EXODUS
CHAPTER
37
Due to an internal error I was under the impression that all the published posts were being shared to all in my circles and contacts, however according to the feedback that I received the chapters following Exodus chapter 33 and Matthew chapter 1 to 3 were not received by all. In order In order not to keep on filling your inbox with chapters please click on the following links that is there for your perusal and view the missing chapters. Thanks and God bless
1. Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood; it was two and a half cubits long and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high.
(Exodus chapter 37 verse 1)
Listening to God's commandments the
ark was made just as God had told Moses while in His presence on the mountain. The measurements given by God were to be strictly adhered to in the sense that they were to be not a inch more or less. When God gave His people these orders God was aware of how much space they needed in the arc in order to have the capacity to carry the contents that would be placed in it.
In life God also created us according to the exact specifications. He created us as we are, giving us access to all possible skills that would match our character and being. As in the case of the capacity of the ark, God knows how much we can cope with and does not permit us to endure more than that capacity. Any extra demands placed on us would mean that he would be there to compensate for it in support love and grace.
5. and put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, to carry the ark.
(Exodus chapter 37 verse 5)
2. He overlaid it with pure gold inside and outside, and made a molding of gold around it. 3. He cast for it four rings of gold for its four feet, two rings on its one side and two rings on its other side. 4. He made poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold,
(Exodus chapter 37 verses 2 to 4)
Just as the ark was basically made
of wood and overlayed with, gold to make it appear beautiful in our lives, we also encounter situations or people, who apparently, look good and attractive just as in the case of gold, but when we come to
know them, we become more aware that the person in ratio has a high percentage of wood and a very low percentage of precious gold! However on reflecting we are a mixture of both gold that is the presence of God in us and wood that is our sinful self. However God loves us so much that He chose to anoint that wood with precious gold from the inside and outside so that we could reflect his presence in us, both within and outside of us so that we can give testimony by the way we live and the words we say.
5. and put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, to carry the ark.
(Exodus chapter 37 verse 5)
In this world we are not alone. Just as the rings functioned as
a support to the ark, God himself is of support to us. If we were to go back and reflect on the downfalls of our lives, we could not have survived these moments were it not for the intervention of God of God in our lives. God works miracles and is able to bring us
back to the path we were walking on.
6. He made a mercy seat of pure gold; two cubits and a half was its length, and a cubit and a half its width. 7. He made two cherubim of hammered gold at the two ends of the mercy seat he made them one cherub at the one end and one cherub at the other end of one piece with the mercy seat he made the cherubim at its two ends. 9. The cherubim spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings. They faced one another: the faces of the cherubim were turned toward the mercy seat."
(Exodus chapter 37 verses 6 to 9)
The focus of the cherubim were on the mercy seat which was the lid of the ark of the covenant, where God's presence would rest when appearing to the chosen people of God. May our hearts be like the mercy seat, a place where the presence of God can find a place where to rest and find comfort.
On reflecting the mentioned pieces of articles on their own would not make much sense, however as a whole meaning the tent of the meeting and it apparatus and most of all the ark of the covenant provided a centre point where the people of God could have fellowship with Him. According to the author of this chapter God also builds us bit by bit combining all our personality traits, talents, strengths and weaknesses in order to make a unique product that is ourselves, that in union with others we make one majestic whole that is the body of Christ on earth.
In order to view an image of the ark of the covenant and the mercy seat please click on the following link;-
TThe making of the ark of the covenant exhibit 1
The ark of the covenant part exhibit 2
10. He also made the table of acacia wood, two cubits long, one cubit wide, and a cubit and a half high. 11. He overlaid it with pure gold, and made a molding of gold around it. 12. He made around it a rim a hand breadth wide, and made a molding of gold around the rim. 13. He cast for it four rings of gold, and fastened the rings on the four corners at its four legs. 14. The rings that held the poles used for carrying the table were close to the rim. 15. He made the poles of acacia wood to carry the table and overlaid them with gold.
(Exodus chapter 37 verses 10 to 15)
6. He made a mercy seat of pure gold; two cubits and a half was its length, and a cubit and a half its width. 7. He made two cherubim of hammered gold at the two ends of the mercy seat he made them one cherub at the one end and one cherub at the other end of one piece with the mercy seat he made the cherubim at its two ends. 9. The cherubim spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings. They faced one another: the faces of the cherubim were turned toward the mercy seat."
(Exodus chapter 37 verses 6 to 9)
The focus of the cherubim were on the mercy seat which was the lid of the ark of the covenant, where God's presence would rest when appearing to the chosen people of God. May our hearts be like the mercy seat, a place where the presence of God can find a place where to rest and find comfort.
On reflecting the mentioned pieces of articles on their own would not make much sense, however as a whole meaning the tent of the meeting and it apparatus and most of all the ark of the covenant provided a centre point where the people of God could have fellowship with Him. According to the author of this chapter God also builds us bit by bit combining all our personality traits, talents, strengths and weaknesses in order to make a unique product that is ourselves, that in union with others we make one majestic whole that is the body of Christ on earth.
In order to view an image of the ark of the covenant and the mercy seat please click on the following link;-
TThe making of the ark of the covenant exhibit 1
The ark of the covenant part exhibit 2
10. He also made the table of acacia wood, two cubits long, one cubit wide, and a cubit and a half high. 11. He overlaid it with pure gold, and made a molding of gold around it. 12. He made around it a rim a hand breadth wide, and made a molding of gold around the rim. 13. He cast for it four rings of gold, and fastened the rings on the four corners at its four legs. 14. The rings that held the poles used for carrying the table were close to the rim. 15. He made the poles of acacia wood to carry the table and overlaid them with gold.
(Exodus chapter 37 verses 10 to 15)
And just as the poles bear the weight of the table in our lives God also bears our pain during our moments of hardship. He is always there for us, always ready to give us a helping hand during the hard times of our lives, as many of us
may have experienced at some time or another. During such moments God intervened by a miracle or a radical change in events which helped us to
overcome that difficulty.
16. And he made the vessels of pure gold that were to be on the table, its plates and dishes for incense and its bowls and flagon with which to pour drink offerings.
(Exodus chapter 37 verse 16)
In order to have an idea of what the table of the presence and the mentioned apparatus looked like please click on the following link:-
Table of the presence and apparatus
On reflecting anything that would come in contact with God, or be used in the service of God was to be made of pure gold. One would question the frequent use of gold as a raw material in such cases. The reason is that gold shares a particular attribute of God, in the sense that it is pure and not a combination of other minerals. Therefore in this respect people such as acolytes who serve on the altar along with the celebrant, and even those who read the Word of God during mass are all like these golden apparatus. They are of great value in the eyes of God.
17. He also made the lampstand of pure gold. The base and the shaft of the lampstand were made of hammered work; its cups, its calyxes, and its petals were made of one piece with it.
(Exodus chapter 37 verse 17)
(Exodus chapter 37 verse 22)
In the lampstand there was unity between the calyxes and their branches that were all connected with the main shaft. In the same way we are all to be connected among ourselves and find our strength in God.
23. He made its seven lamps and its snuffers and its trays of pure gold. 24. He made it and all its utensils of a talent of pure gold.
(Exodus chapter 37 verse 24)
All the instruments mentioned had an important role in the life of Israel even the suffers had their role. If you or I feel that our role is insignificant we are to keep in mind that even a simple snuffer that were to be used in the service of God was to be made of gold and not of a simple and common ordinary material.
In order to view the lampstand and its utensils please click on the following link:-
The lampstand and its utensils
25. He made the altar of incense of acacia wood, one cubit long, and one cubit wide; it was square, and was two cubits high; its horns were of one piece with it. 26. He overlaid it with pure gold, its top, and its sides all around, and its horns; and he made for it a molding of gold all around, 27 and made two golden rings for it under its molding , on two opposite sides of it, to hold the poles with which to carry it. 28. And he made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold.
(Exodus chapter 37 verses 25 to 28)
Our altar on which we offer incense can be our prayer corner or environment that is if we have such a place or it can even be our workplace, our office, or classroom, or even the company where we render domestic services or even our homes, but the most efficient place is our hearts. From this place we offer You oh God all our prayers that flow up to you like burning incense.
In order to have an idea of what the altar of incense looked like please click on the following link;-
The altar of incense
According to the author of this chapter Mr. D. Ajit Pawar, Gold is something that is not readily and easily available even today therefore this makes, it a very expensive metal, nonetheless God has provided us with all the material that was needed in order to make the ark. According to the author of this chapter it is also same with our lives, God provides us with the exact things we need and if we submit our problem to God sooner or later we surely will get a solution or an answer to our prayers.
29. He made the holy anointing oil also, and the pure fragrant incense, blended as by the perfumer.
(Exodus chapter 38 verse 29)
The fragrant anointing oil is still common today and is used on many occasions in the sacramental life of the Roman Catholic Church.
According to the author of this chapter Mr. D. Ajit Pawar all of God's work is holy therefore whenever we are being of service to others we are taking part in this holy service and are completing the work that God had begun while on earth in the person of Jesus Christ.
The author of this chapter chose to end this chapter with the following prayer;-
16. And he made the vessels of pure gold that were to be on the table, its plates and dishes for incense and its bowls and flagon with which to pour drink offerings.
(Exodus chapter 37 verse 16)
In order to have an idea of what the table of the presence and the mentioned apparatus looked like please click on the following link:-
Table of the presence and apparatus
On reflecting anything that would come in contact with God, or be used in the service of God was to be made of pure gold. One would question the frequent use of gold as a raw material in such cases. The reason is that gold shares a particular attribute of God, in the sense that it is pure and not a combination of other minerals. Therefore in this respect people such as acolytes who serve on the altar along with the celebrant, and even those who read the Word of God during mass are all like these golden apparatus. They are of great value in the eyes of God.
17. He also made the lampstand of pure gold. The base and the shaft of the lampstand were made of hammered work; its cups, its calyxes, and its petals were made of one piece with it.
(Exodus chapter 37 verse 17)
Just as the wood was covered with gold God always, envelop us
with his unconditional love, compassion and care which have been stepping
stones in our lives. Further more on reflecting our spiritual development is also like the base of the lampstand. At the beginning of our relationship with God and maybe even a state of conversion from a previous lifestyle that was not according to the ways and will of God, the basic values, faith and morals are also to be hammered into our minds and souls before we can grow and venture up to the topmost branches of the shaft and become a beautiful calyx with golden petals. Although the calyx is beautiful its strength still depends on the work or hammering that was invested while being at the base, and also on the strength of the shaft that is connected to the base which is God. The period of our formation helps us to become one with God the base in this analogy and strengthen our hold to him as an individual and as a community which forms part of the shaft. Anybody who decides not to be part of that shaft is decreasing the same strength of the shaft and it will have a negative effect on the whole structure but God the base will always remain firm and solid.
18. There were six branches of the lampstand out of one side of it and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side of it: 19. three cups shaped like almond blossoms, each with calyx and petals, on one branch, and three cups shaped like almond blossoms, each with calyx and petals, on the other branch-so for the six branches going out of the lampstand.
(Exodus chapter 37 verses 18 to 19)
On reflecting the six branches coming out of the lampstand can be compared to all the offshoots coming out of the Roman Catholic Church and even that of other churches and religions which all find their centre in the shaft that is firmly hammered in the base that is God. Even though there are many religions we have God as our father, therefore we need not find our differences that make us stand out from each other, but find those elements that help to bind us together as one body and as the sons and daughters of one Father.
20. On the lampstand itself there were four cups shaped like almond blossoms, each with its calyxes and petals. 21. There was a calyx of one piece with it under the first pair of branches, a calyx of one piece with it under the next pair of branches, and a calyx of one piece with it under the last pair of branches.
(Exodus chapter 37 verses 20 to 21)
The four cups shaped like blossoms can be compared to faith hope charity and love which are the foundation stones of our faith in God. The calyxes can be compared with God who is our source of energy that gives life to the whole organism.
22. Their calyxes and their branches were of one piece with it, the whole of it one hammered piece of pure gold.(Exodus chapter 37 verses 18 to 19)
On reflecting the six branches coming out of the lampstand can be compared to all the offshoots coming out of the Roman Catholic Church and even that of other churches and religions which all find their centre in the shaft that is firmly hammered in the base that is God. Even though there are many religions we have God as our father, therefore we need not find our differences that make us stand out from each other, but find those elements that help to bind us together as one body and as the sons and daughters of one Father.
20. On the lampstand itself there were four cups shaped like almond blossoms, each with its calyxes and petals. 21. There was a calyx of one piece with it under the first pair of branches, a calyx of one piece with it under the next pair of branches, and a calyx of one piece with it under the last pair of branches.
(Exodus chapter 37 verses 20 to 21)
The four cups shaped like blossoms can be compared to faith hope charity and love which are the foundation stones of our faith in God. The calyxes can be compared with God who is our source of energy that gives life to the whole organism.
(Exodus chapter 37 verse 22)
In the lampstand there was unity between the calyxes and their branches that were all connected with the main shaft. In the same way we are all to be connected among ourselves and find our strength in God.
23. He made its seven lamps and its snuffers and its trays of pure gold. 24. He made it and all its utensils of a talent of pure gold.
(Exodus chapter 37 verse 24)
All the instruments mentioned had an important role in the life of Israel even the suffers had their role. If you or I feel that our role is insignificant we are to keep in mind that even a simple snuffer that were to be used in the service of God was to be made of gold and not of a simple and common ordinary material.
In order to view the lampstand and its utensils please click on the following link:-
The lampstand and its utensils
25. He made the altar of incense of acacia wood, one cubit long, and one cubit wide; it was square, and was two cubits high; its horns were of one piece with it. 26. He overlaid it with pure gold, its top, and its sides all around, and its horns; and he made for it a molding of gold all around, 27 and made two golden rings for it under its molding , on two opposite sides of it, to hold the poles with which to carry it. 28. And he made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold.
(Exodus chapter 37 verses 25 to 28)
Our altar on which we offer incense can be our prayer corner or environment that is if we have such a place or it can even be our workplace, our office, or classroom, or even the company where we render domestic services or even our homes, but the most efficient place is our hearts. From this place we offer You oh God all our prayers that flow up to you like burning incense.
In order to have an idea of what the altar of incense looked like please click on the following link;-
The altar of incense
According to the author of this chapter Mr. D. Ajit Pawar, Gold is something that is not readily and easily available even today therefore this makes, it a very expensive metal, nonetheless God has provided us with all the material that was needed in order to make the ark. According to the author of this chapter it is also same with our lives, God provides us with the exact things we need and if we submit our problem to God sooner or later we surely will get a solution or an answer to our prayers.
29. He made the holy anointing oil also, and the pure fragrant incense, blended as by the perfumer.
(Exodus chapter 38 verse 29)
The fragrant anointing oil is still common today and is used on many occasions in the sacramental life of the Roman Catholic Church.
According to the author of this chapter Mr. D. Ajit Pawar all of God's work is holy therefore whenever we are being of service to others we are taking part in this holy service and are completing the work that God had begun while on earth in the person of Jesus Christ.
The author of this chapter chose to end this chapter with the following prayer;-
Thank You God for allowing me to contribute
your in my life, even though my contribution is small. Thank you for taking care of us all and
providing us with our basic necessary things. Thank You God for everything.
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