Day 26, or January the 26th. God deserves the
best. Our thoughts today are rooted in Exodus
25, verses 8 and 9. Then have them make a sanctuary
for me, and I will dwell among them. Make this
tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like
the pattern I will show you. Now the big picture
surrounding these verses. Today we are given
details about how to make a box, which would
be called the Ark of the Covenant, and be used
to hold the tablets of stone bearing the Ten
Commandments. There are also descriptions of
items of furniture, such as a table and lampstand,
that would be used inside the tabernacle, and
ultimately inside the Temple of Solomon. The
tabernacle was a large tent, made from separate
linen curtains held together with golden clasps.
This would be off -limits to everyone except
the high priest, and even then only once a year
on the Day of Atonement. Woven into the curtains
are threads of special colours, blue, purple,
and scarlet. These are royal and priestly colours.
that were very expensive to manufacture, and
therefore only used by important and wealthy
people. As a mark of respect and honour to God,
they were used in the tabernacle. Nothing's too
good for God. And now our action step for today.
The house of God is in perfect order. It had
to be, as the Hebrews believed God deserved only
the best. Throughout the centuries, church buildings
have been built using the best materials and
using the most expensive things to glorify God.
I have to be honest and say that there are times
when this does jar with me, when it seems wasteful
to my eye. But I am sure the builders knew why
they used such extravagant materials. However,
there is a strand in some churches today that
seems to believe that God will only use the cheapest
and be offended if it's good quality. It is not
particularly holy to only use the cheapest. Always
give God the best. Don't waste his money, but
always glorify him in the ways you use it.