This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.

Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.

Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may contact us and request that devotion. Please send your request, along with $.50 (p&h) for each page to:

Bruce McGee,Pastor
205 Adams
Columbia, LA 71418

Bro. Bruce's commentary for the book of Genesis is
now available for $7.50.

EXODUS
CHAPTER 25
1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering. 3 And this is the offering which ye shall take of them; gold, and silver, and brass, 4 And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair, 5 And rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins, and shittim wood, 6 Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense, 7 Onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate. 8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. 9 According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.

God's desire is to "dwell among" His people. Here we see God calls for
the people to bring free-will offerings to build a tent-type tabernacle
of worship. The tabernacle is a "type" of YOU and ME! THINK
about that!
Notice in verse 10 God begins in the most Holy Place, with the Ark, then
describes the building from inside to the outside. So it is with
you and me: we must let Christ first dwell in our hearts, then He will
begin to work on the rest of us.
Ultimately Jesus will totally transform us into His likeness and give us a
glorified body. The "free-will" offering shows that we must willingly
give ourselves to Jesus before He can change us.
(The items in verses 3-7 are specific, and will supply specific purpose
in the tabernacle. Watch to see how these things are used.)

10 And they shall make an ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof. 11 And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about. 12 And thou shalt cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in the four corners thereof; and two rings shall be in the one side of it, and two rings in the other side of it. 13 And thou shalt make staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold. 14 And thou shalt put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, that the ark may be borne with them. 15 The staves shall be in the rings of the ark: they shall not be taken from it.

The only thing in the Holy of Holies room was the "ark of the covenant."
The Ark was 45 inches long by 27 inches wide by 27 inches high. Not ver large
but it's purpose was to be a "seat" for the Lord (verse 17). And it is a chest
for holding the ten commandments. Notice the whole seat is of pure gold (verse 11a).
There is nothing more pure than God's mercy which allows Him to dwell in
our hearts.
The gold rings and long staves (poles) in verse 12 are for men to carry the ark.
No one was to TOUCH the ark!

16 And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee. 17 And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof. 18 And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat. 19 And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof. 20 And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be. 21 And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee. 22 And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.

The mercy seat covered the law (verse 21). All of God's laws are tempered
with MERCY! Thank God for THAT!
The two cherubim look at each other and their two inside wings touch each other
and cover the mercy seat. The first lett of Peter, chapter 1, and verse 12 tells
us the angels desire to "look into" or find out about this "gospel" of Jesus which
shows God's mercy toward mankind.

26 And thou shalt make for it four rings of gold, and put the rings in the four corners that are on the four feet thereof. 27 Over against the border shall the rings be for places of the staves to bear the table. 28 And thou shalt make the staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be borne with them. 29 And thou shalt make the dishes thereof, and spoons thereof, and covers thereof, and bowls thereof, to cover withal: of pure gold shalt thou make them. 30 And thou shalt set upon the table shewbread before me alway.

Moving from the Holy of Holies to the next room (the Holy Place), one finds three
displays. The FIRST one is the "table of showbread" (verse 30). Since the
tabernacle ALWAYS faced East, the table of showbread would always be on the North side.
Notice that everything in the tabernacle was set for carrying. This tells
us something today. Peter says WE are "lively stones" (1Peter 2:5), which means
we ought to be ready to MOVE at God's command!
The "table of showbread" would hold twelve loaves of fresh bread, each loaf representing a tribe of Israel. The purpose of this, I believe,
is to show how God provides all of His people their "daily bread" (Matt. 6:11).
Notice also, that the showbread would teach us that God's WORD is "daily bread."
The dishes are all made of pure gold, again representing God's MERCY.

31 And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same. 32 And six branches shall come out of the sides of it; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side: 33 Three bowls made like unto almonds, with a knop and a flower in one branch; and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, with a knop and a flower: so in the six branches that come out of the candlestick. 34 And in the candlestick shall be four bowls made like unto almonds, with their knops and their flowers. 35 And there shall be a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, according to the six branches that proceed out of the candlestick. 36 Their knops and their branches shall be of the same: all it shall be one beaten work of pure gold. 37 And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it. 38 And the tongs thereof, and the snuffdishes thereof, shall be of pure gold. 39 Of a talent of pure gold shall he make it, with all these vessels. 40 And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.

On the South side of the tabernacle would be placed the "golden candlestick."
This free-standing candle holder stood on a tripod and held seven "branches." Six
branches bent out and away from the central stem, which served as the seventh branch.
It was ornamented with "knops" and "flowers." Each branch held three bowls.
These bowls contained the oil which fed the lamps. God's WORD is called a "lamp"
and His law is called a "light."
The prophets are the branches and Jesus is the center stem.
And the Spirit of God is compared to the "seven lamps which bow before the throne"
(Revelation 4:5).
Paul tells us the treasure of this "light" is now put into "earthen vessels"
(2Corinthians 4:6-7). That's YOU and ME!! Without the light of the gospel of Jesus
the world is lost in sin and darkness. Christians have an awesome responsibility!
Exodus 30:1-5 describes another display in the Holy place. It was placed directly
in front of the "veil" which separated the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place.
This was the "altar of incense." On this altar the High Priest was to burn incense
every morning as he cleaned and filled the lampstand. The incense is a symbol of
continual prayers offered before God by the people.
Today we have a High Priest (Jesus), Who is continually offering prayers before
God's throne on our behalf.
Also living saints of God are continually praying.
God knows. God hears. God does not forget. (See Revelation 8:3-4)
One day all our prayers will be COMPLETELY answered.

Please continue to follow along in Bible study with us.