Slices
Prepare
Organised ritual is sometimes frowned upon in an era of spontaneity when the Spirit leads people in worship. But godly ritual can be like a beautiful painting, drawing the eye and opening fresh understanding. What worship rituals do you follow?
Bible passage
Setting up the tabernacle
40 Then the Lord said to Moses: 2 ‘Set up the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, on the first day of the first month. 3 Place the ark of the covenant law in it and shield the ark with the curtain. 4 Bring in the table and set out what belongs on it. Then bring in the lampstand and set up its lamps. 5 Place the gold altar of incense in front of the ark of the covenant law and put the curtain at the entrance to the tabernacle.
6 ‘Place the altar of burnt offering in front of the entrance to the tabernacle, the tent of meeting; 7 place the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar and put water in it. 8 Set up the courtyard around it and put the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard.
9 ‘Take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and everything in it; consecrate it and all its furnishings, and it will be holy. 10 Then anoint the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils; consecrate the altar, and it will be most holy. 11 Anoint the basin and its stand and consecrate them.
12 ‘Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the tent of meeting and wash them with water. 13 Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so that he may serve me as priest. 14 Bring his sons and dress them in tunics. 15 Anoint them just as you anointed their father, so that they may serve me as priests. Their anointing will be to a priesthood that will continue throughout their generations.’ 16 Moses did everything just as the Lord commanded him.
Explore
Like the Temple that would follow it, the tabernacle is carefully structured to tell a story. The Hebrew people had a strong sense of the holiness of space – so at the physical centre of the structure is the most holy space of all, where the Ark of the Covenant was placed (v 3). Everything else in the tabernacle points to this.
As a symbol of its specialness to God, the entire tent is anointed (v 9). What follows is a remarkable telling of the story of grace. Aaron is brought to the entrance and washed with water. The very man who, by his terrible error with the golden calf, risked jeopardising the existence of the people as God’s chosen nation, is now ordained its priest. The detail of this ordination ceremony is described in Exodus 29. It includes the anointing of his ears, hands and feet, and its repetition for seven days – mirroring creation. With God, failure is never final.
Respond
Thank God that, even though we make serious mistakes, such that we wince with embarrassment on thinking about them, God will patiently take us on to the next day and the next thing. He sees the end from the beginning.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Ezekiel 28,29; 1 Peter 5
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray for John Cartwright, Supporter Care Assistant, as he aims to serve and respond to SU supporters when they call, email or write in. He asks us to pray for the smooth and steady working of our latest phone, computer and software upgrades on which he and the team are so reliant when serving our supporters.
