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Exodus Chapter Thirty-seven

Exodus 37

Chapter Contents

The making of the ark and the furniture of the tabernacle.

In the furniture of the tabernacle were emblems of a spiritual and acceptable service. The incense represented the prayers of the saints. The sacrifice of the alter represented the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world. The golden pot with manna or bread from heaven the flesh of Jesus Christ which he gave for the life of the world. The candlestick with its lights the teaching and enlightening of the Holy Spirit. The shew-bread represented that provision for those who hunger and thirst after righteousness which the gospel the ordinances and the sacraments of the house of prayer abundantly bestow. The exactness of the workmen to their rule should be followed by us; seeking for the influences of the Holy Spirit that we may rejoice in and glorify God while in this world and at length be with him for ever.

── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on Exodus》

Exodus 37

Verse 1-9

[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: [2] And he overlaid it with pure gold within and without and made a crown of gold to it round about. [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. [4] And he made staves of shittim wood and overlaid them with gold. [5] And he put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark to bear the ark. [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. [7] And he made two cherubims of gold beaten out of one piece made he them on the two ends of the mercy seat; [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. [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.

These several ornaments where with the tabernacle was furnished the people were not admitted to see but the priests only; and therefore it was requisite they should be thus largely described particularly to them. And Moses would thus shew the great care which he and his workmen took to make every thing exactly according to the pattern shewed him in the mount. Thus he appeals to every reader concerning his fidelity to him that appointed him in all his house. And thus he teacheth us to have respect to all God's commandments even to every jot and tittle of them. In these verses we have an account of the making of the ark with its glorious and significant appurtenances the mercy-seat and the cherubim. Consider these three together and they represent the glory of a holy God the sincerity of a holy heart and the communion that is between them by a Mediator. It is the glory of a holy God that he dwelleth between the cherubim that is is continually attended by the blessed angels whose swiftness was signified by the wings of the cherubim and their unanimity in their services by their faces being one towards another. It is the character of an upright heart that like the ark of the testimony it hath the law of God hid and kept in it. By Jesus Christ the great propitiation there is reconciliation made and a communion settled between us and God: he interposeth between us and God's displeasure; and through him we become entitled to God's favour.

Verse 10

[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:

Observe how much the dispensation of the gospel exceeds that of the law. Tho' here was a table furnished it was only with shew-bread bread to be looked upon not to be fed upon while it was on the table and afterwards only by the priests: but to the table Christ has spread in the new covenant all good Christians are invited guests and to them it is said Eat O friends come eat of my bread. What the law gave but a sight of at a distance the gospel gives the enjoyment of.

Verse 17

[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:

This candlestick which was not of wood overlaid with gold but all beaten-work of pure gold only signified that light of divine revelation with which God's church upon earth (which is his tabernacle among men) hath always been enlightened being always supplied with fresh oil from Christ the good olive Zechariah 4:2 3. The bible is a golden candlestick it is of pure gold; from it light is diffused to every part of God's tabernacle that by it the spiritual priests may see to do the service of his sanctuary. The candlestick has not only its bowls for necessary use but its knops and flowers for ornament; many things which God saw fit to beautify his word with which we can no more give a reason for than for these knops and flowers and yet must be sure they wert added for good purpose. Let us bless God for this candlestick have an eye to it continually and dread the removal of it out of its place!

Verse 25

[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.

The incense burnt on this altar daily signified both the prayers of saints and the intercession of Christ to which is owing the acceptableness of them.

── John Wesley《Explanatory Notes on Exodus》

37 Chapter 37

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──《The Biblical Illustrator》