Exodus 25

These instructions first list the materials that the Israelites could give to build the tabernacle (25:3–7).

Next, the instructions describe the tabernacle from the center and move outward. They begin with the ark of the covenant (also called the ark of the Testimony, 25:10–22; 27:9–19).

Two items are described later. These are the altar of incense inside the sanctuary and the bronze basin in the courtyard (30:1–10, 17–21).

These items appear in the section about the priesthood. They may be placed there because the priests used them in a special way as part of their service.

Unlike most churches today, the Tent of Meeting (the tabernacle) was not mainly a place where people gathered to meet. It was first of all the dwelling place of God. It functioned like the palace of a king. God was Israel’s divine King, and the Tabernacle was his royal tent.

In this way, churches today are more similar to later Jewish synagogues, where people gathered to worship and learn (see also study note on 40:2).

The last section of Exodus completes God’s self-revelation to Israel. Through these events, God brought the people out of the spiritual darkness that had held them in slavery.

This section includes three main parts:

1. Instructions for building the Tent of Meeting (chapters 25–31).

2. The story of the golden calf (a wrong attempt to secure God's presence, chapters 32–34).

3. The report of building the Tent of Meeting (the correct way to secure God's presence, chapters 35–40).

These chapters show that God’s ultimate goal in delivering Israel from slavery was to live among them.

God wanted to share his presence with his people. However, because God is holy (completely pure and set apart from sin), people could experience his presence only in the way he commanded.

They could not approach him through pagan practices (worship methods of other nations) or through human manipulation (trying to control or force a god to act).

The building of the Tent of Meeting is described here, even though some instructions in Leviticus were given earlier (see 40:1–2; Leviticus 25:1; 27:34; Numbers 7:1). This event shows the goal of the entire exodus story: God came to live among his people.

every man whose heart compels him: There is a plain difference between meeting needs in God's way and trying to meet them on our own. For example, Aaron forced people to contribute to making the gold calf (see 32:1–4).

• a sanctuary: For the people to have a life-giving relationship with God, they needed to understand how completely different God was from them (see study note on 3:5).

• The purpose of this activity was so God could live among them.

according to the pattern: We cannot choose how to approach a holy God. We must meet God on his terms and in accord with his desires and character.

an ark of acacia wood: Ark is an old English word meaning "box." The ark was Israel's "covenant box." It was the most important item in the entire Tent of Meeting (the tabernacle) because God made his presence available there (25:22). The stone tablets of the covenant were inside the box (25:16, 21). This emphasized that God reveals himself through a mutual commitment between himself and his people.

The carrying poles guaranteed that no one touched this symbol of God's powerful holiness. Later, Uzzah died when he instinctively reached out to steady the ark while they were moving it (see 2 Samuel 6:6–7).

The Hebrew word translated as mercy seat means "a covering." The cover of the covenant box was where God "covered over" sin (see Leviticus 16:14–16).

The description of the cherubim only mentions that they had wings (25:20; see 2 Chronicles 3:10–13).

I will meet with you there: The ark was in the innermost part of the Holy Place (26:33). This inner room was like God's throne room (see study note on Leviticus 16:2).

In many pagan (non-Israelite) temples, an idol stood in that place. An idol is a physical image that people worship as a god. But the tabernacle had no idol. It had only the ark, a sacred box that showed God’s covenant faithfulness and grace (his loyal love and undeserved kindness).

God met his people in that setting. He did not meet them through an idol.

An idol shows a false belief about God. It suggests that a god is part of the created world and can be controlled by the right ritual (religious action). It assumes that people can gain blessings without caring about their own character or commitment.

But the Lord is completely separate from this world. He cannot be controlled or forced to act. He wants to bless his people. Yet his blessings are gifts of grace. People must receive them in trust and surrender to him.

The table of acacia wood was on the north side of the main room of the tabernacle (26:35). It reminded the people that God would provide for them. Most importantly, God's presence is what sustained them (25:30).

The drink offerings included olive oil and wine (see 29:40).

The lampstand of pure, hammered gold stood on the south side of the tabernacle (26:35). It symbolized God's presence with his people.

The lamps were flat dishes holding olive oil (25:37). A wick extended into the oil and hung from a lip on one side of the dish. The dishes sat on upturned almond blossoms (25:33). The priests positioned them so that all their wicks faced the room's center (25:37).

The total number of lamps is unclear. Exodus 25:37 mentions seven lamps, but there seem to be 22 lamp cups in 25:33–34.