Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

When was the last time you were ‘all in’ on something?

Someone gave a presentation and you didn’t have to think twice about it, you jumped in with both feet without some much as a prod from someone else?

we were introduced to Bezalel and Aholiab in the last chapter where their wisdom and skill were emphasized which was imbued to them from the Spirit of God.

Here again the same is emphasized.

The work of God necessitates the wisdom of the Spirit of God in order to accomplish the work exactly as God intended.

They needed the mind of God to do so.

Hence, our text tells us that Bezalel and Oholiab among others had wisdom and understanding inculcated into them in order to know how to do the work in accord with all the Lord commanded.

Moses gave the people a presentation of the work to do.

He had no power point with its visual capabilities or sound bites.

He simply gave the people the vision of what had to be made, coupled with the background of their experience with their All-powerful God, YHWH.

When he gave the call, these two men answered that call along with many more who were specially equipped by God to do the divine work that needed to be done.

What sold them on this task?

They had a word from God clearly communicated by a man of God (Moses) with clear instructions and descriptions for the task at hand.

They were told not only what to make, but how to make it and why it needed to be made.

They saw/understood the purpose behind the work.

They saw the God behind the work.

They grasped the exhortation of the Word of God understood the benefit to them and sought to glorify God in the doing of the work.

With that we see

I. How God prepared the people for the work, v.1

We are told these men were wise of heart.

wise of heart,

The text tells us that

The Lord gave -

wisdom/hokmah

understanding-tebunah

in order to know/ladaat

to do all the work of the service of the sanctuary according to all the Lord commanded.

So the Lord is the one who gives the wisdom/skill and understanding both of God's plans and how all the components work together and fit together to form the intended sanctuary.

Therein lies the necessity of wisdom and understanding, both of which find their source in God, not experience.

Cf.

Adam and Eve keeping the garden with the wisdom of God.

They were born with it not that they gained it by experience.

His wisdom and knowledge was inculcated into these men and their practice and experience bore it out by the product they made.

So that when it was finished God saw it and by His indwelling it gave His confirmation that it was made exactly as He intended and was thus pleased with it.

Hence, skill/wisdom and understanding go hand in hand.

It is possible for one to merely regurgitate knowledge and be thought wise because of his knowledge.

But understanding is the practice of that wisdom/knowledge.

To understand how it all works together.

Nevertheless, skill/wisdom and understanding go hand in hand.

It is possible for one to merely regurgitate knowledge and be thought wise because of his knowledge.

But understanding is the practice of that wisdom/knowledge.

To understand how it all works together.

a few illustrations: knowing horse training principles and knowing the nature of the horse.

The practice of the principles/methods without understanding the nature of the horse and why the principle or method works can lead to disaster, but the practice of both leads to safety, calmness, ease of movement.

me with the rebuild of the engine in my old truck.

I had a concept of how an engine worked, but not really.

And even though I rebuilt the engine, it does not mean I can now call myself a mechanic.

a craftsman working with wood or metal is the same way.

Now in this context they are going to be building the tabernacle, the sanctuary of God.

The bible tells us that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit and that the church is also this temple.

So then, we are working with flesh and bone, with the souls of people.

We are to be building the church, building lives to honor and glorify God.

It is as Paul said that he would present you holy and blameless before him,

We are working with flesh and bone, with the souls of people.

We are to be building the church, building lives to honor and glorify God.

It is as Paul said that he would present you holy and blameless before him, or .

The whole point is that we are building up one another for a temple of God, we could look at , ;

The whole point is that we are building up one another for a temple of God, we could look at

,

;

But it takes the indwelling of the Spirit of God and the wisdom and understanding that He gives us to know how to do that.

But it takes the indwelling of the Spirit of God and the wisdom and understanding that He gives us to know how to put all the components of the church, the giftedness of the believer, the teaching, the material to teach, evangelism, missions, worship service, place of worship together in order to build the church.

Scripture calls the church a body, a vine, a temple in order to help us understand what is being built or nurtured.

It takes the Spirit of God using the Word of God to inform the heart of the believer not only what the church/temple of God is supposed to look like, but also how to produce that look.

I think that once the work of God is made clear by those and to those who are filled with the Spirit of God to do the work then it is natural for them to jump in and get involved.

That is what we see here.

II.

A Willingness to work, v.2

Moses made the call to Bezalel, Aholiab and all the wise of heart craftsmen, Note the emphasis on two things: the wise of heart, which God put in them and secondly, their willingness to come.

lit.

Hebrew all who lifted up his heart to draw near to the work, to do it.

all who lifted up his heart to draw near to the work, to do it.

Esv.

everyone whose heart stirred him up to come to do the work.

everyone whose heart stirred him up to come to do the work.

There are two words being used here point to eager willingness.

The first is nasa which means to lift up, to carry, The object of that verb is heart.

The point being that their heart is carried away or lifted up.

thus, nothing externally compelling or forcing, but rather the desire rises from within.

I think it here expresses passion, thus inciting to action from within.

So there is a stirring or racing of the heart.

It is a picturesque word visually lifting the heart.

We speak of down-hearted, ie.

one who is sad, lethargic.

But this is one who is lifted up in heart, excited, energetic, the exact opposite of down-hearted.

It is kind of a feeling of elation, being pumped up to be doing something significant.

It drives your thoughts and conduct, your actions.

the second verb is to draw near/qarab- it basically means to come near or approach, but I think it means more than just draw near, It often was used for drawing near to offer sacrifice at the altar ;

Thus the thought is an eagerness to offer oneself, skills, materials etc. to the work of the sanctuary.

So there is clearly an inner desire to serve on the part of the craftsmen to do the work of the sanctuary that God has specifically gifted them to do.

Is that not what we see with the disciples in the book of Acts, a willingness to face the dangers of preaching the gospel despite threat.

They do not preach at the point of bayonet or sword.

Rather, nothing compels them but the grace of God.

Romans

The bottom line is those who are filled with the Spirit of God are eagerly willing to get involved in the service doing whatever they are gifted to do in order to contribute to the work of the ministry.

That is what we see here with these men whose hearts are filled with wisdom for the work.

They immediately step forward to answer the call of God.

How about yourself?

So not only does God prepare His people for the work He calls them to, they as a result of that preparedness are willing to get involved in the work.

But there are those who for whatever reason cannot get involved in the actual work, hands on style.

They can’t become a preacher, pastor, teacher, missionary.