Dave Burnette's Commentary

Exodus Chapter 26 

Written By: God through Inspiration
Penned By: Moses
Date Penned: (1450-1410 BC)
Overview: The Record of God's Deliverance of Israel (c 1-40)
Theme: Israel at Sinai (c 19-40)
Message: The Structure of the Tabernacle (v 1-37)

Exodus 26 Commentary

(26:15) The Materials of the Tabernacle - Why was the tabernacle made from acacia (or shittim) wood? Acacia wood is dense and hard, making it a good choice for building something to last a long time. Additionally, acacia trees were one of the few kinds of trees growing in the desert region where the Israelites were traveling after leaving Egypt, so this wood was sturdy and readily available. After it was built, the tabernacle was used for more than 400 years before Solomon brought it to its destination in the newly built temple, showing just how enduring this wood was. As we work and serve God in our churches and communities, this is a good reminder to focus on building what will endure. For most of us, this doesn't apply to the quality of our building materials; rather, it applies to that of our teaching, our integrity, our example, our service, and our relationships.

(26:31-33) The Holy of Holies - This veil, or curtain, separated the two sacred rooms in the tabernacle- the holy place and the most holy place. The priest entered the holy place each day to commune with God and to tend to the altar of incense, the lampstand, and the table with the shewbread. The most holy place was where God himself was present in a special way above the mercy seat, which covered the ark of the testimony. Only the high priest could enter the most holy place. Even he could do so only once a year (on the Day of Atonement) to make atonement for the sins of the nation as a whole. When Jesus Christ died on the cross, the veil in the temple (which had replaced the tabernacle) tore from top to bottom (Mark 15:38), symbolizing our free access to God. Because of Jesus' death, people no longer have to approach God through priests and sacrifices.


Dave Burnette's Life Application

Learn About the God who Loves You


Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we Continue in the book of Exodus with Chapter 26 and in today's text we see how the Tabernacle and furniture showed us how God wants to dwell with us and have a relationship with us. Today we see even more detail in the materials to Holy of Holies and more of how God wants us to know Him. Each detail with its material, color, and number is a revealing of who God is and the Christ to come. Yes, God is a Holy God, who must judge sin but also is a God of forgiveness. A God who loves you so much that he wants to dwell with you and wants you to know Him. In making application I cant help to see the love that God has for us. When I met my wife we fell in love and all I wanted to do is learn more about her. To tell her about me - hoping she would care for me as much as I do for her. We talked for hours on the phone and in person going over every detail of our lives. Our Lord is the same, and in this text, we see the detail that He expresses in making the Tabernacle, just to show us who He is, so we will love Him too. How about you? Do you see how much God loves you? With all the details He has shown us about Himself in the Bible shouldn't that motivate us to spend time expressing our love to Him in prayer and obedience? Take time to learn about this God who loves you and want's you to know Him.

 

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Exodus 26


Exodus 26

 1Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work shalt thou make them.

 2The length of one curtain shall be eight and twenty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and every one of the curtains shall have one measure.

 3The five curtains shall be coupled together one to another; and other five curtains shall be coupled one to another.

 4And thou shalt make loops of blue upon the edge of the one curtain from the selvedge in the coupling; and likewise shalt thou make in the uttermost edge of another curtain, in the coupling of the second.

 5Fifty loops shalt thou make in the one curtain, and fifty loops shalt thou make in the edge of the curtain that is in the coupling of the second; that the loops may take hold one of another.

 6And thou shalt make fifty taches of gold, and couple the curtains together with the taches: and it shall be one tabernacle.

 7And thou shalt make curtains of goats' hair to be a covering upon the tabernacle: eleven curtains shalt thou make.

 8The length of one curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and the eleven curtains shall be all of one measure.

 9And thou shalt couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and shalt double the sixth curtain in the forefront of the tabernacle.

 10And thou shalt make fifty loops on the edge of the one curtain that is outmost in the coupling, and fifty loops in the edge of the curtain which coupleth the second.

 11And thou shalt make fifty taches of brass, and put the taches into the loops, and couple the tent together, that it may be one.

 12And the remnant that remaineth of the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that remaineth, shall hang over the backside of the tabernacle.

 13And a cubit on the one side, and a cubit on the other side of that which remaineth in the length of the curtains of the tent, it shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle on this side and on that side, to cover it.

 14And thou shalt make a covering for the tent of rams' skins dyed red, and a covering above of badgers' skins.

 15And thou shalt make boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood standing up.

 16Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and a cubit and a half shall be the breadth of one board.

 17Two tenons shall there be in one board, set in order one against another: thus shalt thou make for all the boards of the tabernacle.

 18And thou shalt make the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards on the south side southward.

 19And thou shalt make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for his two tenons, and two sockets under another board for his two tenons.

 20And for the second side of the tabernacle on the north side there shall be twenty boards:

 21And their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.

 22And for the sides of the tabernacle westward thou shalt make six boards.

 23And two boards shalt thou make for the corners of the tabernacle in the two sides.

 24And they shall be coupled together beneath, and they shall be coupled together above the head of it unto one ring: thus shall it be for them both; they shall be for the two corners.

 25And they shall be eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.

 26And thou shalt make bars of shittim wood; five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,

 27And five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the side of the tabernacle, for the two sides westward.

 28And the middle bar in the midst of the boards shall reach from end to end.

 29And thou shalt overlay the boards with gold, and make their rings of gold for places for the bars: and thou shalt overlay the bars with gold.

 30And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according to the fashion thereof which was shewed thee in the mount.

 31And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made:

 32And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver.

 33And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.

 34And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.

 35And thou shalt set the table without the vail, and the candlestick over against the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south: and thou shalt put the table on the north side.

 36And thou shalt make an hanging for the door of the tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework.

 37And thou shalt make for the hanging five pillars of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, and their hooks shall be of gold: and thou shalt cast five sockets of brass for them.