Confessional Lutheran Ministerium

Psalm 79:1-13 NKJV

79 O God, the nations have come into Your inheritance;
Your holy temple they have defiled;
They have laid Jerusalem in heaps.
² The dead bodies of Your servants
They have given as food for the birds of the heavens,
The flesh of Your saints to the beasts of the earth.
³ Their blood they have shed like water all around Jerusalem,
And there was no one to bury them.
⁴ We have become a reproach to our neighbors,
A scorn and derision to those who are around us.

⁵ How long, Lord?
Will You be angry forever?
Will Your jealousy burn like fire?
⁶ Pour out Your wrath on the nations that do not know You,
And on the kingdoms that do not call on Your name.
⁷ For they have devoured Jacob,
And laid waste his dwelling place.

⁸ Oh, do not remember former iniquities against us!
Let Your tender mercies come speedily to meet us,
For we have been brought very low.
⁹ Help us, O God of our salvation,
For the glory of Your name;
And deliver us, and provide atonement for our sins,
For Your name’s sake!
¹⁰ Why should the nations say,
“Where is their God?”
Let there be known among the nations in our sight
The avenging of the blood of Your servants which has been shed.

¹¹ Let the groaning of the prisoner come before You;
According to the greatness of Your power
Preserve those who are appointed to die;
¹² And return to our neighbors sevenfold into their bosom
Their reproach with which they have reproached You, O Lord.

¹³ So we, Your people and sheep of Your pasture,
Will give You thanks forever;
We will show forth Your praise to all generations.

Asaph laments the destruction of the Lord’s temple and the desolation of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. The Lord allowed it as punishment for Judah’s sins. The psalmist asks God for tender mercy, atonement for sins, and restoration. He asks, not because Judah deserves it­— Judah only deserves wrath and punishment for her sins—but for the glory of God’s name. Without mercy and deliverance for God’s people and vengeance upon their enemies, the nations would continue to mock the Lord and imagine they can act as lords and masters over the sheep of the Lord’s pasture. He asks for God to take vengeance on their enemies and promises to give thanks to God and teach the next generation to praise Him. He asks God to avenge the blood of His servants who had been killed. He also prays that God would return sevenfold the derision with which Judah’s neighbors had derided the Lord. God’s people—the sheep of God’s pasture—look to their Good Shepherd to avenge them and God’s honor.

Asaph’s psalm is still applicable to God’s people in the New Testament. God’s people of the New Testament can still pray this psalm against those who persecute the church. When the church’s enemies physically demolish churches and murder Christians, we pray that God has mercy and avenges His martyrs. When false teachers arise in the church and harm the souls of God’s people by mixing the world’s priorities with God’s word, we pray that God avenges the sheep of His pasture by providing faithful shepherds who will preach God’s word in its truth and purity. But never does Christ’s church take matters into her own hands. She waits upon the one who has said, “Vengeance is mine” (Deut. 32:35). God’s people look to Him for their protection, their nourishment, and every good thing just as sheep look to their shepherd. We trust that although we do not deserve any good thing because of our sins, God still will act in mercy toward His church for her benefit and for the glory of His name.

Let us pray: Defend Your Church, O Lord, from all who rise up against her. Preserve us from false teaching and grant us mercy so that whatever we suffer for Your name’s sake, we suffer patiently to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.

Psalm 78:56-72 NKJV ⁵⁶ Yet they tested and provoked the Most High God,
And did not keep His testimonies,
⁵⁷ But turned back and acted unfaithfully like their fathers;
They were turned aside like a deceitful bow.
⁵⁸ For they provoked Him to anger with their high places,
And moved Him to jealousy with their carved images.
⁵⁹ When God heard this, He was furious,
And greatly abhorred Israel,
⁶⁰ So that He forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh,
The tent He had placed among men,
⁶¹ And delivered His strength into captivity,
And His glory into the enemy’s hand.
⁶² He also gave His people over to the sword,
And was furious with His inheritance.
⁶³ The fire consumed their young men,
And their maidens were not given in marriage.
⁶⁴ Their priests fell by the sword,
And their widows made no lamentation.

⁶⁵ Then the Lord awoke as from sleep,
Like a mighty man who shouts because of wine.
⁶⁶ And He beat back His enemies;
He put them to a perpetual reproach.

⁶⁷ Moreover He rejected the tent of Joseph,
And did not choose the tribe of Ephraim,
⁶⁸ But chose the tribe of Judah,
Mount Zion which He loved.
⁶⁹ And He built His sanctuary like the heights,
Like the earth which He has established forever.
⁷⁰ He also chose David His servant,
And took him from the sheepfolds;
⁷¹ From following the ewes that had young He brought him,
To shepherd Jacob His people,
And Israel His inheritance.
⁷² So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart,
And guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.

As was concluded on Sunday’s devotion regarding this same psalm — the story in this psalm is our own, so we are wise to carefully ponder it. What exactly is God bringing us to be reminded of, and taught? The words of 1 Corinthians 10 ring out, “whoever thinks that he stands, take heed lest he fall.” It is not enough to begin to believe, to hear the Gospel, to receive the Sacraments, and to be given spiritual goods, but rather to know that they must also abide in the faith and confession of the Gospel and in a godly life until the end.

With a mighty hand God brought them out of Egypt through the Red Sea, and through the wilderness. Yet, out of 600,000 men, no more than Joshua and Caleb came into the Promised Land. The rest died in the wilderness. What was the reason? They did not abide in the faith which they received but fell into various great sins through unbelief.

Five great sins can be remembered: 1) Lust: God gave them their desire and sent them enough until they loathed it. 2) Idolatry: They made a calf and exchanged God’s glory for the likened of an ox that eats grass. 3) Sexual immorality: they joined themselves to the Baal Peor. 4) Tempted God: demanding food for their soul. And 5) Murmuring against God: they did not obey the voice of the Lord.

Did God strike back? Without a doubt. 1) While they were still eating, the anger of God slewed the chief and struck down the choice men of Israel. 2) 3,000 men were slain because of idolatry. 3) 24,000 were slain because of sexual immorality. 4) The Lord sent serpents because of their tempting of God; and many died. And 5) nearly 15,000 died for their murmuring.

The Israelite’s flesh-inclined pilgrimage should create fear within our own weak flesh, knowing the Judgement Seat of God awaits us. Thankfully, His Word and Sacraments send us to His Mercy Seat who is Christ Jesus. Only through faith in Him comes forgiveness, the Christian life, and salvation.

Let us pray: Lord, keep us steadfast in Your Word. Amen.

Exodus 40:18-38 NKJV

¹⁸ So Moses raised up the tabernacle, fastened its sockets, set up its boards, put in its bars, and raised up its pillars. ¹⁹ And he spread out the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering of the tent on top of it, as the Lord had commanded Moses. ²⁰ He took the Testimony and put it into the ark, inserted the poles through the rings of the ark, and put the mercy seat on top of the ark. ²¹ And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, hung up the veil of the covering, and partitioned off the ark of the Testimony, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

²² He put the table in the tabernacle of meeting, on the north side of the tabernacle, outside the veil; ²³ and he set the bread in order upon it before the Lord, as the Lord had commanded Moses. ²⁴ He put the lampstand in the tabernacle of meeting, across from the table, on the south side of the tabernacle; ²⁵ and he lit the lamps before the Lord, as the Lord had commanded Moses. ²⁶ He put the gold altar in the tabernacle of meeting in front of the veil; ²⁷ and he burned sweet incense on it, as the Lord had commanded Moses. ²⁸ He hung up the screen at the door of the tabernacle. ²⁹ And he put the altar of burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, and offered upon it the burnt offering and the grain offering, as the Lord had commanded Moses. ³⁰ He set the laver between the tabernacle of meeting and the altar, and put water there for washing; ³¹ and Moses, Aaron, and his sons would wash their hands and their feet with water from it. ³² Whenever they went into the tabernacle of meeting, and when they came near the altar, they washed, as the Lord had commanded Moses. ³³ And he raised up the court all around the tabernacle and the altar, and hung up the screen of the court gate. So Moses finished the work.

³⁴ Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. ³⁵ And Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of meeting, because the cloud rested above it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. ³⁶ Whenever the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would go onward in all their journeys. ³⁷ But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not journey till the day that it was taken up. ³⁸ For the cloud of the Lord was above the tabernacle by day, and fire was over it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.

With Moses abiding by the Word of the Lord, the completion of the tabernacle takes place. God’s presence with His people takes on a new chapter (so to speak). A cloud covered the tent, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. It was filled with glory, as when Solomon consecrated his temple (1 Kings 8:11), where the same words may be found. It was magnificent, like Jerusalem on Pentecost (Acts 2:2).

For us — the “glory of the Lord” is our Lord Jesus Christ! Isaiah refers to Him in such a way: “Your light comes, and the glory of the Lord arises upon You.” For Christ is the brightest of the glory of the heavenly Father (see Hebrews 1:3) and has revealed Himself to the world with the great and divine glory, of which John 1:14 proclaims: “We have seen His glory, glory as of the only begotten Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

We shall close out with the final words on the mysteries of Christ in the Book of Exodus by Valerious Herberger (a 16th & 17th century Lutheran theologian), who, as you have followed earlier, tends to bring it back to Christ through prayer. So… Let us pray: “Oh, Lord Jesus, my last hour will also be called a departure or exit from all misery! Help my life to conclude as Moses’ exodus, or “exit,” concluded (Deut. 34:5). Let this be my art of dying, my solace and treasure in my last journey from this life. O Lord Jesus, cover my soul with the cloud of Your grace, fill the tabernacle of my heart with the glory of Your comfort, abide with me and do not forsake me. And when I must bid this world good-night, then arise O Captain of Life. “Let God arise, that His enemies may be scattered (Ps. 68:1). Lighten then the dark night my gloomy heart, show me in bright daylight the way to heaven, O my King and Lord. Go out before me, as Micah 2:13 says, and bring me to life everlasting, and my departure will be a blessed exit from all misery and a blessed entrance to that joy which no man shall take from us (Jn. 16:22)” (The Great Works of God, Part VI, translation Matthew Carver, pg. 594, Emmanuel Press).

Exodus 40:1-17 NKJV 40 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: ² “On the first day of the first month you shall set up the tabernacle of the tent of meeting. ³ You shall put in it the ark of the Testimony, and partition off the ark with the veil. ⁴ You shall bring in the table and arrange the things that are to be set in order on it; and you shall bring in the lampstand and light its lamps. ⁵ You shall also set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark of the Testimony, and put up the screen for the door of the tabernacle. ⁶ Then you shall set the altar of the burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting. ⁷ And you shall set the laver between the tabernacle of meeting and the altar, and put water in it. ⁸ You shall set up the court all around, and hang up the screen at the court gate.

⁹ “And you shall take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it; and you shall hallow it and all its utensils, and it shall be holy. ¹⁰ You shall anoint the altar of the burnt offering and all its utensils, and consecrate the altar. The altar shall be most holy. ¹¹ And you shall anoint the laver and its base, and consecrate it.

¹² “Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the tabernacle of meeting and wash them with water. ¹³ You shall put the holy garments on Aaron, and anoint him and consecrate him, that he may minister to Me as priest. ¹⁴ And you shall bring his sons and clothe them with tunics. ¹⁵ You shall anoint them, as you anointed their father, that they may minister to Me as priests; for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.”

¹⁶ Thus Moses did; according to all that the Lord had commanded him, so he did.

¹⁷ And it came to pass in the first month of the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was raised up.

Human reason, although a gift of God to use to His glory and for our benefit, still being part of our sinful flesh, can cause us to think arrogantly and believe that it is OK to place God beneath us and put Him to the test with questions. Fallen reason could conclude “Sure, it was a great glory that God dwelt among the Israelites in a physical location (a tabernacle) that He himself commanded them to build. If only we had such a firsthand command from God in the New Testament, we could have followed that and become truly be happy.”

God, however, has instructed His New Testament believers where He is to be located — it is where He gathers us around His Word and Sacraments. God establishes peace and love with us through Holy Baptism, in all the preaching of the Gospel, in Confession and Holy Absolution, and in the eating and drinking of His most Holy Supper. These are the means of grace, only empowered by His living and active Word, through which He chose to continue to dwell (tabernacle) among us!

Valerious Herberger (a 16th & 17th century Lutheran theologian) reveals another place that God tabernacles as he writes: “a believing heart is God’s habitation and a God-pleasing sanctuary. As the Lord Jesus says, “Whoever loves me will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make our home with him” (John 14:23). Thus St. Peter says, “You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house and as a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 2:5); and, “Sanctify the Lord Your God in your hearts” (1 Pet. 3:15). And St. Paul: “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, and that you are” (1 Cor. 3:17);” (The Great Works of God, Part VI, translation Matthew Carver, pg. 581, Emmanuel Press)

Let us pray: O Lord, we give You thanks that You have tabernacled among us through the centuries. Grant us the awareness of Your continued dwelling within us as well. Amen.

Exodus 39:1-21 NKJV

39 Of the blue, purple, and scarlet thread they made garments of ministry, for ministering in the holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

² He made the ephod of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and of fine woven linen. ³ And they beat the gold into thin sheets and cut it into threads, to work it in with the blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and the fine linen, into artistic designs. ⁴ They made shoulder straps for it to couple it together; it was coupled together at its two edges. ⁵ And the intricately woven band of his ephod that was on it was of the same workmanship, woven of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and of fine woven linen, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

⁶ And they set onyx stones, enclosed in settings of gold; they were engraved, as signets are engraved, with the names of the sons of Israel. ⁷ He put them on the shoulders of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

⁸ And he made the breastplate, artistically woven like the workmanship of the ephod, of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and of fine woven linen. ⁹ They made the breastplate square by doubling it; a span was its length and a span its width when doubled. ¹⁰ And they set in it four rows of stones: a row with a sardius, a topaz, and an emerald was the first row; ¹¹ the second row, a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond; ¹² the third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst; ¹³ the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. They were enclosed in settings of gold in their mountings. ¹⁴ There were twelve stones according to the names of the sons of Israel: according to their names, engraved like a signet, each one with its own name according to the twelve tribes. ¹⁵ And they made chains for the breastplate at the ends, like braided cords of pure gold. ¹⁶ They also made two settings of gold and two gold rings, and put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate. ¹⁷ And they put the two braided chains of gold in the two rings on the ends of the breastplate. ¹⁸ The two ends of the two braided chains they fastened in the two settings, and put them on the shoulder straps of the ephod in the front. ¹⁹ And they made two rings of gold and put them on the two ends of the breastplate, on the edge of it, which was on the inward side of the ephod. ²⁰ They made two other gold rings and put them on the two shoulder straps, underneath the ephod toward its front, right at the seam above the intricately woven band of the ephod. ²¹ And they bound the breastplate by means of its rings to the rings of the ephod with a blue cord, so that it would be above the intricately woven band of the ephod, and that the breastplate would not come loose from the ephod, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

As understood by Valerious Herberger (a 16th & 17th century Lutheran theologian), the precious twelve stones mentioned as part of the priestly garments in chapter 39 reflect the attributes of Christ. His descriptions of each stone and their unique reflection of Jesus reveals Herberger’s incredibly Christ-centered mindset. Unfortunately, they are too numerous and lengthy to list here — but supplied below is a display of his prayer based upon what each of the twelve stone’s power was known for and his re-focusing of them to be on Christ.

Let us pray: “O Lord Jesus Christ, be the precious stone of my salvation. I will wear You in the gold setting of my heart for as long as I live. I implore You, (1) dispel from me all the poison of sin; sharpen my mind, that I may know how I am to be saved; (2) cool the boiling waters of my conscience in every spiritual attack, that I may not despair; (3) grant me a clean, chaste heart; defend me from hell, and give me eternal life; (4) let Your consolation shine on the darkness of my affliction; guard me against the delight of sin and fear of the evil one; (5) grant me a devout heart and priestly disposition; (6) chase from me every wraith of the devil; deliver me from his terrible grasp; (7) gladden my heart, that my joy may be full (John 16:24); (8) quench the thirst of my soul with Your succulent consolation; (9) win for me the favor of Your heavenly Father ; (10) keep watch over me every hour, O Keeper of Israel (Ps. 121:4); be the most beautiful adornment of my soul, defend me against falls from which I cannot recover, have patience with my weakness, and after this present misery grant me the heavenly glory; (11) leave Your peace with me also as You did with Your holy apostles (John 14:27), that in peace I may live and pray and depart from hence; and (12) deliver me from every burden of my travail and defend me from spiritual shipwreck in my salvation. Be the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last (Rev. 22:13), the beginning and the ending of my eternal glory. Amen” (The Great Works of God, Part VI, translation Matthew Carver, pg. 581, Emmanuel Press).

Exodus 38:16-31 NKJV

¹⁶ All the hangings of the court all around were of fine woven linen. ¹⁷ The sockets for the pillars were bronze, the hooks of the pillars and their bands were silver, and the overlay of their capitals was silver; and all the pillars of the court had bands of silver. ¹⁸ The screen for the gate of the court was woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and of fine woven linen. The length was twenty cubits, and the height along its width was five cubits, corresponding to the hangings of the court. ¹⁹ And there were four pillars with their four sockets of bronze; their hooks were silver, and the overlay of their capitals and their bands was silver. ²⁰ All the pegs of the tabernacle, and of the court all around, were bronze.

²¹ This is the inventory of the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the Testimony, which was counted according to the commandment of Moses, for the service of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, son of Aaron the priest.

²² Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made all that the Lord had commanded Moses. ²³ And with him was Aholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver and designer, a weaver of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and of fine linen.

²⁴ All the gold that was used in all the work of the holy place, that is, the gold of the offering, was twenty-nine talents and seven hundred and thirty shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary. ²⁵ And the silver from those who were numbered of the congregation was one hundred talents and one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary: ²⁶ a bekah for each man (that is, half a shekel, according to the shekel of the sanctuary), for everyone included in the numbering from twenty years old and above, for six hundred and three thousand, five hundred and fifty men. ²⁷ And from the hundred talents of silver were cast the sockets of the sanctuary and the bases of the veil: one hundred sockets from the hundred talents, one talent for each socket. ²⁸ Then from the one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five shekels he made hooks for the pillars, overlaid their capitals, and made bands for them.

²⁹ The offering of bronze was seventy talents and two thousand four hundred shekels. ³⁰ And with it he made the sockets for the door of the tabernacle of meeting, the bronze altar, the bronze grating for it, and all the utensils for the altar, ³¹ the sockets for the court all around, the bases for the court gate, all the pegs for the tabernacle, and all the pegs for the court all around.

Fine woven linen, bronze, silver, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, exact measurements, more bronze, more silver, and, of course, there’s gold as well! Nothing but the best of the best. It is truly hard for our limited minds to imagine how elegant and glorious the tabernacle was adorned. Seeing it firsthand is, honestly, the only way we could take it all in. Yet, the tabernacle was where the presence of the Lord was going to be, so it should be made up of the best of the best, right?

You have heard this mentioned before in devotions – namely, that the inside of a sanctuary is meant to reflect a holy space, where holy things take place. Well, who is responsible for creating the space, to make it look the way that it does? It is not the job of the pastor. It is the whole congregation!

Pastors give spiritual guidance based on the Word of God and where His Word does not command nor forbid there is Christian freedom — but a freedom, nonetheless, that is always aiming toward the glorification of God’s name among us. The Good News of God’s Gospel renews Christian minds and brings such an aim to take place. Godly stewardship (management), for example, brings one to properly take care of all that God has given them. The same can be said of Tithing — God’s Gospel brings about cheerful giving.

In Exodus 38:24 the sum of the expenses is given, and it was an astounding amount. God continually raised up generous people who took pleasure in using their property to further God’s glory, as evident in David, Solomon, and King Cyrus. The Israelites paid the bill, for God had miraculously provided for them when He instructed them to borrow all kinds of valuable things from the Egyptians.

This can be seen by Christians throughout time, and it continues today as God continues to work through His holy Word and Sacraments renewing minds and bringing about the glorification of His name.

Let us pray: O Lord, continue to overcome my selfish flesh and renew my mind to the glory of Your name among us. Amen.

Psalm 78:26-39 NKJV

²⁶ He caused an east wind to blow in the heavens;
And by His power He brought in the south wind.
²⁷ He also rained meat on them like the dust,
Feathered fowl like the sand of the seas;
²⁸ And He let them fall in the midst of their camp,
All around their dwellings.
²⁹ So they ate and were well filled,
For He gave them their own desire.
³⁰ They were not deprived of their craving;
But while their food was still in their mouths,
³¹ The wrath of God came against them,
And slew the stoutest of them,
And struck down the choice men of Israel.

³² In spite of this they still sinned,
And did not believe in His wondrous works.
³³ Therefore their days He consumed in futility,
And their years in fear.

³⁴ When He slew them, then they sought Him;
And they returned and sought earnestly for God.
³⁵ Then they remembered that God was their rock,
And the Most High God their Redeemer.
³⁶ Nevertheless they flattered Him with their mouth,
And they lied to Him with their tongue;
³⁷ For their heart was not steadfast with Him,
Nor were they faithful in His covenant.
³⁸ But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity,
And did not destroy them.
Yes, many a time He turned His anger away,
And did not stir up all His wrath;
³⁹ For He remembered that they were but flesh,
A breath that passes away and does not come again.

This portion of Psalm 78 recounts the faithlessness of the Israelites and the enduring mercy of God. Though they had seen His mighty works, they tested Him in their hearts, demanding food to satisfy their cravings. God, in His sovereignty, gave them what they desired—raining down meat like dust and bread from heaven. Yet their rebellion persisted, and His righteous anger was stirred.

The psalm exposes a hard truth about the human heart: even when we receive God’s blessings, we are prone to ingratitude and disobedience. The Israelites’ craving for earthly provision overshadowed their trust in the God who provides. How often do we find ourselves in a similar place? When faced with trials or temptations, do we forget His faithfulness and turn to fleeting comforts?

Amid their rebellion, God’s response is astonishing. Although His judgment was evident, so was His compassion. He remembered they were but flesh, a passing breath that does not return. Instead of giving them over to the destruction they deserved, He restrained His wrath and forgave their iniquity.

This mercy points us to the heart of the gospel. God’s forgiveness is not casual or permissive; it is costly and transformative. He poured out His wrath on His Son at the cross so that we might receive grace. Jesus bore our sin, satisfying the justice of God and demonstrating His unwavering love.

As we reflect on these verses, we are reminded of the depth of God’s compassion. His mercy does not depend on our worthiness but flows from His steadfast character. When we fall into sin, He calls us to repentance, offering forgiveness and renewal through Christ.

Let us not take His mercy for granted but respond with humble gratitude. Trust Him to meet your deepest needs, not only for daily bread but for eternal life. Let His faithfulness anchor your soul, and let His love transform your heart.

Let us pray: Lord, thank You for Your compassion and forgiveness, even when we fall short. Help us to trust in Your provision and walk in obedience to Your will. Strengthen our faith and lead us in Your ways. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Exodus 38:1-15 NKJV

38 He made the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood; five cubits was its length and five cubits its width—it was square—and its height was three cubits. ² He made its horns on its four corners; the horns were of one piece with it. And he overlaid it with bronze. ³ He made all the utensils for the altar: the pans, the shovels, the basins, the forks, and the firepans; all its utensils he made of bronze. ⁴ And he made a grate of bronze network for the altar, under its rim, midway from the bottom. ⁵ He cast four rings for the four corners of the bronze grating, as holders for the poles. ⁶ And he made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with bronze. ⁷ Then he put the poles into the rings on the sides of the altar, with which to bear it. He made the altar hollow with boards.

⁸ He made the laver of bronze and its base of bronze, from the bronze mirrors of the serving women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.

⁹ Then he made the court on the south side; the hangings of the court were of fine woven linen, one hundred cubits long. ¹⁰ There were twenty pillars for them, with twenty bronze sockets. The hooks of the pillars and their bands were silver. ¹¹ On the north side the hangings were one hundred cubits long, with twenty pillars and their twenty bronze sockets. The hooks of the pillars and their bands were silver. ¹² And on the west side there were hangings of fifty cubits, with ten pillars and their ten sockets. The hooks of the pillars and their bands were silver. ¹³ For the east side the hangings were fifty cubits. ¹⁴ The hangings of one side of the gate were fifteen cubits long, with their three pillars and their three sockets, ¹⁵ and the same for the other side of the court gate; on this side and that were hangings of fifteen cubits, with their three pillars and their three sockets.

The construction of the altar of burnt offering and the courtyard of the tabernacle reflects both the seriousness of sin and the accessibility of God’s grace. These structures were central to Israel’s worship, showing how God dwells among His people while making provision for their sin.

The altar of burnt offering, positioned at the entrance of the tabernacle courtyard, was the first object encountered by those coming to worship. Built of acacia wood and overlaid with bronze, it symbolized the necessity of atonement. Sacrifices offered here reminded the Israelites of their need for forgiveness and the cost of sin, as life was exchanged to make peace with God. For us, the altar points forward to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Unlike the continual offerings of the Old Covenant, His sacrifice was once for all. At the cross, He bore the penalty for sin, making provision for peace through His blood. This truth transforms how we approach God—not with fear of rejection, but with faith and confidence in His grace.

The courtyard, enclosed by curtains of fine woven linen, provided a place for the congregation to gather in worship. The openness of the design speaks to God’s invitation to His people. Although the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place were restricted to the priests, the courtyard allowed all Israelites to draw near, bringing their sacrifices and lifting their prayers.

This accessibility foreshadows the greater access believers now have through Christ. The veil has been torn, and we are invited to come boldly to the throne of grace. God’s dwelling is no longer confined to a specific structure but is with His people, in the hearts of those redeemed by His Son.

As we reflect on these details, let us remember the seriousness of sin and the magnitude of Christ’s sacrifice. Worship begins with acknowledging what God has done to bring us near to Him. Let us approach Him with gratitude, offering our lives as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable in His sight. Let us pray: Lord, thank You for the sacrifice of Jesus that has made a way for us to draw near to You. Teach us to worship You with grateful hearts and lives surrendered to Your will. In Jesus’ name, Amen.