Exodus 31:11, commentary and pictures

The verse names the holy anointing oil and the fragrant incense for the sanctuary as part of the tabernacle work that had to be made exactly as commanded. That exactness called for perfect obedience in every detail, because the tabernacle standing before the people illustrated the perfection and completeness of Christ's work. God himself made that perfection possible by filling chosen builders like Bezaleel of Judah and Aholiab of Dan with His Spirit in wisdom and skill, since human learning and Egyptian training could not supply it. The command stands joined to the guarding of the seventh-day Sabbath, teaching that even the Lord's own work must not set aside the holy day. Keeping that Sabbath remains forever the sign that He sanctifies His people and the mark of loyalty by which His commandment-keepers are distinguished from all false worship.

Tabernacle Work Commanded Exactly

The anointing oil and the sweet incense for the holy place were part of the tabernacle work to be made according to all that had been commanded. Their preparation belonged to the work appointed and planned for Spirit-filled craftsmen, with Bezaleel and Aholiab and the wise-hearted workers to do it exactly as commanded to Moses. The oil and incense for the sanctuary were thus included among all that was commanded to be made for the tabernacle.

That command called for exact obedience and perfection in every detail. The instructions for the tabernacle and its furnishings and sacred materials required exactness, skill, wisdom, and perfection, with God's work in every line done with the same care and according to His pattern. This is a lesson for God's people in all ages that God requires perfection in every detail of the work He assigns.

This exactness was a symbol, because in the erection of the tabernacle, sacred for the service of God, everything done was to represent His perfection. The tabernacle and everything made for it were sacred to God's service, and their construction illustrated the perfection of Christ's work. Standing continually before more than a million people, it illustrated the perfection and completeness of Christ's work.

God Himself provided how the work would be done by naming the men He wanted. He called by name Bezaleel son of Uri son of Hur of the tribe of Judah to be architect, and gave with him Aholiab son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan. He filled Bezaleel with the Spirit of God in wisdom and understanding and knowledge and all workmanship to devise cunning works in gold and silver and brass and in cutting stones and carving timber, and He put wisdom in the hearts of all the wise-hearted so they could make everything commanded. God is thus the true source of wisdom for the tabernacle work, filling the workers with the Spirit of God in wisdom and understanding and knowledge and workmanship to accomplish it.

Human learning and ingenuity were insufficient for this work. Though Moses was proficient in Egyptian learning and had knowledge of God and visions of His purposes, he did not know how to engrave and embroider. Though Israel had ingenious men, their lifelong bondage left them knowing brickmaking but not working in gold and silver. The wisdom, judgment, and skill came from God, with the chosen men guided in their work by the unseen Leader, and the wisdom needed to carry it out came from Him, so no person had cause to claim credit.

Sabbath Sign and Loyalty

Exodus 31:11 stands among the special directions guarding the seventh-day Sabbath, leaving no doubt of the duty to keep the seventh day holy. Even though the tabernacle work was the Lord's own work done under His supervision, it did not excuse breaking the Sabbath. Keeping the seventh day according to these directions shows that those who keep it bear God's sign.

That guard was needed because Israel had been compelled to work on the Sabbath in Egypt and had largely lost the knowledge of the Sabbath. God therefore guarded the Sabbath in particular when giving the tabernacle directions and enforced its observance, lest the workmen say in their zeal that the Lord's work could be done without observing the Sabbath. The seventh day remains distinguished as God's holy memorial and perpetual covenant, a sign forever between Him and His people throughout their generations that He is the Lord who sanctifies them. This is because in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day, not the first day, He rested and was refreshed, satisfied with His work of creation, and keeping it holy is genuine sanctification.

Keeping the seventh day in this way marks to a certainty the loyalty of God's commandment-keeping people in the last days, by which the loyalty of His people is tested. Those who keep it are loyal subjects of His kingdom who acknowledge Him as Creator of the heavens and the earth, honor Him by keeping His commandments, and are distinguished as holy unto Him from all false religionists of the world. It draws a plain public line of demarcation between him that serves God and him that serves Him not.

The Sabbath is evidence of His kindness, mercy, and love, with His pledge to bless the obedient, to show Himself their God in covenant relation with them and to fulfill His promise to all that are obedient. Those who keep holy the day God has set apart are cheerful and happy in the assurance that they receive His blessing, and holiness to the Lord is their badge. Man's observance of the Lord's day of rest again causes joy among the angels of heaven, as when the morning stars sang together and the sons of God shouted for joy.

The law's claims are binding with penalty for transgression, for defiling the Sabbath and doing work therein brings death and being cut off from among the people. God's law, including the seventh-day Sabbath, cannot be set aside or replaced by Sunday observance, and disregarding it is transgression, not obedience. Proper observance means keeping the Sabbath free from taxing labor, including not depriving oneself and helpers of the Sabbath by serving meals to large numbers as in keeping a restaurant open. Closing on the Sabbath honors the memorial and gives opportunity to give the reasons for keeping the Sabbath and sow the seeds of truth.

The same God who gave the Sabbath as a sign of loyalty will preserve Sabbathkeepers in the hour of trial over the enforcement of Sunday observance, fulfilling His promise to protect them. He will sanctify them and grant them the seal of His approval as commandment keepers. Yet keeping the Sabbath of creation which God sanctified and blessed brings the church militant under oppressive persecution.

Wisdom for Service Today

The same God who communicated with His people of old and gave them wisdom to do His will in making the tabernacle with its anointing oil and sweet incense for the holy place communicates with His people today and gives wisdom, judgment, and skill to do His will. He arranged every detail of that construction to give a representation of His power and majesty. He watches the work for Him Himself and directs it by His word, His Spirit, and His providence.

Work and buildings erected for Him today must honor His name and must not move forward shabbily. Faithfulness, stability, and fitness must be seen in every part and in every line of the work. Buildings must correspond with His providence and with their relation to the work to be done in other places.

Those given a part in His work feel greatly honored to have it assigned them, and love and reverence for God lead them to faithful, unselfish service, returning to Him the increase of the talents given them. Capabilities are bestowed by Christ, first the gift and then power to improve the gift, to be used not for selfish advantage but to show forth God's glory in the smaller as well as the larger matters of life. They are to be used with daily surrender of self to God, with unselfish love, and with the cross of self-denial cheerfully and willingly borne. Workers feel the greatest anxiety for the constant help of Christ, take time to ask counsel of Him and to rest and commune with God apart to learn how to work for His greatest glory, realize their entire dependence upon Him, and look unto Jesus.

Such willing service, built in the spirit and love of God, lets the voice of prayer and the melody of holy song ascend as sweet incense. Great grace is imparted to the one who gives wisdom and judgment and skill back to the Lord in willing service. The workers become laborers together with God in a work of eternal consequence that preaches sermons and convicts and converts hearts, as the building of the ark warned the world.