Exodus 25-27 & Proverbs 4

Exodus 25-27

Exodus 25-27 describes for us the instructions that God has given to Moses for the Hebrew people to build a tabernacle.  Its to be built on the offerings of the people (25:1-3).  God requests that the offerings be only the best materials of only the finest quality.  (Think: Are our gifts and offerings to God given with the best and finest that we can?)  The Tabernacle was to be the holy place for Hebrew worship.  In it, offerings will be given to God.  In it, prayers will be spoken by the priests on behalf of the people.  And in it, God will dwell in the Holy of Holies.  There are specific and exact plans given from God for the people to build.  It must be exact.  God does not give us these kind of plans for the church today--because the church is not a building.  The church is a people.  We are given exact practices and ways of living to obey (baptism, Lord's Supper, fellowship, prayer).  

According to the New Testament book of Hebrews 8-9, it is taught that the Tabernacle was built to be a small scale version of what Heaven will be like.  There will be an alter for sacrificial worship, there will be a place where only God lives, there will be a place for congregating, etc.  Above is a picture of what the tabernacle may have looked like according to the specifications given in Exodus 25-27.

Proverbs 4

There is a very simple message found in Proverbs 4--Get Wisdom (verse 5, 6, 7, 8, 12).  Proverbs 4 is a wealth of instructions from a father to his son.  This is one of those "Father-Son" special conversations.  I have encountered several fathers that are nervous about the real "birds and the bees" talk that they must have with their son.  Although that is vitally important, the charge of  a father to his son to seek and hold tight to God's wisdom is even more vital!  For with God's wisdom, the son can become a man who will make good choices that will not only make a father proud but will also bless God!  Fathers--teach your sons this wisdom!  Fathers--follow this wisdom yourself!  Mothers and daughters--follow this wisdom yourself!  Mothers--instill within your daughters a desire to marry a man who follows such wisdom!