Exodus Chapter 37 Verses 1 – 6
• Notice, in the construction of the Ark of the Covenant, also known as the Ark of the Testimony, the two structural elements of it that stand apart, that are different, are the four rings at the four corners and the mercy seat (or the lid). The difference is that these structural elements are not overlaid with gold but rather they are pure gold. Why? Gold in the Bible represents the divine. The pure, the perfect.
• In the Hebrew there are seven different words used throughout the Old Testament for the metal, which is interesting. It first appears very early in the scriptures in the description of the perfect Garden designed and created by God, and then given to man. Genesis 2:10-11, “Now a river went out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it parted and became four riverheads. The name of the first is Pishon; it is the one which skirts the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold.” The first mention of gold in the Bible…in the context of beautiful, pure, perfect and new creation.
• The last mention of gold in the Bible is in the Book of Revelation. Gold is actually a very important substance in the Book of Revelation as it’s mentioned a total of 22 times. But the last mention, from the Garden of Eden to this, is Revelation 21 verses 14-21. This is the description of the New Jerusalem. Creation renewed…
• What’s the point? Gold is not mans’. It is the Lords… Haggai 2:8 God declares, “The gold is mine.” Why is this significant? The two structural elements, the two functional elements of the Ark of the Testimony (I would offer of the love, heart and Gospel of God), they don’t belong to man…they’re not a work of man…they are God’s alone. The gold rings, how man will carry the Ark of the Testimony, pure gold…the mercy seat…where and (in the name) how…God will deal with man…pure gold, it’s all His. You and I are to simply come! God does the connection, God brings the mercy…and every soul that takes part in God’s great grace blesses Him directly because it is the aroma of the pure and perfect original creation and the aroma of the pure and perfect new creation yet to come!
Exodus Chapter 37 Verses 7 – 9
• The location and the direction of the cherubim on the Ark speak directly to the grace of God and Gospel of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter Chapter 1 in speaking on the wonder of the Holy Spirit given to the hearts of humans, he writes in verses 10 – 12, “Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.” What is happening on the Ark? What’s the picture? The angels are forever considering the mercy of God!
• Also, this speaks directly to Jesus being the very mercy Seat of God Himself, why? Recall John Chapter 20. Specifically verses 11 – 13a, “But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept, she stooped down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”” Two things here that are amazing…first, the obvious picture of the two angels at ether side of the where the Lord HAD BEEN…and the second…the proclamation of the angels, “Why are you sad?” They know what has happened! The grace of God is no longer between the angels, between the cherubim…its now secured into the very fabric of mankind! As the resurrection literally launched the New Covenant!!
Exodus Chapter 37 Verses 10 – 17
• The Ark of the Testimony was the meeting place of God, the Table of Showbread, or the Table of Faces represented the people of God, but the Lampstand represented the presence of God…and that was made of pure gold. A mystery still today as to how this was made. But again, the encouragement and the quiet strength of the love of the Father for you and for me…that His love for us is about His goodness, His faithfulness…He loves you perfectly, purely, unconditionally and eternally because of who He is…not because of who I am or what I can do for Him…all of that to tell you this, God’s love for you is secured by God alone.
Exodus Chapter 37 Verses 11 – 29
• All of this speaks to one amazing and comforting fact…that God desires to be with His creation. All of this work, all of this instruction and detail and even messaging in the furniture and materials…all to send an amazing message, that God simply wants to be near to you.
• Sometimes you just have to let all of the work of the ministry and all of the work of walking in the Spirit and being a Christian and living your life and on and on…sometimes you just have to stop and allow all of that to quiet for a moment so that you can just see the face of God there with you…because He is.
• Do you have someone in your life that doesn’t want anything from you, doesn’t need your work product…doesn’t ask for anything, doesn’t need anything…they just love to be around you…that’s a blessing…that’s the heart of God for you.
Exodus Chapter 38 Verses 1 – 31
• Every cent of offering, every talent of gold, every shekel of silver, every piece of bronze…all of the thread, everything brought…I love that there is tight, absolutely tight accounting for every single little bit of it! That’s the way it should be in the service of God and the service of people…but there’s also an important point to consider and to know in the Spirit. Everything you offer to the Lord…everything you’ve ever brought to Him or given to Him, it’s not lost, it’s not no longer yours, He has it accounted for.
• He is the perfect Accountant. Hebrews 6:10 says, “For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” Psalm 139:16-18a says, “Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book, they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand.”
• God remembers every moment of my life that I have long forgotten…every single time I have trusted Him, sought Him, called out to Him and rested in His presence. Nothing is lost with the Lord…and even now, His eyes of accounting are on your every minute…you may feel like the Lord is far or maybe not paying attention…are you not more important than a talent of gold? Dear person, to God, you are more important to Him than He is to Himself…Even now, His whole desire, the sum total of it all…is simply to be close to you.