Exodus Bible Study – Chapters 36-40
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This Week’s Reading Schedule:
Monday – Exodus 36
Tuesday – Exodus 37
Wednesday – Exodus 38
Thursday – Exodus 39
Friday – Exodus 40
My Thoughts on Exodus Chapters 36-40
Exodus Chapter 36
I have read this chapter over many times and yet it has never spoken to me quite the way that it did today. I’m stunned at the generosity of the believers in the Exodus story. Not only did they freely give with a willing heart–they gave and gave yet again until they were commanded to stop. In fact, verse 36 tells us that they were “restrained” from bringing more. How incredible is that?
By this account, we also witness integrity on behalf of Moses who only took as much as was necessary for the work of the Lord.
Exodus Chapter 37
The table we read about in this chapter was the table upon which the showbread was placed. We see that it was two cubits long, a cubit wide and a cubit and a half high. A cubit is 18 inches, and so the table was 3 feet long, 1 1/2 feet wide, and 27 inches high. It was overlaid in gold. There were four golden rings–one on each corner–which held the poles that were used to carry the table.
The showbread, otherwise known as “The Bread of Presence” was placed upon the table in the tabernacle. This bread was holy. It could only be eaten by the priests and only in the holy place. It was an invitation to fellowship with God in an intimate way, just as Jesus often broke bread with mankind.
When Jesus gave up His life on the cross He bridged that gap between God and man, therefore He is the “bread of life.” When we partake of communion, we show honor to God as we remember the price that was paid for the fellowship we freely have to commune with our Father in Heaven.
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” – Revelation 3:20
And so we see that this table and the showbread upon it was a shadow of something much greater to come.
We’re cautioned in the New Testament to examine ourselves before we partake in communion. “For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.” 1 Corinthians 11:29. Likewise, only priests were permitted to eat the showbread as it was consecrated to them.
Exodus Chapter 38
We see in this chapter that the laver was made from the bronze mirrors of the serving women. The mirrors they had in those days were not like the mirrors that we have today. They were made of highly polished bronze that gave off a reflection.
The reflection is an important aspect here as we see it’s used for the purpose of cleansing. It was important that the high priests washed before entering the tent of meeting or ministering at the altar.
“When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the LORD.” – Exodus 30:20
The symbolism of the brass laver represents purity in the life of a believer who sees the sin in their life and cleanses themselves of unrighteousness through the strength of the Holy Spirit:
“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” – 2 Corinthians 7:1
This cleansing at the laver played an important role in the life of a priest as he served at the temple. This act of cleansing must also be present in the life of a believer as we purify our hearts in service to Christ.
Exodus Chapter 39
In this chapter, we witness the beauty of the ephod, how it was intricately woven with blue, and purple, and scarlet yard. How thin sheets of gold were woven into the blue by the work of skilled hands. And how onyx stones in gold filigree settings were mounted upon the shoulders. Surely this is symbolic of Christ.
The pure righteousness of Christ is reflected in the fine twisted linen. His blood in the woven red yarn. His royalty in the purple thread. His relationship to God the Father in Heaven is seen in the blue.
And each time that the High Priest puts on the ephod he is symbolically putting on Christ.
Finally, Matthew Henry points out something interesting about this chapter in his commentary, “That all the six paragraphs here, which give a distinct account of the making of these holy garments, conclude with those words, as the Lord commanded Moses, v. 5, v. 7, v. 21, v. 26, v. 29, v. 31. The like is not in any of the foregoing accounts, as if in these, more than any other of the appurtenances of the tabernacle, they had a particular regard to the divine appointment, both for warrant and for direction. It is an intimation to all the Lord’s ministers to make the word of God their rule in all their ministrations, and to act in observance of and obedience to the command of God.”
Exodus Chapter 40
It was interesting to see how Numbers chapter nine fills in some of the details of Exodus 40. I happened upon it and read how the Israelites celebrated their second Passover in the first month of the second year, before completion of the tabernacle. Then Numbers chapter 10 continues the story where the book of Exodus ends.
In addition to that, I was captivated by what I saw as a comparison between Exodus 40 and Acts 2:1-3. God was with His people throughout the Old Testament, but the tabernacle was a place where God would dwell among them. In this chapter we see God filling the tabernacle with His glory.
In Acts we see God filling His people with the Holy Spirit. Up until that point, Christ had been with them, but as we see in Ezekial 36:27, God’s Spirit would dwell within His people. “And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.”
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Darlene– I love this study– It makes me much more aware of God’s faithfulness to His people and to me. I do have a question. I get so confused on the calendar of events. Is there a place I can go to dig a little deeper to understand this area. It seems there are different months. I know there are two calendars a civil one and a religious one but still I come up with different names of the months than you. Please help. Thanks.