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 in hard copy for $7.50. Just mail your request for COMMENTARY ON GENESIS to the address above

EXODUS
CHAPTER 40
WOW! Can you believe it? We're 3 months into the study, and we've completed 90 chapters!!

1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation. 3 And thou shalt put therein the ark of the testimony, and cover the ark with the vail. 4 And thou shalt bring in the table, and set in order the things that are to be set in order upon it; and thou shalt bring in the candlestick, and light the lamps thereof. 5 And thou shalt set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark of the testimony, and put the hanging of the door to the tabernacle. 6 And thou shalt set the altar of the burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation. 7 And thou shalt set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and shalt put water therein. 8 And thou shalt set up the court round about, and hang up the hanging at the court gate. 9 And thou shalt take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle, and all that is therein, and shalt hallow it, and all the vessels thereof: and it shall be holy. 10 And thou shalt anoint the altar of the burnt offering, and all his vessels, and sanctify the altar: and it shall be an altar most holy. 11 And thou shalt anoint the laver and his foot, and sanctify it. 12 And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water.

Everything was prepared and ready. Now God tells Moses exactly what to do. Take note here that
God's presence is manifested ONLY after they carefully follow His instructions.
We should really strive to do quickly all that God demands.
We should not try to do anything unless He has instructed and ordered it.
That's because we definately want God IN whatever we do."The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord; and He delighteth in his way."(Ps. 37:23)
Notice in verse 2 that the tabernacle is to be set up on the first day of the first month.
That means they had been gone from Egypt more than eleven months - almost a year.
They had left Egypt on the 15th of the first month.
It is good to start a new year by doing the work which God has called us to do.
Each item is placed according to God's instructions, and each one anointed and consecrated first.
Whatever we use to serve God should have it's place and be wholly used for that service.
Notice (vs 3) the ark of the testimony with the mercy seat upon which God would sit, was placed
in the tabernacle FIRST....then all the other things were placed.
Everything in the church should be set up with the first order of business in mind:
to WORSHIP God and do that by keeping His Word in our hearts.

13 And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. 14 And thou shalt bring his sons, and clothe them with coats: 15 And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.

God instructed the place of service to be set before the people of service were
put in position. It is important that we understand that WE are placeable.
Jesus told Peter he was a small throwable stone (Matt. 16:18). God chooses the place
and then He puts people IN their place for service.

16 Thus did Moses: according to all that the LORD commanded him, so did he. 17 And it came to pass in the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was reared up. 18 And Moses reared up the tabernacle, and fastened his sockets, and set up the boards thereof, and put in the bars thereof, and reared up his pillars. 19 And he spread abroad the tent over the tabernacle, and put the covering of the tent above upon it; as the LORD commanded Moses. 20 And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy seat above upon the ark: 21 And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the vail of the covering, and covered the ark of the testimony; as the LORD commanded Moses. 22 And he put the table in the tent of the congregation, upon the side of the tabernacle northward, without the vail. 23 And he set the bread in order upon it before the LORD; as the LORD had commanded Moses. 24 And he put the candlestick in the tent of the congregation, over against the table, on the side of the tabernacle southward. 25 And he lighted the lamps before the LORD; as the LORD commanded Moses. 26 And he put the golden altar in the tent of the congregation before the vail: 27 And he burnt sweet incense thereon; as the LORD commanded Moses. 28 And he set up the hanging at the door of the tabernacle. 29 And he put the altar of burnt offering by the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation, and offered upon it the burnt offering and the meat offering; as the LORD commanded Moses. 30 And he set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and put water there, to wash withal. 31 And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet thereat: 32 When they went into the tent of the congregation, and when they came near unto the altar, they washed; as the LORD commanded Moses. 33 And he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the hanging of the court gate. So Moses finished the work.

Moses did just like God said, he set up the tabernacle on the first day of the month.
Then he saw to it that everything was put in the proper place. The people had done
as Moses instructed; and Moses does exactly as God has said. There must be a significance
attached to this thought because it is mentioned seven times in verses 16-33.

At this point I cannot help but boldly state what has been evident in the last sixteen
chapters of this book of Exodus. That is this:
IT IS PARAMOUNT THAT WE PAY ATTENTION TO GOD'S WORD!!

Back in chapter 32 God's Word had been broken by the people. In chapter 33 Moses
prayed for God to forgive and renew. and God promised that it would be done.
From chapter 34 to chapter 40, the most prominent emphasis has been on
following God's Word!
Christians should study and learn the Word of God.
The church should teach the Word of God.
Pastors should teach and preach the Word of God.
People will be won to Christ by the Word of God.
Christians will be saved from many worldly and satanic trials by the Word of GOd.

34 Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 35 And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

And when we follow the Word of God we will know His PRESENCE.
In chapter 33, verse 14, God promised His Presence, and now He gives an
awesome display of it!

36 And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys: 37 But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up. 38 For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.

For the next forty years, it was the PRESENCE of God that led the people every move.
Of course God is present everywhere. He is OMNI-PRESENT. But this is God's working
presence among His people.
This was the "Shekinah" - the GLORY CLOUD of the Lord.
That same "Shekinah" covered the temple that Solomon built, when he built according
to God's WORD (1Kings 8:10-11).
That same "Shekinah" came and received Jesus Christ into heaven at His ascension (Acts 1:9).
Jesus promised the active working presence of God to those who KEEP HIS WORD (John 14:23).

What a great chapter to end the book of EXODUS -- going OUT of slavery and INTO the Love,
forgiveness, protection, provision and work of the Lord!

Please continue to follow along in Bible study with us.