我们生命中的每一个细节，那我们就必须仔细听从祂的指示。
帐幕的建造包括了神的模式和人的供应。百姓掠夺了埃及人的财物（出12:35-36），而他们现在乐意地将此奉献出来。无人迫从他们奉献，这皆是自发的慷慨之举（出35:5，21-22，26，29）。今天的基督徒也应该以同样的方式奉献（林前8:1-12）。
神给予计划，也赐予工人完成事工所需的智慧（出35:10，25，34-35）。使用精致巧妙的工艺并没错，因为神使祂的帐幕为荣美。神要灵巧的双手，也要专一的心（诗78:72）。
摩西仔细检查工程，以确保所有的事工都在按神的吩咐进行。 （“所吩咐的”这话在这些章节中出现了共17次）。摩西是神忠心的仆人，他按照神所吩咐的行事（来3:5）。第39章最后说到：“摩西就给他们祝福”。你最近是否有花时间来祝福那些因着执行神旨意而服事你的弟兄姊妹？ （见 得 2:4）。
用经文祷告
- 在本章节中，以色列人按神25章1节至31章18节的吩咐建造帐幕。工程当报告都是以过去式文法记载的。报告也强调工人们是如何小心的按指示和蓝图施工。请注意这里不断重复“是照耶和华所吩咐摩西的”一句（39:1，5，7，21，26，29，31，32，42，43和40:19，21，23，25，27，29 ，32）。我们感谢神赐给我们第二次机会，使我们可以从罪中悔改，再次顺服神。
- “照耶和华所吩咐的”一句，在经文中重复多次（1，5，7，21，26，29，31节）。这告诉世世代代的人说，工人们确确实实地按照神所吩咐摩西的来造以弗得（2-7节）、胸牌（8-21节）和祭司的圣衣（22-31节）。以色列的众工匠都认真地遵从每一个细节。我们是否也在每一个细节上顺服神的诫命，还是在找寻机会违背神呢？
