Welcome to the “But first, Bible” daily devotional podcast with Dave Miers.
Congratulations, you’ve made it to February! Before we get into our readings for today, I thought I’d share a few podcast stats with you.
During January there were over 8500 downloads! 80% of listeners were based in Australia, 10% in the United States, 5% in the UK & New Zealand, and the other 5% spread across 79 different countries. 65% of people listened via an Apple device and January 1 remains the most listened to episode.
Thank you for following along with this podcast, I’ve been encouraged by the work God has been doing in so many of you through reading his word together. If you ever have any questions or are looking for a church, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me via a message on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter.
Okay, today’s readings are from Exodus 27-28 and Matthew 21:23-46.
Two days ago we saw God’s covenant confirmed with Moses and the people in Exodus 24. Straight after that we are introduced to the Ark of the Covenant in Exodus 25. This was basically a gold-covered wooden chest that was to contain the tablets where God gave the law to Moses and a bunch of other things. Exodus 25 also introduces us to a table of bread and a golden lampstand. In Exodus 26 we are introduced to the tabernacle. The Tabernacle was like a portable temple or dwelling place for God. In the tabernacle were housed the ark of the covenant, the table for bread, the golden lampstand and a number of other things.
The tabernacle was really significant, it was a tangible expression among the people of Israel of God’s presence with them.
I want to focus in on the three things mentioned in Exodus 27 from today’s reading.
- The Bronze Altar
- The Court of the Tabernacle
- Oil for the lamp
First, from verses 1-8 we have a description how to construct the bronze altar. It’s a portable altar that would be able to move around as the tabernacle moved around. Why is an altar necessary? An altar was necessary because a sacrifice was required on the altar before anyone could come into the presence of God. We have already seen the importance of blood in the confirmation of the covenant, and here sacrifice is required to come before God.
Second, from verses 9-19 we have a description of the court of the tabernacle. Now to get an idea of what this looks like search for “The Tabernacle And Court” ESV online and you will see a diagram of all these descriptions. But basically the court was a fenced off area around the outside of the tabernacle. This fence was a reminder of the separateness of God because of his holiness.
Third, from verses 20-21 we see that the people were to regularly bring their best olive oil to the tabernacle to enable the lamp to keep burning. This light from the lamp was another symbol of God’s presence with his people.
One of the things I want to keep doing as we read the Old Testament together is show how everything points forward to Jesus.
And so if the bronze altar was a reminder that sacrifice is needed to come before God – it’s in Jesus we have a once and for all sacrifice so that we can permanently draw near to God.
If the court of the tabernacle reminder that God is seperate from us in holiness – in Jesus – the Holy One – we have one who has acted on our behalf to permanently bring us into the presence of God.
If oil was a reminder of God’s presence with his people – in Jesus we have one who is described as “the word who became flesh and made his dwelling among us”. Jesus is God’s presence and by his Spirit he is permanently with us.
John Owen said this,
“Everything Moses did in erecting the tabernacle and instituting all its services was intended to testify to the person and glory of Christ which would later be revealed.”
Until tomorrow, keep trusting Jesus