Exodus 37: Making of the Ark- The House for the Commandments of God
1 Then Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood; two and a half cubits was its length, a cubit and a half its width, and a cubit and a half its height. 2 He overlaid it with pure gold inside and outside, and made a molding of gold all around it. 3 And he cast for it four rings of gold to be set in its four corners: two rings on one side, and two rings on the other side of it. 4 He made poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold. 5 And he put the poles into the rings at the sides of the ark, to bear the ark. 6 He also made the mercy seat of pure gold; two and a half cubits wasits length and a cubit and a half its width. 7 He made two cherubim of beaten gold; he made them of one piece at the two ends of the mercy seat: 8 one cherub at one end on this side, and the other cherub at the other end on that side. He made the cherubim at the two ends of one piece with the mercy seat. 9 The cherubim spread out their wings above, and covered the mercy seat with their wings. They faced one another; the faces of the cherubim were toward the mercy seat.
This text "records the building of the Ark and the Mercy-seat, instructions for which are recorded in Exodus 25:10-22;" (Coffman) “and the knowledge of this exact correspondence between the prescription and the execution was essential to the purposes of the fabric." (Jamieson-Fausset- Brown)
"Without this obedience, no amount of sacrifice and labor would have been acceptable.” (Wycliffe Commentary)
"It is the character of an upright heart that, like the ark of the testimony, it has the law of God hid and kept in it… If he write his law in our heart, he will be to us a God and we shall be to him a people.” (Matthew Henry)
"Thus he appeals to every reader concerning his fidelity to him that appointed him, in all his house. And thus he teacheth us to have respect to all God’s commandments, even to every jot and tittle of them." (Wesley)
He made two cherubim of beaten gold; he made them of one piece at the two ends of the mercy seat… "Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.” (1Peter 1:10-12) Yet angels are "...ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation…” (Hebrew 1:14)
On the mercy-seat of pure gold. "Beneath it lay the tables of the law, which even Moses had broken, almost as soon as they came into his hands, but which had been renewed. Concealing and covering them lay this golden lid, encrusted with the blood which successive generations of priests sprinkled there on the Great Day of Atonement.
There can be no doubt that this golden slab sets forth our Savior’s obedience unto death. God set Him forth to be 'the Propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.'
Our Lord’s obedience is priceless in the Divine esteem. — What pure gold is among metals, that is his advent to do God’s will, in comparison with all other endeavors to do it. It takes the first place, and is of peerless beauty and excellence. 'Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered.'” (F B Meyer)
Exodus 37: Making the Table for the Showbread and the Utensils
10 He made the table of acacia wood; two cubits was its length, a cubit its width, and a cubit and a half its height. 11 And he overlaid it with pure gold, and made a molding of gold all around it. 12 Also he made a frame of a handbreadth all around it, and made a molding of gold for the frame all around it. 13 And he cast for it four rings of gold, and put the rings on the four corners that were at its four legs. 14 The rings were close to the frame, as holders for the poles to bear the table. 15 And he made the poles of acacia wood to bear the table, and overlaid them with gold. 16 He made of pure gold the utensils which were on the table: its dishes, its cups, its bowls, and its pitchers for pouring.
This section contains the making of the table on which the showbread was to be continually placed just as instructed in Exodus 25:23-30, as it is written: "And you shall set the showbread on the table before Me always." (Exodus 25:30)
"Is the church his tabernacle? His grace in it spreads a table for all believers, furnished with the Bread of Life.” (Henry)
The central object was the showbread. But the most nutritious bread in the world will do you no good unless you eat it.
"Then Jesus said to them, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.'" (John 6:53) "Unless ye be made partakers of the blessings about to be purchased by my blood, passion, and violent death, ye cannot be saved. As a man must eat bread and flesh, in order to be nourished by them, so a man must receive the grace and Spirit of Christ, in order to his salvation. As food in a rich man's store does not nourish the poor man that needs it, unless it be given him, and he receive it into his stomach, so the whole fountain of mercy existing in the bosom of God, and uncommunicated, does not save a soul: he who is saved by it must be made a partaker of it." (Adam Clarke)
"In Matthew 12:1-8, the story of how the disciples plucked the ears of corn on the Sabbath day, we see growing suspicion. The Scribes and Pharisees regarded with growing suspicion a teacher who was prepared to allow his followers to disregard the minutia of the Sabbath Law. This was the kind of thing which could not be allowed to spread unchecked.” (William Barclay)
"At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, 'Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!' But He said to them, 'Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and ate the showbread which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? (1 Samuel 2:6) Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless? Yet I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the temple. But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ (Hosea 6:6) you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.'" (Matthew 12:1-8)
"Observe how much the dispensation of the gospel exceeds that of the law. Tho' here was a table furnished, it was only with shew-bread, bread to be looked upon, not to be fed upon, while it was on the table, and afterwards only by the priests: but to the table Christ has spread in the new covenant all good Christians are invited guests, and to them it is said, Eat, O friends, come eat of my bread. What the law gave but a sight of at a distance, the gospel gives the enjoyment of.” (Wesley) "...and a hearty welcome to.” (Henry)
Exodus 37: Making the Gold Lampstand
17 He also made the lampstand of pure gold; of hammered work he made the lampstand. Its shaft, its branches, its bowls, its ornamental knobs, and its flowers were of the same piece. 18 And six branches came out of its sides: three branches of the lampstand out of one side, and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side. 19 There were three bowls made like almond blossoms on one branch, with an ornamental knob and a flower, and three bowls made like almond blossoms on the other branch, with an ornamental knob and a flower—and so for the six branches coming out of the lampstand. 20 And on the lampstand itself were four bowls made like almond blossoms, each with its ornamental knob and flower. 21 There was a knob under the first two branches of the same, a knob under the second two branches of the same, and a knob under the third two branches of the same, according to the six branches extending from it. 22 Their knobs and their branches were of one piece; all of it was one hammered piece of pure gold. 23 And he made its seven lamps, its wick-trimmers, and its trays of pure gold. 24 Of a talent of pure gold he made it, with all its utensils.
And he made the candlestick of pure gold, as prescribed in Exodus 25:31-40, "according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.”
Aaron was "in charge of the lamps on the pure gold lampstand before the Lord continually.” (Leviticus 24:4) "This was symbolical of the light which ministers are to diffuse through the Church.” (Jameison-Faussett-Brown)
But wherein are we to be supplied? "Now the angel who talked with me came back and wakened me, as a man who is wakened out of his sleep. And he said to me, 'What do you see?’ So I said, 'I am looking, and there is a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top of it, and on the stand seven lamps with seven pipes to the seven lamps. Two olive trees are by it, one at the right of the bowl and the other at its left.' So I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, 'What are these, my lord?’ Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, 'Do you not know what these are?'And I said, 'No, my lord.’ So he answered and said to me: 'This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!’” (Zechariah 4:1-7)
"'The two olive trees,' which supply the material for the candlesticks, are fit emblems of the Old and New Testaments; the candlesticks typify the Jewish and Christian Churches." (Pulpit Commentary)
Whence cometh this Oil: "Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man… And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, 'Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.
’To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lamp stands: 'I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.” (Revelation 1:12-2:5)
“Ephesus … finds its Addressor walking among the lampstands, a pose that suggests His total interest and absorption with the affairs of this church.” (Nicholas Brightman) And still: "Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but Yahweh delivers him out of them all" (Psalm 34:18-19)-- not always from temporal devastation, but always from the eternal one.
But we must not miss the place of the church in the mix.
“In Revelation, God’s witnessing people are referred to as lampstands (11:4). As ancient Israel was called to be God’s light-bearing witness to the world (cf Isa 42:6-7; 49:6; 60:1-3), so is the church in Ephesus. When the Israelites ‘renounced their calling to be a light to the nations, God removed them as his light-bearing people and transferred the emblem of that call to the church.’ (Beale) The church is called to be the light for the world (Matt 5:14-16; Phil 2:15) If it [or a member of it] does not exercise its call to shine, it loses the very essence of its existence; consequently, it will have its witnessing lampstand removed from its place, just as Israel in the Old Testament.” (Ranko Stefanovic)
"The word of God is... pure in itself, without alloy, and serving to enlighten us for all the spiritual services whereunto we are consecrated. May we know how to value the inestimable blessing, and never provoke God to remove his blessed and holy word from us by our sins against the light of it.” (Coke) "Let us bless God for this candlestick, have an eye to it continually, and dread the removal of it out of its place!” (Wesley)
Exodus 37: Making the Altar of Incense
25 He made the incense altar of acacia wood. Its length was a cubit and its width a cubit—it was square—and two cubits was its height. Its horns were of one piece with it. 26 And he overlaid it with pure gold: its top, its sides all around, and its horns. He also made for it a molding of gold all around it. 27 He made two rings of gold for it under its molding, by its two corners on both sides, as holders for the poles with which to bear it. 28 And he made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold.
The golden altar was made as instructed in Exodus 30:1-6: "And you shall put it before the veil that is before the ark of the Testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the Testimony, where I will meet with you.”
And you shall put it before the veil, that is before the ark of the Testimony before the mercy seat... "It might have been doubtful from what is said here, which side of the veil the altar was to be placed. The doubt is precluded by the narrative of what Moses actually did in Exodus 40:21-29, which makes it clear that the altar was placed with the golden candlestick and the table of shew-bread, outside the veil, in the 'holy place,' and not within the 'holy of holies.' Where I will meet with thee.” (Pulpit Commentary)
"This is mentioned here in its natural position along with the other furniture of the Holy Place.” (Dummelow)
The rising smoke of incense signifying the prayer of the saints originate from the golden altar in Holy Place wherein all believers commune around the table of shewbread and the golden candlestick. Here they intercede for others against that great and awful day of Yahweh- even His return, the second time, apart from sin for salvation: "The incense burnt on this altar daily, signified both the prayers of saints, and the intercession of Christ, to which is owing the acceptableness of them.” (John Wesley)
We are in dire need Jesus' atoning sacrifice.
"No animal was offered on this altar, but only incense, though the blood of the sin offering was sprinkled on it on the great day of atonement, once each year (Leviticus16:18-19)." (L. M. Grant) "All my works, my righteousness, my prayers need an atonement in themselves. So that my mouth is stopped; I have nothing to plea. God is Holy, I am unholy, God is a consuming fire; I am altogether a sinner, meet to be consumed." (Wesley)
"And Yahweh said: 'I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows.'” (Exodus 3:7) Just as in the Exodus from slavery in Egypt, the prayers of the people played a role; so it is that in the delivery of God’s people from sin and death, the prayers of the saints are a part of it.
"So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, according to the custom of the priesthood,
his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, 'Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.’" (Luke 1:8-13)
"When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand. Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake." (Rev 8:1-5)
"And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven - Such a silence is mentioned but in this one place. It was uncommon, and highly observable: for praise is sounding in heaven day and night. In particular, immediately before this silence, all the angels, and before them the innumerable multitude, had been crying with a loud voice; and now all is still at once: there is an universal pause. Hereby the seventh seal is very remarkably distinguished from the six preceding. This silence before God shows that those who were round about him were expecting, with the deepest reverence, the great things which the Divine Majesty would farther open and order. Immediately after, the seven trumpets are heard, and a sound more august than ever. Silence is only a preparation: the grand point is, the sounding the trumpets to the praise of God...” (John Wesley), signifying final world events before His decent-- riding on the clouds.
Noon Repost: Exodus 37: Making the Anointing Oil and the Incense
29 He also made the holy anointing oil and the pure incense of sweet spices, according to the work of the perfumer.
See Exodus 30:23-38 for the instructions according to the work of the Heavenly Perfumer.... as such "Take onto yourself quality spices..." MYRRH "'is fragrant to the smell, but very bitter to the taste'(Mr. Ridout)... It is striking to note that the word itself is found just fourteen times therein (Bible)... eight of the references are in the Song of Solomon, which at once suggests that the prominent thought emblemized by it is love..." (A. W. Pink) "After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus,… asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus. And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of MYRRHS AND ALOES, ABOUT A HUNDRED POUNDS. Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury." (John 19:38-39)
"Your plants are an orchard of pomegranates with pleasant fruits, fragrant henna with spikenard, spikenard and saffron, CALAMUS AND CINNAMON with all trees of frankincense, myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices—a fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon." (SOS 4:13-15) "Believers, which are planted in thee, are like the plants or fruits of an orchard, which are pleasant to the eye, and delicious to the taste or smell, whereby he signifies the variety and excellency of the gifts and graces in the several members of the church.” (Wesley Notes)
CASSIA- One other occurrence: “Dan and Javan paid for your wares, traversing back and forth. Wrought iron, cassia, and cane were among your merchandise.” (Ezekiel 27:19.) "There we learn that this was one of the articles in which Tyre—the great merchant nation of the ancients—traded. Like Egypt, Tyre stands for the world. Typically, this tells us that even the world will traffic in the excellencies of Christ in order to further its sordid ends. It is very striking to note that in the very next chapter, Ezekiel 28:12-19, Satan is presented as the 'king of Tyre.' Thus we are there shown that the arch-enemy of God ever seeks to rob Christ, so far as he is permitted, of that worship which is His alone due.” ( A. W. Pink)
"Holy anointing oil, compounded of the most valuable ingredients, with which the priests, the altar, and almost every thing in the sanctuary were to be anointed. It was likewise poured upon kings, judges, and prophets, on their being appointed to office. This unction was emblematical of the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit, without which we cannot profitably attend on any divine ordinance, or officiate with acceptance in any sacred service..." (Sutcliffe Commentary) ”It signified the Holy Spirit of God, and his graces, that oil of gladness with which Christ and his people are anointed; and is that anointing which teacheth all things, see Psalm 45:7..." (Gill)
The incense, also made according to the work of the Perfumer, was burned upon the golden altar and "was prepared of sweet spices likewise, though not so rare and rich as those which the anointing oil was compounded of. This was prepared once a year, (the Jews say) a pound for each day of the year, and three pound overfor the day of atonement. When it was used it was to be beaten very small; thus it pleased the Lord to bruise the Redeemer, when he offered himself for a sacrifice of a sweet smelling savour..."( Wesley’s Explanatory Notes)... giving significance to all prayers made in the precious name of Jesus.