Exodus 38:1 says, And he made the altar of burnt offering of shittim wood: five cubits was the length thereof, and five cubits the breadth thereof; it was foursquare; and three cubits the height thereof.  In the Old Testament, altars were built at various places to serve as a place to worship God.  It is only natural that the tabernacle would include an altar, since it was to be a place of  worship to God for the people of Israel.  Today, we may have an altar in the church building, but the most important thing is to allow our heart to be an altar to God.  Verse two states, And he made the horns thereof on the four corners of it; the horns thereof were of the same: and he overlaid it with brass.  Our altars don't usually have horns on them, but this one did.  They were overlooked with brass, which wasn't as expensive as gold, but was more practical.  Our worship today should not be just showy, but should be practical and functional as well.  If we make a beautiful altar but are afraid to use it because we don't want to mess it up, we miss the point.  Verse three says, And he made all the vessels of the altar, the pots, and the shovels, and the basons, and the fleshhooks, and the firepans: all the vessels thereof made he of brass.  The altar was to be a place of sacrifice, so there was a need of implements to help with the sacrifice.  When we offer ourselves to God as a living sacrifice, we must offer all that we have to help support that living sacrifice.  Verse four states, And he made for the altar a brasen grate of network under the compass thereof beneath unto the midst of it.  This was to catch and remove what was left over from the sacrifice.  Once we have sacrificed something to God, if there are remnants, we cannot allow them to get in our way.  We must clear out the dross.  Verse five declares, And he cast four rings for the four ends of the grate of brass, to be places for the staves.  Then verse six adds, And he made the staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with brass.  As with everything else, the grate had to be moveable.  The rings and staves were made of brass.  Verse seven continues, And he put the staves into the rings on the sides of the altar, to bear it withal; he made the altar hollow with boards.  The altar was likewise to be transportable.  We, as followers of Christ, having the altar of God in our hearts, are to be a moving as well as a living sacrifice to God.  Verse eight states, And he made the laver of brass, and the foot of it of brass, of the lookingglasses of the women assembling, which assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.  The laver was made of the looking glasses of the women who were gathering at the temple.  Matthew Henry says they weren't just there to watch but to help in the work.  The looking glasses were made of fine brass, not of glass as we would think of today.  Women have not only always helped with the work of the church,but often do the lions share of it.

Exodus 37:20 says, And in the candlestick were four bowls made like almonds, his knops, and his flowers:  These last few verses concern the candlestick.  It says there were four bowls like almonds, knops, and flowers.  I have a hard time visualizing this, but it was all to be made according to God's plan.  So, today if we cannot visualize all of God's plan, if we are following His guidance, everything will be okay.  Verse twenty-one states, 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.  Then verse twenty-two adds, Their knops and their branches were of the same: all of it was one beaten work of pure gold.  The dictionary says a knop is a knob, especially an ornamental one.  The six branches and their knops were all the same. and they were made of pure gold.  Verse twenty-three says, And he made his seven lamps, and his snuffers, and his snuffdishes, of pure gold.  There were a seven lamps, snuffers, and snuff dishes made of pure gold.  We can see why those who were not a part of the people of Israel, God's people, would want the items in the tabernacle.  There was a lot of gold used in making them.  We today as followers of Christ, may not have great riches, but often those in the world desire what we have.  The most valuable thing we have is a relationship with Christ, as was true of the people of Israel, and that is free for the asking.  Verse twenty-four states, Of a talent of pure gold made he it, and all the vessels thereof.  Again, there was a lot of gold used in the construction of these items, and the people of Israel had been willing to give more.  We should always willingly give to support God's work.  Verse twenty-five declares, 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.  There was an altar built to burn incense, and it also had horns on it.  Verse twenty-six adds, 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.  Verse twenty-seven continues, 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.  Then verse twenty-eight concludes, And he made the staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold.  As with tabernacle and everything else in it, the altar was to be transportable.  With all the gold involved, these things had to be heavy.  The people of Israel not only brought the supplies necessary to build and furnish the tabernacle according to God's plan, but they had to transport when they traveled.  We today are simply tasked with carrying the gospel into the world, yet we often act as though this is too much to ask.  Verse twenty-nine states, And he made the holy anointing oil, and the pure incense of sweet spices, according to the work of the apothecary.  The holy anointing oil was made ready.  We today are anointed by the blood of Christ if we are Christians, and as with the anointing oil spoken of here, it is all by God's design.  

EXO37:10  says, 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:  Again, these next few verses simply tell us that the things that were to go into the tabernacle were built according to God's plans, now talking about the table.  Verse eleven says, And he overlaid it with pure gold, and made thereunto a crown of gold round about.  The table was also overlaid with gold.  This made it not only more ornate, but also more durable.  People might not be concerned with a table made just of wood, but one covered with gold would be valuable to them.  We might not be too interested in someone Who died on a cross, unless we realize how valuable that death was to everyone who ever lived or ever will live.  Verse twelve adds, Also he made thereunto a border of an handbreadth round about; and made a crown of gold for the border thereof round about.  This was how God told Moses to have the table built and how Moses told the builders.  Moses was still the spokesman of God who stood between God and the people.  The Holy Spirit is our representative before God today if we are followers of Christ.  The Holy Spirit guides us to do the will of God.  Verse thirteen says, And he cast for it four rings of gold, and put the rings upon the four corners that were in the four feet thereof.   The table like everything else was to be made mobile because God's people were to be on the move to the promised land.  Our service to and worship of God should keep us moving in the world round us.  We are not at home in this world.  Verse fourteen states, Over against the border were the rings, the places for the staves to bear the table.  These items were to also fit together according to God's plan.  When we as Christians are following God's plan, we all fit together to accomplish His purpose.  Verse fifteen says, And he made the staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold, to bear the table.  The staves were to fit in the rings to transport the table.  Verse sixteen states, 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.  These were the vessels that were to be used in the worship service.  Verse seventeen says, 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:  Verse eighteen adds, 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:  Then verse nineteen concludes, 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.  The bowls and candlesticks were made to fit together.  As I have said before and will likely say again, we as followers of Christ are meant to fit together in doing God's work.

1. Exodus 37:1 says, 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:  Now, we have a record of the actual building of the items that God had instructed Moses to build.  We are told that Bezaleel started by building the ark in accordance with God's instructions to Moses.  We know that Bezaleel did not do this alone, but that others helped him.  We today must do God's work in accordance with His instructions, or direction, and we need to acknowledge that we are not alone in doing God's work.  Matthew Henry says that the instructions for the building of these items of worship are recorded more than once because first God told Moses, then Moses told Bezaleel and the others, and now it was being recorded for the rest of the people and the future generations  to see that these things were built faithfully according to God's plan. Also, some of the items would be in the holy of holies and never be seen by most of the people of Israel.  The next several verses simply record the fact that the ark and all associated with it were built following God's plan given to Moses.  Verse two says, And he overlaid it with pure gold within and without, and made a crown of gold to it round about.  This verse tells us that the ark was built of gold, a very precious metal.  Of course, we are to bring the best that we have to God today as we serve and worship Him.  Verse three states, 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.  These rings were to make it portable, so that the ark, which represented God's presence, could go with the people of Israel as they traveled, just as the Holy Spirit, God's presence with us today, goes with us wherever we go today.  Verse four says, And he made staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold.  If the ark was to be transported, there had to be a way to transport it.  If the gospel is to go into the world today, we as followers of Christ must transport, or carry it.  Verse five states, And he put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, to bear the ark.  The rings and the staves had a purpose, and they had to be used for their purpose in order to be effective.  As Christians today, we all have our purpose, and we must do what God calls us to do if we are to effectively advance God's kingdom.  Verse six says,  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.  After the ark was completed, the mercy seat was made.  Verse seven states,  And he made two cherubims of gold, beaten out of one piece made he them, on the two ends of the mercy seat; Verse eight adds, 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. Then verse nine concludes, 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.  The ark and the mercy seat were built according to God's instructions, being ornate, functional and mobile.

Exodus 36:20 says. And he made boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood, standing up.  This begins telling the way the boards of the tabernacle were made, and again this was by the design that God had given Moses.  I will basically just share the verses without comment, since they are self explanatory.  Verse twenty-one states, The length of a board was ten cubits, and the breadth of a board one cubit and a half.  Verse twenty-two says, One board had two tenons, equally distant one from another: thus did he make for all the boards of the tabernacle.  Verse twenty-three states, And he made boards for the tabernacle; twenty boards for the south side southward:  Then verse twenty-four says, And forty sockets of silver he made under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for his two tenons, and two sockets under another board for his two tenons.  Like the curtains, the boards were made to fit together and to be mobile.  The church today should likewise fit together as one body and be mobile going into the world.  Verse twenty-five states, And for the other side of the tabernacle, which is toward the north corner, he made twenty boards,  Verse twenty-six adds, And their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.  Then verse twenty-seven says, And for the sides of the tabernacle westward he made six boards. Verse twenty-eight continues, And two boards made he for the corners of the tabernacle in the two sides. Then verse twenty-nine says, And they were coupled beneath, and coupled together at the head thereof, to one ring: thus he did to both of them in both the corners.  Then verse thirty declares, And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according to the fashion thereof which was shewed thee in the mount.  Not only was Moses given the plans for making the tabernacle by God, but God also gave him instructions for how to raise the tabernacle up after it was made.  God still gives instructions to us today as followers of Christ about how He expects us to raise up His church.  We must all fit together to be the most effective.  No one church, or body of believers that make up a local church, can act totally on its own with no concern for other body of believers.  Verse thirty ones says, And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made:  These next few verses speak of the making of the veil of the tabernacle.  It was not only to serve a purpose, but it was to be decorated ornately.  When we come to God today, not only does He have a purpose for us, but He will make our lives spiritually ornate.  Verse thirty-two adds,  And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver. Verse thirty-three states, And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.  The veil was to be hung according to God's directions and was to divide the holy place from the most holy place, where only the high priest could go, and then only at specific times.  We no longer have these restrictions, because when Christ died for us, He tore the veil in half.  We, who are followers of Christ, not only have unlimited access to God, but we have the Holy Spirit living in us.  Verse thirty-four adds, And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.  Verse thirty-five continues, And thou shalt set the table without the vail, and the candlestick over against the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south: and thou shalt put the table on the north side.  The ark of the covenant and the mercy seat were to be within the veil, and the table and the candlesticks were to be outside the veil, but still in a position specified by God.  Even when we may not be as close to God as we should be, He still expects u to be guided by His law.  Verse thirty-six says, And thou shalt make an hanging for the door of the tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework.  Then verse thirty seven adds, And thou shalt make for the hanging five pillars of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, and their hooks shall be of gold: and thou shalt cast five sockets of brass for them.  Then verse thirty-eight concludes, And the five pillars of it with their hooks: and he overlaid their chapiters and their fillets with gold: but their five sockets were of brass.  God still gives guidance to His church today, and we must all work together to accomplish His work.

Today I will pause in the study of Exodus to wish everyone a Merry Christmas.   We need to remember that we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Messiah, today.  May you and your family have a wonderful Christmas.  There will never be a greater gift than the gift of salvation that He came to offer to everyone.  If you haven't accepted this gift, there will never be a better time than this Christmas day.  May God bless everyone today and every day.

Exodus 36:8 says, And every wise hearted man among them that wrought the work of the tabernacle made ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work made he them.  This verse and the next several have to do with the people completing the work of the tabernacle as God had told Moses to build it.  This verse speaks of the curtains, and once again we are told that they were made by wise hearted men.  We must do God's work in accordance with His plans, and if we are followers of Christ, we will be wise enough to do so.  Verse nine says, The length of one curtain was twenty and eight cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: the curtains were all of one size.  These were some large curtains, but they were made according to God's specifications to Moses.  This is one reason Moses was up the mountain so long.  He wasn't there just to get receive the Ten Commandments, but he also received all the specifications for the tabernacle.  We need to take the time to know all of God's plans before we attempt to implement them.  Verse ten adds, And he coupled the five curtains one unto another: and the other five curtains he coupled one unto another.  Again, this is just the fulfillment of God's plan for the tabernacle.  Though the people were doing it, it was God Who had planned the tabernacle and had empowered the people to build it, including providing the necessary supplies, because even though the people brought them to Moses, they had them because God had provided these things for them.  Verse eleven says,. And he made loops of blue on the edge of one curtain from the selvedge in the coupling: likewise he made in the uttermost side of another curtain, in the coupling of the second.  Then verse twelve adds, Fifty loops made he in one curtain, and fifty loops made he in the edge of the curtain which was in the coupling of the second: the loops held one curtain to another.  The curtains were made to fit together, just as God's people should fit together today when the worship and serve Him.  Verse thirteen states, And he made fifty taches of gold, and coupled the curtains one unto another with the taches: so it became one tabernacle.  This is simply more about how the curtains would fit together as one tabernacle.  Verse fourteen says, And he made curtains of goats’ hair for the tent over the tabernacle: eleven curtains he made them.  These were the curtains that would protect the tabernacle from the weather and they were made to be more durable than ornate.  When we do the work of God today, we need to make sure that it is durable.  We cannot just present a pretty picture of the gospel, though the end result will be beautiful, but we must make sure that when we accept Christ as Savior and Lord that our faith is durable.  Verse fifteen says, The length of one curtain was thirty cubits, and four cubits was the breadth of one curtain: the eleven curtains were of one size.  Verse sixteen adds, And he coupled five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves.  Verse seventeen continues, And he made fifty loops upon the uttermost edge of the curtain in the coupling, and fifty loops made he upon the edge of the curtain which coupleth the second.  Then verse eighteen adds still, And he made fifty taches of brass to couple the tent together, that it might be one.  Then verse nineteen concludes, And he made a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of badgers’ skins above that.  The curtains were completed according to the design that God had given Moses, and when it says he did this, this does not mean that just one person was doing the work.  Today, we must all work together as Christians if we are to accomplish God's plan, and it doesn't matter who gets the credit for it.