In this chapter, I. The work of the tabernacle is begun (v.
1-4). II. A stop is put to the people's contributions (v. 5-7). III. A
particular account is given of the making of the tabernacle itself; the fine
curtains of it (v. 8-13). The coarse ones (v. 14-19). The boards (v. 20-30).
The bars (v. 31-34). The partition veil (v. 35, 36). And the hanging for the
door (v. 37, etc.).
I. The workmen set in without delay. Then they wrought, v. 1.
When God had qualified them for the work, then they applied themselves to it.
Note, The talents we are entrusted with must not be laid up, but laid out; not
hid in a napkin, but traded with. What have we all our gifts for, but to do good
with them? They began when Moses called them, v. 2. Even those whom God has
qualified for, and inclined to, the service of the tabernacle, yet must wait for
a regular call to it, either extraordinary, as that of prophets and apostles, or
ordinary, as that of pastors and teachers. And observe who they were that Moses
called: Those in whose heart God had put wisdom for this purpose, beyond
their natural capacity, and whose heart stirred them up to come to the work
in good earnest. Note, Those are to be called to the building of the gospel
tabernacle whom God has by his grace made in some measure fit for the work and
free to engage in it. Ability and willingness (with resolution) are the two
things to be regarded in the call of ministers. Has God given them not only
knowledge, but wisdom? (for those that would win souls must be wise, and have
their hearts stirred up to come to the work, and not to the honour only; to do
it, and not to talk of it only), let them come to it with full purpose of heart
to go through with it. The materials which the people had contributed were
delivered by Moses to the workmen, v. 3. They could not create a tabernacle,
that is, make it out of nothing, nor work, unless they had something to work
upon; the people therefore brought the materials and Moses put them into their
hands. Precious souls are the materials of the gospel tabernacle; they are built
up a spiritual house, 1 Pt. 2:5. To this end they are to offer themselves a
free-will offering to the Lord, for his service (Rom. 15:16), and they are then
committed to the care of his ministers, as builders, to be framed and wrought
upon by their edification and increase in holiness, till they all come, like the
curtains of the tabernacle, in the unity of the faith, to be a holy temple,
Eph. 2:21, 22; 4:12, 13.
II. The contributions restrained. The people continued to bring free
offerings every morning, v. 3. Note, We should always make it our morning's
work to bring our offerings unto the Lord; even the spiritual offerings of
prayer and praise, and a broken heart surrendered entirely to God. This is that
which the duty of every day requires. God's compassions are new every morning,
and so must our duty to him be. Probably there were some that were backward at
first to bring their offering, but their neighbours' forwardness stirred them
up and shamed them. The zeal of some provoked many. There are those who will be
content to follow who yet do not care for leading in a good work. It is best to
be forward, but better late than never. Or perhaps some who had offered at
first, having pleasure in reflecting upon it, offered more; so far were they
from grudging what they had contributed, that they doubled their contribution.
Thus, in charity, give a portion to seven, and also to eight; having
given much, give more. Now observe, 1. The honesty of the workmen. When they had
cut out their work, and found how their stuff held out, and that the people were
still forward to bring in more, they went in a body to Moses to tell him that
there needed no more contributions, v. 4, 5. Had they sought their own things,
they had now a fair opportunity of enriching themselves by the people's gifts;
for they might have made up their work, and converted the overplus to their own
use, as perquisites of their place. But they were men of integrity, that scorned
to do so mean a thing as to sponge upon the people, and enrich themselves with
that which was offered to the Lord. Those are the greatest cheats that cheat the
public. If to murder many is worse than to murder one, by the same rule to
defraud communities, and to rob the church or state, is a much greater crime
than to pick the pocket of a single person. But these workmen were not only
ready to account for all they received, but were not willing to receive more
than they had occasion for, lest they should come either into the temptation or
under the suspicion of taking it to themselves. These were men that knew when
they had enough. 2. The liberality of the people. Though they saw what an
abundance was contributed, yet they continued to offer, till they were forbidden
by proclamation, v. 6, 7. A rare instance! Most need a spur to quicken their
charity; few need a bridle to check it, yet these did. Had Moses aimed to enrich
himself, he might have suffered them still to bring in their offerings; and when
the work was finished might have taken the remainder to himself: but he also
preferred the public before his own private interest, and was therein a good
example to all in public trusts. It is said (v. 6), The people were
restrained from bringing; they looked upon it as a restraint upon them not
to be allowed to do more for the tabernacle; such was the zeal of those people,
who gave to their power, yea, and beyond their power, praying the
collectors with much entreaty to receive the gift, 2 Co. 8:3, 4. These
were the fruits of a first love; in these last-days charity has grown too cold
for us to expect such things from it.
The first work they set about was the framing of the house,
which must be done before the furniture of it was prepared. This house was not
made of timber or stone, but of curtains curiously embroidered and coupled
together. This served to typify the state of the church in this world, the
palace of God's kingdom among men. 1. Though it is upon the earth, yet its
foundation is not in the earth, as that of a house is; no, Christ's kingdom is
not of this world, nor founded in it. 2. It is mean and mutable, and in a
militant state; shepherds dwelt in tents, and God is the Shepherd of Israel;
soldiers dwelt in tents, and the Lord is a man of war, and his church marches
through an enemy's country, and must fight its way. The kings of the earth
enclose themselves in cedar (Jer. 22:15), but the ark of God was lodged in
curtains only. 3. Yet there is a beauty in holiness; the curtains were
embroidered, so is the church adorned with the gifts and graces of the Spirit,
that raiment of needle-work, Ps. 45:14. 4. The several societies of
believers are united in one, and, as here, all become one tabernacle; for
there is one Lord, one faith, and one baptism.
Here, 1. The shelter and special protection that the church is
under are signified by the curtains of hair-cloth, which were spread over the
tabernacle, and the covering of rams' skins and badgers' skins over them, v.
14-19. God has provided for his people a shadow from the heat, and a covert
from storm and rain, Isa. 4:6. They are armed against all weathers; the sun
and the moon shall not smite them: and they are protected from the storms of
divine wrath, that hail which will sweep away the refuge of lies, Isa.
28:17. Those that dwell in God's house shall find, be the tempest ever so
violent, or the dropping ever so continual, it does not rain in. 2. The strength
and stability of the church, though it is but a tabernacle, are signified by the
boards and bars with which the curtains were borne up, v. 20-34. The boards
were coupled together and joined by the bars which shot through them; for the
union of the church, and the hearty agreement of those that are its stays and
supporters, contribute abundantly to its strength and establishment.
In the building of a house there is a great deal of work about
the doors and partitions. In the tabernacle these were answerable to the rest of
the fabric; there were curtains for doors, and veils for partitions. 1. There
was a veil made for a partition between the holy place, and the most holy, v.
35, 36. This signified the darkness and distance of that dispensation, compared
with the New Testament, which shows us the glory of God more clearly and invites
us to draw near to it; and the darkness and distance of our present state, in
comparison with heaven, where we shall be ever with the Lord and see
him as he is. 2. There was a veil made for the door of the tabernacle, v.
37, 38. At this door the people assembled, though forbidden to enter; for, while
we are in this present state, we must get as near to God as we can.