Morning. Coffee. Communion. Musings.

Every year when I read through the latter chapters of Exodus, I always have to remind myself what the point is of recording all of the (seemingly) minute details of the construction of the tabernacle and associated items to be used for worship.

All of the elements of worship in the Old Testament were to be considered holy or devoted and consecrated to the Lord. This is at least one reason why all this detail is provided for us. It’s a reminder that our perfectly holy God is to be worshiped through holy means. To allow for anything else would signify that God is not supremely interested in upholding his own holiness. Indeed, he is the one who always defines how we, his creatures, will worship him. Contrary to many of our modern notions of worship, there are certain ways that we must relate to God in worship – ways he gets to define, not us.

So over and over again in Exodus, Moses is commanded exactly how to prepare the elements of worship by which the people will approach God, and the designs are followed exactly.

"According to all that the Lord had commanded Moses, so the people of Israel had done all the work" (Ex 39:42).

"This Moses did; according to all that the Lord commanded him, so he did" (Ex 40:16).

God’s right to define our means of worship does not change when we move from Old Testament to New Testament - from old covenant to new covenant. But what does change is the nature of the means of that worship. No longer is worship centered on a holy tabernacle or temple with holy instruments. Worship is now centered on the person of Jesus Christ, the “Holy One of God” (Mark 1:24). The only worship acceptable to God comes through Jesus Christ. When we remove Jesus from the picture, true worship of the true God does not happen.

Lord, help me to always place Christ at the center of my thoughts and affections, so that I may offer acceptable and pleasing worship to you!

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