Faithful Worship

Faithful Worship | Exodus 35-40 March 12, 2023 A couple of weeks ago I shared with you the anxiety-filled process that I experience while assembling a piece of furniture. What I failed to do is share with you what it is like when the task is completed. Think about it. There is relief. There is a feeling of accomplishment. There's even a little bit of pride. A lot of us feel these same things when we serve others, whether in the context of worship or just our everyday lives. Now, put yourselves in the sandals of the Israelites who were tasked with building the tabernacle where the Lord's presence resided. In our passage this morning, we're going to see what it means to faithfully worship, and that will be seen through the process of completing the tabernacle. As you likely figured out by now, we are finishing the book of Exodus this morning. Every week, in the bulletin we add the following week's passage, and maybe some of you will read that passage before coming to church that morning. If you did that, you probably felt that it was quite familiar. Yes, that is because much of the content of today's passage, which is Exodus 35-40, is very similar to the passage from just two weeks ago, chapters 25-31. There is one major difference in these two passages, namely that today's passage deals with the actual construction of the tabernacle, it's furnishings and the priestly garments and duties, while a couple of weeks ago, it primarily dealt with the preparation for the tabernacle, it's furnishing, and the priestly garments and duties. And, if you recall, a couple of weeks ago we spoke about how a people set apart were expected to worship. And, if you recall from last week's sermon, it did not take them long to forget all of that as they worshipped the golden calf. If nothing else, the events from chapters 25-34 and the transition back to the construction of the tabernacle should be a reminder to us all of God's grace and mercy. This also shows us that this was important to the Lord. When we read and study the whole bible, one of the things we ought to be doing is answering the following questions: * What does this text teach us about God and His character? * What does this text teach us about the fallen nature of man? * How does this text point us to Christ? * What does God want us to know and do? I mention this because it may be difficult to see how this applies to us today, and really how this points us to Christ. Gratefully, the author of Hebrews helps us with that. In speaking about the tabernacle and the sacrificial process, the author states in Hebrews 8:5: THEY SERVE A COPY AND SHADOW OF THE HEAVENLY THINGS. FOR WHEN MOSES WAS ABOUT TO ERECT THE TENT, HE WAS INSTRUCTED BY GOD, SAYING, "SEE THAT YOU MAKE EVERYTHING ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN THAT WAS SHOWN YOU ON THE MOUNTAIN." In Hebrews 9:11-12 we read: 11 BUT WHEN CHRIST APPEARED AS A HIGH PRIEST OF THE GOOD THINGS THAT HAVE COME, THEN THROUGH THE GREATER AND MORE PERFECT TENT (NOT MADE WITH HANDS, THAT IS, NOT OF THIS CREATION) 12 HE ENTERED ONCE FOR ALL INTO THE HOLY PLACES, NOT BY MEANS OF THE BLOOD OF GOATS AND CALVES BUT BY MEANS OF HIS OWN BLOOD, THUS SECURING AN ETERNAL REDEMPTION. So, you see, everything that we've read in this book points us to Christ, as we see from Hebrews and throughout the early church letters, that sacrifices were never enough to satisfy the punishment for sin. Just before that last passage, the writer dealt with this very issue, that the sacrifices were just never enough. Why? Because it was something that we did, rather than the finished work of Christ. Allow me to read 35:4-19 to get is started this morning: 4 MOSES SAID TO ALL THE CONGREGATION OF THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL, "THIS IS THE THING THAT THE LORD HAS COMMANDED. 5 TAKE FROM AMONG YOU A CONTRIBUTION TO THE LORD. WHOEVER IS OF A GENEROUS HEART, LET HIM BRING THE LORD'S CONTRIBUTION: GOLD, SILVER, AND BRONZE; 6 BLUE AND PURPLE AND SCARLET YARNS AND FINE TWINED LINEN; GOATS' HAIR, 7 TANNED RAMS' SKINS, AND GOATSKINS; ACACIA WOOD, 8 OIL FOR THE LIGHT, SPICES FOR THE ANOINTING OIL AND FOR THE FRAGRANT INCENSE, 9 AND ONYX STONES AND STONES FOR SETTING, FOR THE EPHOD AND FOR THE BREASTPIECE. 10 "LET EVERY SKILLFUL CRAFTSMAN AMONG YOU COME AND MAKE ALL THAT THE LORD HAS COMMANDED: 11 THE TABERNACLE, ITS TENT AND ITS COVERING, ITS HOOKS AND ITS FRAMES, ITS BARS, ITS PILLARS, AND ITS BASES; 12 THE ARK WITH ITS POLES, THE MERCY SEAT, AND THE VEIL OF THE SCREEN; 13 THE TABLE WITH ITS POLES AND ALL ITS UTENSILS, AND THE BREAD OF THE PRESENCE; 14 THE LAMPSTAND ALSO FOR THE LIGHT, WITH ITS UTENSILS AND ITS LAMPS, AND THE OIL FOR THE LIGHT; 15 AND THE ALTAR OF INCENSE, WITH ITS POLES, AND THE ANOINTING OIL AND THE FRAGRANT INCENSE, AND THE SCREEN FOR THE DOOR, AT THE DOOR OF THE TABERNACLE; 16 THE ALTAR OF BURNT OFFERING, WITH ITS GRATING OF BRONZE, ITS POLES, AND ALL ITS UTENSILS, THE BASIN AND ITS STAND; 17 THE HANGINGS OF THE COURT, ITS PILLARS AND ITS BASES, AND THE SCREEN FOR THE GATE OF THE COURT; 18 THE PEGS OF THE TABERNACLE AND THE PEGS OF THE COURT, AND THEIR CORDS; 19 THE FINELY WORKED GARMENTS FOR MINISTERING IN THE HOLY PLACE, THE HOLY GARMENTS FOR AARON THE PRIEST, AND THE GARMENTS OF HIS SONS, FOR THEIR SERVICE AS PRIESTS." This passage summarizes what we're reviewing this morning. The response to that which the Lord had commanded. With that, we can identify our main idea of the text: Faithful worship is carried out by faithful people. If you're keeping track, yes the events of last week did indeed fall between the section of the preparation and the section of the construction of the tabernacle. Once again, because of God's grace and mercy, despite our sinful nature, we can still be declared faithful before the Lord. It is the work of Christ that makes it possible. First, let's discuss ... HOW TO BE A FAITHFUL WORSHIPPER This is critical, and we can learn from this text in at least three ways we can be faithful worshippers. First, * Prayer o This may not be as obvious to find in this passage, but recall what we stated earlier. Everything points to Christ. o This idea of prayer is found in the imagery of the incense in chapters 30 and 37. Chapter 30 gives us more information on this, particularly in verses 7-9 which read: 7 AND AARON SHALL BURN FRAGRANT INCENSE ON IT. EVERY MORNING WHEN HE DRESSES THE LAMPS HE SHALL BURN IT, 8 AND WHEN AARON SETS UP THE LAMPS AT TWILIGHT, HE SHALL BURN IT, A REGULAR INCENSE OFFERING BEFORE THE LORD THROUGHOUT YOUR GENERATIONS. 9 YOU SHALL NOT OFFER UNAUTHORIZED INCENSE ON IT, OR A BURNT OFFERING, OR A GRAIN OFFERING, AND YOU SHALL NOT POUR A DRINK OFFERING ON IT. o Check out what the Scriptures say about incense: * Psalm 141:2: LET MY PRAYER BE COUNTED AS INCENSE BEFORE YOU, AND THE LIFTING UP OF MY HANDS AS THE EVENING SACRIFICE! * Revelation 5:8: AND WHEN HE HAD TAKEN THE SCROLL, THE FOUR LIVING CREATURES AND THE TWENTY-FOUR ELDERS FELL DOWN BEFORE THE LAMB, EACH HOLDING A HARP, AND GOLDEN BOWLS FULL OF INCENSE, WHICH ARE THE PRAYERS OF THE SAINTS. o Check out this connection: In Leviticus 16 and Numbers 16, we see that the fire for this incense comes from the brazen altar where the sacrifices were made to the Lord. In Luke 1, we read that during the hour of burning, the people were praying because it was directly associated with prayer. Wiersbe concludes, "true prayer must be based on the work of Christ." o True and faithful worship is only possible through Christ. Because remember, now that the veil is torn, and the Perfect Lamb has been sacrificed, once for all, we now have access to the Holy God just as the priests did. We are no longer standing in the courtyard, we are in the presence of the Lord. o Are you living a lifestyle of prayer that leads to faithful worship? o Next, we're faithful worshippers through ... * Service o The first church my parents and I attended when I was 17 met in a school auditorium. So, every Sunday morning, we made coffee in the percolator, we grabbed the bulletins that we printed and folded the prior day, and we went to the school early to set up the chairs, the tables, the bookstore, the kids rooms, the projector - yes, one of those projectors with the plastic sheets - and of course the pulpit for worship. Then, of course, when the service was over, we had to break it all down and put things back to where they belonged. o This of course was a simplified version of what the people of Israel had to do once the tabernacle and its materials were complete and they were ready set up, as we see in chapter 40. o Now, it's not difficult to see where the service part comes in from this passage. Here are a few examples from our passage: * Returning to chapter 35, we see how everyone came together to make this happen, beginning in verse 20: 20 THEN ALL THE CONGREGATION OF THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL DEPARTED FROM THE PRESENCE OF MOSES. 21 AND THEY CAME, EVERYONE WHOSE HEART STIRRED HIM, AND EVERYONE WHOSE SPIRIT MOVED HIM, AND BROUGHT THE LORD'S CONTRIBUTION TO BE USED FOR THE TENT OF MEETING, AND FOR ALL ITS SERVICE, AND FOR THE HOLY GARMENTS. 22 SO THEY CAME, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN. ALL WHO WERE OF A WILLING HEART BROUGHT BROOCHES AND EARRINGS AND SIGNET RINGS AND ARMLETS, ALL SORTS OF GOLD OBJECTS, EVERY MAN DEDICATING AN OFFERING OF GOLD TO THE LORD. 23 AND EVERY ONE WHO POSSESSED BLUE OR PURPLE OR SCARLET YARNS OR FINE LINEN OR GOATS' HAIR OR TANNED RAMS' SKINS OR GOATSKINS BROUGHT THEM. 24 EVERYONE WHO COULD MAKE A CONTRIBUTION OF SILVER OR BRONZE BROUGHT IT AS THE LORD'S CONTRIBUTION. AND EVERY ONE WHO POSSESSED ACACIA WOOD OF ANY USE IN THE WORK BROUGHT IT. 25 AND EVERY SKILLFUL WOMAN SPUN WITH HER HANDS, AND THEY ALL BROUGHT WHAT THEY HAD SPUN IN BLUE AND PURPLE AND SCARLET YARNS AND FINE TWINED LINEN. 26 ALL THE WOMEN WHOSE HEARTS STIRRED THEM TO USE THEIR SKILL SPUN THE GOATS' HAIR. 27 AND THE LEADERS BROUGHT ONYX STONES AND STONES TO BE SET, FOR THE EPHOD AND FOR THE BREASTPIECE, 28 AND SPICES AND OIL FOR THE LIGHT, AND FOR THE ANOINTING OIL, AND FOR THE FRAGRANT INCENSE. 29 ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN, THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL, WHOSE HEART MOVED THEM TO BRING ANYTHING FOR THE WORK THAT THE LORD HAD COMMANDED BY MOSES TO BE DONE BROUGHT IT AS A FREEWILL OFFERING TO THE LORD. * In the ESV, "everyone" or "all" or "men and women" or "the people" appears at least 13 times. This was a community project, a community event. Everyone contributed to this work. * That's just in chapter 35, in chapters 36-39 we see Bezalel and Oholiab again, along with their craftsmen making everything needed for the tabernacle. * I love 36:5, where we see that their contributions were more than needed. Moses had to tell them to stop bringing things. * May your generosity be so abundant that you're asked to stop. * Next, faithful worship is done through ... * Obedience o Next week, we return to the letter to the Hebrews. And we just so happen to be returning to the great faith chapter of the bible, chapter 11 of Hebrews. o I read something this week that described faith as knowledge, agreement, and trust. So, for example, if someone says that the bridge is out ahead. We may understand and agree that the bridge is out, but if we continue to drive, we are not demonstrating true faith. o That's what this whole idea of obedience is all about. We see this sprinkled all throughout this final section. For example, one commentator counted the word commanded was used 18 times in chapters 39-40 to illustrate the faithfulness of the people of Israel in this project. o When we listen to the Lord, and we do it, it glorifies Him. We see that in chapter 39, where Moses, as God's representative, reviews the work of the people. In verses 42-43 we read: 42 ACCORDING TO ALL THAT THE LORD HAD COMMANDED MOSES, SO THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL HAD DONE ALL THE WORK. 43 AND MOSES SAW ALL THE WORK, AND BEHOLD, THEY HAD DONE IT; AS THE LORD HAD COMMANDED, SO HAD THEY DONE IT. THEN MOSES BLESSED THEM. o How about in chapter 40, verse 16: 16 THIS MOSES DID; ACCORDING TO ALL THAT THE LORD COMMANDED HIM, SO HE DID. o Faith is active. Obedience is a result of our faith. o So, what is the result of this obedient faith? Let's read the closing verses of Exodus (40:34-38) to find out: 34 THEN THE CLOUD COVERED THE TENT OF MEETING, AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD FILLED THE TABERNACLE. 35 AND MOSES WAS NOT ABLE TO ENTER THE TENT OF MEETING BECAUSE THE CLOUD SETTLED ON IT, AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD FILLED THE TABERNACLE. 36 THROUGHOUT ALL THEIR JOURNEYS, WHENEVER THE CLOUD WAS TAKEN UP FROM OVER THE TABERNACLE, THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL WOULD SET OUT. 37 BUT IF THE CLOUD WAS NOT TAKEN UP, THEN THEY DID NOT SET OUT TILL THE DAY THAT IT WAS TAKEN UP. 38 FOR THE CLOUD OF THE LORD WAS ON THE TABERNACLE BY DAY, AND FIRE WAS IN IT BY NIGHT, IN THE SIGHT OF ALL THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL THROUGHOUT ALL THEIR JOURNEYS. o That presence and glory of the Lord that we read about last week filled the tabernacle. o You see, when we're faithfully worshiping the Lord, we are filled with His presence. We've seen this morning that faithful worship is carried out by faithful people. It's possible that you may be sitting here now, or watching online and you may be thinking, what if I'm not faithful? WHAT DO I DO? First, * Rely only on the work of Jesus. o Chapter 38:21-31 is a bit of an inventory that was used. Several commentators note that the gold alone was more than a ton in its weight. Over 2,000 pounds of gold for this project. o Now think about your debt. Your collection of sins that have accumulated over the years. It is likely greater than this gold that was collected. o In Matthew, chapter 18:21-22, Peter asks the Lord Jesus how much he was expected to forgive someone who sinned against him. Here is how that conversation went: 21 THEN PETER CAME UP AND SAID TO HIM, "LORD, HOW OFTEN WILL MY BROTHER SIN AGAINST ME, AND I FORGIVE HIM? AS MANY AS SEVEN TIMES?" 22 JESUS SAID TO HIM, "I DO NOT SAY TO YOU SEVEN TIMES, BUT SEVENTY-SEVEN TIMES. o You see, we want to put a limit on how much grace we give, on how many times we forgive someone who wronged you. o But think about the cross. Did Jesus put a limit on how much debt was paid through His death? No. Absolutely not. o Earlier we mentioned this tent that was made with hands, which is why it has limitations. The more we try to control the outcome, eventually we run out of materials to use. But there is a limitlessness with the Lord, and His grace. His grace abounds. His steadfast love endures, forever. o Second, * Find rest in the Lord. o Notice how this section began. Another reminder about honoring the Sabbath. Let's read this reminder, found in 35:2-3: 2 SIX DAYS WORK SHALL BE DONE, BUT ON THE SEVENTH DAY YOU SHALL HAVE A SABBATH OF SOLEMN REST, HOLY TO THE LORD. WHOEVER DOES ANY WORK ON IT SHALL BE PUT TO DEATH. 3 YOU SHALL KINDLE NO FIRE IN ALL YOUR DWELLING PLACES ON THE SABBATH DAY." o We've talked about this before, but the intention here is to stop and reflect on the work of the Lord. o Even if you struggle with sin, or struggle with doubt, or struggle with worry. Whatever you may struggle with ... when you are able to find that rest, you have entered into the presence of the Lord. o I spoke to someone recently about fasting. The general idea of fasting is neglecting the things of the flesh so that you can draw nearer to the Lord. So, in those vulnerable moments, instead of giving into the flesh, you instead go to the Father in prayer and in confession. o So that is what we must do. Maybe you don't feel the presence of the Lord. So, confess. Repent. Be obedient. We titled this sermon series "Be Delivered." In this series, we saw the Lord at work, delivering His people from slavery, from death, from famine, from His wrath. He instituted the Law, so that His people can be set apart, and gave them a place and will set up a system of worship. And what's incredible, all that He did then is what He continues to do today. He can rescue you from the bondage of sin. He can heal you from illness and suffering. He can work miracles in you and through you. Through His Son Jesus, we are victorious. Maybe this morning you are feeling distant. Maybe you are not "enjoying" worship. Maybe you are unhappy in some of your relationships. I urge you to return to prayer. Return to service. Return to obedience. May that lead you to rely on the work of Jesus and to find rest in the Lord, so that you can faithfully worship the faithful Lord. Are you ready to be a faithful worshipper? Let's pray. 2