Exodus 25:1 - Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

Bible Comments

Moses Shown God's Plan for the Tabernacle

Exodus 24:12-18; Exodus 25:1-9

There were four concentric circles, so to speak, represented as gathered around the burning center of the Divine Presence. In the outer circle, the people, Exodus 24:2; Exodus 24:17; next, the seventy elders, Exodus 24:9; Exodus 24:14; then, Joshua, Exodus 24:13; Exodus 32:17, and lastly, Moses, Exodus 24:18. These represent respectively, the unenlightened; those whose religious life is hindered by their excessive devotion to the flesh; the few whose fellowship is liable to be interrupted by the war-clarion; and those who have been made nigh unto God in Jesus Christ our Lord, and have been baptized into the Holy Spirit. To which group have we attained? We are invited to draw nigh, let us act on the invitation. See Hebrews 10:19-20. There is always room at the top, and there we may stand, beholding, as in a glass, the glory of the Lord. Notice that God said, Come up unto Me. He longs to have our love and faith; His delights are with the sons of men; at great cost He has opened the door of access, Romans 5:1-2. We need God, but God wants us, and therefore the construction of the Tabernacle is next arranged, that He may dwell with man upon the earth.

Exodus 25:1-9

1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.

3 And this is the offeringa which ye shall take of them; gold, and silver, and brass,

4 And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair,

5 And rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins, and shittim wood,

6 Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense,

7 Onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate.

8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.

9 According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.