Exodus 26

The temple within

“Make the Tabernacle from ten curtains of finely woven linen. Decorate the curtains with blue, purple, and scarlet thread and with skillfully embroidered cherubim. ~ Exodus 26:1

 Have you ever considered how much care God puts into the details of your life? Sometimes it feels like the smallest things do not matter, but when I read through the instructions for the tabernacle, it reminds me that every stitch, every color, and every piece had meaning and purpose. Nothing was random. God gave exact instructions because His presence was going to dwell there.

As I read about the curtains, clasps, and coverings of the tabernacle today, I began to think about my own heart. Just as God gave Moses instructions to prepare a place for His presence, He also gives me direction to prepared my heart to be His dwelling place through HIs Holy Spirit. When I was young, I didn’t understand the importance of preparing my heart and the “inner structure” of it. I was busy, distracted, and easily pulled into stress. But I began to notice that when I made space for God to come into those areas that felt messy or unorganized, He brought peace and order. Slowly, He was building something beautiful within me, just as He did with the tabernacle.

The tabernacle was designed with purpose. Every material was sacred, and every measurement was precise because God intended to dwell there. In the same way, your heart has been designed for His presence. The Holy Spirit does not need a perfect place to live, but He desires a prepared one. He wants a heart that makes room for Him, a heart that welcomes His presence with honor and care.  The truth is the only place He can fully occupy is the first and best.  He cannot fully lead you to His greatest and best plan He designed for you life unless you first give Him the first and best place in your life.

When you take the time to nurture your inner life, you are caring for the temple where God’s Spirit lives. You are allowing Him to shape your attitudes, thoughts, and desires into something that reflects His glory. Just as the tabernacle was a portable sanctuary where God’s presence went with His people, your heart carries His presence wherever you go.

Here are some steps you can take to begin preparing the first and best place of your heart for the Holy Spirit’s presence:

• Give Him the first and best part of each day by inviting the Holy Spirit to fill your heart and guide your thoughts.
• Take inventory of your heart. Ask God if there are any “rooms” or corners of your heart that need cleaning or any areas that need His peace.
• Create a quiet space in your home where you can meet with God regularly, then go there when ever you have time to slip away from the busyness of life.
• Honor God through your choices, words, and attitudes as an act of worship from His temple within you.
• Take Him with you through your day.  Don’t just talk to Him in the quiet space, check in often as you have time to sing a worship song in your heart or when you face choices that need to be made.
• Remember that preparation takes time. Be patient as God continues to build, strengthen, and beautify your inner life.

Today I want to encourage you to make your heart a sacred dwelling place for the presence of God. Let Him build, restore, and decorate the temple within you with His peace, joy, and love. The same God who filled the tabernacle with His glory now fills your heart through His Spirit. Let Him make your life a beautiful reflection of His presence.

Today’s scripture reading: Exodus 26

1 “Make the Tabernacle from ten curtains of finely woven linen. Decorate the curtains with blue, purple, and scarlet thread and with skillfully embroidered cherubim. 

2 These ten curtains must all be exactly the same size—42 feet long and 6 feet wide. 

3 Join five of these curtains together to make one long curtain, then join the other five into a second long curtain. 

4 Put loops of blue yarn along the edge of the last curtain in each set. 

5 The fifty loops along the edge of one curtain are to match the fifty loops along the edge of the other curtain. 

6 Then make fifty gold clasps and fasten the long curtains together with the clasps. In this way, the Tabernacle will be made of one continuous piece.

7 “Make eleven curtains of goat-hair cloth to serve as a tent covering for the Tabernacle. 

8 These eleven curtains must all be exactly the same size—45 feet long and 6 feet wide. 

9 Join five of these curtains together to make one long curtain and join the other six into a second long curtain. Allow 3 feet of material from the second set of curtains to hang over the front of the sacred tent. 

10 Make fifty loops for one edge of each large curtain. 

11 Then make fifty bronze clasps and fasten the loops of the long curtains with the clasps. In this way, the tent covering will be made of one continuous piece. 

12 The remaining 3 feet of this tent covering will be left to hang over the back of the Tabernacle. 

13 Allow 18 inches of remaining material to hang down over each side, so the Tabernacle is completely covered. 

14 Complete the tent covering with a protective layer of tanned ram skins and a layer of fine goatskin leather.

15 “For the framework of the Tabernacle, construct frames of acacia wood. 

16 Each frame must be 15 feet high and 27 inches wide, 

17 with two pegs under each frame. Make all the frames identical. 

18 Make twenty of these frames to support the curtains on the south side of the Tabernacle. 

19 Also make forty silver bases—two bases under each frame, with the pegs fitting securely into the bases. 

20 For the north side of the Tabernacle, make another twenty frames, 

21 with their forty silver bases, two bases under each frame. 

22 Make six frames for the rear—the west side of the Tabernacle— 

23 along with two additional frames to reinforce the rear corners of the Tabernacle. 

24 These corner frames will be matched at the bottom and firmly attached at the top with a single ring, forming a single corner unit. Make both of these corner units the same way. 

25 So there will be eight frames at the rear of the Tabernacle, set in sixteen silver bases—two bases under each frame.

26 “Make crossbars of acacia wood to link the frames, five crossbars for the north side of the Tabernacle 

27 and five for the south side. Also make five crossbars for the rear of the Tabernacle, which will face west. 

28 The middle crossbar, attached halfway up the frames, will run all the way from one end of the Tabernacle to the other. 

29 Overlay the frames with gold and make gold rings to hold the crossbars. Overlay the crossbars with gold as well.

30 “Set up this Tabernacle according to the pattern you were shown on the mountain.

31 “For the inside of the Tabernacle, make a special curtain of finely woven linen. Decorate it with blue, purple, and scarlet thread and with skillfully embroidered cherubim. 

32 Hang this curtain on gold hooks attached to four posts of acacia wood. Overlay the posts with gold and set them in four silver bases. 

33 Hang the inner curtain from clasps and put the Ark of the Covenant in the room behind it. This curtain will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.

34 “Then put the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement—on top of the Ark of the Covenant inside the Most Holy Place. 

35 Place the table outside the inner curtain on the north side of the Tabernacle and place the lampstand across the room on the south side.

36 “Make another curtain for the entrance to the sacred tent. Make it of finely woven linen and embroider it with exquisite designs, using blue, purple, and scarlet thread. 

37 Craft five posts from acacia wood. Overlay them with gold and hang the curtain from them with gold hooks. Cast five bronze bases for the posts.

Journal:

• What area of my heart feels like it needs “rebuilding” or “redecorating” by God?
• How can I create more space for God’s presence in my daily life?
• What does it mean to me personally that the Holy Spirit lives within me?