Service Begins

Service Begins Exodus 35 Background • The twin themes Exodus are redemption and worship – patterns of redemption-then-worship repeat throughout. • We’ve been waiting to see what type of worship God will require – see Exodus 10:24-26. • In Exodus 35-40, these themes merge. God has revealed His worship, God has forgiven the people of their grave rebellion, and now final worship preparations are made in accordance with God’s word. General Observations • Repetition: Chapters 35-39 repeat almost verbatim the tabernacle instructions from earlier in the book for two important reasons: (1) Emphasis and (2) Repentance. • Anticipation: Contrary to popular opinion, the climax of the book of Exodus is not the crossing of the Red Sea, but the worship that necessitated the crossing. Chapters 35-39 build anticipation for God’s fulfillment. • Participation: Exodus 35-39 chronicles communitywide participation in God’s worship. Sabbath Reminder (35:1-3) • Sabbath observance was a weekly, visible sign of one’s commitment to God’s covenant and became something of a litmus test for obedience. • Strict enforcement encouraged piety. • Everyone given a day off – even moms and servants were relieved of food preparation. Offerings Requested (35:5-29) • Call for Supplies: 1. Emphasis on generosity and nobility (v. 5) 2. Stirring: common word used in a special way – God’s stirring, see Haggai 1:14 (v. 21) 3. Freewill offerings – all was given voluntarily (v. 29) • Call for Servants: a democratic call for all volunteers • Israel Responds: 1. Emphasis on widespread support: from 21-29, the Hebrew word for “all” is used at least 15x 2. Some supplies needed to be created. In these cases, ladies were noteworthy in their help. Craftsmen Equipped (35:30-35) • God singles out Bezalel and Oholiab • The emphasis, however, is on God’s equipping: 1. God supplied him with 4 attributes: skill (wisdom), intelligence (capacity to understand), knowledge (detailed grasp of nuances), and work (coordination of labor) 2. God commissioned him to 3 purposes: devise (contemplate the aesthetic), work (shape the precious metals), and teach (Bezalel ultimately oversaw the implementation of his vision) • The Tabernacle system was not large by modern standards, but detailed and intricate. Reflections • The Church is not a structure, but people – living stones being built up as God’s spiritual house (1 Peter 2:5) 1. God delights to use a wide variety of people in the work of building up His people, the Church. 2. God delights in your participation – don’t neglect the stirring of God in your heart to get involved. • Gratitude over salvation leads to generosity in giving: “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).