Good morning, it's good to be back with you guys.
Whenever you travel, it's nice to come home
and not live out of the suitcase anymore
and sleep on your own bed and stuff,
but even more than that, it's so good to be back
with my church family to worship with you all.
Just from times hearing people pray
during the pre-service prayer
and hearing your singing, worshiping together,
my heart's already full,
and I'm very encouraged from this morning.
For those of you who don't know me, my name is Sean.
I'm one of the pastors of Trinity Cambridge Church,
and if you would please turn with me in your Bibles
to Exodus chapter 39.
We will be there for our service this morning.
If you don't have a Bible, please raise your hand.
We'd love to bring you a copy that you can use
and that you can take home with you if you'd like.
We'll be in Exodus 39, starting in verse 32,
going all the way to the end of the book, actually.
We are done with Exodus today.
Exodus 39 to 40.
We're in the, I know some of you guys are probably wondering,
we were in chapter 34 last week,
but we're doing chapters 39 and 40 this week.
That's because we already covered chapters 35 to 39,
which detailed the construction of the tabernacle
along with the instructions that were given
for the construction of the tabernacle
because they repeat each other almost word for word.
And so that's why we're actually not skipping it.
We've already covered it,
and we're going to chapter 39 today.
Let me pray for the reading and preaching of God's word.
Let's pray.
Heavenly Father, we do long for your glory.
To be filled more and more with your Holy Spirit.
To be controlled more and more by your word.
To be used more and more by your power.
To proclaim your name.
To be conformed to the image of Christ.
We long for more of you, Father.
And as we've been singing,
as we've been praying this morning,
we cry out for more of you now.
Meet with us.
Speak to us.
Change us.
As you promised in your word,
as we exhort one another
and address one another with singing,
as the word of Christ dwells more richly in us,
you said we would be filled with your spirit.
So do that now.
Now.
In Jesus' name we pray.
Amen.
If you are willing and able,
please stand for the reading of God's word
from Exodus 39, 32 to 40, 38.
Thus all the work of the tabernacle
of the tent of meeting was finished.
And the people of Israel did according to all
that the Lord had commanded Moses.
So they did.
Then they brought the tabernacle to Moses,
the tent and all its utensils,
its hooks,
its frames,
its bars,
its pillars,
and spaces.
The covering of tanned ram skins
and goat skins
and the veil of the screen.
The ark of the testimony
with its poles
and the mercy seat.
The table with all its utensils
and the bread of the presence.
The lampstand of pure gold
and its lamps with the lamp set
and all its utensils
and the oil for the light.
The golden altar,
the anointing oil,
and the fragrant incense.
And the screen for the entrance of the tent.
The bronze altar
and its grating of bronze,
its poles,
and all its utensils.
The basin and its stand,
the hangings of the court,
its pillars and its bases,
and the screen for the gate of the court.
Its cords and its pegs
and all the utensils
for the service of the tabernacle,
for the tent of meeting.
The finely worked garments
for ministering in the holy place.
The holy garments for Aaron the priest
and the garments of his sons
for their service as priests.
According to all that the Lord
had commanded Moses,
so the people of Israel
had done all the work.
And Moses saw all the work
and behold,
they had done it
as the Lord had commanded.
So had they done it.
Then Moses blessed them.
The Lord spoke to Moses saying,
On the first day of the first month,
you shall erect the tabernacle
of the tent of meeting.
And you shall put in it
the ark of the testimony,
and you shall screen the ark
with the veil.
And you shall bring in the table
and arrange it,
and you shall bring in the lampstand
and set up its lamps.
And you shall put the golden altar
for incense before the ark
of the testimony,
and set up the screen
for the door of the tabernacle.
You shall set the altar
of burnt offering
before the door of the tabernacle
of the tent of meeting,
and place the basin
between the tent of meeting
and the altar,
and put water in it.
And you shall set up the court
all around,
and hang up the screen
for the gate of the court.
Then you shall take
the anointing oil,
and anoint the tabernacle
and all that is in it,
and consecrate it
and all its furniture,
so that it may become holy.
You shall also anoint
the altar of burnt offering
and all its utensils,
and consecrate the altar,
so that the altar
may become most holy.
You shall also anoint
the basin and its stand
and consecrate it.
Then you shall bring Aaron
and his sons
to the entrance
of the tent of meeting,
and shall wash them
with water,
and put on Aaron
the holy garments.
And you shall anoint him
and consecrate him,
that he may serve me
as priest.
You shall bring his sons
also and put coats on them,
and anoint them,
as you anointed their father,
that they may serve me
as priests.
And their anointing
shall admit them
to a perpetual priesthood
throughout their generations.
This Moses did
according to all
that the Lord commanded him,
so he did.
In the first month,
in the second year,
on the first day of the month,
the tabernacle was erected.
Moses erected the tabernacle.
He laid its basis
and set up its frames
and put in its poles
and raised up its pillars.
And he spread the tent
over the tabernacle
and put the covering
of the tent over it,
as the Lord
had commanded Moses.
He took the testimony
and put it into the ark
and put the poles on the ark
and set the mercy seat
above on the ark,
and he brought the ark
into the tabernacle
and set up the veil
of the screen
and screened the ark
of the testimony
as the Lord
had commanded Moses.
He put the table
in the tent of meeting
on the north side
of the tabernacle
outside the veil
and arranged the bread
on it before the Lord
as the Lord
had commanded Moses.
He put the lampstand
in the tent of meeting
opposite the table
on the south side
of the tabernacle
and set up the lamps
before the Lord
as the Lord
had commanded Moses.
He put the golden altar
in the tent of meeting
before the veil
and burned fragrant incense
on it
as the Lord
had commanded Moses.
He put in place
the screen
for the door
of the tabernacle
and he set the altar
of burnt offering
at the entrance
of the tabernacle
of the tent of meeting
and offered on it
the burnt offering
and the grain offering
as the Lord
had commanded Moses.
Moses,
he set the basin
between the tent
of meeting
and the altar
and put water
in it for washing
with which Moses
and Aaron
and his sons
washed their hands
and their feet.
When they went
into the tent
of meeting
and when they
approached the altar
they washed
as the Lord
commanded Moses
and he erected
the court
around the tabernacle
and the altar
and set up
the screen
of the gate
of the court
so Moses
finished the work.
Then the cloud
covered the tent
of meeting
and the glory
of the Lord
filled the tabernacle
and Moses
was not able
to enter the tent
of meeting
because the cloud
settled on it
and the glory
of the Lord
filled the tabernacle.
Throughout all
their journeys
whenever the cloud
was taken up
from over the tabernacle
the people of Israel
would set out
but if the cloud
was not taken up
then they did not
set out till the day
that it was taken up.
For the cloud
of the Lord
was on the tabernacle
by day
and fire
was in it
by night
in the sight
of all the house
of Israel
throughout all
their journeys.
This is God's
holy and authoritative
word.
Please be seated.
Most people
associate the book
of Exodus
only with the story
of Israel's
Exodus
from Egypt
with the ten plagues
the Passover
and the crossing
of the Red Sea
but that dramatic
escape from slavery
in Egypt
was over
at chapter 14
25 chapters ago.
The book
did not end there
but has continued
to this point
because Israel's
slavery in Egypt
was not
the ultimate drama
of the book.
There is still
deeper
more fundamental
drama going on
in this book.
Israel's
slavery in Egypt
was merely
a symptom
of their exile
from the presence
of God
due to Adam's
sin in the Garden
of Eden.
Escaping Egypt
and crossing
the Red Sea
is great
but until
Israel's
separation
from the presence
of God
is addressed
this drama
is not resolved.
So our passage
this morning
brings that drama
to its fitting
climactic
conclusion.
Similarly for us
much like
the lives
of the Israelites
our lives
are also full
of much drama.
Most of you
can probably
think of a conflict
or a problem
in your life
off the top
of your head.
Psychologically
we deal with
anxiety
panic attacks
various mental
illnesses
depression
bipolar disorder
gender dysphoria
socially
we deal with
wars
and rumors
of wars
overseas
prejudice
and injustice
on the streets
bullying
on the screens
loneliness
and abuse
in our homes
even physically
we deal with
various pains
and sicknesses
like arthritis
diabetes
pinched nerves
migraines
cancer
and even
natural disasters
like droughts
and wildfires
and earthquakes
and storms
but all of
these problems
in our lives
and in our world
are symptoms
they are
ramifications
of a central
underlying drama
and then that
drama
namely
is humanity's
sin
and humanity
has consequence
separation
from God
and the fall
of the world
in general
as a result
of it
it's because
the world
is not rightly
ordered in its
relationship to God
that there's so much
disorder in it
and chaos in it
it's tempting
to think that
all our problems
are due to
that sickness
or that toxic
individual
or that stubborn
mental problem
but the most
fundamental problem
that we must address
is the problem
that lies at the root
of all our problems
it's sin
and its consequence
separation
our separation
from God
and this passage
offers us a solution
to that
and brings this drama
to a conclusion
this passage teaches us
that we are newly
created
as the tabernacle
for God's glory
by the atoning work
of Jesus Christ
tabernacle is just
the word for tent
the dwelling place
for God
and I'm going to talk
first about the new
creation
then about the new
tabernacle
and finally about
the new mediator
the first section
of this passage
that we read
in chapter 39
verses 32 to 43
it begins with
this summary statement
that all the work
of the tabernacle
of the tent
and meeting
was finished
and the people
of Israel
did according
to all
that the Lord
had commanded
Moses
and then in verse 43
that same section
ends with the same
summary
in verse 42
according to all
that the Lord
had commanded
Moses
so the people
of Israel
had done
all the work
the fact that
Moses and the Israelites
completed the work
of building
the tabernacle
exactly
according to
the specifications
that God
had given them
is something
that will be
repeated and highlighted
all throughout
chapter 40
as we read
this is because
earlier in chapter 25
verse 9
God had said
to Moses
exactly
as I show you
concerning the pattern
of the tabernacle
and all of its furniture
so you shall
make it
God showed
Moses the blueprint
on Mount Sinai
the pattern
of the tabernacle
and Moses
was supposed
to supervise
the work
to ensure
that it was built
exactly according
to that blueprint
and that's because
the earthly tabernacle
as Hebrews 8
5 tells us
is intended to be
a copy
and a shadow
of the heavenly
tabernacle
the dwelling place
of God
so the tabernacle
is almost like
a miniature
replica
a scale model
of the heavenly
reality
this is why
the Israelites
are to follow
the instructions
given by God
to a T
this is why
Moses takes
seven chapters
to relay
specific instructions
concerning the tabernacle
and then he takes
them another
six chapters
to relay
to
follow those
instructions
painstakingly
word for word
and build
the tabernacle
this conveys
the truth
that the tabernacle
is not an invention
it's not an innovation
but an imitation
of the heavenly
dwelling place
of God
people say
that imitation
is the sincerest
form of flattery
when you can improve
on something
then you innovate
but when you cannot
improve on something
you imitate it
God is the architect
and the designer
and the engineer
behind the tabernacle
Moses is merely
the project manager
and the Israelites
are merely
the construction workers
the construction worker
does not get
to go off script
and alter
the design
of the house
that they have received
from the architect
and the engineer
likewise
God is the originator
God is the creator
and the Israelites
must remember
that they are servants
doing the Lord's bidding
that's the point
that is being driven home
these verses
also emphasize
the importance
of obedience
in general
Moses and the Israelites
had to do
all that the Lord
had commanded them
the same is true
for us
James 2 verse 10
says
whoever keeps
the whole law
but fails
in one point
has become guilty
of all of it
you don't have to
break every law
of the land
in order to become
a lawbreaker
you only have to
break one
to be fined
or jailed
or otherwise punished
as a lawbreaker
God's law
is an interdependent
whole
that has
a single author
and lawgiver
behind it
it's not like
if you break
law one point
A
then you appoint
then you offend
person A
but if you break
law one point
B
you offend
person B
because there's
only one author
and one lawgiver
one authority
behind it
if you break
one part of the law
if you fail
at one point
then you offend
the living God
and you have
broken the whole
you have become
guilty
just as one drop
of blank ink
in a clear glass
of water
contaminates the whole
sin
one sin
brings guilt
and condemnation
this truth
has two very
important implications
for us
as Christians
one is that
we should strive
to obey
all that God
has commanded us
we don't have
the luxury
to pick and choose
the commands
we like
and commands
we don't like
that's not
our prerogative
we are servants
and we have to do
all that the master
has commanded
this God
his way
is perfect
the word of the Lord
proves true
so as Christians
we have to strive
to obey everything
that God has commanded
every word
because we are servants
who ought to do
all that the master
has commanded
this God
his way
is perfect
the word of the Lord
proves true
we can't improve
upon God's word
whenever we veer away
from the commandments
of God
big or small
we are falling short
of his glory
and hurting ourselves
so are we living
in submission
and surrender
Jesus says
in Matthew 548
you therefore
must be perfect
as your heavenly father
is perfect
for it is written
it says in Galatians 310
curse be everyone
who does not abide
by all things
written in the book
of the law
and do them
God does not grade
on a curve
life is either
a pass
or a fail
and passing grade
is perfection
so don't settle
for being a somewhat
obedient Christian
or an above average Christian
you should imitate Christ
work hard
to become more like Christ
in every way
and seek to obey God
in everything
but we have to remember
that truth
with a second truth
because if not
we would be
depressed
and dejected
because God's standard
is perfection
and we have all
fallen short of that
we must rely
not on our own righteousness
but on the perfect righteousness
of Jesus
for our salvation
Hebrews 1014
says that
by a single offering
Jesus has perfected
for all time
those who are being
sanctified
we must not
delude ourselves
into thinking
that we can be
good enough for God
on our own accord
that we can meet
his standards
with our own good works
we are atoned
by Jesus' death
and justified
by his resurrection
apart from
the perfect righteousness
of Christ
being imputed to us
we have no hope
of salvation
so repetition
of the summary statement
that the people
of Israel
did according
to all that the Lord
had commanded Moses
highlights the importance
of obedience
but these summary statements
also serve another function
in chapter 39
verse 32
it says
thus all the work
of the tabernacle
of the tenth meeting
was finished
which is similar
to Genesis 2-1
referring to God's
seventh day
of creation
thus the heavens
and the earth
were finished
if that were
the only parallel
we probably wouldn't think
that it's an intentional
allusion
but there's more
verses 42-43
say this
according to all
that the Lord
had commanded Moses
so the people
of Israel
had done all the work
and Moses saw
all the work
and behold
they had done it
as the Lord
had commanded
so had they done it
then Moses
blessed them
similarly it says
in Genesis 1-31
God saw everything
he had made
and behold
it was very good
in Genesis 2-3
he says
God blessed
the seventh day
Moses seeing
and then beholding
and then blessing
followed the sequence
of God's actions
at the end
of his creative work
after seven days
of creation
in this way
the construction
of the tabernacle
is patterned
after the creation
of the world
and serves
as a type
of a new creation
that points
to the ultimate
new creation
in Jesus Christ
the tabernacle
is a step
toward unbroken
fellowship
that Adam and Eve
once enjoyed
at the beginning
of the created world
the new creation
motif has surfaced
several times
already throughout
this book
through the use
of the number seven
which mirrors
the seven days
of creation
the feast
of unleavened bread
was to be observed
for seven days
and the Passover
celebrated on the seventh day
Israelites were to observe
the seventh day
of rest
the Sabbath day
just as God
rested on the seventh day
they were to let
the land rest
and lie fallow
on the seventh year
and also
on the seventh year
they were to emancipate
all of their Hebrew slaves
free them from their work
and when the glory
of the Lord
dwelt on Mount Sinai
the cloud
it said covered
the cloud of God's glory
covered it
six days
and on the seventh day
God called to Moses
out of the midst
of the cloud
there were seven lamps
on the golden lampstand
within the tabernacle
and the consecration
and ordination
of priests
took seven days
in addition
to all of this
I mentioned
several weeks ago
that throughout
the tabernacle narrative
we find the phrase
the Lord said
to Moses
exactly
seven times
six times
it is connected
to various instructions
regarding the tabernacle
but on the seventh time
it's connected
to the Lord's instruction
regarding the Sabbath
interestingly enough
in chapter 40
verses 16 to 32
after the summary statement
in verse 16
it says that
this
this Moses did
according to all
that the Lord
had commanded him
the phrase
as the Lord
commanded
as the Lord
had commanded
Moses
also occurs
exactly seven times
throughout the narrative
forming another parallel
so
all of this
is also similar
to how
in Genesis 8 13
after the flood
of judgment
of the sinful world
God brings about
the waters to recede
and that happened
on the first day
of the first month
new creations
surfaced from the flood judgment
on the first day
of the first month
and not surprisingly
in Exodus 40 verse 2
it is on the first day
of the first month
that the tabernacle
is set up
it's erected
because the old creation
is fallen
God is bringing about
a new creation
where he will have
unbroken fellowship
with his people
once again
the tabernacle
points to the ultimate
new creation
that is brought
to fulfillment
by Jesus
it says in Galatians 6
14 to 15
that the cross
of our Lord Jesus Christ
brings about
a new creation
2 Corinthians 5 17
says therefore
if anyone is in Christ
he is a new creation
the old has passed away
behold
the new
has come
from the destruction
and debris
of our own sinful lives
God brings forth
a new creation
for us
so for those of you
who are
discouraged
and dejected
from the sin
in your own life
if you're not yet
a Christian
and wondering
if God can make
something of your life
he can
he can bring about
a new creation
in your own life
and make you
a new tabernacle
for his presence
speaking of the tabernacle
after Moses finishes
setting it up
it says in chapter 40
verse 34
then the cloud
covered the tent of meeting
and the glory of the Lord
filled the tabernacle
when Yahweh
the Lord
descended upon Mount Sinai
in Exodus 24
to confirm the covenant
that he had made
with Israel
the same language
was used to describe
the appearance of God
he said that the cloud
covered the mountains
in the same way
that the cloud
now covers the tabernacle
it also says
that the glory of the Lord
dwelt on Mount Sinai
in the same way
that the glory of the Lord
now filled the tabernacle
the filling
here represents
the indwelling
of the tent of meeting
God himself
coming to dwell there
make it his dwelling place
so the tabernacle
represents
the new portable
Mount Sinai
it's a miniature
portable Mount Sinai
that's going to now
travel with Israelites
God has now moved
into the Israelite camp
if you recall
from chapter 33
prior to the completion
of the tabernacle
or the tent of meeting
the Israelites
had another
more temporary
tent of meeting
to which Moses
would go to meet
with the Lord
a distinguishing feature
of that temporary
tent of meeting
was that it was
outside the camp
far away
from the camp
at that point
that signified
that Yahweh
was inaccessible
to the Israelites
he could not come
into their sinful camp
but now
that
the tabernacle
has been completed
and some of the sacrifices
have been offered
the God himself
enters the tent
and dwells in it
previously
at the tent of meeting
the temporary tent of meeting
Moses
went into the tent
and God spoke to him
from the outside
by the entrance
but now it's the Lord
who himself enters
the tent
to the tabernacle
previously
the temporary tent
was far away
from the camp
but now the tabernacle
is at the very center
at the middle
of all
surrounded by all
the other tents
of the Israelites
so this represents
progress
in Israel's relationship
with Yahweh
it's a new level
of intimacy
and communion
then verses 36
to 38
give us more detail
about what
the disappearance
of God
in a cloud
was like
throughout all
their journeys
whenever the cloud
was taken up
from over the tabernacle
the people of Israel
would set out
but if the cloud
was not taken up
then they did not
set out
till the day
that it was taken up
for the cloud
of the Lord
was on the tabernacle
by day
and fire
was in it
by night
in the sight
of all the house
of Israel
throughout all
their journeys
once again
as we have seen
numerous times
throughout Exodus
the cloud
of the Lord
is associated
with the fire
of the Lord
even in chapter 24
when the Lord
descended upon
Mount Sinai
it said that
the cloud
covered the mountains
but then
the appearance
of the glory
of the Lord
it said
was like
a devouring
fire
on top
of the mountain
the cloud
of glory
that is filling
the tabernacle
is probably
the same
as that cloud
and fire
the same
as the pillar
of fire
and cloud
that we saw
earlier
in Israel's
wilderness journey
it said
in Exodus
13
21-22
and the Lord
went before
them by day
in a pillar
of cloud
to lead them
along the way
and by night
in a pillar
of fire
to give them
light
that they
might travel
by day
and by night
the pillar
of cloud
by day
and the
pillar
of fire
by night
did not
depart
from before
the people
if you were
here with us
when we were
preaching in
Exodus 13
you know
this already
people often
think of these
two pillars
as two different
pillars
but they're
actually one
and the same
pillar
because it
tells us
in Exodus
14
that the
pillar
of cloud
was what
was lighting
up the night
and so in
Exodus 14
24
it says
that the
Lord was
in the
pillar
of fire
and of cloud
a singular
pillar
of fire
and cloud
it's the one
and the same
pillar during
the day
and during
the night
but during
the day
it's the
cloud
that is
the most
visible
and during
the night
it's the fire
that is the
most visible
so it's
probably
a column
of fire
with plumage
of smoke
emanating
from it
so it's
not wrong
to describe
the pillar
of smoke
as a pillar
of cloud
because after
all they're
made up
of the same
thing
it's water
vapors
sticking to
dust
and particles
in the air
so really
smoke is
just dirtier
or darker
cloud
and so
the pillar
of cloud
and fire
represents
the very
presence
of God
of that
that never
leaves the
Israelites
when the
cloud
remained
on the
tabernacle
the Israelites
camped
but when the
cloud
lifted
and departed
they followed
the cloud
and let the
cloud lead
them on
their journey
by day
or by night
in cloud
and fire
the Lord
dwelled
with his
people
and in this
way he led
them throughout
all their
journeys
all the way
to the
promised
land
that this
tabernacle
reveals the
way God
intends to
relate to
his people
and to
relate to
us
he's not
in some
remote place
far away
he's nearby
nor is there
a time in the
day or a
day in the
year when
he takes a
break or
goes off
duty
God is
with us
by day
and by
night
vigilantly
watching over
us and
intimately
caring for
us
God desires
communion
with us
as the
chorus of
the hymn
in the
garden
says he
walks with
me
and he
talks
with me
and he
tells me
I am
his own
and the
joy we
share
as we
tarry
there
none
other
has
ever
known
in order
to walk
ever more
closely
with us
God sent
his only
son
Jesus
to dwell
among
us
and it's
in
Jesus
that we
see the
embodiment
of the
pillar of
cloud
and fire
this
manifestation
of God
Jesus
is the
one
who
baptizes
us
with
spirit
and fire
it says
in Luke
316
just as
in the
old
testament
when the
tabernacle
was
completed
the cloud
covered
it
and his
glory
filled
it
just as
when
Solomon
later
completes
the
temple
of the
Lord
the
cloud
covered
it
and his
glory
filled
it
when
Jesus
glory
as
the
son
of
God
is
briefly
unveiled
at the
transfiguration
it says
in Luke
934
that a
cloud
that a
cloud
came
and
overshadowed
them
it
covers
them
and
after
his
resurrection
and ascension
when Jesus
sends his
holy spirit
to his
people
in Acts
2 3
what appears
is divided
tongues
as a
fire
resting
on each
of the
believers
the
God
who
indwelled
the
tabernacle
as the
cloud
and fire
now dwells
in us
as God's
people
in Jesus
through the
holy spirit
the
God
who
filled
the
tabernacle
now
fills
us
as
his
people
because
we
as
the
people
of
God
are
the
ultimate
tabernacle
the
dwelling
place
of
God
that's
why
in
1 Corinthians
3 16
and 6 19
we are
described
as God's
temple
and that
God's
spirit
dwells
in us
and that's
why we
are commanded
in Ephesians
5 18
to be
filled
with the
spirit
so do
you aspire
to be
filled
with the
spirit
more
and more
do you
seek to
manifest
the glory
of God
in our
lives
more
and more
if we
live
in obedience
in submission
to God
and if
we are
directed
and led
by his
spirit
and we
become
more
and more
like
Christ
in the
same
way
that the
tabernacle
displayed
the glory
of God
to the
watching
world
we too
would
display
the glory
of God
to our
neighbors
we too
would
proclaim
the name
of
Christ
we should
not be
like the
rest
of the
world
that is
not the
dwelling
place
of God
in this
special
sense
we should
be set
apart
for him
consecrated
to him
distinguished
from it
by our
obedience
and allegiance
to him
how
differently
would we
live
if we
live
with daily
awareness
that we
are the
very
dwelling
place
of the
living
God
but the
book of
Exodus
presents
us
with
a
problem
at
its
conclusion
and it
ends
with a
cliffhanger
it tells
us in
verse 35
Moses
was not
able to
enter the
tent of
meeting
because the
cloud
settled
on it
and the
glory of
the Lord
filled
the
tabernacle
it's
easy to
overlook
this but
this is
kind of
a big
problem
remember
Moses
is the
privileged
prophet
with whom
the Lord
would speak
face to
face as a
man speaks
to his
friend
if Moses
their
mediator
the one
guy who
didn't
commit
idolatry
like the
rest of
the
Israelites
cannot
enter
the
tent of
meeting
when the
Lord is
present
there
how are
any of
the
Israelites
supposed
to meet
with
God
how are
any of
God's
people
supposed
to have
communion
and
fellowship
with
God
thankfully
Exodus is
not the
last book
that Moses
wrote
and in
the sequel
the book
of Leviticus
Moses spends
seven chapters
describing the
various sacrifices
that the
Israelites were
to offer
the burnt
offerings
the grain
offerings
the peace
offerings
the sin
offerings
and the
guilt
offerings
and then
he describes
the elaborate
seven day
process
of consecrating
and ordaining
Aaron and his
sons as
priests
so even
though in
verses 29
to 31
of our
chapter
Moses
offers
some
offerings
and they
do wash
their hands
and feet
the priest
candidates
this is not
the full
process
instituted
by God
for their
consecration
and ordination
before they
can enter
the tent
of meeting
it is only
after
in Leviticus
Aaron offers
his sin
offering
and burnt
offering
and makes
atonement
for himself
and for the
people
that as it
says in
Leviticus
9 23
to 24
Moses and
Aaron went
into the
tent
of meeting
and when
they came
out
they blessed
the people
and the glory
of the Lord
appeared to
all the
people
this cliffhanger
in Exodus
points to the
necessity
of atoning
sacrifice
before people
can enter into
God's presence
and have
fellowship with
him
even the
priests
even Moses
and Aaron
needed to
make
atonement
for their
sins
and not
once
but they
had to
do this
repeatedly
because of
their weaknesses
and because
of their
sinfulness
but this
atoning
sacrifice
of the
high priest
points to
the ultimate
atoning work
of Jesus
our great
high priest
it says in
Hebrews 7
27
that Jesus
has no need
like those
high priests
to offer
sacrifices daily
first for his
own sins
and then for
those of the
people
sins
he did
this
once
for all
when he
offered up
himself
brothers and
sisters
this is why
we don't
need to
offer
sacrifices
this is why
we don't
bring goats
and bulls
to our
worship
this is why
none of us
who put his
faith in Jesus
has to perish
because Christ's
blood has been
shed on our
behalf
so this is the
amazing grace
of God here
that even though
the Israelites
just a few
chapters ago
they all
prostituted
themselves with
idols
and worshipped
the golden
calf in the
place of the
living God
God graciously
forgives them
and God
gives them a
process to be
able to enter
into their
into his
presence again
and because
that pointed
ultimately to
the grace that
we'll receive
and the mercy
that we'll
receive in
Jesus
in his
sacrifice
our only
chance
this is our
only chance
no matter how
hard we try
to live a
good life
even if we
were to put
together all
of our
righteousness
and all
of our
good deeds
in this
room
together
it would
not suffice
our only
chance
of being
in relationship
with God
living in
harmony with
him and
being in
fellowship
with him
again
is through
the atoning
sacrifice of
Jesus on
the cross
because Jesus
offered himself
as a sacrifice
for sin
because Jesus
defeated sin
and death
and was raised
from the dead
we can be
forgiven
we can enter
into the
holy of holies
live with God
walk with him
hear from him
and be filled
indwelled by
the very spirit
of God
the very presence
of God
and it's my
prayer for you
all this morning
that we will all
be filled more
and more with
that glory
and with that
spirit
so we can live
in conformity
to Christ
and his will
let me pray
for us
together
heavenly father
thank you for
not
giving up
on us
for persistently
pursuing us
in your love
for sending
your only son
Jesus
for
deigning to
make us
sanctifying us
as
your dwelling
place
Lord help us
as a church
not to take
that privilege
for granted
but to live
holy lives
set apart
for you
knowing what
what privilege
we've been
given
to be filled
with the spirit
of God
to walk
with you
to commune
with you
the almighty
God
Lord renew
a sense of
wonder in our
hearts
and fill us
more and more
with your glory
that we might
be the radiance
of your glory
in this world
that we might
point people
all around us
to the glory
that is found
in Jesus
so that you
might be glorified
more and more
in our midst
thank you for
meeting with us
and for being
here with us
now
in Jesus name
we pray
amen