Exodus 25

Exodus 25:1-9

Here are, 1. Orders given for a collection to be made among the people for45/100 the tabernacle, ver. 1—9. 2. Particular infractions, (1.) Concerning the ark of the covenant, ver. 10—22. (2.) The table of pheas-bread, ver. 23—30. (3.) The golden candlepile, ver. 31, to the end.

AND the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2. Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it Vc 1. I.

willingly with his heart, ye shall take my offering. 3. And this is the offering which ye shall take of them: gold, and silver, and brats, 4. And blue and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats hair, 5. And ram-tkins died red, and badger’s fkins, and shittin-wood, 6. Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense, 7. Onyx-stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breast-plate. 8. And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. 9. According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.

Moses begins to receive from God directions for the tabernacle which should be erected, as the palace for the King of Glory.

1. The people must furnish him with the materials, and that by a free-will-offering, v. 1—7. Whatever we have, it is the Lord’s, and whenever his service and glory requires it, most readily should we open our heart and hand. A true christian needs no argument to extort his liberality in God’s cause, not only to his power, but alone his peace in its willing.

2. The exact pattern must be followed, which God would shew him. In God’s service, we must beware of will-worship, and be guided by his revealed word.

3. The design of this tabernacle: for God’s dwelling, there to manifest his pretence in the midst of them, and travel with them as their king and their leader, through the wilderness. This tabernacle was typical of the incarnation of the Lord Jesus. He was the true tabernacle, he dwells among us, and we beheld his glory. In him was the fulness of the Godhead bodily; and he still makes the hearts of his people the throne of his sanctuary, reigning in them, and over them, and subduing before them all their enemies.

4. All their oblations must be offered there, and there they must enquire after him, as at the place where his honour dwelleth. Note, All our prayers and services are only then acceptable with God, when they are presented in and through the Lord Jesus Christ.

5. ¶ And they shall make an ark of shittin-wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof. 11. And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt thou overlay it: and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about. 12. And thou shalt cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in the four corners thereof; and two rings shall be in the one side of it, and two rings in the other side of it. 13. And thou shalt make staves of shittin-wood, and over-lay them with gold. 14. And thou shalt put the staves into the rings, by the sides of the ark, that the ark may be born with them. 15. The staves shall be in the rings of the ark: they shall not be taken from it. 16. And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee. 17. And thou shalt make a mercy-seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof. 18. And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold: of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy-seat. 19. And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy-seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof. 20. And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy-seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another: toward the mercy-seat shall the faces of the cherubims be. 21. And thou shalt put the mercy-seat above upon the ark, and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee. 22. And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee, from above the mercy-seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.

Exodus 25:10-22

Few words relate the glorious work of the creation of all things; here every particular is nicely described and infested upon. Note, The church of God is more precious in his account, than all the other works of his hands.

1. The ark of the testimony is described, so called, as containing God’s testimony of his will and their duty. The furniture of the most holy place is first appointed, and this is the most distinguished part. A chest over-laid within and without with gold, capable of containing the two tables of stone, on B b which

Before God’s page: 1. Chanc. 2. 1. 2. 3. a Chap. xxviii. 1. Heb. ix. 4. a Chap. xii. 3a. 2. Coll. 18. Deut. x. 4. 1 Kings xiii. 4. Heb. ix. 4. 1 Chap. xxvii. 6. Or of the matter of the mercy-1aii. 1 Kings xii. 7. 1 Chanc. xxviii 18. Heb. ix. 5. a Chap. xxvi. 1a. 1a. 1a. 1a. 1a. 1a. 1a. 1a. 1a. 1a. 1a. 1a. 1a. 1a. 1a. 1a. 1a. 1a. 1a. 1a. 1a. 1a. 1a. 1a. 1a. 1a. 1a. 1a. 1a. 1a. 1a. 1a. 1a. 1a. The image is too blurry to recognize any text content.

which the line was to be written, a corelith of gold, surrounded at the top, and four golden rings were placed at the corners, for its more convenient carriage. Learn, (1). Our hearts should be this act of gold, purified by divine grace, and full of love, which is the fulfilling of the law. (2). Where God’s presence is with any soul, obedience will be his delight. (3). Whenever the law of God is truly made our rule of conduct, and we delight in it after the inner man, it is a self-remy of our simplicity, and God’s approbation.

2. The mercy-feat was the covering of the ark, and made of still gold, v. 17—23, whereon the blood of atonement was sprinkled. Christ is the true mercy-feat, standing between a holy fan, and an offended God, to make reconstitution for the sins of his people.

3. The cherubims of gold: they were emblematical figures of angels, bending towards the mercy-feat, in token of adoration, or deep contemplation of the mysteries of grace therein contained, and winged, to signify the speed, stature, and delight, with which they obey the Divine commands. From between these cherubims, above the mercy-feat, God promises to move, and commune with them. Note, They who draw near to God, in his appointed way, will find him ever ready to hear and answer them.

1 Chap. xxviii. 12. 1 Kings vii. 4b. 2Chas. iv. 2.

23. ¶ 4 Thou shalt also make a table of shittim-wood; two cubits shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and half the height thereof. 24. And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, and make thereto a crown of gold round about. 25. And thou shalt make unto it a border of an hand-breadth round about, and thou shalt make a golden crown to the border thereof round about. 26. And thou shalt make for it four rings of gold, and put the rings in the four corners that are on the four feet thereof. 27. Over against the border shall the rings be for places of the faves to bear the table. 28. And thou shalt make the faves of shittim-wood, and over-lay them with gold, that the table may be born with them. 29. And thou shalt make ’the dishes thereof, and spoons thereof, and covers thereof, and bowls thereof, + to cover withal: of pure gold shall thou make them. 30. And thou shalt let upon the table ’them-bread before me always.

1 Num. iv. 2. 3. On to pure and withal. 4. Lev. xxix. 5.

Exodus 25:23-30

The table of the bread and its appurtenances, are directed to be made, to stand in the holy place without the will. Twelve loaves were placed upon it continually, in token of their thankfulness for the provision in the wilderness, and afterwards for their abundance in Canaan. Note, (1). Our daily bread is God’s, and should be tancified by daily prayer and thankful acknowledgment.

2. They who visit God’s house, shall be fed with his bread. He hath confidations to bestow (sweeter than manna, and more strengthening to our soul, than bread to our bodies.

3. ¶ And ’thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shalt, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers shall be of the same. 32. And six branches shall come out of the sides of it: three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side. 33. Three bowls made like unto almonds, with a knop and a flower in one branch, and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, with a knop and a flower: so in the six branches that come out of the candlestick. 34. And in the candlestick, shall be four bowls made like unto almonds, with their knops and their flowers. 35. And there shall be a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, according to the six branches that proceed out of the candlestick. 36. Their knops and their branches shall be of the same: all it shall be one beaten work of pure gold. 37. And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and ’they shall + light the lamps thereof, that they may + give light over against it. 38. And the toups thereof, and the South-dishes thereof, shall be of pure gold. 39. Of a talent of pure gold shall be made it, with all their vessels. 40. And I look that thou make them after their pattern, I which was shewed thee in the mount.

1 Chap. xxvii. 12.

31—40. 1. The tabernacle being without a window, light was necessary, and a most noble candlestick of gold of seven branches, highly ornamented, must be provided. Candi is to his church, and to every individual believer, what this candle-

stick was to the tabernacle. He shows in the mouth of his father, to show them the way to the presence and show of God, who dwelleth between the cherubims.

a. Notes is charged not to deviate from the divine pattern, in any particular. In God’s ordinance, we must abide by his express indications.