Rev. Don Campbell
Exodus 36-38
THOUGHT FOR TODAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2019
ALL THINGS ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN
In today’s reading, Bezalel of the tribe of Judah and Oholiab of the tribe of Dan are filled with the Spirit of God, empowering them in all the construction skills needed for them to lead every craftsman in whom the Lord had put knowledge and skill (Ex 36:1-7). Those who have the skill and the time have calculated that the gold, silver, and bronze used in the tabernacle was about eight tons. Where did they get so much precious metal? God gave it to them as a small reparation for the years of slavery: “And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and when you go, you shall not go empty, but each woman shall ask of her neighbor, and any woman who lives in her house, for silver and gold jewelry, and for clothing. You shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians” (Ex 3:21-22). It has also been calculated that these eight tons of precious metals, which were in the form of jewelry amounted to less than an ounce per person—one earring, perhaps (Ex 38:21-31).
In the letter to the Hebrews, the author states: “For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, ‘See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain’” (Heb 8:5). Seizing on these words, many find patterns for the worship in almost every word recorded in the New Testament even in incidentals. For example, one church in Texas built a building on pilings, not because of high water, but so they could worship in an upper room as they did in Acts 20:7. If they truly wanted to adhere to the pattern, then the preacher would preach until midnight each Lord’s day. Extreme, to be sure, but ignorance always begets extremes. Some with the extremist’s mindset concluded that since the early church did not sing four-part harmony (It was not introduced until 1500 years after the first century), that it is a violation of the pattern for worship. They disposed of all their songbooks and chanted from the Old Testament psalms.
What is the takeaway if it is not to search for binding patterns on the pages of the New Testament? Two things become clear. So long as the earthy tabernacle (later the temple) was standing, no one had true access to God (Heb 9:6-10). Two, every child of God has access to God through Jesus Christ (Heb 9:11-14; 10:19-25). First, this access means that we follow the pattern which Paul gave: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom 12:1-2). Two, it means that with confidence we draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Heb 4:16).
Those who are busy sacrificing to God and living in his presence have little time to draw circles of fellowship in which they find no one in their circle except themselves. Edwin Markham might have been a universalist, which would place him at the opposite end of the pole from narrow-minded fence-builders, but pondering his words and applying them judiciously will help us maintain a holy balance between universalism (everybody will be saved) and narrow sectarianism (nobody but us will be saved), which excludes all who look different, think differently, and speak differently. Markham wrote, “He drew a circle that shut me out-Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout. But love and I had the wit to win: We drew a circle and took him in!”
CONNECTIONS (Mk 9:38-39)
1. Is it possible that some people draw exclusive circles not because they are convinced that they are right, but deep down they fear they are not?
2. One day the apostle John said to Jesus, “‘Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.’ But Jesus said, ‘Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me’” (Mk 9:38-39). There were counterfeit miracle workers then as now, but there was never a question about what the man did or by what power he did it. The issue was “He was not following us.” Is this spirit still alive and well?
