Dressing up the White Meat

Exodus 39:8-21

These blog entries are falling into an unfortunate pattern. Open with moderately pretentious commentary about the boring nature of the passage- and complain that it's material already covered earlier. Post link to earlier blog entry: http://chiphall.blogspot.com/2008/05/other-things-to-not-wear-on-red-carpet.html

Make a few semi-related comments about the retread and try to not simply repeat the info found on the link.

One thing I notice here that strikes me different is that this garment seems more like a dressy vest and less like warrior garb than I had originally thought. No application or point, just an observation.

It sure must have been purty.

Close with some application.

The detail spelled out seems silly to me. Why do all these things need to be just so? Couldn't time and energy of these Israelites been better served doing something more important like feeding the hungry or defending the weak?

Ultimately I think this is still part of the major contrast between the testaments. Outward, lavish, burdensome law versus inward, grace-filled, service.

Homemade Bling

Exodus 39:2-7

And the reruns continue. If you don't remember our previous ephod discussion, you can catch it here: http://chiphall.blogspot.com/2008/02/men-in-aprons-exodus-28-6-14-next-comes.html

In case you've forgotten (I had) an ephod is an apron-like article of clothing that holds the breastplate- or something like that. The Israelites follow through and make it.

I'm struck again, as I was during the first telling by the representation of the tribes as a memorial. Not just Levi, not just a few, but all twelve tribes- each important for different reasons.

Just like the individuals doing the work here. Different skills, different circumstances, different tribes, different heritages- but collectively, like the tribes all working toward glorifying God.

All these years later, we form His body the same way. Different walks, different scars, different skills- but all important, all of use, all recipients of His love.

Another Exodus Yarn

Exodus 39:1

Double whammy... first it's another one verse section. Second, it's something already discussed several chapters back. Here's the original discussion: http://chiphall.blogspot.com/2007/12/lookin-good-exodus-28-1-5-so-god-has.html

So all we learn here is they made ministering garments out of purple, scarlet and blue yarn- and they made sacred garments for Aaron.

Aaron's role seems steeped in importance. Even his clothes are holy. It seems like much of the ornate attitude certain religious cultures have toward priestly attire could come from passages like this one. Aaron would have been macking something serious in his priestly garb.

Somehow, I can't picture Jesus ministering in this same kind of outfit. The man who didn't have somewhere to lay his head probably didn't sport fancy duds when he interacted with the poor and down-trodden. Seems like another contrast between the outwardness of the old law and the inwardness of what's to come.

So in short- clothe that inner man with purple yarn... or at least let the focus of your grooming be on the inside.

Heavy Metal

Exodus 38: 21-31

This section is a summary of the material needed to complete the tasks we've been pouring over the last several chapters. Lest you think you can relate to these workers because one time you added a deck to the back of your house- consider this:

There was a little over a ton of gold donated for this work. The community gave about three and three fourths tons of silver to use. Just the silver for the hooks alone weighed 45 pounds. They also pulled in two and a half tons of bronze.

Not just your average trip to Home Depot.

While pouring over the boring specifics, it's easy to lose sight of what a huge undertaking this was. It must have taken not only skilled laborers and skilled craftsmen, but certainly people well-skilled management-wise, keeping everyone working together and productively.

A volunteer force working as a unit for a common goal and doing amazing thing...sounds like a great blueprint for what God expects the church to be too.

Supreme Court

Exodus 38:9-20

So, here we are again. Another Exodus retelling of an incident that was pretty boring to begin with. The courtyard is built. You can read the earlier discussion here: http://chiphall.blogspot.com/2007/11/curing-insomnia-exodus-279-19-warning.html.

Lots of bronze, lots of linen, lots of yawning.

I am struck though, by the importance of work here that might not be the most thrilling. Menial, tedious, sweaty- work that would be great to pawn off on someone else to free me up to work on things more important. Besides my strong inepitude regarding most physical labor, I also harbor a deep-seated desire to avoid it... and with that desire comes great skill.

I would not have been the man chosen to head up this project. And I wouldn't have felt slighted by not being chosen. But maybe it says something that these people complete job after job, measuring posts and meeting specifications.

Granted, there was probably an artistic side of this endeavor that those in "the trade" might have reveled in, but I'm guessing there were folks there too who took part not because of the thrill of the work- but because of the desire to please the one who commissioned them in the first place.

Even when the work is less than glamorous, dull, or seems like it is beneath me (which is another issue)- perhaps remembering who the work is for can inspire dedication and focus. Even for someone who thinks a jigsaw is a puzzle.

Less is Less

Exodus 38:8

I'm not sure why the fine folks who worked on the NIV determined that Exodus 38:8 warranted an entire heading all by its self. But they did. So here we are. The verse reads: ⁸ They made the bronze basin and its bronze stand from the mirrors of the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

Yeah.

So what to take from this? Well these same women who I guess worked to help with washing and preparing for sacrifices and perhaps getting Aaron's family's garments ready- also gave up their mirrors- bronze mirrors no less to create the basin and stand. And while much has been stressed about the sacrifice of the craftsmen and artisans- here we see less skilled people (perhaps?) giving what they had to offer. They couldn't create the basin and stand themselves...but they could wash, and prepare, and give where supplies were lacking.

Every part contributing to the whole.

Not much... but what do you want from one verse?