Details! Details!

Day 16: Exodus 26–30; Psalms 49–54; Mark 15–16

I am trudging through the instructions to Moses on how to construct the tabernacle and all it's untensils and furnishings, the priestly garments and the means by which they are to be consecrated and ordained. It's so boring!!!

But is it just me?  My personality is one that urges, "don't bother me with the details."  I fully recognize that the human species includes persons who glory in details.  So when big picture visionaries and detail people get together, they can make wonderful things happen.

Moses enters the cloud and deep mystery of God's holy presence and emerges with the details.

There is a certain beauty in the symmetry and ornate design of the tabernacle. Commentators have said the design communicates a picture of the cosmos. God is at the center in the Holy of Holies where He meets Israel's high priest seated above the mercy seat which adorns the ark of the covenant. There is an outer court representing the distinction between the common place and the holy place. The outer courtyard is marked by curtains. In the courtyard the sacrifices are offered by the priests. Placed at the far end of the courtyard is a tent for meeting God, which only Moses and the priests may enter. There showbread and incense and lamplight is kept before the Lord. Deeper still within the tent of meeting is a curtained off place where only the high priest and Moses may enter. The ark of the covenant is placed there behind the curtain to the Holy of Holies.

That which is common or unholy is outside of the holy place. Those who are called to holiness must consecrate and cleanse themselves for service in the holy place as they have come from the common. Prayers and offerings must be given by those appointed for this purpose before coming before the Holy One. Does this not communicate the separation between what is common and what is holy? It is a safe place for holiness in the midst of chaos and disorder.

St. Theresa of Avila spoke of prayer as an interior castle. Most of us never get past the moat and cross the drawbridge. Those who do and enter the castle tend to forget to close the door behind them, allowing rats of conscious concerns to run amuck. Only the patient and disciplined prayer will find entry to the throne room in the interior castle where God awaits.

The psalmist recognizes the sinfulness of humanity before God.

God looks down from heaven on the human race
    to see if there is one who is wise
    and who seeks God.
Everyone has turned aside;
    they have all become corrupt.
    There is no one who does good,
    not even one. (Psa. 53:2-3)

And yet God wants to be among the people called by His name.  So the tabernalce and later temple are places where He dwells among them.  And so the the people have confidence...

God is my helper;
    the Lord is the sustainer of my life.
He will repay my adversaries for [their] evil.
    Because of Your faithfulness, annihilate them.
I will sacrifice a freewill offering to You.
    I will praise Your name, LORD,
    because it is good. (Psa. 54:4-6)

Jesus is betrayed by Judas one of His twelve chosen apostles.  He is beaten, mocked, flogged and nailed to a cross.  Though He is the Christ, the Judge of all the earth, Jesus is judged and executed by cruel men...by frightened men.  His blood flows and sprinkles from the Holy One washing away the sins of the whole world.  He is laid in a tomb and covered in linen.  And three days later, early on Sunday morning, He is risen! Death is defeated.  The curse is broken.

God moved from heaven to the fiery cloud upon the mountaintop, to the tabernacle in the wilderness, to the temple in Jerusalem, to prophets in exile, into Jesus and walked amoung us and now through the Holy Spirit, God dwells in us who believe!

Don't ever spare me these details!