Creating a Sacred Dwelling for God within the Heart

Reverend Leo H. McCrary II

Everyone can be a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, but are you willing to follow God’s instructions so that He may dwell with you?

Introduction

God will dwell with you, but is your heart prepared for His dwelling?  I hope you will take a moment to join me for this week’s lesson, as scripture makes it clear, God won’t just dwell in any kind of tabernacle.  God is holy and divine, and His desire is to dwell in a temple that is also holy and divine.  This week’s Sunday School commentary will cover Exodus 40:1-11, 34-38, as we look at creating a sacred dwelling for God.

The Old Tabernacle – The Tabernacle of Moses

This week’s commentary is a good follow-up to “How to Recognize God’s Presence in Your Life.”  

In Exodus 33:13, Moses requested God’s presence to go with him and the children of Israel as they journeyed to the Promised Land.   Moses made that request after God said He would not go up in the midst of the people because they were a stiff-necked people whom He would consume because of their sin (Ex. 33:3).

While the Lord assured Moses that His presence would go with him and the people, there were instructions he would need to follow.  In this week’s commentary, we will see where the Lord instructed Moses to set up the tabernacle of the tent of meeting (Ex. 40:1-2).

The instructions God gave Moses for the building of the tabernacle are found in Exodus 26.  As we will see, the tabernacle was a tent that could be set up and taken down as the children of Israel journeyed to the Promised Land, and later, as they wandered in the wilderness (Numb. 1:51-52).

Inside the tabernacle, Moses was instructed to put the Ark of the Testimony, also known as the Ark of the Covenant.  The Ark of the Covenant was a box made of acacia wood (Ex. 25:10).  Within the Ark of the Covenant were the two stone tablets of the Testimony that were given to Moses (Ex. 25:16).  I will point out that these would have been the second stone tablets after the first were shattered when the children of Israel sinned at Mount Sinai (Ex. 32:19; 34:1).

The Ark of the Covenant was to be placed behind a veil, partitioned off in a section of the tabernacle known as the Most Holy Place (Ex. 26:33).  The only ones who could enter into this part of the tabernacle were the High Priest, and they could only enter it on the Day of Atonement (Ex. 30:10; Lev. 16).

Exodus 40:4-5 covers the next section of the tabernacle, which came before, or outside, the veil of the Most Holy Place (Ex. 26:35).  Moses was instructed to bring in a table and arrange the things that included a blue cloth, utensils, and the showbread (Ex. 25:30; 39:36; Num. 4:7).  

The showbread was for the priest who would eat the bread, symbolically, in communion with the Lord.  In Matthew 12:3-4 and Mark 2:25-26, Jesus pointed out that David also ate the showbread, which technically would have been considered sin.  However, Jesus pointed out that David was in need, running from Saul, and was hungry when the priest cared for and fed him (1 Sam. 21:1-6).

Exodus 40:6-7 covers what was outside the tabernacle, in its fenced-in courtyard.  Moses was instructed to set up an altar for burnt offerings outside the door of the tabernacle.  Burnt offerings were offerings that were made as a sign of one being committed to the Lord.  So, if you entered the tabernacle, a holy place, you would burn the offering as a symbol of being committed to the Lord.

Then, he was instructed to place a laver (basin) of water in the courtyard for the priests to wash their hands and feet in before entering the tabernacle.  The washing of hands and feet was required and done symbolically as one could not enter the tabernacle ‘unclean’.  So, the priest would wash and purify themselves before entering the holy place.

Anointing of the Tabernacle

Because the tabernacle housed a sanctuary for worship of the Lord and the Most Holy Place, it was a sacred place.  However, something that should be pointed out about the tabernacle was that it was made up of ordinary things, the contents within were also ordinary, and the contents in the courtyard were also ordinary.

When I say that those things were ordinary, I want you to remember that when Moses received these instructions, the children of Israel were a people who had just been freed from the bondage of Egypt.  The finest things the children of Israel would have possessed would’ve been things they took from the Egyptians as they left Egypt (Ex. 12:35-36).

Now, with that in mind, let us remember that the Egyptians were an idolatrous people who would use silver and gold for worship of their gods.  So, the Lord instructed Moses, in Exodus 40:9-11, to anoint and purify everything that had to do with the tabernacle and the courtyard.

What the washing of the priest and then the anointing of everything involved with coming into communion with God indicates is His desire for His dwelling to be holy.  God does not and will not abide with sin.  God will not and does not even tolerate sin in His presence!

An example of how strict these instructions were can be seen in two of Aaron’s sons, who had been ordained and consecrated for the priestly service.  In Leviticus 10:1-2, they entered the tabernacle defiled, believed to be drunk, and offered a profane offering that consumed them with fire.  It is believed they were drunk because, following this incident, the Lord warned Aaron about entering the tabernacle having drunk wine or intoxicating drink (Lev. 10:8).

Dwelling in Earthly Fellowship With God

The anointing of the old tabernacle, the instructions for Moses, Aaron, and the priests, serve as a parallel for God’s children today.  

Paul asked the Corinthians if they realized that they were a temple of the Lord (1 Cor. 3:16).  I feel like many of us who have desired and requested God to dwell with us forget that He does dwell with those who are of sincere faith.  God dwells with the sincere believer through the inner dwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Paul told the Corinthians, “If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him.  For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are (1 Cor. 3:17).  So all of us who are of sincere faith ought to look at the instructions Moses received from God, and understand that God desires to dwell in a holy temple, not a defiled temple.  We are, by our nature, defiled–sinful.

So, if you desire for God to dwell with you today, and you are defiled, what should you do to sanctify yourself?  All of us have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, so we should first turn to Christ, whom the Lord gave to reconcile mankind with the Lord.  While we have been washed by the blood of Jesus, we must still turn to Him for His grace and mercy to be upon us.  

Even when one has followed Christ, Jesus told Peter, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean (John 13:10).”  Though we believe and are of sincere faith, all of us are more than capable of falling into temptation and disobedience.  As a temple of the Lord, we ought to always be seeking Christ to wash off our feet!  In other words, we should constantly seek God’s mercy, grace, and forgiveness through His only begotten Son.

Let us never think our temple is perfect as it is, because that is a thought that defiles and will see a temple fall quickly.  None of us is perfect!  We have our faults and our sins.  When left untreated, sin can and will desecrate the heart and separate one from the Lord since He does not dwell with sin.

Receiving Direction from God

Today’s commentary closes out with scripture that focuses on God’s presence going with the children of Israel.

Exodus 40:34 tells us that the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of God filled the tabernacle.  Connecting this verse with Exodus 40:36-38 shows us that this cloud was the same pillar that led the children of Israel by day (Ex. 13:21).  Both the pillar of cloud that led the children of Israel by day, and the pillar of fire which led them by night were God.

God directed the children of Israel on their journey to the Promised Land in every facet.  He directed them when they were to come to stop by ‘resting’ (stopping) above the tabernacle in either form.  He directed them when to move by lifting from the tabernacle and moving.

I pointed out at the very beginning that the Lord had answered Moses’ request for Him to dwell with the people by doing just that.  Though we’ll see that only those who had been ordained and consecrated could enter His presence.  Only Moses and the spiritual leaders were permitted to enter the presence of God, and again, they had to heed strict instructions to do so.

We’re even told in Exodus 40:35 that when the glory of God filled the tabernacle, Moses was not permitted to enter.  Some may wonder why Moses couldn’t enter, and even think it contradicts Exodus 33:10-11.  Yet, these verses do not contradict each other.

Exodus 33:10-11 tells us that the pillar of cloud descended and “stood at the door” of the tabernacle, and Moses talked with the Lord face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.  On other occasions, for example, when the cloud of God’s glory descended upon Mount Sinai, Moses was permitted by God to go into the midst of the cloud to receive the first two stone tablets (Ex. 24:15-18).

Scripture does not tell us that Moses questioned it; he simply did as the Lord had instructed him to do.  Moses was truly a man of great obedience, though he did commit a sin that prevented him from entering the Promised Land.  Yet, Moses walked with the Lord in really good obedience.

Living Under Grace

What do you suppose happens when one chooses not to heed God’s instructions?  Do you think one is able to make it to their blessings by choosing not to heed God’s instructions?  Do you think one can make it to the Promised Land of New Jerusalem, our heavenly home, without heeding God’s instructions?

Now, there is a great difference between the age in which we live compared to Old Testament times.  Yes, the Lord still desires great discipline and obedience.  Yet, when we falter today, we do not falter under the law, as the children of Israel did.  Because God gave His only begotten Son and He gave His life for us, we live under grace today.

Because we live under grace today, that means there is mercy we received from the Lord.  Does this mean that God excuses our disobedience?  Absolutely not!  No, we are to do our best – put forth our best effort of discipline and obedience.  God knows that we aren’t going to be perfect, yet He desires for us to strive for righteousness.

If the Holy Spirit makes a home in you, you must be ready to heed His instructions.  As the Lord directed the children of Israel on their journey to the Promised Land, He will direct you on your blessings and to the Promised Land of His kingdom.

So, as this week’s lesson concludes, if you desire for God to be present with you and for you to be present with Him, be ready to heed His instructions.  We must be ready to anoint our temple and keep it holy and sacred for God to dwell in.  We must also be ready to hear God’s voice because the Lord will direct our path.  

If you aren’t willing to do these things, I’d ask why you desire Him to dwell with you?  God is not going to dwell with you for you to dictate to Him and to boss Him around.  Let us never forget that God is the one who is sovereign, not us.