Morning Devotional

April 4, 2004

"Instruction for the Tabernacle" 

by Don Emmitte

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Make the Tabernacle from ten sheets of fine linen. These sheets are to be decorated with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, with figures of cherubim skillfully embroidered into them. Each sheet must be forty-two feet long and six feet wide. All ten sheets must be exactly the same size. Join five of these sheets together into one set; then join the other five sheets into a second set. Put loops of blue yarn along the edge of the last sheet in each set. The fifty loops along the edge of one set are to match the fifty loops along the edge of the other. Then make fifty gold clasps to fasten the loops of the two sets of sheets together, making the Tabernacle a single unit. (Exodus 26:1 NLT).

In our reading this morning, we are told how God gave His instructions to the Israelites concerning the construction of the Tabernacle. If you continue reading in this chapter you will find other instructions as to the clothing for the priests. He gave specific commands for this endeavor. God spared no beauty, time or workmanship on His special dwelling place. He called for the finest linen, decorated with color and embroidered with cherubim. A great amount of gold and silver would enhance the beauty of the construction, and gemstones would be set in the priests' vest. The garments for the priest were called to be "made beautifully, which would lend dignity to the priests' work." God then told how He equipped the craftsmen, and "filled them with the Spirit of God" and gave them special skills to do the job at hand.

Today, our bodies are the temple of God. He spared no beauty, time or workmanship on His special dwelling place. We have been made in His image, and I believe He wants us to shine for Him, inside and out!

The instructions regarding outer clothing are easy. They should adhere to standards that conform with those of the priests' of long ago. This does not mean that we cannot wear casual clothing, but that we should wear clothing that does not interfere with the task of representing Christ to others. Wearing gold, silver, or jewelry with gemstones does not deter from our mission of spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. He has equipped us, just as He did those early craftsmen with the power of the Holy Spirit and special gifts and skills to use for Him. I am so glad to be reminded that our God enjoys things of beauty from a spectrum of color to embroidery, to jewels.

However, we ought to also pay attention to how we are clothed inside. This is the clothing of character. Truth and integrity are the easiest characteristics to notice. And, yet they seem to be some of the hardest to develop. There are other beautiful jewels to use in the development of our inner clothing. These are things like loyalty, love, and understanding. Others accompany these, like patience and kindness. What does your tabernacle look like?