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Daily Devotions

Exodus

Exodus 
Day 
Day 241

"Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, You are very great: You are clothed with honour and majesty." Psalm 104 : 1

Text: Exodus 26 : 7-9

THE TWO COURTS OF THE TABERNACLE

It is important to try and visualize the Tabernacle as God designed it. The articles that God required to be made are not difficult to comprehend! The challenge is when we try and comprehend where these articles were placed.

It is possible to speak of the Tabernacle being divided into two courts. There was the inner court and there was an outer court. The former would in particular house the following articles- the ark of the Testimony, the Table of Showbread and the Golden Lampstand.

A TENT COVERING FOR THE INNER COURT

To provide protection from the elements, a special tent covering was to be especially made. The following text described the tent that would provide special protection from sun and the rain.

“You shall also make curtains of goats’ (hair), to be a tent
over the tabernacle. You shall make eleven curtains.
The length of each curtain shall be thirty cubits,
and the width of each curtain four cubits; and the eleven
curtains shall all have the same measurements.
And you shall couple five curtains by themselves
and six curtains by themselves, and you shall double
over the sixth curtain at the forefront of the tent.”
EXODUS 26:7-9

1. A different set of skilled workers needed

The first set of curtains were made of fine woven linen! Those who knew how to weave fine linen would be called upon to make these beautiful curtains. The second set of “curtains” were to be made of goats’ skin (The word “hair” in the NKJV is italicized. This word was suggested by the translators and not in the original text. It is not likely that hair would be able to provide the kind of covering the text seems to be describing. It seems more likely that the better suggestion would be “goats’ skin).

Not all who are skilled in weaving would also be able to do good work involving skins. One tends to be skilled in one trade at the expense of another. Skills in any particular trade would require years of experience. One tended to “specialize” in one particular trade. If this was the case, then another set of skilled artisans would have to step forward to offer their skills to make the tent covering for the inner court. (The text here simply describe the inner court as “the tabernacle”).

2. Great skills needed

Even a cursory reading of the text would reveal an important fact! God required that the tent covering be as carefully constructed as the other elements! Every little detail was looked into for one simple reason – this was “the house of the Lord”! That thought alone should compel all to give off their best!