Assembled

This week's Sabbath reading is titled Va-yakheil, which in English is "and he assembled". In Exodus 35, Moses assembled or gathered the elders and the congregation of Israel to give them the Word that the LORD had given to him on the mountain. It involved the construction of the tabernacle. The instructions ordained all of the materials, spices, metals, and so on, that would be needed in order to make the outer and inner curtains of the tabernacle, the furniture, utensils, and priestly robes that would be used within it. The LORD had already told Moses to be suure to follow the pattern of the tabernacle shown to him on the mountain, and we read in scripture that the pattern given to Moses by God was a copy and likeness of the tabernacle in heaven (Heb. 8:5). We know that the furnishings of the tabernacle represent the sacrifice of Christ. There is an additional meaning to consider in this Sabbath's reading, which we will look at. In any case, Moses was not to come up with his own design, or change the design of the tabernacle given to him by God. There was also an important condition in the building of the tabernacle that the LORD insisted upon: "Take from among you an offering to the LORD, Whoever is of a willing (nadib - "willing, noble, generous, princely, ready; to offer willingly and freely") heart (leb/labab - "mind, heart, understanding, wisdom; inner part, soul; 'ravished my heart', to make cakes or bread"), let him bring it as an offering to the LORD: gold, silver, and bronze; blue, purple and scarlet thread, fine linen and goats' hair; ram skins dyed red, badger skins and acacia (thorn tree) wood; oil for the light, and spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense; onyx stones and stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate...Then everyone came whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, and they brought the LORD's offering for the work of the tabernacle of meeting, for all its service, and for the holy garments." (Ex. 35:5-9, 21). Other offerings are brought to the LORD by commandment, but the things concerning the tabernacle were to be offered only by free will and a generous heart, a heart that has been inspired to do so, even a ravished heart. This reminds us of Jesus who said that His life was not taken (by force) from Him, but He offered it freely (Jn. 10:11, 15, 18, 1 Jn. 3:16). Notice also the great variety of items that went into the assembly of the tabernacle: from small colored threads and stones to gold and bronze. None of the items were considered of lesser importance in the construction of the tabernacle, but were necessary to it. Moses was instructed to use certain artisans (see Ex. 35:30, 34) who had been gifted by God with design and crafting skills named Bezalel ("in the shadow of God"), the son of Uri ("fiery, light of fire; shine"), and Aholiab ("Father's Tent/Tabernacle/Dwelling"), the son of Ahisamach ("My brethren are sustained/established/standfast"). One of these craftsmen, Bazalel, had also been gifted by God in the wisdom to teach others. Others, like women, who were gifted, "whose hearts stirred (nasa - "stir up, lift up, forgive, pardon, exalt, armorbearer, marry, be carried off") with wisdom" spun yarns with their hands out of goats' hair, and brought it for the tabernacle (v. 25-26). God gave the special gifts or talents to those who were to build and contribute to His house. No detail was overlooked, no need of the tabernacle went unmet. Let's apply these same truths to the living tabernacle made for the indwelling of God. Addressing the Church of believers in Christ, Paul wrote: "You are God's building...Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?...and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price..." (1 Cor. 3:9, 16, 6:19-20). Peter wrote: "Coming to Him (Jesus) as to a living stone...you also as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (1 Pet. 2:4-5). Paul wrote about the building of this spiritual house: "...members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit." (Eph. 2:19-22). We can see that this living spiritual temple or tabernacle is something being built. The various pieces must be fitted together according to the pattern established by God for His dwelling place. The instructions or pattern has come from God through the prophets and apostles (as He did with Moses), who are still necessary and continuing to minister to the church until the building is finished according to plan, which is the equipping of the saints to do the work of ministry, the unity of faith, the knowledge of the Son of God, the perfect man, and the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ (Eph. 4:11-13). This is the very pattern of the tabernacle. In fact, The Lord gave the gifts (Eph. 4:11) for the purpose of this living building project, as He gave ones among the children of Israel to not only bring their gifted artisan skills to the work of the tabernacle, but to have the ability to teach others, as we saw above. Paul also called himself "a wise master builder" by the grace of God given to him (1 Cor. 3:10). We have already seen that the tabernacle shown to Moses, and its furnishings, represent the identity of Christ. That tabernacle, patterned after the tabernacle in heaven, was also a prophetic representation of the living tabernacle that is being built with us now on earth. Jesus said, "...on this rock (the revelation from God that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah) I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." (Mt. 16:18). This spiritual building called the Church will withstand and overcome even the gates of hell. How important it is that this building be built by Christ! As we saw above, all of those who had a stirred, willing heart and spirit brought those things that were necessary for the building of this tabernacle, as specified by God's pattern. Also regarding this living spiritual tabernacle, "...speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things unto Him who is the head - Christ - from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love." (Eph. 4:15-16). Each one of us individually is the living temple of the Holy Spirit, but we must keep in mind that our purpose doesn't end there. We are being built together into a spiritual structure that will, as reflected in the tabernacle of Moses, become the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. This living tabernacle cannot be built in whatever way that we want to build it. Skilled master craftsmen have been gifted to the church by God to build us up after the pattern established by God. For us that pattern is Christ, who is the Word of God. Paul begged the believers: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy , acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service." (Rom. 12:1). We are not built together into this structure by the way the world thinks or acts, for the world is built upon the spirit of self, and selfishness. The only way that we will be able to be built into this living tabernacle is by the mercies of God, and through the transformation accomplished by the renewing of our minds by the Word and Spirit of God (see Rom. 12:2). The title of this Sabbath's reading, translated into English as we saw above, is "and he assembled". This is the very meaning of the church, which is the Greek word ekklesia, and means "gathering, assembly; an assembly of Christians gathered for worship". The Greek root words mean "called forth by name out of, or out from, a place, time or cause, incited by word". We are individual members, but we are also to be a gathered assembly into which we willingly contribute our individual gifts (see Rom. 12:4-8). This is the pattern of the living tabernacle established by God, the assembled believers, being built into the fulness of His Son. If you would like to understand more about being built into the living tabernacle of God, you can join me in prayer: "Lord Jesus, You are building Your Church, Your called out by name and gathered assembly, into the living tabernacle of God, unified in the faith, and having grown into the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. Against this Church, the gates of hell cannot prevail. I come to You with a willing heart and spirit. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit who teaches me to be transformed, and who shows me where and how I fit into the building of this living and holy tabernacle. I ask this in Your name, Jesus. AMEN."