To Glorify and Serve

Introduction

Our study last week in the book of Exodus brought us to the conclusion of God’s instructions to Moses and the people of Israel of everything that was to be involved with the Tabernacle Compound. Each item mentioned throughout this section, the tents, the furniture and implements, the priestly clothing, and all of the accoutrements associated serve as a type or shadow that prefigures the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan. However, we also must not lose sight of the larger themes that are contained within these instructions. These themes remind us of who God is, His desire to dwell among His people, who we are as His people and the proper manner in which we are to approach Him in the various ways we come before Him in worship.

Looming over all of that we read is this weightiness that is described to us as God’s Holiness and His Glory. Each item, in its own way, spoke to us of His holiness and His glory, whether it was the purity of the item in relation to how close it was to His presence, or the way the material and the colors reflected His glory or the preparation that was necessary for something to be able to serve the purposes for which He has set them aside, at the end of it all the Israelites then and us today should be left with a crystal clear image of the Holiness and Glory of our God.

It is this Holiness and Glory that was on the mind of Matthew Henry when he wrote this question “Who was sufficient for these things?”. Henry was asking this as he reflected on the items and instructions and thought about who was to carry these things out. Truly there was not one person alive who could have crafted these items with the necessary precision and perfection for them to stand apart from being set apart as holy, but you see, that is just the point, the answer, apart from the mercy and grace of God, there are none that are sufficient.

David asks in Psalm 15

Psalm 15 LSB

A Psalm of David. O Yahweh, who may sojourn in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy mountain? He who walks blamelessly, and works righteousness, And speaks truth in his heart. He does not slander with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor takes up a reproach against his friend; In whose eyes a reprobate is despised, But who honors those who fear Yahweh; He swears to his own hurt and does not change; He does not put out his money at interest, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.

It is interesting to note that this particular Psalm does not contain a negative, the entirety of what is written here is positive. The question that becomes necessary at the end of Psalm 15 is exactly who is the individual capable of living out what verse 2-5 teach. Interestingly enough, Psalm 14 provides the answer in the third verse where we read: Psalm 14:3

Psalm 14:3 LSB

They have all turned aside, altogether they have become worthless; There is no one who does good, not even one.

So we at this point we have the question of who can sojourn in God’s tent and who can dwell on His holy mountain, followed by the answer of one who is blameless and righteous, which Psalm 14:3 has already told us there are none that fit into that category. This is where we turn to Psalm 24, which essentially begins with a declaration of who God is and then asks the same question, there, however, the answer is a little different. It begins similar to Psalm 15 but ultimately identifies that the one and only person that may truly ascend God’s holy hill as the King of Glory. It concludes with this statement:

English Standard Version Psalm 24

Who is this King of glory?

The LORD of hosts,

he is the King of glory! Selah

The Lord Jesus Christ is the only one, and it is only by His grace, through faith in Him, that His righteousness is imputed to us, redeeming us and declaring us justified in the eyes of God. It is only through Christ that we dare approach the infinite, holy God.

Our text for this morning deals with this issue as well, not just in a manner of who was worthy but also in how they were equipped to accomplish this work. Turn with me to Exodus 31:1-11.

Text

Please stand for the reading of God’s Holy, Inerrant, Infallible, Authoritative, Complete and Sufficient Word...

Exodus 31:1–11 LSB

And Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, “See, I have called by name Bezalel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. “And I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom, in discernment, in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs for work in gold, in silver, and in bronze, and in the cutting of stones for settings, and in the carving of wood, in order for him to work in all kinds of craftsmanship. “And behold, I Myself have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and in the hearts of all who are wise at heart I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded you: the tent of meeting, and the ark of testimony, and the mercy seat upon it, and all the furniture of the tent, the table also and its utensils, and the pure gold lampstand with all its utensils, and the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering also with all its utensils, and the laver and its stand, the woven garments as well, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, with which to minister as priests; the anointing oil also, and the fragrant incense for the holy place, they shall make them according to all that I have commanded you.”

Almighty God, creator and sustainer of heaven and earth, You alone are infinitely holy and worthy of our praise and adoration. Lord as we bow before Your throne of grace this morning we simply ask that Your Spirit guide us into all truth regarding Your word. Too often we take for granted You and Your word, of this sin we repent and pray for You strength to stand firm and resolute being ever faithful to You as You are to us. We are thankful, precious Lord, for the gift of Christ and His work on Calvary’s cross, for the continued work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, and for the assurance, that we are held , eternally secure by You Hand alone. May this time be pleasing in Your site, glorifying to Your name, may it edify the body of Christ through Your most holy Word by the illuminating power of the Holy Spirit. Father we praise You, we thank You and we give you all of the honor and glory, asking all of these things in the blessed name of Christ Jesus, Amen

Called by Name

You may be seated. The passage that we have set before us here this morning contains rich theological truths. As we have seen over the last several weeks, this passage also begins with the statement regarding this being the very words of the Lord God as He spoke to Moses on Sinai. Each time, it simply, yet profoundly serves as a reminder that these truths are not subjective as some would define truth today, but objective, the surety of their truthfulness resting in the object, or in this case being, upon which this truth is based, namely Yahweh. It is this that gives the believer the confidence upon which our faith rests. It is this, that the truths of scripture are founded in and resting upon the eternal, omniscient, omnipotent, immutable and most holy Creator, that serves us as a soft pillow upon which to lay our heads in comfort, in security and in peace.

The text here builds off of this foundational truth. It begins with the statement that these are the words of God and then builds off of that with a demonstration that these, all, are not only words of God. Notice, verse 2 begins with the words, “See, I have called...”, verse 3 begins “and I have filled”, verse 6 “and behold, I Myself have” and continues in the middle of the verse with “I have put wisdom...”. It is clear then, from the outset that not only are these the very words of God, the action that is happening in these verses are the very actions of God. What a mighty display of the Sovereignty of God, demonstrating, not only to ancient Israel, but also very much to us here today, that He is the one speaking and moving. It is He who is choosing and calling, He who supplies what is necessary for the work to be performed. We talk of the sufficiency of the Word of God, which is rooted and grounded in the very source of those words and it is, or it should be passages like these that demonstrate to us that it truly gives us all that is necessary for life and godliness.

God could have simply let Moses return to the people with the instructions regarding the Tabernacle and allowed Moses to choose the best craftsman, but instead He specifically sets forth whom He has already determined beforehand would be the lead craftsman and his assistant and all those who would work under their direction. Notice that action here is that He called Bezalel by name, this intimates a knowledge of this man. Often times we are quick to follow up a statement like that with “well of course, He knows all of His creation by name” but this is a different knowledge, this is the same knowledge that Paul writes about when he says “those whom He foreknew”. The action of calling Bezalel by name shows us that this was a predetermined action of the eternal God. Bezalel was chosen by God.

One more thought on the subject of calling, before we press on to the remainder of the truths that we have in this passage. This text should also serve as a reminder that God has chosen His people before the foundation of the earth. While not being a primary passage that teaches us the doctrine of election, it is certainly one in which we have that very doctrine on display in a manner of speaking. Literally, as we went through a few moments ago, we see repeatedly that this choice of who would be called to undertake this task would not be left to random selection, it was not going to be the result of a contest to see who the best craftsman was, it was and is based entirely on the good pleasure of the will of the Almighty, just as Noah was called, Abram was called, Joseph was called, Jacob was chosen, Bezalel, so too, you and I are chosen. The Sovereign God is sovereign over all things and has, before the foundation of the word, set His eternal, electing love upon a people of His choosing, and by the effectual work of the Spirit within our lives regenerating us, has not only called but also equipped us with the ability and the desire to respond in faith to that call.

A Type of Christ

For just a little over 16 years it has never ceased to amaze me of the providential hand of our Lord as He works in the lives of His believers. The remainder of our text this morning firstly provides us with a type or shadow and then continues with a demonstration of what that type truly means to us and the effect that it will have on our lives.

Firstly, we see in this passage a type or shadow of Christ presented in the person of Bezalel. We see here that Bezalel was of the house of Judah, we also see that as he specifically was appointed the task by God to complete the construction of the Tabernacle, he was the only person who could fill that role, the role of building the house of God. This is our fist picture of Christ here, since none but He could build the true house of God, the church.

Peter writes in 1 Peter 2:4–8 “And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For this is contained in Scripture: “Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone, And he who believes upon Him will not be put to shame.” This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, “The stone which the builders rejected, This has become the chief corner stone,” and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this stumbling they were also appointed.”

We know that this cornerstone is none other than the Lord Jesus. He is the stone by which those who would lay the foundation, the apostles and the prophets, would square their foundation and set their marks to continue the work that Christ began. It is off of this cornerstone that the standards for our lives are defined. It is in the absolute assurance that this stone is laid right and true that keeps us right and true. It is for this reason that as we approach His word we do so with fear and trembling, submitting ourselves to the wisdom and direction of the Spirit by the Word of God. When we look at the gifts that Bezalel was equipped with we see that the very first thing that he was led to in the Spirit of God was wisdom. This is the technical ability to do a craft, the understanding and application of the knowledge that has been received regarding that specific craft. Behind this lies the understanding that the work is completed by a specific standard, in this case that standard is the instructions that God has already provided. Note twice, once in verse 6 and again in verse 11 we see the reminder that they are to first, make all that God has commanded and secondly, that they are only to be made according to that standard which God has provided.

For us, our lives are to be lived in such a way as to first, obey the commands that God has given. What commands, the base commands, those that we find in the moral law of God, the Ten Commandments. It is in these commandments and the way that they are expounded in scripture that are the commands that we are to follow. If you will recall, as we worked through the commandments we talked about how they are indicative of the worst of a particular type of sin. All sin can be traced back to one of those ten.

Secondly, it is that not only are we to live according to the commands of God, but we are also to obey them in the WAY in which we have been commanded. You see, this is one of the truths that Christ dealt with in His earthly ministry. Recall this from the Gospel of Mark: Mark 10:17-22

Mark 10:17–22 LSB

And as He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and began asking Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. “You know the commandments, ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up.” And looking at him, Jesus loved him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.

The problem of this young man was that even though he was obeying the commands to the letter of the law, at least in his own eyes, he was not being obedient in the WAY in which God would have him, namely that He be willing to respond in the way that Paul does in Philippians 3:3-8

Philippians 3:3–8 LSB

For we are the circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and boast in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh, although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless. But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ

To Glorify and Serve

To count it all as loss, literally dung, waste, for the sake of Christ, what a challenge. There is not a Christian who has ever lived, who is living, or who will ever live who can truly live up to that by their own strength and power. The understanding of which should drive us to the question, how?? If this is the command and the expectation of God, one which we can never, by our flesh, hope to live up to, how then are we to accomplish these things.

For just a moment, put yourself in the shoes of Bezalel, Moses has come down from the top of the mountain, with righteous anger, he destroys the tablets on which God has inscribed the very commandments of God, the people have been thoroughly chastised and then you are called to his tent. Mind you, at this point Moses face is radiating the reflected glory of the almighty that so terrified you and the others that he has had to veil his face. As you enter, you are given the task of building these things that God has commanded, in the way he has commanded… I would imagine that he would ask much the same question as the one which I just asked, HOW??

Thankfully, he, nor we, have to cipher this one out on our own, because God not only chose Bezalel, He also equipped him. He gave him all that he would need to perform the tasks or guide the tasks that were set before him. We specifically see that he is given four things, wisdom, discernment, knowledge and craftsmanship. Wisdom as we previously mentioned, is the way in which the knowledge that has been received is put into action, discernment is knowing the right and wrong methods and ways of completing the various tasks and ensuring that they are done correctly, knowledge is the metal capacity to understand the work, and craftsmanship speaks to the actual work or service that is being completed. Pulling all of these things together we see that Bezalel is fully quipped for the work that God has prepared for him to complete.

Just as this was true of Bezalel, it was also true of Oholiab and all those who “were wise at heart”. Oholiab and the others were given what was needed, wisdom, the ability to put into practice that which they knew. This ensured that the tasks were not just completed, but completed correctly. This is where the second type or shadow that we see appears. That shadow is the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers.

In this passage, the introduction of both men is preceded with a similar statement. In verse two it is translated as “See” and in verse 6 “Behold”. In the case of both of these words, there is more at stake here than just the casual viewing. Think about how you use the word see as a command in your life today, typically we include it in the middle of a sentence, such as “did you see the game last night” or “did you see what they were wearing to church today”. There are other times however, when we use it much more forcefully, times when we want to specifically direct the attention of someone to a specific thing. Our use of the word in that manner is similar, but still lacking in force, in the manner in which it is used here. This is a deliberate, forceful, drawing to of attention to look deeper at what is being said, that there is more than just the surface glance that we should be aware of that is happening in this passage. In fact there are several things to which our attention is specifically drawn in this passage, two of which we have already mentioned, the calling of the individuals and the sovereignty of God that is demonstrated here.

Briefly, before we deal with the other things that are demonstrated in this passage, I want to touch back to the calling for just a moment. The reason I want to circle back around is that we must realize that this is a foundational truth regarding how we serve God. These men were not self-appointed to the task, they were directed, chosen, called and equipped by God for their chosen task. Often in the church today we find many who desire to serve in a position that is less about what God has directed, chosen, called and equipped them to, and more about what they prefer, or what will draw the most attention to them. AW Pink address this in this way:

Gleanings in Exodus Chapter 57: The Appointed Artificers

Those who run without being sent, those who undertake work (though in the name of the Lord) without being called to it by God, are rebels, not “servants.” Yet how many there are in these days—days which are characterized by self-will and lawlessness—occupying prominent positions in Christendom, yet who have never been called of God. Many, attracted by the prestige and honor of the position, others because it is an easy way of making a living, have thrust themselves into an holy office. Many, influenced by men with more zeal than knowledge, or advised by admiring friends or doting mothers, have been pressed into service for which they had no call from Heaven. Fearful presumption and sin is it for any man to profess to speak in the name of Christ if he has received no call from Him.

It is necessary that we understand and recognize that any and all who are called by God are interested in brining glory to God and faithfully serving Him. It is not about the accolades, the pats on the back, the handshakes and the nods of appreciation. Those things feed our fleshly needs to be accepted and liked, it is about standing before Christ and hearing the words, “Well done thou good and faithful servant.” To that end, there three additional truths that we can take from this passage.

First, we have already alluded to the truth that those whom God calls He also equips. I have had many discussions over the years of being a pastor that deal with what people feel like God has called them to within the church. The first question that must be asked deals with will the work truly glorify God and allow you to serve. I have never met a church goer who came to me with what they though God was calling them to do who would not answer that with an overwhelming yes. We all feel as if what we think we are being called to do is for the the glory of God and enables us to faithfully serve, but we must dig deeper. The second question that must be asked or addressed is have you been equipped to do this thing you desire to do. This is where it begins to get a little bit more difficult. The example I have often used is the example of the person who wants to sing but cannot carry a tune in a bucket. Yes scripture says to make a joyful noise, yes and amen that you lift up your voice within the congregation as we sing praises to our God, but you are not equipped for a solo or to lead worship. If you have truly been called to a specific task, then God will surely equip you for that task.

Secondly, there is the matter of appointment to the work. God calls you and equips you, not in a vague random way, but in a specific way. Consider Christ, John 6:38 says ““For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.” The will of the Father is essential in our service, it is the only way in which we glorify Him. This is where true self reflection becomes necessary. This is where it becomes necessary to evaluate whether you are using that gift in accordance with the standard of God’s word. This is where so many people falter. For example, a woman gifted with the ability to speak well and educate others is not being called into pastoral ministry. How can I be so certain of this, because it defies the very command of God who is specific in that calling. There are other was to serve, to be faithful, that will truly glorify God, since there is nothing more glorifying to Him than the faithful obedience of His saints.

It has been said “the Word is both the guide of the servant and the test of his service - the proof of its being done with divine wisdom and according to the divine mind”. Pink also adds these words to that thought:

Gleanings in Exodus Chapter 57: The Appointed Artificers

God’s work must be done in God’s way, or we cannot count upon His blessing thereon. He has promised, “them that honor Me, I will honor,” and the only way to honor God is to keep His precepts diligently, to preach nothing but His Word, to employ no methods save those expressly sanctioned by Holy Writ. Anything other than this is self-will, and that is sin.

Conclusion

As we have seen in this passage, the calling of Bezalel and Oholiab was not by accident, nor was it left to the discretion of men. It was the sovereign choice of Almighty God. He called them by name, He equipped them with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, and He appointed them to the task of building the very dwelling place of His presence. In this, we see both a type of Christ and a picture of how God deals with His people even today. Christ alone is the true Builder of the house of God, the Cornerstone upon which all else is measured, the One who ascended the hill of the Lord as the King of Glory. And yet, in Christ, you and I—redeemed and justified—are also called, equipped, and appointed for service in His kingdom.

This reality should bring both great comfort and sobering reflection. Comfort, because the same God who chose and equipped Bezalel is the One who has chosen and equipped us. Sobering, because to be called by His name is to be set apart for His glory, not our own. We cannot run without being sent, nor serve in ways contrary to His Word. Our service must be rooted in obedience, empowered by His Spirit, and directed to His glory alone.

So the question that confronts us today is this: If God has called you by name, equipped you by His Spirit, and appointed you for His work, are you faithfully using those gifts for His glory—or are you serving for your own ends? The answer to that question demands not only honest reflection but a life of submission to the will of God in Christ Jesus.

Closing Prayer

Most Holy and Sovereign Lord, we bow before You, acknowledging that You alone are the God who calls, equips, and appoints Your people. We confess that in ourselves we are insufficient, unable to ascend Your holy hill or to stand in Your presence. Yet in Your grace and mercy, You have given us Christ, the King of Glory, whose righteousness is counted as ours, and through Him we dare approach Your throne.

Father, we thank You for the example of Bezalel and Oholiab, men whom You called by name and filled with wisdom, knowledge, and skill for the work You had ordained. We recognize in them the shadow of Christ, the true Builder of Your house, and we rejoice that by Your Spirit You also equip us for every good work. Forgive us, Lord, for the times when we have sought our own glory, for the times we have attempted to serve in our own strength or according to our own will.

We submit ourselves afresh to Your Word and Your will. Grant us discernment to know the work to which You have appointed us, wisdom to carry it out in obedience, and humility to do all things for the honor of Christ’s name. Strengthen our hands for service, align our hearts to Your purposes, and keep us faithful until the day we stand in Your presence, transformed in glory.

We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.