Exodus 40 Commentary

Exodus 40 Commentary

Exodus reaches its climax with the presence of the LORD over the Tabernacle. Could this be the purpose of the book of Exodus? Could this be the purpose of the exodus itself, which is for the LORD to eventually begin to dwell among his people?

The date is the first day of the first month in the second year of Exodus. The LORD commands Moses to setup the Tabernacle on New Year’s Day. This is significant. It’s a start on a new page! It’s a start in the presence of the LORD. The Tabernacle represents the presence of the LORD. The LORD wants it functional on the first day of the first month. The LORD wants to take residence among His people right from the beginning.  

This is instructive! You don’t invite the LORD in the middle of the year!

After inspection (Chapter 39), the LORD directly orders Moses to assemble the Tabernacle. It had been in sub-assembly form. The order in which the LORD mentions the components is interesting. It’s an order of importance. The actual commissioning follows a script.

The Ark comes up first. It is the most important component in the structure and the entire tabernacle system. It contains the contract or the document we often refer to as the covenant law. It is housed behind the curtain in what is called the Most Holy place.

Then we have components for the Holy place put in place. Three items are commissioned: the Table, the Lampstand, and the Altar of incense.

The outer court is commissioned last. Two items are important here: the Altar of burnt offerings and the Wash basin.

So the following items are commissioned: Ark, Table, Lampstand, Altar of Incense, Altar of Burnt offerings, and the Wash Basin.

The wash basin comes last but it is actually the first item you meet. You needed to be clean before proceeding any further. It emphasizes the need for inner cleansing before approaching the throne of grace. The ceremonial washing here may remind the saint of the ceremonial washing that the LORD Jesus gave Peter and his friends during the Last Supper. You are not part of the LORD if you refuse to cleanup. That is the message.

Verse 16 says, “Moses did everything just as the LORD commanded”. This verse should be enough, so we think. But the Bible goes ahead to go through the list again detailing each action as per instruction. It would be repetition to some but we see it as emphasis. It may appear boring but we see worship in the repetition. A teacher would shout, ‘standing’ while pointing at the word ‘standing’. She wants the pupils to repeat the word and shout back, ‘standing’. It may be repetition but more importantly, it is learning.

The priests are also ordained. We are now ready!

Verse 34 is the highest point and we have been building to this point. The LORD descends and covers the Tabernacle in dazzling light. Moses cannot enter the Tabernacle because of the cloud.

Yes, Moses cannot enter the Tabernacle because of the cloud. But we can guess it is needless. Eventually and much later, the LORD would descend. When this does happen, there is no need to enter the Tabernacle. The worship system is not needed anymore.

The LORD is present. The law Himself is around. The LORD Jesus is in the house so the temple systems stand down. The systems are meant to reach out to Him, but now that the LORD is here, the systems stand down. This moment looks to the future but for today, Jacob can bask in the glory of the LORD.

Exodus ends here.

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