EXODUS LESSON 61

    We will begin this lesson in Exodus 37:1 "And Bezaleel made the
ark [of] shittim wood: two cubits and a half [was] the length of it,
and a cubit and a half the breadth of it, and a cubit and a half the
height of it:" Exodus 37:2 "And he overlaid it with pure gold within
and without, and made a crown of gold to it round about."  Exodus 37:3
"And he cast for it four rings of gold, [to be set] by the four
corners of it; even two rings upon the one side of it, and two rings
upon the other side of it." Exodus 37:4 "And he made staves [of]
shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold."  Exodus 37:5 "And he put
the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, to bear the ark."
Exodus 37:6  "And he made the mercy seat [of] pure gold: two cubits
and a half [was] the length thereof, and one cubit and a half the
breadth thereof." Exodus 37:7 "And he made two cherubims [of] gold,
beaten out of one piece made he them, on the two ends of the mercy
seat;" Exodus 37:8 "One cherub on the end on this side, and another
cherub on the [other] end on that side: out of the mercy seat made he
the cherubims on the two ends thereof."  Exodus 37:9 "And the
cherubims spread out [their] wings on high, [and] covered with their
wings over the mercy seat, with their faces one to another; [even] to
the mercy seatward were the faces of the cherubims."

    This ark of the covenant covered by the mercy seat was what this
tabernacle was all about.  This ark was a gold covered box which will
contain the two stones bearing the Ten Commandments, Aaron's rod that
bloomed , and some Manna. You see that the covenant of God with man is
two-fold. Man's agreement was to keep God's law. God's promise to man
was covered in Jesus Christ who is the heavenly Manna (the Bread of
Life). In the 17th chapter of Numbers, we can see why Aaron's rod
bloomed, to show that the tribe of Levi would be the workers in the
Holy Place. We see, here, in Aaron's rod a provision made for the
Israelites, and in the Manna provisions through Jesus Christ for the
believers in Christ. The law was not to be done away with, but
fulfilled in Jesus. There is a mercy seat in heaven where our great
High Priest (Jesus Christ) took His own blood to do away with our sins.
The high priest was the only one allowed into the Holy of Holies where
the mercy seat covered the ark in the very presence of God.  These
cherubims were facing the ark which was the focal point in the Holy of
Holies. It was very important not to touch this ark and mercy seat, so
that was why the staves and rings were there. Take one more look that
everything in this Holy of Holies was 24 kt. gold or 24 kt. gold
overlay. The presence of God hovered over the mercy seat. This job,
because of its great importance, was done by Bezaleel.

    Exodus 37:10  "And he made the table [of] shittim wood: two cubits
[was] the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit
and a half the height thereof:" Exodus 37:11 "And he overlaid it with
pure gold, and made thereunto a crown of gold round about." Exodus
37:12 "Also he made thereunto a border of an handbreadth round about;
and made a crown of gold for the border thereof round about." Exodus
37:13 "And he cast for it four rings of gold, and put the rings upon
the four corners that [were] in the four feet thereof." Exodus 37:14
"Over against the border were the rings, the places for the staves to
bear the table." Exodus 37:15 "And he made the staves [of] shittim
wood, and overlaid them with gold, to bear the table." Exodus 37:16
"And he made the vessels which [were] upon the table, his dishes, and
his spoons, and his bowls, and his covers to cover withal, [of] pure
gold."

    We see here, also, a very important piece of furniture. The table
to hold the shewbread was of great importance. Jesus Christ is the
Bread of Life. In fact, this shewbread symbolizes Him. We see that
this table was of shittim wood covered with pure gold.  It had to be
covered in pure gold because Jesus Christ (the Word) is the second
personage in the Godhead. He is God the Word, God the Life, God the
Light, and a thousand more; but for this particular instance here, He
(Jesus) is God the Bread. This table had to be covered in gold (just as
the mercy seat) because of the presence of God the Bread. Again, just
as in the mercy seat, the people who carried this table from place to
place could not touch it. To touch the ark, the mercy seat, the table,
the candlestick, and many other items of the tabernacle would be
certain death.  This was the purpose in the gold plated staves, to
carry it. Here again, this item (as the ark and the mercy seat) was too
important to allow others to make, and Bezaleel made this, as well.

    Exodus 37:17  "And he made the candlestick [of] pure gold: [of]
beaten work made he the candlestick; his shaft, and his branch, his
bowls, his knops, and his flowers, were of the same:" Exodus 37:18
"And six branches going out of the sides thereof; three branches of
the candlestick out of the one side thereof, and three branches of the
candlestick out of the other side thereof:" Exodus 37:19 "Three bowls
made after the fashion of almonds in one branch, a knop and a flower;
and three bowls made like almonds in another branch, a knop and a
flower: so throughout the six branches going out of the candlestick."
Exodus 37:20 "And in the candlestick [were] four bowls made like
almonds, his knops, and his flowers:" Exodus 37:21 "And 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 going out of it." Exodus 37:22 "Their knops and their
branches were of the same: all of it [was] one beaten work [of] pure
gold." Exodus 37:23 "And he made his seven lamps, and his snuffers,
and his snuffdishes, [of] pure gold."  Exodus 37:24 "[Of] a talent of
pure gold made he it, and all the vessels thereof."

    The candlestick of gold, along with other things too numerous to
mention, tell us that beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus Christ
(the Light of the world), was, is, and always will be God.  He took on
the form of man for His life on earth and death on the cross for you
and me.  He never stopped being God, however. The problem in churches
today is that very few people realize that Jesus Christ was God who
took on the form of flesh and dwelt among us. He was Emmanuel (God
with us). If there is any question in your mind that Jesus was God,
read St. John 1. It should settle it for you.  This candlestick was in
the Holy Place. There were 7 places for light to show from the
candlestick. This 7 just shows that God's Light is complete and is
sufficient for all mankind. This candlestick and the Bread in the
paragraph before just show that to get to heaven and God the Father
we must come through Jesus. The candlestick and the table were just
outside the Holy of Holies in the Holy Place. Even the High Priest had
to come through the Holy Place to get to the Holy of Holies. We find
again, as we go on, that to get even to the Holy Place we must come by
the way of repentance.

    Exodus 37:25  "And he made the incense altar [of] shittim wood:
the length of it [was] a cubit, and the breadth of it a cubit; [it
was] foursquare; and two cubits [was] the height of it; the horns
thereof were of the same." Exodus 37:26 "And he overlaid it with pure
gold, [both] the top of it, and the sides thereof round about, and the
horns of it: also he made unto it a crown of gold round about."
Exodus 37:27 "And he made two rings of gold for it under the crown
thereof, by the two corners of it, upon the two sides thereof, to be
places for the staves to bear it withal." Exodus 37:28 "And he made
the staves [of] shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold." Exodus
37:29  "And he made the holy anointing oil, and the pure incense of
sweet spices, according to the work of the apothecary."

    This altar of incense, again, was in the Holy Place. This is where
twice a day incense was burned. This incense, we know, is symbolic of
the prayers of saints.  This, also, must be gold, because we see this
altar in the very near presence of the candlestick and the bread.
This had to be treated in a godly manner, as well, thus the staves to
carry it with.  This altar of incense in every way symbolizes the
place of prayer for the Christians.

    In all of these items in the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies, we
find that everything in them were either 24 kt. pure gold, or 24 kt.
pure gold overlay. The boards for this enclosure were set in silver
sockets (redemption) when this tabernacle was set up.  The outer court
was an enclosure where the tent of the tabernacle was housed.






















                          Exodus 61 Questions


1.  Who made the ark of shittim wood?
2.  What was the size of the ark?
3.  What was the ark overlaid with?
4.  What were the rings to carry it made of?
5.  What were the two cherubims made of?
6.  What was the mercy seat made of?
7.  Which direction did the cherubim face?
8.  What was the central focus, other than God, of the tabernacle?
9.  What would the ark contain when complete?
10. The covenant of God with man is ------------.
11. What was man's part in the agreement?
12. What did God promise man?
13. Where can we find the Scripture that tells about Aaron's rod
    blooming?
14. Who is the Christian's great High Priest?
15. Who was the only one allowed in the Holy of Holies?
16. What was the table made of?
17. What was it overlaid with?
18. What would the table hold?
19. Who is the Bread of Life?
20. Name 4 special names of Jesus Christ.
21. What was the candlestick made of?
22. All of the candlestick was one ------- work of pure gold.
23. How many lamps were on the candlestick?
24. What does this candlestick of pure gold tell us beyond a shadow of
    a doubt about Jesus?
25. Where was the candlestick located?
26. What was the altar of incense made of?
27. What did the burned incense rising symbolize?
28. How often was the incense burned?
29. In the tabernacle, the gold covered boards were set in sockets of _____.
30. The outer court was an enclosure for what?