VAYAK'HEL/PEKUDEI
Exodus 35:1-40:38
Reading #6 - Exodus 39:22-43
My Thoughts:
In verse 30 we read that they make a crown for the priest and on the crown are the words “Holy to Hashem”. This is not to be taken lightly. Think if you were wearing a crown and going into the Tabernacle of Hashem that said you were holy to Hashem! What a privilege, but what a responsibility too! The priests had special garments to wear and they had to wash and be anointed for service. They had to get totally prepared to serve Hashem -- exactly the way He had instructed. They had to become “holy” in order to come before and serve Hashem. Something to think about for us today. When we meet Hashem for prayer and/or worship, do we prepare to become “holy”? We could repent for our sin, cleanse our hearts, even wear nice clothing. We could make it all very special. When we meet with Hashem it could be very special and wonderful.
Challenge:
At the end of today’s reading we see that the people “finished” all the work they had to do, as Moses instructed them -- and they were blessed. My challenge to you today is think about a service you have been doing for Hashem, and if you have “finished” what He asked you to do? Make sure if you are doing a special project for someone else that you actually complete it. Often we start things and do not finish them. I really believe that just as He blessed the Israelites for their completion of the Tabernacle, so will He bless us for the completion of the tasks He asks us to do! Try it today!
Reading #6 - Exodus 39:22-43
39:22 He made the robe of the ephod of woven work, all of blue. 23 The opening of the robe in the middle of it was like the opening of a coat of mail, with a binding around its opening, that it should not be torn. 24 They made on the skirts of the robe pomegranates of blue, purple, scarlet, and twined linen. 25 They made bells of pure gold, and put the bells between the pomegranates around the skirts of the robe, between the pomegranates; 26 a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, around the skirts of the robe, to minister in, as Hashem commanded Moses.
27 They made the tunics of fine linen of woven work for Aaron and for his sons, 28 the turban of fine linen, the linen headbands of fine linen, the linen trousers of fine twined linen, 29 the sash of fine twined linen, blue, purple, and scarlet, the work of the embroiderer, as Hashem commanded Moses.
30 They made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote on it an inscription, like the engravings of a signet: “HOLY TO HASHEM”. 31 They tied to it a lace of blue, to fasten it on the turban above, as Hashem commanded Moses.
32 Thus all the work of the tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting was finished. The children of Israel did according to all that Hashem commanded Moses; so they did. 33 They brought the tabernacle to Moses: the tent, with all its furniture, its clasps, its boards, its bars, its pillars, its sockets, 34 the covering of rams’ skins dyed red, the covering of sea cow hides, the veil of the screen, 35 the ark of the covenant with its poles, the mercy seat, 36 the table, all its vessels, the show bread, 37 the pure lamp stand, its lamps, even the lamps to be set in order, all its vessels, the oil for the light, 38 the golden altar, the anointing oil, the sweet incense, the screen for the door of the Tent, 39 the bronze altar, its grating of bronze, its poles, all of its vessels, the basin and its base, 40 the hangings of the court, its pillars, its sockets, the screen for the gate of the court, its cords, its pins, and all the instruments of the service of the tabernacle, for the Tent of Meeting, 41 the finely worked garments for ministering in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest’s office. 42 According to all that Hashem commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did all the work. 43 Moses saw all the work, and behold, they had done it as Hashem had commanded. They had done so; and Moses blessed them.
