THE TABERNACLE (9), Dr. Samuel Lee
I WILL DWELL AMONG THEM
Passage: Exodus 25:1~22  
Key verse: 8
Offerings for the Tabernacle(A)
25 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from everyone whose heart prompts(B) them to give. 3 These are the offerings you are to receive from them: gold, silver and bronze; 4 blue, purple and scarlet yarn(C) and fine linen; goat hair; 5 ram skins dyed red and another type of durable leather[a];(D) acacia wood;(E) 6 olive oil(F) for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense;(G) 7 and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod(H) and breastpiece.(I)
8 “Then have them make a sanctuary(J) for me, and I will dwell(K) among them. 9 Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern(L) I will show you.
The Ark(M)
10 “Have them make an ark[b](N) of acacia wood—two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high.[c] 11 Overlay(O) it with pure gold, both inside and out, and make a gold molding around it. 12 Cast four gold rings for it and fasten them to its four feet, with two rings(P) on one side and two rings on the other. 13 Then make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.(Q) 14 Insert the poles(R) into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry it. 15 The poles are to remain in the rings of this ark; they are not to be removed.(S) 16 Then put in the ark the tablets of the covenant law,(T) which I will give you.
17 “Make an atonement cover(U) of pure gold—two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. 18 And make two cherubim(V) out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. 19 Make one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other; make the cherubim of one piece with the cover, at the two ends. 20 The cherubim(W) are to have their wings spread upward, overshadowing(X) the cover with them. The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the cover. 21 Place the cover on top of the ark(Y) and put in the ark the tablets of the covenant law(Z) that I will give you. 22 There, above the cover between the two cherubim(AA) that are over the ark of the covenant law, I will meet(AB) with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites.(AC)
Footnotes
- Exodus 25:5 Possibly the hides of large aquatic mammals
- Exodus 25:10 That is, a chest
- Exodus 25:10 That is, about 3 3/4 feet long and 2 1/4 feet wide and high or about 1.1 meters long and 68 centimeters wide and high; similarly in verse 17
Cross references
- Exodus 25:1 : 25:1-7pp — Ex 35:4-9
- Exodus 25:2 : Ex 35:21, 22, 26, 27, 29; 36:2; 2Ki 12:4; 1Ch 29:5, 7, 9; 2Ch 24:10; 29:31; Ezr 2:68; Ne 7:70-72; 2Co 8:11-12; 9:7
- Exodus 25:4 : Ex 28:4-8
- Exodus 25:5 : Nu 4:6, 10
- Exodus 25:5 : Dt 10:3
- Exodus 25:6 : Ex 27:20; 30:22-32; 35:28; 39:37; Nu 4:16
- Exodus 25:6 : Ex 30:1, 7, 35; 31:11; 35:28; Lev 16:12; Nu 4:16; 7:14; 2Ch 13:11
- Exodus 25:7 : Ex 28:4, 6-14; 29:5; Jdg 8:27; Hos 3:4
- Exodus 25:7 : Lev 8:8
- Exodus 25:8 : Ex 36:1-5; Lev 4:6; 10:4, 7; 21:12, 23; Nu 3:28; Heb 9:1-2
- Exodus 25:8 : Ex 29:45; Lev 26:11-12; Nu 5:3; Dt 12:11; 1Ki 6:13; Zec 2:10; 2Co 6:16
- Exodus 25:9 : ver 40; Ex 26:30; 27:8; 31:11; 39:32, 42, 43; Nu 8:4; 1Ch 28:11, 19; Ac 7:44; Heb 8:5
- Exodus 25:10 : 25:10-20pp — Ex 37:1-9
- Exodus 25:10 : Dt 10:1-5; 1Ki 6:19; Heb 9:4
- Exodus 25:11 : ver 24; Ex 30:3
- Exodus 25:12 : ver 26; Ex 30:4
- Exodus 25:13 : ver 28; Ex 27:6; 30:5; 37:28
- Exodus 25:14 : Ex 27:7; 40:20; 1Ch 15:15
- Exodus 25:15 : 1Ki 8:8
- Exodus 25:16 : S Ex 16:34; Heb 9:4
- Exodus 25:17 : ver 21; Lev 16:13; Ro 3:25
- Exodus 25:18 : Ex 26:1, 31; 36:35; 1Ki 6:23, 27; 8:6; 2Ch 3:10-13; Heb 9:5
- Exodus 25:20 : S Ge 3:24
- Exodus 25:20 : Ex 37:9; 1Ki 8:7; 1Ch 28:18; Heb 9:5
- Exodus 25:21 : ver 10-15; Ex 26:34; 40:20; Dt 10:5
- Exodus 25:21 : S Ex 16:34; Heb 9:4
- Exodus 25:22 : Nu 7:89; 1Sa 4:4; 2Sa 6:2; 22:11; 2Ki 19:15; 1Ch 13:6; 28:18; Ps 18:10; 80:1; 99:1; Isa 37:16
- Exodus 25:22 : S Ex 19:3; 29:42; 30:6, 36; Lev 1:1; 16:2; Nu 17:4
- Exodus 25:22 : Jer 3:16
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Source:  BibleGateway
God's desire is to dwell with his people. To do so, God tells Moses to have the people make a sanctuary for God. The community itself, through volunteer offerings, would collect all the necessary materials to construct it, and God would give detailed instructions based on his own pattern. This is a shadow of a heavenly tabernacle, pointing to Jesus, who made his dwelling among us (Heb 9:8).
2. The ark and the atonement cover (10-22)
The first and most important part of the tabernacle was the ark of the covenant law, where the terms of the covenant between the holy God and his people were kept. The atonement cover is where God meets with his people, based on the covenant and the blood of atonement for sin (Lev 16:2,15-16). In Jesus, we dwell with God through a far superior covenant (Heb 8:6-7). So let us draw near to God by faith in Jesus and his blood shed for our atonement (Heb 10:19-22).
Prayer: Father, you are holy, we are sinful. Yet you made a way to dwell with us based on covenant and blood. Thank you for Jesus.
One Word: Draw near to God