And he overlaid it with pure gold within and without, and made a crown of gold to it round about. Exodus 37:2
Today’s text describes the application of the elaborate gold finish on the Ark of the Covenant that was in the Tabernacle. If we read the rest of the chapter, we will find that same elaborate gold finish on two other articles of furniture in that Tabernacle: the table of shewbread and the altar of incense. Note that the text specifies pure gold. So those items had a very precious value, both to God and to the children of Israel. The ark represented the presence of God; the table of shewbread represented the provision of God; the altar of incense represented the prayers to God. And those three are still precious to God’s people.
To every true believer, God’s presence is precious, powerful and permanent. The Holy Spirit dwells within and links us together in God’s great family, with all of the comforting and enabling power of the Almighty. To every true believer, the provision of God is amazing, from the daily bread we receive from His faithful hand, to the exceeding rich and precious promises that are ours in time and in eternity. To every true believer, the prayers to God, identified in Revelation 5:8 as the sweet odours of Heaven’s sanctuary, are our lifeline to our Father’s heart, in expressing our worship and our petitions.
The ark, the table, and the altar are also precious as they represent the presence, provision, and prayers in the Assembly of the Lord’s people. Matthew 18:20 gives us the promise of Scripture for the Lord’s presence. Scripture also assures us over and over of God’s provisioning power in the company of His saints. And the united prayers of the saints are the powerhouse of our gatherings as we plead for the salvation of lost souls and the preservation of our testimony for the Lord.
Did you realize before how relevant the Tabernacle furniture is to us today? -Jim MacIntosh
Here is the link to the video of this message: https://youtu.be/05_UpdLIm0Y