Exodus 35: Sabbath of Rest
1Then Moses gathered all the congregation of the children of Israel together, and said to them, “These are the words which Yahweh has commanded you to do: 2 Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh day shall be a holy day for you, a Sabbath of rest to Yahweh. Whoever does any work on it shall be put to death. 3 You shall kindle no fire throughout your dwellings on the Sabbath day.”
"Much has been said about the extensive repetition that confronts us in these chapters… Unger’s comment on the divine reason for the repetition here states that, 'It emphasized the importance of the tabernacle and its ritual in the history of redemption as foreshadowing the person and work of the coming Redeemer.’” (Coffman Commentary)
"And Moses gathered all the congregation of the children of Israel together,.... According to Jarchi, on the morrow after the day of atonement; that is, the next day after his descent from the mount, being desirous of setting about the building of the tabernacle, and making all things appertaining to it as soon as possible; which had been retarded through the sin of the golden calf, and making reconciliation for that:
and said unto them, these are the words which the Lord hath commanded, that ye should do them…” (Gill’s Exposition)
"All the congregation. All the Israelites were to be allowed the privilege of making offerings for the tabernacle (Exodus 25:2-7), and all who were competent might take part in the spinning and the weaving of the materials for the curtains and the holy vestments (Exodus 28:3; Exodus 35:10, 25; Exodus 36:4, etc.). All therefore had to be summoned, to learn what was required. These are the words, etc. - i.e., These are the injunctions especially 'laid' upon you at this time." (Pulpit Commentary)
The first injunction: Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh day shall be a holy day for you, a Sabbath of rest to the Lord. "Why was it necessary to refer so often to the Sabbath? (16:23-30; 20:8-11; 23:12; 31:13-17). The observance was the best guarantee of continued loyalty to God." (Thomas) It is a "sign," says Yahweh, "between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, Yahweh, sanctify you." (Exodus 31:13) Thus it is for us... and we too must be reminded to consider our activity on this holy day. And we also need to be reminded that there remains therefore a rest for the people of God.
“Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as in the days of provocation."
For your work to be effective in the touching of lives, it must be the Lord’s work, according to what He has commanded.
Kindle no fire: "The Jews understand this precept as forbidding the kindling of fire only for the purpose of doing work or dressing victuals; but to give them light and heat, they judge it lawful to light a fire on the Sabbath day." (Clarke) "The Hebrew language has two words for work: avodah and melachah. Avodah is a general term meaning work, while melachah is a word more related to business and things specifically forbidden on the Sabbath. One might say that here, God allowed some work (avodah) to be done on the Sabbath, but did not allow certain things on the Sabbath, especially business-related things (melachah).” (Guzik Commentary)— specifically here, the kindling of the fire pertaining to the building of the sanctuary. Though it is a holy calling, the work of building it is considered melachah for Israelites, "as for the heating of tools, or the melting of metals, or other things belonging to it; which being made for God’s service, and deserving and requiring all expedition, they might probably conceive that such work might be done upon that day.” (Benson Commentary) No!
Throughout your dwellings-it would be easy to hide the work done for the Tabernacle within the walls of the home. But a transgression, if discovered, would be punished by death.
Yet there is a fire which is not only lawful but expected on the Sabbath. Jesus said, "I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled!" (Luke 12:49)
Morning Repost: Exodus 35: Offerings for the Tabernacle
4 And Moses spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, “This is the thing which Yahweh commanded, saying:
5 ‘Take from among you an offering to Yahweh. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as an offering to Yahweh: gold, silver, and bronze; 6 blue, purple, and scarlet thread, fine linen, and goats’ hair; 7 ram skins dyed red, badger skins, and acacia wood; 8 oil for the light, and spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense; 9 onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate.10 All who are gifted artisans among you shall come and make all that Yahweh has commanded: 11 the tabernacle, its tent, its covering, its clasps, its boards, its bars, its pillars, and its sockets; 12 the ark and its poles, with the mercy seat, and the veil of the covering; 13 the table and its poles, all its utensils, and the showbread; 14 also the lampstand for the light, its utensils, its lamps, and the oil for the light; 15 the incense altar, its poles, the anointing oil, the sweet incense, and the screen for the door at the entrance of the tabernacle; 16 the altar of burnt offering with its bronze grating, its poles, all its utensils, and the laver and its base; 17 the hangings of the court, its pillars, their sockets, and the screen for the gate of the court; 18 the pegs of the tabernacle, the pegs of the court, and their cords; 19 the garments of ministry, for ministering in the holy place—the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons, to minister as priests.’"
20 And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses. 21 Then everyone came whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, and they brought Yahweh's ’s offering for the work of the tabernacle of meeting, for all its service, and for the holy garments. 22 They came, both men and women, as many as had a willing heart, and brought earrings and nose rings, rings and necklaces, all jewelry of gold, that is, every man who made an offering of gold to the Lord. 23 And every man, with whom was found blue, purple, and scarlet thread, fine linen, and goats’ hair, red skins of rams, and badger skins, brought them. 24 Everyone who offered an offering of silver or bronze brought Yahhweh’s offering. And everyone with whom was found acacia wood for any work of the service, brought it. 25 All the women who were gifted artisans spun yarn with their hands, and brought what they had spun, of blue, purple, and scarlet, and fine linen. 26 And all the women whose hearts stirred with wisdom spun yarn of goats’ hair. 27 The rulers brought onyx stones, and the stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate, 28 and spices and oil for the light, for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense. 29 The children of Israel brought a freewill offering to Yahweh, all the men and women whose hearts were willing to bring material for all kinds of work which Yahweh, by the hand of Moses, had commanded to be done.
This "correspond to vers. 2-7 of ch. 25, the correspondence in the list of offerings being exact.” (Pulpit Commentary)
"God who commanded his sanctuary to be made, has counted the costs, by amply providing the means of its erection. The gifts we find must proceed from a willing heart, and the work must be achieved by those whose spirit he had stirred up. The nation, men, women, and artists, were all cheerfully employed in preparing the habitation of the Most High. Let the christian world learn to do all the works of piety and of charity with these views, and in this spirit. Let us say, with Origen, 'Lord Jesus, grant that I may have some monument in thy tabernacle. Oh I would wish that some part of the gold might be my oblation, of which the mercy-seat is made and the ark covered, or out of which the candlestick is beaten. But if I have neither gold nor silver, I would at least wish to give brass for the sockets and the rings, and for other things prescribed by the command. Oh that I were one of the princes, that I might offer precious stones for the priestly vestments. That not being in my power, let me find the favour of offering goats’ hair to the temple of my God, that I may not be found unfruitful in his presence.'
...The Lord had once more promised to dwell among them, and accompany them to the good land. The princes offered their richest gifts, the ladies offered their jewels of gold and silver... The poorer women, destitute of gold, but rich in the labour of their hands, took hold of the distaff, and spun the yarn for the pavilion of God; and those trained to the finer works of the needle, embroidered the curtains with beautiful devices. Let the christian church catch this holy ardour, and serve God and his cause with a heart equally prompt and willing in his work.
The skilful artist, fraught with Egyptian science and celestial tuition, proceeded with the work. Struck with the simple majesty of the sacred model, they added no devices of their own, but conformed their work to the divine counsel and command. What a pattern for christian ministers to follow. Let us disencumber ourselves of the canons and creeds of corrupt ages, and go back to the fountains of scripture for pure water, and to the primitive church for perfect models, that we may build according to the Saviour’s heavenly plan.” (Sutcliffe Commentary)
Exodus 35: The Artisans Called by God
30 And Moses said to the children of Israel, “See, Yahweh has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; 31 and He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom and understanding, in knowledge and all manner of workmanship, 32 to design artistic works, to work in gold and silver and bronze, 33 in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of artistic workmanship. 34 And He has put in his heart the ability to teach, in him and Aholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. 35 He has filled them with skill to do all manner of work of the engraver and the designer and the tapestry maker, in blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine linen, and of the weaver—those who do every work and those who design artistic works. 36:1 And Bezalel and Aholiab, and every gifted artisan in whom Yahweh has put wisdom and understanding, to know how to do all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, shall do according to all that Yahweh has commanded."
"Moses had made this communication before. (Exodus 31:1-6) But now that the collection had been made, the materials were contributed, and the operations of building about to be commenced, it was with the greatest propriety he reminded the people that the individuals entrusted with the application of their gold and silver had been nominated to the work by authority to which all would bow.” (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown)
"And those whom God called by name to this service, he filled with the spirit of God, to qualify them for it. The work was extraordinary which Bezaleel was designed for, and therefore he was qualified in an extraordinary manner for it. Thus when the apostles were appointed to be master - builders in setting up the gospel - tabernacle, they were filled with the spirit of God in wisdom and understanding.” (Wesley Notes)
Jesus said to them, "'Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.' And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.'" (John 20:21-23)
"Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.' (Matthew 28:15-20)
"Then Peter said, 'Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.' And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God. (Acts 3:6-9)
"Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men." (Acts 17:10-12)
"We know not here which to admire most, the willingness of the people to give, or the diligence and emulation of the artists to expedite the work. [It was all wright by the Spirit.] In every view they are instructive to the christian church. We should never suffer the work of God to languish for want of support: and God having most amply supplied his ministers with all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge in his revealed word, they should all be busy in searching the scriptures, and in the acquisition of every branch of knowledge connected with the ministry. Here is work enough before them for a whole life. We should all be busy and full of energy, for God is raising his glorious and spiritual sanctuary; and that man who is idle in so great a day, will neither be made a pillar in the temple of God, nor suffered to dwell in his house." (Sutcliffe Commentary)