Caleb Walker

Manuscript, Lesson pre-taught video, free PowerPoint, & devotional

PowerPoint Download Link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/9l557nf9ry48gw8vajybr/Inhabited-Ex-40-PPNT.pptx?rlkey=9txp5une7uyj1v63vmzf0msnh&st=xmmviel0&dl=0

Review: Last week we looked at how God instructed Israel on the building of the tabernacle. Two key heart-attitudes for servants God will use is willingness and wisdom. God raised up and equipped workers for the work of building.

Title: “Inhabited”

Text: Exodus 40:16-21, 34-38

Memory Verse: Exodus 40:34

Theme: God makes His presence known when His people work together to obey Him.

Introduction: In this week’s lesson we see that God reveals His glory to His people. The past few weeks I have awoken early to go out and turn my vehicle on, and there have been some truly amazing sun rises that have pointed me afresh to God’s glory. Buckingham palace is a truly majestic building that came far from it’s early beginnings as a muddy marshy landscape when William Blake first built his home there, later Queen Victoria expanding it, and now we see it for the spectacle that it is today. The royal flag standard is flown when the queen—now king—is in residence.

Opening Discussion Question (s): Why do you think they do this custom?

Context: In Exodus 24:1-8 the people committed themselves to God’s covenant.It was time to build, but sin entered, as the impatient Israelites—waiting for Moses to descend Mount Sinai in God’s majestic holy presence—compelled Aaron to use the precious jewels of Egypt to make them a golden calf, counterfeit worshiping of “Yahweh: through this forbidden image (32:1-6). They would have been completely wiped out, but Moses interceded on their behalf, and 3,000 people dead and a plague of consequences ran through Israel (32:35). Their sin created a distance in their fellowship with God (Exodus 33:3-6). Moses, however, enjoyed intimate communication and fellowship as he continued to talk with God (Ex. 33:11) described as friendship as Moses could catch a glimpse of God’s glory without seeing His face. Exodus 34 shows a renewal of their covenantal commitment. On the heels of God granting forgiveness and restoration He formed two brand new stone tablets, as Moses had broken the original ones (34:1,29). God promises to remove the Canaanites and in chapters 35-39 the tabernacle building project is described.

Main Points:

1. Instructions Followed (Exodus 40:16-21)

“¹⁶ This Moses did; according to all that the Lord commanded him, so he did. ¹⁷ In the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was erected. ¹⁸ Moses erected the tabernacle. He laid its bases, and set up its frames, and put in its poles, and raised up its pillars. ¹⁹ And he spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering of the tent over it, as the Lord had commanded Moses. ²⁰ He took the testimony and put it into the ark, and put the poles on the ark and set the mercy seat above on the ark. ²¹ And he brought the ark into the tabernacle and set up the veil of the screen, and screened the ark of the testimony, as the Lord had commanded Moses.”

• Moses is commended for his obedience here and elsewhere, just simply doing what God said.
• This was the nation of Israel’s first “New Year’s Day,” and God-by His grace—had brought them through so much.
• There was an open air section in the open courtyard and there was an enclosed holy place and holy of holies.
• The “testimony” in verse 20 are the two replaced stone tablets of God’s law. The ark of the covenant/”ark of testimony” was covered by the mercy seat meaning it was a “place of atonement,” showing how god guarded this holy covenant.
• God’s presence had not yet filled/rested on the tabernacle, and they used poles to transport the ark, because it was holy; it was gravely serious that it not be touched.
• The curtain screen sealed of the holy of holies, and only once a year would the high priest enter , until God ripped it from top to bottom when Jesus made the final, ultimate sacrifice on the cross (Matthew 27:50-51).  

Discussion: In what areas are you tempted to offer partial obedience instead of full obedience?”

II. Tabernacle Inhabited (Exodus 40:34-35)

“³⁴ Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. ³⁵ And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.”

• Exodus 40:33 says, “And he erected the court around the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the screen of the gate of the court. So Moses finished the work” (emphasis mine). This is echoed when Solomon finishes the temle building in I kings 7:51. They echo the far-greater work of God in genesis 2:2 when god finished His creation work.

The Gospel: In John 19:30, Jesus cried that His work of suffering for our redemption was finished.

• God’s presence is described as a cloud.
• “Glory” is the word “kavod” meaning “be heavy” meaning honor and splendor. The cloud hovered and the glory filled the tabernacle.
• A recommended passage to pray through: Exodus 40:34-35

Discussion: How do we know when we have been in God’s presence?

III. Guidance Given (Exodus 40:36-38)

“³⁶ Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out. ³⁷ But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up. ³⁸ For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.”

Doctrine: Our key doctrine for this week is the doctrine of God.

 Lifeway says, “God is infinite in holiness and all other perfections” (p. 116, Leader Guide).

I Samuel 2:2, ““There is none holy like the Lord: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.”

• The cloud would continue to lead Israel to the Promised Land as before.
• In v. 36 we are assured of His presence, repeated to Joshua in Joshua 1:5 that he would have success as a result of God’s presence and repeated in the Great Commission to Jesus’ disciples. God’s presence makes all the difference.
• Just like they remained until God led them to move out, we, too, are guided by the Holy Spirit of God’s indwelling presence according to Romans 8:14.
• They witnessed it with their eyes in the cloud, and the fire by night hovering and glowing over the tabernacle.
• Jesus ultimately revealed God’s glory which we will someday see in the new kingdom when we see him face to face. His presence, teaching, miracles, countenance, all pointed to God the Father. Jesus replaced the tabernacle as our place of dwelling with God (Revelation 21:3).

Discussion: What happens when we try to move ahead of God?

Devotional: “Cultivating God’s Presence”:

From Exodus 40

     In these verses we see the construction of the tabernacle and God filling it, that His presence would be right in the midst of Israel, His people. This has been and always will be God’s gran purpose for us and the nations, to walk in restored fellowship abiding in His presence. There is nothing greater. There is nothing sweeter. There is nothing more worthwhile than allowing Hs abiding presence to permeate every aspect and dimension of our lives.

     His presence was provided in the tabernacle, the temple, the presence of Jesus, the provision of the indwelling Holy Spirit now by faith and experience, and the future visible presence of God in the new kingdom. Until then, we must make it our great desire and pursuit to cultivate our awareness, our knowing of, our experiencing of, and our enjoyment of His presence.

     To know God’s presence, requires practical measures. Read the Bible not as a legalistic exercise, but in a way that allows God to speak to your mind and heart that His voice may be enjoyed. Pray to God continually and enjoy the continual conversation you and He have with one another. Spend time worshiping with and serving with brothers and sisters in Christ in your local church. Tell other people about Him, bringing the reality of His presence to bare on your spheres of influence. Walk in dependence and reliance on His Holy Spirit, making choices that glorify Him. Learn alongside of other brothers and sisters in Christ how they cultivate an abiding lifestyle that cultivates, increases, their abiding in God’s presence.

How to Pray:

• Help me to abide in Your presence.
• Show me any hindrances to experiencing the sweet fellowship of Your presence.
• Thank you for Your continual presence in my life.