And Moses set up the courtyard around the tabernacle and the altar, and he hung the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard. So Moses finished the work. Sermons
I. THE TABERNACLE WAS NOT REARED TILL ALL THE LABOURS IN CONNECTION WITH THE MAKING OF IT HAD BEEN FINISHED. 1. The tabernacle was made with a view to its being reared. This was the end. So the calling, saving, and perfecting of individuals for the kingdom of God has always reference to their ultimate manifestation with Christ in glory (Romans 8:17-26; 2 Corinthians 4:15-18; 2 Corinthians 5:1-11; Ephesians 5:25-28; Philippians 1:6, 10; Colossians 3:1-4, etc.). 2. The labours of making were entirely finished, before the rearing was begun. The rearing was but the bringing into visibility of an already finished work. (1) All the parts of the tabernacle were made. (2) All the furniture of the tabernacle was made. (3) The dress of the servants of the tabernacle was made. Not till all this was done was the command given to rear. So the day of the manifestation of believers will not arrive till all labours preparatory to the setting up of the kingdom of God in glory have been concluded. The Gospel preached through all the world (Matthew 24:14), the "elect" (ver. 31) gathered in, the last soul saved, believer's; sanctified, avery "living stone" (1 Peter 2:4) shaped and fashioned for the place it is ultimately to occupy In the heavenly building, etc. 3. These labours having been concluded, the rearing was proceeded with without delay. The rearing included (1) the putting of the parts of the tabernacle together. (2) The arrangement of its furniture. (3) The ordering of its service. So, when once the preparatory labours in connection with the kingdom of God have been finished, no time will be lost in setting it up in its final glory. Christ will appear, and his people will appear with him (Colossians 3:4). He and they will be glorified together (Romans 8:17). 4. The rearing of the tabernacle was the setting of it in visible glory before the eyes of the Israelites. So will Christ come to be "glorified in his saints, and admired in all them that believe" (2 Thessalonians 1:10). 5. The rearing of the tabernacle completed the preparation of it as a sanctuary for Jehovah. The same will be true of the glorification of the Church (Revelation 21:3, 4). II. THE TABERNACLE, MADE BY THE PEOPLE, WAS REARED BY MOSES. 1. Christ admits us to be fellow-workers with himself in the labours of his Church. These are carried on by human agency (2 Corinthians 6:1). 2. He alone has to do with the glorification of his Church. III. WHEN THE TABERNACLE WAS REARED, IT WAS FOUND THAT NOTHING WAS WANTING TO ITS PERFECTION AS A SANCTUARY. So will the glorification of the Church make manifest the beauty, symmetry, completeness, and perfection of the spiritual structure. It will be found to be "a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing" (Ephesians 5:27); complete as a place of habitation for Jehovah; a unity, and a perfect one. - J.O.
They will believe the voice of the latter sign. A man needs not to be a thorough unbeliever, overtly renouncing all allegiance to revealed truth, in order to become useless in the pulpit and religiously powerless in society. He needs only to put a note of interrogation after some of the articles of his creed. That is enough, without absolutely erasing them. The hesitant is as impotent for spiritual good as the heretic. The man who is shooting for the Queen's cup may as well attempt to hold his rifle with a paralysed arm as take aim with a trembling hand. That tremor will be fatal to success in hitting the mark. Truth uttered questioningly and apologetically will prove an arrow of conviction to no man's soul. This, it seems to me, rather than absolute and pronounced infidelity, is the bane and weakness of the age. It pervades the pulpit and the pew. From the former, doctrines may be still propounded with logical accuracy, with great precision of definition, with much beauty and felicity of illustration, but with not enough of conviction to drive them forcibly home. The rifle is a beautiful piece of mechanism, but there is something amiss with the powder.(J. Halsey.) 1. Adapted to their condition Announcing freedom. The tendency of all unbelief is to intensify slavery of moral nature. 2. Wonderfully simple. 3. Divinely authenticated. Miracles will not convince a sceptic. II. THE DIVINE BEING MERCIFULLY MAKES PROVISION FOR THE CONVICTION AND PERSUASION OF MEN in reference to the reality of the truth proclaimed, notwithstanding their confirmed unbelief. This method of treatment is — 1. Considerate. Every facility given for complete investigation. 2. Merciful. Sign after sign. 3. Condescending. III. THE PERSISTENT UNBELIEF OF MEN IS LIKELY TO AWAKEN EVIDENCES OF TRUTH INDICATIVE OF THE DIVINE DISPLEASURE (ver. 9). 1. Evidences that recall past sorrows. Reminding of murder of children in river. 2. Evidences prophetic of future woe. Indicating a strange and unhappy change in their condition, if they embraced not the message of Moses. (J. S. Exell, M. A.) 2. It speaks of the inability of man to liberate himself therefrom. 3. It speaks of the agency that God has provided for the freedom of man. 4. It speaks of the strange unwillingness of man to credit the tidings of freedom. (J. S. Exell, M. A.) 1. Miracles at first may miss their end, and not persuade men to faith.2. Second miracles may do that which the first failed to effect. 3. God's word and promise alone can make miracles themselves effectual means of faith. 4. Miracles have voices which should command faith and obedience. (J. S. Exell, M. A.) — That a true minister, notwithstanding —1. His call. 2. His spiritual preparation. 3. His knowledge of the Divine name. 4. His supreme moral power, and — 5. Intimate communion with God — is exposed to the unbelief of those whom he seeks to benefit. (J. S. Exell, M. A.) It will reject the truth.1. In opposition to the word of him by whom it is brought. 2. In opposition to the Divine power by which it is accompanied. 3. In opposition to the benevolent design it contemplates. 4. In opposition to accumulative demonstration. (J. S. Exell, M. A.) One can hardly conceive a poor wayworn wretch, as he lies on the arid waste, punting with blackened lips and swollen tongue, striking the kind traveller's flask from his hand, and spilling the precious water among the blistering sands. The slave boy — now an African bishop — exulted gleefully when a British cruiser snapped the fetters from his youthful limbs and bore him to free Liberia. Can folly surpass that insensate madness which makes the sinner spurn the clear, cool, crystal drops of life, and perversely traverse the wilds of sin? Can madness outrival that supreme folly which leads the hapless bondsman of sin to hug the chains of condemnation, and obstinately kiss the fetters of wrath?People Aaron, Israelites, MosesPlaces SinaiTopics Altar, Complete, Completeth, Court, Court-gate, Courtyard, Covering, Curtain, Doorway, Entrance, Erected, Finished, Forming, Gate, Gateway, Hanging, Hangings, Hung, Open, Placeth, Raised, Raiseth, Reared, Round, Screen, Space, Tabernacle, Thus, VeilOutline 1. The tabernacle is commanded to be reared, anointed, and consecrated13. Aaron and his sons to be sanctified 16. Moses performs all things accordingly 34. A cloud covers the tabernacle Dictionary of Bible Themes Exodus 40:33-35Library July 7. "And the Glory of the Lord Filled the Tabernacle" (Ex. Xl. 35). "And the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle" (Ex. xl. 35). In the last chapter of Exodus we read all the Lord commanded Moses to do, and that as he fulfilled these commands the glory of the Lord descended and filled the tabernacle till there was no room for Moses, and from that time the pillar of cloud overshadowed them, their guide, their protection. And so we have been building as the Lord Himself commanded, and now the temple is to be handed over to Him to be possessed and filled. He will … Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth The Copies of Things in the Heavens Appendix viii. Rabbinic Traditions About Elijah, the Forerunner of the Messiah Exodus Links Exodus 40:33 NIVExodus 40:33 NLT Exodus 40:33 ESV Exodus 40:33 NASB Exodus 40:33 KJV Exodus 40:33 Bible Apps Exodus 40:33 Parallel Exodus 40:33 Biblia Paralela Exodus 40:33 Chinese Bible Exodus 40:33 French Bible Exodus 40:33 German Bible Exodus 40:33 Commentaries Bible Hub |