God’s People Learn to Worship

GOLDEN TEXT: “O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.” —Psalm 95:6

EXODUS 25:1-8; 35:20-22; 40:12-15,34-38

THE offering of sacrifice was not new to the Israelites. Soon after man’s fall into sin and death we find Cain and Abel bringing offerings to the Lord. Noah offered sacrifice to the Lord in appreciation for his deliverance from the waters of the Flood. Abraham offered sacrifice. The Israelites themselves, while Moses was in the mount receiving the Law, offered sacrifice to the golden calf.

But it was not until after the Exodus that God’s people were presented with the idea of building a house, or tabernacle, which would symbolize the presence of the Lord in their midst. And the Israelites themselves had a very practical part in the building of the tabernacle in the wilderness, in that the material used was furnished by them, and the artisans who did the construction work were Israelites, people whom the Lord, through his Holy Spirit, specially blessed for this work.

The Lord instructed Moses to ask the people for voluntary gifts of whatever they might have which could be used in this great project, and much material was needed. Shortly before this the Israelites were slaves in Egypt, and we might wonder just where and how they obtained all the material they turned over to Moses for the construction of the tabernacle and its furnishings. Turning back to Exodus 12:35,36, we find the answer. They had acquired it from the Egyptians, who, being anxious for the Israelites to leave their country, were willing to give them anything they desired.

The Israelites, both men and women, seemed willing and glad to donate their precious things to the Lord to be used in the construction of the tabernacle. Indeed, more was received than could be used, so that Moses found it necessary to ask the people to refrain from bringing any more. (Exod. 36:5,6) It isn’t often that the Lord’s people are so liberal that they have to be restrained from donating to the Lord and his service. Apparently the idea of having something visible, such as the tabernacle, to represent the Lord in their midst, captivated them. Here was to be something physical with which they could associate Jehovah, and the prospect appealed to them.

The Lord arranged that particular ones should be his special servants in connection with the tabernacle and its services. These were called priests. Aaron and his sons, chosen from among the tribe of Levi, were the first thus to be chosen. Aaron was to be the high priest, and his sons the underpriests. They were anointed to their offices by holy anointing oil.

While this arrangement of the tabernacle and the priesthood was important to the Israelites in maintaining communication with God, it was designed primarily by him as a type of good things to come.” Paul refers to them as “shadows.” (Heb. 9:23; 10:1-4) The priesthood of Israel pointed forward to Jesus and his church as a spiritual priesthood, Jesus being our High Priest, and we his underpriests.—I Pet. 2:1-5

In the type the priests offered animals in sacrifice, but in the antitype God’s priests offer themselves. Jesus did this, and the altar upon which his sacrifice was consummated was the cross. We, as the underpriests, are invited to follow in his steps; to be planted together in the likeness of his sacrificial death. (Rom. 6:3-5) Jesus was the Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world through his sacrifice, and we are invited to follow the Lamb into death.—John 1:29; Rev. 5:6; 14:1,4

This priesthood class of the present age is represented in Revelation 20:6 as being brought forth from death in “the first resurrection” to reign with Christ a thousand years. It will be during this thousand years in the plan of God that the blessing of life procured by the death of Jesus, the Lamb of God, serving as the great High Priest, shall reach the world of mankind.

With the completion of the typical tabernacle, a cloud overshadowed it. By night this cloud was as a pillar of light. It represented God’s presence in the tabernacle, and in the midst of his people, to protect and guide them. This viewpoint of the tabernacle is mentioned in Revelation 21:3,4, where we are told of the time when “the tabernacle of God” will be with men; that is, his favors will be showered upon mankind through the agencies of the messianic kingdom. The result shall be that there will be no more pain and death.

The effect of the typical tabernacle in the midst of Israel must have been to cause the reverent among them to bow down and worship their Maker, as our Golden Text suggests. And it is the privilege of all the spiritual Israelites of today likewise to worship and praise their God.

QUESTIONS

What was God’s principal purpose in connection with Israel’s tabernacle and its services?

Who are God’s priests during the Gospel Age, and what do they offer in sacrifice?

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