Exodus 30
Outline
1-10 | Design of the Altar of Incense
11-16 | Half Shekel to be given as a ransom for each man, 20 years old or older, for the service of the tabernacle
17-21 | Design of the bronze laver
22-33 | Formula for the anointing oil is restricted to use in the tabernacle only
34-38 | Formula for the incense restricted to the tabernacle only
Reflections
God continues giving directions for the furnishings of the tabernacle and for the anointing oil and incense. God also instructs Moses regarding the redemption of the men 20 years old and upward whenever a census is taken.
v1 “Moreover, you shall make … you shall make …
v3 “You shall overlay … and you shall make …
v4 “You shall make … you shall make …
v5 “You shall make …
v6 “You shall put …
v9 “You shall not offer … you shall not pour …
v16 “You shall take …
v18 “You shall also make … you shall put … you shall put …
v25 “You shall make …
v26 “… you shall anoint …
v29 “You shall also consecrate …
v30 “You shall anoint …
v31 “You shall speak …
v35 “… you shall make …
v36 “You shall beat …
v37 “… you shall not make …
There are a couple of things which God tells Moses were not to be done or made. No sacrifice was ever to be made on the altar of incense, only the incense perpetually. They were never suppose to make the anointing oil or incense using the same proportions for any other purpose. It was to be reserved for the Lord and His priests. Additionally, only the priests and the tabernacle furnishings were to be anointed with the anointing oil, no one else.
God had a specific purpose for each article related to the tabernacle and His priests. They were to be unique to the Lord, consecrated and holy (set apart). God still wants the same for His priesthood of believers today. Consider what Peter wrote in his first letter.
1 Peter 2:4-10 NASB And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For this is contained in Scripture: “BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.” 7 This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, “THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone,” 8 and, “A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE”; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed. 9 But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.
Paul also wrote that we are the temple of God and our body the temple of the Holy Spirit and we should seek to set ourselves apart from the world and consecrate ourselves to the Lord.
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 NASB Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NASB Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
2 Corinthians 6:16 NASB Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
Thankfully, God does offer forgiveness when we violate our “temples” with sinful practices or are enticed into a sinful behavior but our goal should be to live lives of holy consecration to the Lord.
O Lord God, we are Your people and dwelling place. Help us to resist the temptations that will present themselves so that we can be holy dedicated to You. We want to follow the example of Your Son who went to the people who needed You most. Help us to stand strong in times of temptation and trial that will come while we minister as your royal priesthood. May Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Exodus_30_RL-GodsTabernacleDesign-AltarOfIncense-CensusRedemption-BronzeLaver-AnointingOil-Incense.pdf
