QT 5/18/2026 Exo 37:1–9, Treated sacred things seriously

Exodus 37:1–9 (ESV) —

1 Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood. Two cubits and a half was its length, a cubit and a half its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. 2 And he overlaid it with pure gold inside and outside, and made a molding of gold around it. 3 And he cast for it four rings of gold for its four feet, two rings on its one side and two rings on its other side. 4 And he made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold 5 and put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry the ark. 6 And he made a mercy seat of pure gold. Two cubits and a half was its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth. 7 And he made two cherubim of gold. He made them of hammered work on the two ends of the mercy seat, 8 one cherub on the one end, and one cherub on the other end. Of one piece with the mercy seat he made the cherubim on its two ends. 9 The cherubim spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces one to another; toward the mercy seat were the faces of the cherubim.

 

NOTE: Bezalel follows the instructions of 25:17-20 virtually verbatim (Stuart, 2006). I did notice (as did Stuart in his commentary), that Moses and Bezalel started on the coverings that made up the surrounding border of the tabernacle as well as the inside structure and roof. The different order of events protected the inside furniture (to include the ark) from weather, and also from becoming a curiosity to the people. In a way, they preserve a view of the holiness of God by keeping the finished products from general view. Ultimately, that is emphasized even more when the High Priest is the only one allowed to see the ark of the covenant, and that once a year. During the travels in the desert, it is also covered by the priests and then carried using the long poles inserted through the rings. Bezalel is probably the only non-Levite to officially view or touch the ark (prior to its consecration).

 

What do we learn? I think the story emphasizes the holiness of God and how the Israelites were beginning to understand his holiness. The golden calf event and the purging afterwards showed the Israelites the seriousness of God toward his holiness and his command to only worship God, and not idols or images.

 

PONDER:

1. How serious are we in our view of God?
2. Do we have a flippant attitude toward the things of God?

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for your guidance in a difficult issue the other night and the godly responses from the men. Continue to lead us and teach us from your word.