Exodus Chapters 40 Verses 1-8

:1 “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation. 3 And thou shalt put therein the ark of the testimony, and cover the ark with the veil. 4 And thou shalt bring in the table, and set in order the things that are to be set in order upon it; and thou shalt bring in the candlestick, and light the lamps thereof. 5 And thou shalt set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark of the testimony, and put the hanging of the door to the tabernacle. 6 And thou shalt set the altar of the burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation. 7 And thou shalt set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and shalt put water therein. 8 And thou shalt set up the court round about, and hang up the hanging at the court gate.” 

When Moses had gone up into the mount the first time, God gave to him the pattern of how to make the tabernacle, its furniture, the garments of the priests, and the ingredients of the holy anointing oil, the oil for the lamps, and the incense to be burned on the golden altar. 

Later, God impressed the hearts of the people to bring the materials that were needed to make the tabernacle, its furniture, the garments of the priests, and the ingredients of the holy anointing oil, the oil for the lamps, and the incense to be burned on the golden altar.  Many of the children of Israel were involved in this endeavor.  Moreover, they had to be restrained from bringing as they had brought more than enough. 

Next, God had appointed and prepared workers to make the tabernacle, its furniture, the garments of the priests, and the ingredients of the holy anointing oil, the oil for the lamps, and the incense to be burned on the golden altar.  We are not told how many were involved, but it would have been a lot less than the number of those who brought the materials. 

Finally, it was time to set up the tabernacle.  However, for this job, only Moses was commanded to set up the tabernacle.  Once again, the LORD gave very specific instructions about how it was to be set up and the order in which it was to be set up.  All of these things teach us that God is a God of order.  He has a way that he wants things to be done and we do not have the right to do things just any way that we want to do it.  This is especially true for worship.  The Lord said: John 4:24 “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”  If the attempted worship is not according to the teaching of God’s word, then God will not accept it as worship.   

God told Moses to set up the tabernacle on the first day of the month.  However, it was not completed until the first day of the second year.  It would appear that it took Moses a whole year to set up the tabernacle.   

The above passage gives us the instruction that Moses received for setting up the furniture of the tabernacle. 

Verses 9-16 

:9 “And thou shalt take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle, and all that is therein, and shalt hallow it, and all the vessels thereof: and it shall be holy. 10 And thou shalt anoint the altar of the burnt offering, and all his vessels, and sanctify the altar: and it shall be an altar most holy. 11 And thou shalt anoint the laver and his foot, and sanctify it. 12 And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water. 13 And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. 14 And thou shalt bring his sons, and clothe them with coats: 15 And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations. 16 Thus did Moses: according to all that the LORD commanded him, so did he.” 

In this passage we see the tabernacle and all its vessels as well as Aaron and his sons being anointed.  The purpose of anointing was to hallow or sanctify them for the service that was to be performed.  Notice, it was not just the priests that were being anointed but also the vessels and the tabernacle.  This tabernacle was going to be known as the house of God and the priests would be responsible for the leading in worship and service unto God.  The holy anointed oil was God’s way of setting them apart to God’s intended use.   

The Lord’s church in this New Testament age does not consist of brick and mortar or other natural building materials.  It consists of his repentant and baptized believers.  When they are born of the Spirit of God they are anointed are set apart to a holy use as the following scripture plainly teaches: 

    1.  Eph. 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

    2.  1 Pet. 2:5 “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.”

    3.  1 Pet. 2:9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”

    4.  Rev. 1:5 “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”

    5.  2 Cor. 1:21 “Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;”

    6.  1 John 2:27 “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.” 

God has anointed us for a purpose.  We are to do the good works that he created us to do.  Moreover, we are to offer up the spiritual sacrifices he has spelled out for us in the scriptures.  We are to worship him in Spirit and in truth.  We are to show forth the praises of him who hath called us out of darkness into his marvelous light.