Exodus 40:1-38 • Finishing The Work

Review & Overview

1. Previous Study’s Review

In Chps.35-39 we’ve seen the construction of the Tabernacle… & the construction of the various furnishings for the Tabernacle: Ark of the Covenant… Table of Showbread… Golden Lamp-stand… Altar of Incense …

We’ve also seen the construction of the Priestly Garments for those who minister in the Tabernacle…

Interesting that all the Priestly Garments were to be made out of Linen… because in Ezek.44:18 the priests were not to wear anything that caused them to sweat…

We saw that serving the Lord is no sweat… its not work… effort… toil… it’s a Joy & Blessing…

2. Current Study’s Overview

Now as we come to chp.40 we’ve divided this chapter in 4 sections:

1. Instructions for the Tabernacle: vs.1-8…

2. Anointing of the Tabernacle: vs.9-16…

3. Raising up the Tabernacle: vs.17-33…

4. Glory Filling the Tabernacle: vs.34-38...

The Title of Today’s Message Is: Finishing The Work

Because as you’ll see in a second….

1. The Instructions for the Tabernacle Vs. 1-8

Here the Lord commands Moses to establish the Tabernacle and its furnishings at the start of the Jewish religious year, on the 1st day of Nisan (March-April).

By contrast, in the Jewish civil calendar, this day would fall during Tishri (September-October), which is marked by several Jewish festivals.

The Tabernacle was to be assembled on this date in the second year after leaving Egypt.

The Israelites spent approximately six and a half months constructing the Tabernacle and its furnishings after their three-month journey to Mount Sinai.

Regarding the placement of the furnishings within the Tabernacle:

The Ark of the Testimony was placed in the Holy of Holies, a 15' x 15' room at the west end.

The Table of Showbread, holding 12 loaves representing the 12 tribes of Israel, was set in the 30' x 15' Holy Place on the north side.

The Menorah, or Lampstand, was placed on the south side of the Holy Place, to be lit continuously.

The Altar of Incense was located at the west end of the Holy Place, near the veil leading to the Holy of Holies, where incense was burned twice daily.

The Altar of Burnt Offering, symbolizing consecration, was immediately visible upon entering the courtyard.

The Laver, used for washing and purification, was located just past the Altar of Burnt Offering in the courtyard.

The Courtyard itself measured 150' x 75', enclosing the Tabernacle.

2. The Anointing of the Tabernacle Vs. 9-16

So Moses anointed everything & everyone… everything & everyone was to be consecrated… set apart for the Lord…

We do this today, we anoint peoples homes… families… and pray that the Lord would use them and that they would be set apart for His glory…

Talk about when me and Clark went to anoint mexico cafe.

APPLICATION: But ultimately it’s a beautiful picture of how our lives should be… for we too have been called to be set apart… consecrated… holy unto the Lord

2 Corinthians 6:17 NKJV

17 Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.”

APPLICATION: Oh how we need to beware regarding our lives… where we go & what we do…

3. Raising up the Tabernacle Vs. 17-33

3.1 Vs. 17

As we’ve mentioned, after about 6 ½ months of gathering the materials and constructing all that the Lord commanded Moses… everything is now finished and Moses begins to put it all together…

3.2 Vs. 18-33

So Moses finished the work…

vs.16 Moses did all that the Lord commanded him…

vs.19 he did as the Lord commanded Moses…

vs.21 he did as the Lord commanded Moses…

vs.23 he did as the Lord commanded Moses…

vs.25 he did as the Lord commanded Moses…

vs.27 he did as the Lord commanded Moses…

vs.29 he did as the Lord commanded Moses…

vs.32 he did as the Lord commanded Moses…

Question: Did Moses finished the work?

APPLICATION: And just like Moses & the Children of Israel… the Lord has given us a job to do as well…

Ephesians 2:10 NKJV

10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

We all have different jobs… different aspects of the work of the Lord… and one is not more important than the other… listen to what Paul said in 1 Cor.12:12-27…

1 Corinthians 12:12–13 NKJV

12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:14–15 NKJV

14 For in fact the body is not one member but many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body?

1 Corinthians 12:16–17 NKJV

16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling?

1 Corinthians 12:18–19 NKJV

18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be?

1 Corinthians 12:20–22 NKJV

20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.

1 Corinthians 12:23–25 NKJV

23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.

1 Corinthians 12:26–27 NKJV

26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.

APPLICATION: Question: how do I know what part of the body I am… oh, you’ll know & so will everyone else…

It will be very apparent… very obvious to all… what the work is the Lord has given you…

The Real Question is are we going to Finish the Work…

2 Timothy 4:7 NKJV

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

4. The Glory Filling the Tabernacle Vs. 34-38

The glory of the Lord filling the tabernacle was a confirmation that the Lord was pleased with Moses…

They did all that the Lord commanded them to do… thus the Lord directed them with the pillar of cloud by day & pillar of fire by night…

All they had to do was follow the Lord into the Promised Land… so simple… so easy…

Now in 1 Cor.3:16 we are the Temple of God… & thus the glory of God has filled us…

1 Corinthians 3:16 NKJV

16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

APPLICATION: So here’s the question: Are we allowing the Lord to lead us & guide us…

Are we following Him into the Promises Land… following Him to place He wants to take us…

God made life so simple… so easy… we just need to follow Him…

TALK ABOUT MOSES IS A TYPE OF CHRIST

MOSES FINISHED JESUS ALSO FINISHED, HE FINISHED HIS WORK WHEN HE WAS HERE ON EARTH DYING ON THE CROSS…

John 19:30 NKJV

30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

ENDING…