Exodus 25:9, commentary and pictures

God himself showed Moses on the mount a miniature model of the heavenly sanctuary and commanded that the tabernacle and every one of its instruments be made exactly according to what was shown. The pattern shown was the true sanctuary in heaven where the divine presence is manifested and where Christ ministers as high priest for humanity, of which the earthly house with its holy places was the copy, figure and shadow. It included two apartments with their vessels of gold, the candlestick and table of showbread and altar of incense in the holy place and the ark with the ten commandments covered by the mercy seat between the cherubim in the most holy. The command calls for exact obedience with God-given skill and reverence, each chosen worker doing only his appointed part in perfect order so that part fits to part without confusion or discord. It was to be built first out of willing free-will offerings given in abundance from the heart, and when done according to his will his blessing rests on the work and teaches his people to cooperate with him and with one another in preparing the spiritual temple.

Heavenly Pattern on the Mount

God himself, not Moses nor the workmen, devised the plan and gave detailed directions for its size, form, materials, curtains, furnishings and instruments. He showed Moses on the mountain a miniature model or similitude of the heavenly sanctuary. He commanded that everything be made according to what was shown.

Christ himself is the giver of the pattern, the foundation of the Jewish economy and the heavenly architect who marked out the house where his name should be honored. He gave every arrangement and specification for the tabernacle, and he also gave every specification for the building of Solomon's temple. He is the same one who afterward worked as a carpenter in the village of Nazareth, showing that heaven and earth are under his supervision.

The directions were given to Moses while he was with God in the mount in the cloud for forty days and forty nights. They came after the law had been given from Sinai and after the covenant had been written, read, promised and ratified with blood, to obtain the specifications of Israel's service and the details of obligation and to communicate judgments and laws. They came before the special instructions about the Sabbath and before the handing of the tables of stone engraved by God's own finger, while the people below grew discontented at his delay. The patterned tabernacle had not yet been built when the temporary tent for worship was set up outside the camp.

The pattern shown was the true sanctuary in heaven, the great original dwelling not made by human hands where the divine presence is specially manifested. It is where Christ ministers as high priest before God for humanity. The earthly tabernacle with its holy places and instruments was made after that heavenly model as its copy, figure, example and shadow.

The pattern included two apartments representing the holy places of the heavenly sanctuary, with skilled embroidery and workmanship and vessels of solid gold. In the holy place stood the candlestick on the south with its seven lamps giving light day and night, representing the seven lamps of fire before the throne, the table of showbread on the north, and before the veil the golden altar of incense representing the golden altar before the throne, from which the fragrant cloud with Israel's prayers daily ascended. In the most holy place stood the ark, a chest of precious wood overlaid with gold containing the two tables of stone with the ten commandments and representing the ark of his testament within the inner veil, covered by the mercy seat of magnificent workmanship surmounted by two cherubim of solid gold, one at each end, where the divine presence appeared in glory between the cherubim.

The earthly structure and its services taught important truths about the heavenly sanctuary and the great work of human redemption carried forward there. Its matchless splendor reflected to human vision the glories of the heavenly temple. Together this gives indisputable proof of the existence of a sanctuary in heaven.

Building Exactly Together Willingly

The tabernacle and all its furnishings were to be made exactly according to the pattern shown, a requirement calling for exactitude and skill, and for devotion to God and a spirit of sacrifice without selfishness. The exact directions given for the tabernacle and its furnishings reflect the order and sacredness of worship and call worshipers to reverence in approaching God. The skill and wisdom and genius brought into that work were given by God to be used for His glory, to whom supreme honor is due. He Himself arranged every detail, gave wisdom to all engaged in the service, and stood pledged to cooperate with the builders in carrying it out.

The work was done under divine direction with God as designer, a great industrial school having Christ and His angels for instructors, in which workmen educated by Him put heart and soul and strength into hard labor, the sturdy mechanic taxing muscle and sinew to show love to God and toil for His honor. Paul used this example while working quickly and skillfully with his hands at tentmaking with Aquila, repeating the specifications chapter after chapter to his fellow workers to preach the gospel by hand as well as by voice and to school them in diligence and thoroughness and intelligent labor for their benefit. Each worker was chosen by God and fitted with skill and wisdom for work according to his ability, not the same work for all, and each was to do only his own appointed part with strictest fidelity, without laying hold of another portion or standing in a fellow laborer's way. No extra words were to be spoken and no orders taken except from the one in charge, so that part fitted to part and the house rose with beautiful precision in perfect order with no confusion and no discord.

Its simplicity and beauty and harmony, with each part in harmony with the other and fitting perfectly together, exhibit unity in diversity and show the character and cooperative unity God desires, schooling in habits of precision and carefulness and order as an exhibition to the nations round about and an object lesson to children and to the church. Industry in a God-appointed work is as much true religion as devotion, with no essential part menial and every part meaning service, for His people are laborers together with God. The command came right after leaving Egypt, when Israel was but a step from freedom back to slavery, out of scanty means while their own tents were small, because God's house had to be built first. Moses invited willing gifts from the heart, and without urging each person anxiously brought free-will offerings of ornaments and jewelry, gold and silver and brass, and ornamental work with willing labor, spending more than a million dollars in such abundance that he had to proclaim they had enough and must cease, a free and willing and anxious spirit that is the example for means and hearty cooperation when God now calls for advancement of His work.

God gave special detailed directions for the tabernacle and for the arrangement of the camp so that all would be in perfect order, everything designed to impress the people with His majesty and holiness and with the purity He requires of all who engage in His service. That order and harmony and the exalted character of the economy were meant not for Israel alone but to make an impression on surrounding nations, revealing the character of the true God and what He desires His people to be. The same principles apply to His work now, so the instructions to ancient Israel are to be studied carefully and all arrangements ordered to rightly represent Him, because with the world everything is judged by appearances. As He was particular as to the design and accomplishment of the tabernacle to be borne in the wilderness, and of the temple at Jerusalem, so He likewise directs the building of institutions for His work today, which is to be carried forward on an elevated and refined and ennobling basis with the much light and instruction given. The same God who arranged every detail Himself as a representation of His power and majesty can communicate wisdom today as of old, so work done for Him now, including building, must honor His name and not move forward shabbily but show faithfulness and stability and fitness in every line, corresponding with His providence and with its relation to work elsewhere, following the precedent that building a place dedicated to the Lord in the wilderness is an effort made in faith.

When the work is done in accordance with His will and workers do their best in obedience, His blessing rests on them, He answers prayer, His name is glorified, His truth finds standing room, and He is present in the work. What He has said shall be established is established, and the place He appoints shows forth His praise. Those who in their service do not carry out His design displease Him, and He will separate such men from His cause and prove others, who if self-sufficient will in turn be replaced by still other laborers. By such labor of brain and hand in preparing and furnishing, and by bringing a great variety of material as hearts prompt, all are taught to cooperate with God and with one another, and to cooperate also in preparing the spiritual building, God's temple in the soul.