Refreshing

Daily
in Gods Word
Emphasis on

Lessons from
The
Tabernacle

The Tabernacle
August 1
Bible Reading: Exodus 35:30-35 and 36:1
Key Verse: Verse 35- Them hath he filled with
wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work, of the
engraver, and of the cunning workman, and of the
embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in
fine linen, and of the weaver, even of them that do
any work, and of those that devise cunning work.
Key Words: Them hath he filled with wisdom of

heart

One of the main subjects in Gods communication to

Moses was the Tabernacle. In contrast to Egypt and other
countries where many temples existed, Israel was to have only
one place of worship. For the period of wilderness travel, and
also for many years after occupying Palestine, this place was
to be a portable sanctuary called the Tabernacle. God gave
Moses the plan for it, which was to be followed exactly since it
involved numerous symbolisms of spiritual truth. Bezaleel of
the tribe of Judah and Aholiab of the tribe of Dan, both skilled
by special enablement of the Spirit of God, were to lead in the
construction.
From the Tabernacle we learn lessons about many
things and one of those things is that God has endowed us
with specific gifts to serve Him.
The great violinist, Nicolo Paganini, willed his
marvelous violin to Genoa -- the city of his birth -- but only on
condition that the instrument never be played upon. It was an
unfortunate condition, for it is a peculiarity of wood that as
long as it is used and handled, it shows little wear. As soon as
it is discarded, it begins to decay. The exquisite, mellow-toned
violin has become worm-eaten in its beautiful case, valueless
except as a relic. The moldering instrument is a reminder that
a life withdrawn from all service to others loses its meaning.

What to do:
God has given you a gift or gifts, use them for His
glory.
****************************************

The Tabernacle
A Lesson on Freewill Offerings

August 2

Bible Reading: Exodus 35:4-29

Key Verse: Verse 22 - And they came, both men and
women, as many as were willing hearted, and
brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and
tablets, all jewels of gold: and every man that offered
offered an offering of gold unto the LORD.
Key Words: And they came, both men and women,

as many as were willing hearted

Freewill offerings of the people quickly provided
ample building material, though the amount needed was large
and of great value.
A mother wanted to teach her daughter a moral lesson.
She gave the little girl a quarter and a dollar for church. "Put
whichever one you want in the collection plate and keep the
other for yourself," she told the girl. When they were coming
out of church, the mother asked her daughter which amount
she had given. "Well," said the little girl, "I was going to give
the dollar, but just before the collection the man in the pulpit
said that we should all be cheerful givers. I knew I'd be a lot
more cheerful if I gave the quarter, so I did."
Unfortunately, I am afraid a lot of adults feel the same
way. But the building and supplying of the Tabernacle reveals
that there were those who had a willing heart.

What to do:
Your giving reveals your heart.
willing heart?

Do you have a

****************************************

The Tabernacle
A Lesson in Service

August 3

Bible Reading: Exodus 40:17-19 and 34:38

Key Verse: Verse 17 - And it came to pass in the first

month in the second year, on the first day of the
month, that the tabernacle was reared up.
Key Words: the tabernacle was reared up

Israel remained at Sinai for the construction of this

Tabernacle. Work began shortly after Moses returned from
the mountain, which would have been about three months
after the peoples first arrival at Sinai. The date of completion
is given as the first day of the first month in the second year
(Exodus 40:17), which means about five and one-half months
later. On the day of completion, the cloud, which otherwise
led the people, settled over the Tabernacle and the glory of
God filled it (Exodus 40:34).
The Tabernacle teaches us a great lesson in our service
for God.
During World War II, England needed to increase its
production of coal. Winston Churchill called together labor
leaders to enlist their support. At the end of his presentation,
he asked them to picture in their minds a parade that he knew
would be held in Piccadilly Circus after the war.
First, he said, would come the sailors who had kept the
vital sea-lanes open. Then would come the soldiers who had
come home from Dunkirk and then gone on to defeat Rommel
in Africa. Then would come the pilots who had driven the
Luftwaffe from the sky.
Last of all, he said, would come a long line of sweatstained, soot-streaked men in miner's caps. Someone would

cry from the crowd, And where were you during the critical
days of our struggle? And from ten thousand throats would
come the answer, We were deep in the earth with our faces to
the coal."
Not all the jobs in a church are prominent and
glamorous. But it is often the people with their "faces to the
coal" who help the church accomplish its mission.
To those who serve in areas of the unseen: thank you
and remember, God sees the unseen.

What to do:
Remember, there are no little ones in Gods service.
****************************************

The Tabernacle
A Lesson in Consecration

August 4

Bible Reading: Leviticus 9:1-24

Key Verse: Verse 13 - And they presented the burnt
offering unto him, with the pieces thereof, and the
head: and he burnt them upon the altar.
Key Words: And they presented the burnt offering

unto him
The inaugural day was most impressive. Several
offerings were presented to God, both for the priests and the
people, before Aaron was escorted by Moses into the
Tabernacle for general orientation. When the two came out,
miraculous fire appeared on the brazen altar, apparently
consuming the offerings that were on the altar in an instant.
This was not the initial kindling of altar fire, however, as
sometimes believed, for offerings had been made all during
the prior week of priestly consecration. This fire served more
to climax the eight days of festivities, showing Gods approval,

both of all that had been done and what would be done in
days and years to come.
The Tabernacle teaches us a lesson in consecration.
We seldom use the word consecration anymore. We use the
word dedication. They were dedicating to the Tabernacle of
God.
I think of David Livingstone, the pioneer missionary to
Africa, who walked over 29,000 miles. His wife died early in
their ministry and he faced stiff opposition from his Scottish
brethren. He ministered half blind. His kind of perseverance
spurs me on. As I run, I remember the words in his diary:
Send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me,
only sustain me. Sever me from any tie but the tie that binds
me to Your service and to Your heart.
Now, there is consecration! There is dedication!

What to do:
Remember, it doesnt take great men to do great
things, it just takes dedicated ones.
****************************************

The Tabernacle
A Lesson in Disobedience

August 5

Bible Reading: Leviticus 10:1-7

Key Verse: Verse 2 And there went out fire from
the
LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the
LORD.
Key Words: And they died before the Lord
This happy atmosphere was now saddened, however,
by unexpected, serious sin on the part of Aarons two older
sons, Nadab and Abihu. They had just been highly honored
by inclusion in Israels priesthood, but now offered what is
called strange fire on the altar of incense.

Satan has blinded the eyes of many to the importance

of obedience. Adam and Eve failed to obey, and as a result, all
men die. Israel failed to obey and wandered in the wilderness
for forty years, and here Nadab and Abihu disobey and are
devoured.
Elisabeth Elliot, at Urbana 76, told of her brother
Thomas Howard. Their mother let him play with paper bags
shed saved if he put them away afterwards. One day she
walked into the kitchen to find them strewn all over the floor.
Tom was out at the piano with his father singing hymns.
When confronted, he protested, But Mom, I want to sing.
His father stated, Its no good singing Gods praise if youre
disobedient.
May we truly understand the importance of genuine
obedience to God.

What to do:
Both obedience and disobedience pay. From which
payroll do you want to be paid?
****************************************

The Tabernacle
Another Lesson in Giving

August 6

Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 16:9-17

Key Verse: Verse 17 - Every man shall give as he is
able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God
which he hath given thee.
Key Words: Every man shall give
Giving is a vital part in our worship of God. I am
convinced that there is no genuine worship of God when one
fails to give.

One of the first things that Ezra taught the people after
the rebuilding of the temple was the importance of giving.
(See Nehemiah 10:34-39.)
Dr. R. E. Neighbour was in the baptismal pool with a
railway engineer. The pastor was ready to proceed with the
baptismal service. "Wait!" whispered the engineer; "I forgot
something. I want to return to the robing room, and get my
pocketbook and let you baptize it with me!" Oh, that more of
our pocketbooks were "baptized." O, that more of God's
children were taking with seriousness their financial
responsibilities to God's work!
Let me close by giving you a Rouseism.where your
pleasure is, there will be your treasure also.

What to do:
Truly believe that it is more blessed to give than to
receive.
****************************************

The Tabernacle
A Lesson about Christ

August 7

Bible Reading: Exodus 36:8-13

Key Verse: Verse 8- And every wise hearted man
among them that wrought the work of the tabernacle
ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and
purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work
made he them.
Key Words: blue, and purple, and scarlet
The three colors, blue, purple, and scarlet, represent
different aspects in regard to Christ. Blue is the color of
heaven and speaks of Christs divinity. The Heavenly One
veiled in flesh living among men (John 1:1, 14, 18P). Purple is
the color of royalty and speaks of Christs kingly power (I

Timothy 6:15). Scarlet is the color of blood and speaks of

Christs sacrifice (I Peter 1:19-20).
Christ is our sufficiency. He is our Heavenly One, our
Kingly One, and our Savior, all of which can be seen through
the color of the Tabernacle.
Respirators are machines that do the breathing for
you. If you are laid down on the hospital bed and there is a
problem with your breathing, they put you on a respirator. If
you insist on breathing on your own, the respirator does you no good.
Theres only one thing you can do with the respirator
cooperate. Now, you are involved because its your lungs going up
and down. Its your mouth and nose that are taking in and expelling the
oxygen. The two of you are working together but the respirator is
doing the work; you are just cooperating with it rather than
resisting it. Christ wants to express His life through you
and be your respirator. He does not want you being your own
respirator because then you dont need Him. He doesnt want to do it
apart from you, so you must cooperate. You must yield yourself to the
person of Christ. We have too many Christians today
hyperventilating in the spiritual life.

What to do:
Understand that Christ is your sufficiency.
****************************************

The Tabernacle
A Lesson on Salvation
Bible Reading: Exodus 38:15-31

August 8

Key Verse: Verses 15,18,31 And for the other side of

the court gate, on this hand and that hand, were
hangings of fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and
their sockets three. And the hanging for the gate of
the court was needlework, of blue, and purple, and
scarlet, and fine twined linen: and twenty cubits was
the length, and the height in the breadth was five

cubits, answerable to the hangings of the court. And

the sockets of the court round about, and the sockets
of the court gate, and all the pins of the tabernacle,
and all the pins of the court round about.
Key Words: court gate, gate of the court, court

gate
The Tabernacle had only one gate or one entrance way,
which is a picture of salvation only one way.
Jesus said, I am the way (John 14:6).
Enter ye in at the strait gate (Matthew 7:13a).
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way,
which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it
(Matthew 7:14).
I was in Washington, DC, on September 11, 2001. As a
matter of fact, I was in the White House on the morning of
September 11, 2001. A day that those of us who were alive
and old enough to recount that day, will always remember.
I was stranded in DCno planes were going out, no
trains were travelingso I heard an advertisement on
television that Greyhound busses were all still running. So I
caught a taxi, went to the bus depot, and purchased my ticket
to Birmingham. It was literally the only way to get to where I
wanted to go.
So it is with Heaven! If you want to go there, there is
only One Way, and Jesus is the Way, not our baptism, good
works, or our church membership. One gate leads to Heaven
and Jesus is the Way. Are you going through the Gate to
Heaven? If so, it must be through Him.

What to do:
Ask Jesus to save you. He is the Only Gate that
leads to Heaven.

The Tabernacle

A Lesson on the Blood

August 9

Bible Reading: Exodus 27:1-8; Leviticus 17:10-11

Key Verse: Verse 11 - For the life of the flesh is in the

blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to
make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood
that maketh an atonement for the soul.
Key Words: for it is the blood that maketh

atonement for the soul

When an Israelite approached the Tabernacle with his

sacrifice, he had to pass through the gate. Upon doing so, he
would see the altar with a priest beside it. This is where the
blood was to be shed and the sinner pardoned. No matter
how good a person is, without the shedding of blood, there is
no remission (Hebrews 9:22).
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb,
and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their
lives unto the death (Rev. 12:11). This is the last reference in
the Bible to the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ; here it is
the overcoming blood, enabling believers to withstand the
deceptions and accusations of Satan. There are at least 43
references to the blood of Christ in the New Testament, all
testifying to its great importance in the salvation and daily life
of the believer. Judas the betrayer spoke of it as "innocent
blood (Matthew 27:4) and Peter called it "the precious blood
of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (I
Peter 1:9). It is the cleansing blood in I John 1:7 and the
washing blood in Revelation 1:5, stressing that it removes the
guilt of our sins.
Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power? Are
you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

What to do:
Praise God for the blood!

The Tabernacle

A Lesson on the Power of the

Blood

August 10

Bible Reading: Exodus 27:1-2 and 27:12;

Psalm 89:13-17
Key Verse: Verse 17 For thou art the glory of their
strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be
exalted.
Key Words: our horn shall be exalted
By examining the Bible reading for today, we see that
the altar and the horns were one. The horn represents power.
The point being that there is power in the blood. We read in
Revelation 12:11a, speaking of the dragon, And they
overcame him by the blood of the Lamb.
The blood of Christ is the power of salvation.
When evangelist John Wesley (17031791) was
returning home from a service one night, he was robbed. The
thief, however, found his victim to have only a little money
and some Christian literature.
As the bandit was leaving, Wesley called out, Stop! I
have something more to give you. The surprised robber
paused. My friend, said Wesley, you may live to regret this
sort of life. If you ever do, heres something to remember:
The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin! The thief
hurried away, and Wesley prayed that his words might bear
fruit.
Years later, Wesley was greeting people after a Sunday
service when he was approached by a stranger. What a
surprise to learn that this visitor, now a believer in Christ and
a successful businessman, was the one who had robbed him
years before! I owe it all to you, said the transformed man.
Oh no, my friend, Wesley exclaimed, not to me, but to the
precious blood of Christ that cleanses us from all sin!
Would you be free from your burden of sin? There is
power in the blood.

What to do:
Satan is defeated, not by our physical power, but by
the blood of the Lamb. Claim it!!
****************************************

The Tabernacle
A Lesson on Humility

August 11

Bible Reading: Exodus 27:3; Job 2:1-10

Key Verse: Verse 8 - And he took him a potsherd to

scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the
ashes.
Key Words: and he sat down among the ashes

The ashes were symbolic of grief and mourning. It was

saying, I am nothing.
In football, they tell the offensive line, no matter how
big you are, stay low. So that you can have leverage, stay low.
No matter how big you get in life, stay low. No matter what
title you have in front of your name, how much money you
have in the bank, or how many people know who you are, stay
low. The moment you use your knowledge, prestige, power,
or resources to attempt to be like God, it will be made very
clear, very soon, there is only one God. Humble yourself
beneath His mighty hand.
Think about this.
Man was made from the ground. He's an earthling,
and on his best day he's just dignified dirt. In fact, every
living person is only worth about $3.57. When a person dies,
all of their components return to dirt and the value is only
about $3.57.
Thats why you cant think too highly of yourself. You
are just not worth that much. So when you get in your Benz,
its only $3.57 driving a Benz. Its $3.57 living in the suburbs.
Its $3.57 wearing designer clothes. Its $3.57 with more
money in the bank than youre actually worth.
What to do:

Our value only comes when we are In Christ are

you in?
****************************************

The Tabernacle
A Lesson on the Bread

August 12

Bible Reading: Exodus 25:23-30

Key Verse: Verse 30 And thou shalt set upon the
table shewbread before me alway.
Key Words: shewbread before me alway
The table of shewbread, or showbread, was placed on
the north side of the first apartment of the sanctuary. The
table was two cubits long, a cubit and a half in width, and a
cubit and a half in height. It was overlaid with pure gold, and
like the altar of incense was ornamented with a crown of gold
around the top (Exodus 25:23-30; 40:22).
On the Sabbath day the Levites made twelve loaves, or
cakes, of unleavened bread (1 Chronicles 9:32, Leviticus 24:5).
These cakes were placed on the table hot, each Sabbath day
(Leviticus 24:8; 1 Samuel 21:3-6; Matthew 12:3-4), arranged
in two piles, six in a row, with pure frankincense on each row
(Leviticus 24:6-7).
During the entire week the bread lay on the table. By
some translators it is called "the bread of the presence." At
the end of the week it was removed and eaten by the priests
(Leviticus 24:9).
Which brings us to Jesus, the Bread of Life (John
6:48).
It is told of Sadhu Sundar Singh that many years ago
he was distributing Gospels in the Central Provinces of India
and he came to some non-Christians on the railway train and
offered a man a copy of John's Gospel. The man took it, tore it
in pieces in anger and threw the pieces out of the window.
That seemed the end, but it so happened, in the Providence of

God, there was a man anxiously seeking for truth walking

along the line that very day, and he picked up as he walked
along a little bit of paper and looked at it, and the words on it
in his own language were 'the Bread of Life'. He did not know
what it meant; but he enquired among his friends and one of
them said: 'I can tell you; it is out of the Christian book. You
must not read it or you will be defiled.' The man thought for a
moment and then said: 'I want to read the book that contains
that beautiful phrase': and he bought a copy of the New
Testament. He was shown where the sentence occurred- our
Lord's words 'I am the Bread of Life'; and as he studied the
gospel, the light flooded into his heart, he came to the
knowledge of Jesus Christ, and he became a preacher of the
gospel in the Central Provinces of India. That little bit of
paper through God's Spirit was indeed the Bread of life to
him, satisfying his deepest need.
He that has never eaten from the Bread of Life will
never be satisfied.
What to do:
If you are still starving spiritually, try the Bread of
Life.
****************************************

The Tabernacle
A Lesson on Light

August 13

Bible Reading: Exodus 30:8; Leviticus 24:1-3;

John 8:12-20
Key Verse: Verse 12 Then spake Jesus again unto
them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that
followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall
have the light of life.
Key Words: I am the light of the world

Just as the candle of incense was to burn continually

so was the lamp to light the inner court of the Tabernacle.
Today Jesus is our Light and He desires to shine
through us (Matthew 5:14).
Perhaps you don't know what fifth columnists are. It
goes all the way back to when the Spanish army would invade
a nation and they would march the soldiers in four columns.
The soldiers would march in four columns and do a frontal
assault on whatever nation or city they were going to attack.
The nation being attacked felt pretty secure, because they
could see the four columns coming. But what they didnt
know about were the fifth columnists.
The fifth columnists had moved into the city a year
beforehand as covert operatives. They had become doctors
and lawyers, politicians and business people, and they
infiltrated the land that would be attacked a year later. In
other words, they were saboteurs. What they did was to set
things up for the army invasions. When the four columns
marched, the fifth columnists would have already caused
havoc on the inside. The four columns could do what they
needed to do, because there were subversives internally.
God expects every Christian who is functioning in a
secular, non-Christian society, business, or school to be a fifth
columnist. He expects you to be part of His army that works
behind enemy lines. He wants you to represent the interests
of heaven in the locality of earth where He has placed you.
Fifth columnists dont become part of the culture, they just
function at the level they need to in order to bring about the
bigger plan of the nation that they are a part of.
Today, we are to make a difference by letting Christ
shine through us.

What to do:
Let your light shine where you are.

The Tabernacle
A Lesson about Incense

August 14

Bible Reading: Exodus 30:1-10

Key Verse: Verse 1 And thou shalt make an altar to
burn incense upon: of shittim wood shalt thou make
it.
Key Words: to burn incense
The altar of incense (which is not to be confused with
the brazen altar) sat in front of the curtain that separated the
Holy Place from the Holy of Holies.
God commanded the priests to burn incense
continually. The incense was made of precious spices, stacte,
onycha, galbanum, and frankincense.
The incense was symbolic of prayer. God wanted His
dwelling to be a place where they could approach Him and
pray to Him.
The principle is that we are to be a people of prayer
(pray without ceasing).
Early African converts to Christianity were earnest and
regular in their private devotions. Each one reportedly had a
separate spot in the thicket where he would pour out his heart
to God. Over time the path to these places would become well
worn. As a result, if one of those believers began to neglect
prayer, it would soon be apparent to the other. They would
kindly remind the negligent one, Brother, the grass grows on
your path.
There is an old saying that goes, He who runs from
God in the morning will scarcely find Him the rest of the day.
Pray!!

What to do:
Dont let the grass grow on your prayer path.

The Tabernacle
A Lesson on the Presence

August 15

Bible Reading: Exodus 25:10-22; Hebrews 13:5

Key Verse: Verse 10 And they shall make an ark of

shittim wood: two cubits and a half shall be the l
ength thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth t
hereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.
Key Words: And they shall make an ark

The Ark of the Covenant was a chest made of acacia

wood, about four feet long, two and a half feet wide, and two
and a half feet high. It was overlaid with gold inside and out
(Exodus 25:11) and a ring of gold at each corner or foot
through which poles were passed to carry it. The lid of the ark
the kappo,,reth or mercy seat (Exodus 25:17), was made of
pure gold. At each end of the mercy seat was a cherubim
made of hammered gold.
It symbolizes the presence of God, Who promised
never to leave us nor forsake us.
Most of us have experienced our children's
dependence on us to face their fears when they have
nightmares or when it's thundering and lightning during a
storm. They'll wake up, scream, and jump out of their bed.
They will walk through the valley of their bedroom, down the
valley of the hall, to the valley of your room. They jump in
your bed, because what they need is somebody to be with
them.
Your hugging them doesn't stop the rain, the thunder,
or the lightning, but it changes how they face it. They'll fall
asleep in your arms. The fear that they have alone, they no
longer have, because Mama or Daddy holds them. You help
them face their fears in the midst of their struggles. This is
exactly what the heavenly Father does for us when we face our
own fears and insecurities.
We have to face them, but we do so knowing that we
are in the presence of God.

What to do:
Remember, as a born-again believer we are never
alone.
****************************************

The Tabernacle
A Lesson on the Tablets

August 16

Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 10:1-9; Hebrews 9:4

Key Verse: Verse 1 At that time the LORD said unto

me, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first,
and come up unto me into the mount, and make thee
an ark of wood.
Key Words: two tables of stone

The Ark of the Covenant held three things inside. One

was the tables of stone, the law, the Ten Commandments.
Israel carried the Word of God with them everywhere they
journeyed.
We, as well, are to take Gods Word with us wherever
we go. We read in Colossians 3:16, Let the Word of Christ
dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing
one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing
with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
A couple decided that they should do something
together to strengthen their marriage. They decided to go
duck hunting together. Theyd heard of other people going
duck hunting with dogs, so they figured they needed to buy a
good hunting dog and buy the dog they did. They got all of
their equipment and their dog and took off to go duck hunting
for the day. They tried getting some ducks, but they came to
the end of the day and hadnt gotten one. The husband looked
at the wife and said, Honey, weve got to be doing something
wrong here. We havent caught a duck yet.
The wife said, Well, maybe, if we throw the dog up a
little higher, he can catch a duck this time.

Thats what a lot of us are doing. Were trying to get a

dog to do what a gun was meant to do. Were trying to
accomplish things in our lives with tools that dont work or
dont make sense. A dog is not the right weapon to get ducks.
You need firepower to bring a duck down.
A lot of us have hound dogs trying to fix our
marriage. Were on the phone with hound dog girlfriends or
guy friends. All theyre doing is barking us up into more mess.
Were doing everything but using firepower from heaven. Its
not that were not trying. The question is, what are we trying?
The Word of Christ must dwell in us richly. It has to
be the basis of our decisions.

What to do:
The Word of God: dont leave home without it.
****************************************

The Tabernacle
Lessons from the Ark of the
Covenant
August 17

Bible Reading: Numbers 17:1-10

Key Verse: Verse 10 And the LORD said unto

Moses, Bring Aaron's rod again before the testimony,
to be kept for a token against the rebels; and thou
shalt quite take away their murmurings from me,
that they die not.
Key Words: Aarons rod

The purpose of the rod was to stop the rebels from

murmuring (complaining).
The rod was used as an
instrument of correction and to make believers out of
doubters. It was primarily a tool of discipline.

The rebellious murmurers remind me of Victor

Frankenstein. He is known for bringing a lifeless creature to
life. If you don't know about Victor Frankenstein, you know
about his creation because the monster became synonymous
with his creator's last name. The word Frankenstein conjures
up thoughts of the monster, not his creator.
After going through a tragedy, Mr. Frankenstein
desired to do something good. He decided to take lifeless
items and make them come alive.
He went to
slaughterhouses, graveyards, and even coroners offices to
steal what he needed for his creation. He then put all of his
materials together and brought his creation to life. This
lifeless, dead entity did come alive. His goal was to take this
monster and give it life. Well, he did it. He created it, and
these days we know it by his last name Frankenstein. What
he didnt know is that he had created a beast.
The tragedy of Frankenstein is that after he was
created, after he was given life, after he was nothing and then
made into something, he turned on Victor and made his
maker a victim of his own creation. Frankenstein became a
monster because he took the life that was given him and used
it for his own purpose.
You and I have been given life by our Creator. Yet
many of our lives are nothing short of monstrous because we
have taken the life that He has given us and used it for
something other than the Creator had in mindand that, my
friend, is a tragedy!

What to do:
Live your life in accordance to what your Creator
has purposed for you.

The Tabernacle

A Lesson on the Provision of

God

August 18

Bible Reading: Hebrews 9:1-12

Key Verse: Verse 4 Which had the golden censer,
and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about
with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had
manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables
of the covenant;
Key Words: the golden pot that had manna
The manna is a picture of the provision of God.
Normally, when people eat a balanced evening meal, it
includes vegetables.
Those vegetables will have been
purchased at a grocery store. Of course, a grocery store
bought the vegetables from someone who farmed and
harvested them. The farmer had those vegetables to sell
because he planted seeds in the ground. The land in which
the seed was planted was also supported by both rain and
sunshine. Rain and sunshine are dependent on heaven.
Rain from heaven must come down upon the land in
which the seed has been planted so the fruit and vegetable
can sprout, so the farmer can deliver it to the grocery store, so
that we can pick it up when we go shopping, so that we can
have a nice evening meal. If a person gets stuck appreciating
the grocery store, then theyve missed the source.
The grocery store is simply the mechanism of delivery.
Now, if God stops the sunshine and rain, stops the replication
of the seed, or does not allow the land to be fruitful, then there
is no trip to the grocery store.
The Tabernacle reminds us that our God will supply all
of our needs according to His riches. Amen!
What to do:
Thank God for His provision in your life.

The Tabernacle

A Lesson on the Veil

August 19

Bible Reading: Leviticus 16:1-2; Hebrews 10:19-25

Key Verse: Verse 20 By a new and living way,

which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil,
that is to say, his flesh;
Key Words: through the veil

The veil separated man from God; but at Jesus

crucifixion, the veil was torn asunder. Now we are able to
enter into Gods presence because of the blood of Jesus Christ
(Hebrews 10:19).
Fred Jordan once went into Oviatt's, one of Los
Angeles exclusive men's stores. He says, "A clerk came up to
me: Can I help you? he asked. Yes, if you sell secondhand
clothing, I answered. He looked around the well-appointed
shop and murmured, I'm afraid we don't. Then he studied
my clothes, and said, If you wear secondhand clothes, they
are pretty good. They are secondhand all right. I glanced at
my shoes. They used to belong to a cow, and my coat once
belonged to a sheep. The man laughed, but I had made my
point, and was able to explain that as an animal died that we
might have clothes, so the Son of God had to die that we might
be clothed in His righteousness." ~ Moody Monthly

What to do:
Enter into His presence with singing because of the
blood of Jesus Christ.

The Tabernacle

A Picture of the Resurrection

August 20

Bible Reading: Numbers 17:1-9

Key Verse: Verse 8 And it came to pass, that on the

morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness;
and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi
was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed
blossoms, and yielded almonds.
Key Words: the rod of Aaronwas budded

A rod made from a dead stick was budded, bringing

forth life. Thats a miracle, but it also is a picture of the
resurrectionlife after death!
As a young man, D. L. Moody was suddenly called
upon to preach a funeral sermon. He hunted all through the
Four Gospels trying to find one of Christs funeral sermons,
but searched in vain. He found that Christ broke up every
funeral He ever attended. Death could not exist where He was.
When the dead heard His voice they sprang to life. Jesus said,
I am the resurrection and the life (John 11:25).
C.H. Mackintosh wrote: There is power in the
presence of a risen Savior to solve our difficulties, remove our
perplexities, calm our fears, ease our burdens, dry our tears,
meet our every need, tranquilize our minds and satisfy every
craving of our hearts.
I once heard a story about Robert Ingersoll, the
famous atheist of some decades ago. It is told that at one time
he sought to show how the miracle of Lazarus being raised
from the dead by Jesus was just a trick to bolster His waning
fortunes. To clinch his point, Ingersoll said to the audience,
Can anyone tell me now why Jesus said: Lazarus, come
forth! (John 11:43)? An old Christian in the back got up and
said: Yes! Because if He had not said Lazarus, He would
have had the whole graveyard of Bethany coming out to Him.
The budding roda picture of the resurrection!
What to do:

The question is not about where you spend your life

today, but rather, where you will spend your life in
eternity. Think about it; act upon it.
****************************************

The Tabernacle
A Charge

August 21

Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 31:14; Matthew 28:11-20

Key Verse: Verse 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Key Words: Go ye therefore
God summoned Moses and Joshua into the Tabernacle
to give a charge. Interesting! Today, as a believer I am and
you are the Tabernacle of God (II Corinthians 5:1, 4). It is
the place where God gave us our charge to go into all the
world and preach the Gospel.
In our war against terrorism, there are Special Forces,
the Army Rangers, the Green Berets, the Navy Seals, the Delta
Force these are special people who are cut out from the
crowd, who are set apart from the rest of the general armed
services. These are no ordinary soldiers; they are cut out from
and a cut above the rest.
God is calling men to be sanctifiers, men who set
themselves apart, and are set apart, for the purpose of the
transformation of their fellow man from where they are into
what they ought to be.
Thats sanctification, requiring a Savior first.
Today, you have been charged to go and make a
difference in your world.

What to do:

 Good soldiers always obey orders. Are you a good

soldier?
****************************************

The Tabernacle
A Lesson on Priorities

August 22

Bible Reading: Joshua 18:1-7

Key Verse: Verse 1 And the whole congregation of
the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh,
and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there.
And the land was subdued before them.
Key Words: And the land was subdued before

them
The principle of our text is clear. The Tabernacle was
the dwelling place of God; and when we take care of the things
of God first, then God takes care of us (the land was subdued
before them). Keep God as the priority of your life.
The sun is a light twenty-four hours a day, seven days
a week. All year long, all decade long, all century long, the sun
just keeps on shining. The problem, however, is that the earth
gets dark. How can there be all that light and the earth still
gets dark? Its because the earth turns. The earth gets dark
because the earth is spinning on its axis. Therefore the side
that faces the sun gets light and the side that is facing away
does not.
If there is darkness in your life, its not because God,
the Father of Lights, is turning; its because you are turning.
He is the Father of Lights and in Him there is no shadow.
There is no darkness in Him. Because God is faithful, Hes
consistent. Just like the sun, He is always shining and in His
light, there is no shifting or moving shadow. We just have to
make sure we are turned toward Him.
What to do:

 If your life is filled with darkness, stop turning from

God and turn toward Him.

The Tabernacle
A Place of Witness

August 23

Bible Reading: Numbers 17:1-9

Key Verse: Verse 7 And Moses laid up the rods

before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness.
Key Words: in the tabernacle of witness

In the Tabernacle of Witness the people could

witness the power of God.
J. Vernon McGee says: Now God confirms his
priesthood in a most remarkable manner. God had the prince
of each of the twelve tribes bring a rod. These rods were
picked up out on the desertprobably whittled out and
decorated by carvingsbut they were dead wood. Then these
rods were placed before the Lord in the tabernacle. Aarons
rod was there among the others, and his rod was as dead as all
the others. But what happened?
And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went
into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron
for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and
bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds (Numbers 17:8).
This is life out of death. Aarons priesthood was
confirmed by resurrection. Aarons rod brought forth buds,
and blossoms, and fruit! Life out of death. Resurrection. In
the springtime the blooming of plants which have been
dormant all winter does not illustrate life out of death.
Neither does the egg. There is a germ of life in the egg. The
perfect illustration of the resurrection of Christ is Aarons rod
that budded.
The priesthood of the Lord Jesus Christ rests upon the
fact of His resurrection. We are told very frankly in the
seventh chapter of Hebrews that if He were here on earth, He
would not be a priest. He did not come from the priestly tribe
of Levi. His resurrection made Him a priest. Then it tells us

that not every man becomes a priest. And no man taketh this
honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was
Aaron (Hebrews 5:4). Aaron was Gods called priest. The
evidence was the budded rodthe resurrection.
The Lord Jesus Christ was raised from the dead and
He became our High Priest. He has an unchangeable
priesthood and so he is able also to save them to the
uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to
make intercession for them (Hebrews 7:25).
Amen & amen!!

What to do:
Remember that we still serve the same God now
that the witnesses of Numbers 17:7 worshipped.
****************************************

The Tabernacle
Davids Tabernacle

August 24

Bible Reading: Psalm 15

Key Verse: Verse 1 LORD, who shall abide in thy
tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
Key Words: who shall abide in thy tabernacle?
David also asked who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
As you read Psalm 15, it almost sounds as if our
salvation (our dwelling) depends on our good works, but this
is not about our salvation, but about our dwelling (our
fellowship) with God, a close relationship with God.
The answer is found in verses 2 5. Verse 2: those
who walk uprightly and speak the truth in his heart. Verse 3:
those who do not backbite, nor those who do evil to his
neighbor, nor take up a reproach against his neighbor. Verse

4: those who fear the Lord. Verse 5: those who aid people, not
use people.
It appears to be the more Christ-like that we treat
others, the closer our relationship to God.
Mamie Adams always went to a branch post office in
her town because the postal employees there were friendly.
She went there to buy stamps just before Christmas one year
and the lines were particularly long. Someone pointed out
that there was no need to wait in line because there was a
stamp machine in the lobby. I know, said Mamie, but the
machine wont ask me about my arthritis.

What to do:
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
****************************************

The Tabernacle
A Flourishing Tabernacle

August 25

Bible Reading: Proverbs 14:1-11

Key Verse: Verse 11 The house of the wicked shall

be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall
flourish.
Key Words: but the tabernacle of the people shall

flourish
Its interesting to me that the wicked have a house but
the upright have a tabernacle.
You see, the tabernacle is the dwelling place of God.
God doesnt dwell in the house of the wicked, only in the
tabernacle of the upright.
Some years ago we were selling our house in order to
move closer to the church. As you know, when you are selling
your house people come through quite often. I remember on

one occasion on a Saturday afternoon the realtor had

scheduled a showing of the house. The prospective couple
arrived at the appointed time and began their tour of looking
in every room, including all closets and corners. After about
forty-five minutes or so they came in and talked with my wife
and me about the house: why we were selling and if there
were any problems with the house or the neighbors.
As they were leaving the lady turned and looked at my
wife and me and gave one of the greatest compliments when
she said, The greatest thing about your home is that God
dwells here. You can tell that God dwells here. And thats
what makes the house a homeGod dwells there.

What to do:
Give up on you and rely solely upon the Lord.
****************************************

The Tabernacle
A Place of Safety

August 26

Bible Reading: Isaiah 4

Key Verse: Verse 6 And there shall be a tabernacle
for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a
place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from
rain.
Key Words: And there shall be a tabernacle for a

shadow in the day time

The Tabernacle (tent) was a place of safety from heat
and storms which raged through the Middle East. The tent
was not only needed but a necessity.

The spiritual Tabernacle was a place of spiritual

safety where people would make sacrifices to God and confess
their sin and cry out to God for His provision and protection.
In much the same way today, our Biblical churches are
a place for protection and spiritual provision.
The following statistics reveal church is the safest
place of all.
Automobiles account for 20 percent of all fatal
accidents, while 17 percent of fatalities occur at home.
Fourteen percent happen to pedestrians on streets and
sidewalks. Travel by air, rail, or water causes 16 percent of the
deaths. Yet, of all reported deaths, only .001 percent occur in
worship services.
Moral: You are safer in church than any other place.
Think about it!

What to do:
For self-preservation, go to church.
****************************************

The Tabernacle
Not Three But One

August 27

Bible Reading: Matthew 17:1-8

Key Verse: Verse 4 - Then answered Peter, and said
unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou
wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee,
and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
Key Words: let us make here three tabernacles
Outside of God, the Father, and God, the Son, five
people are here on the Mount of Transfiguration: Moses, who
represents the Law, Elijah, who represents the Prophets, and
Peter, James, and John who represented the New Testament.

When Peter said let us make three tabernacles he put

Moses and Elijah on the same level with Jesus, which reminds
me of Matthew 4:10, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God,
and Him only shalt thou serve.
Today, many believers are confused about worship.
They mistakenly call emotionalism worship. The word
worship mean to fall down prostrate before God.
Several years ago we had a Dachshund dog. That dog
loved both my middle daughter and me. Often the two of us
(my daughter and I) would sit on the back porch and Fritz
(the dog) would get so excited, he would run around the back
yard a couple of times and then get directly in front of us and
begin to crawl on his belly toward us. Finally arriving at our
feet, he would begin to lick us. As strange as it may sound,
thats a picture of true worship. Worship is not the running
around the back yard in excitement. The worship is when he
bowed down before us.
We worship only God Jehovah and Jesus Christ. We
do not worship man! Today, let me encourage you to worship
God and Him only.

What to do:
Worship God!
****************************************

The Tabernacle
A Feast

August 28

Bible Reading: John 7:1-9

Key Verse: Verse 2 - Now the Jews' feast of
tabernacles was at hand.

Key Words: feast of tabernacles

The Feast of Tabernacles is a fall festival celebrating

the abundance of Gods blessings as they would gather their
fall crops.
It is also a memorial of Israels exodus from Egypt. It
represents the protection and promises of Gods provision.
Back in the depression days of the early '30s, my
husband pastored a small country church. We then had three
little children. Many times our weekly income was less than
$10. One day, we found ourselves out of bread and with only
some rancid bacon grease for shortening. I used it, however,
in making hot biscuits and we managed to eat some of them
for lunch. Later, as we put the remaining biscuits on the
supper table, our five-year-old daughter prayed very
earnestly, Dear Jesus, help us to eat these biscuits or else
send us some better ones. Amen! Later that evening, the
doorbell rang. There, at the door, stood a member of our
church who had a bakery route. Before we could tell him our
story he began unloading his large bakery basket with all
kinds of tempting sweet rolls, buns, biscuits, besides dark and
white bread. You know, he said rather apologetically, I was
tired tonight and seven miles out here in the pouring rain
seemed so far. I was tempted to wait until tomorrow evening
and bring these bakery things on my way to prayer meeting as
I usually do. Then he added, But I was strongly constrained
to come tonight! Hope you can use these things!
~ Anne S. Alexander
All blessings are ultimately from the Lord!

What to do:
Praise God from Whom all blessings flow.

The Tabernacle
The Blasphemed Tabernacle

August 29

Bible Reading: Revelation 13:1-9

Key Verse: Verse 6 - And he opened his mouth in
blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and
his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
Key Words: to blaspheme his name, and his

tabernacle
The verses in our Bible reading speak, I believe, of
a revived Roman empire. We say revived, but in
actuality, Rome has never been destroyed completely.
Romes political system has continued to smolder from
underneath the ruins of the old Roman empire. The
religious system of Rome, though weakened, has
continued to play an active role in world politics.
The anti-Christ religious headquarters will be in
Rome. I believe it will be the Catholic Church, or a form
of the Catholic Church. Its this religious system headed
by the anti-Christ that will blaspheme God and His
tabernacle.
I believe our world is set up for the coming of the
anti-Christ.
Our world is fast becoming a madhouse and the
inmates are trying to run the asylum. It is a strange time
when the patients are writing the prescriptions, the
students are threatening to run the schools, the children
to manage the homes, and church members not the Holy
Spirit to direct the churches. Such lawlessness always
brings a dictator and the last of the line will be the antiChrist, now in the offing awaiting his cue.
Amen and amen!!

What to do:
Make your calling and election sure. God has

elected you to be saved, but you, with your free

will, must elect Him as your Savior.
****************************************

The Tabernacle
The Temple of the Tabernacle
August 30

Bible Reading: Revelation 15

Key Verse: Verse 5 And after that I looked, and,
behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony
in heaven was opened:
Key Words: the temple of the tabernacle

Lehman Strauss says that the temple of the

Tabernacle is the Holy of Holies where the Ark of the
Testimony was kept. This is also Gods dwelling place
where He will be approached and worshipped and from
where He will render His judgments. (Notice this
tabernacle is not on earth but in heaven: verse 5.)
I love Judge Judy, one of the TV court judges. She
is my girl. Every case starts with two people who are at
odds. They cant get together. They cannot fix their
problem. There are lots of different problems that make
it into Judge Judys court. Both the plaintiff and the
defendant lay out their complaints and concerns. Judge
Judy hears their arguments and then makes a judgment.
Everyone understands that once Judge Judy rules, the
participants will abide by her ruling.
Now, everybody doesnt leave Judge Judys
courtroom happy. But her responsibility is to apply the
law to the case, not to make the courtroom participants
feel good.

Gods goal is not to make everyone happy. In fact,

He gets quite a few complaints! The bottom line,
however, is that God is the ultimate judge. His Word is
final.

What to do:
Praise the Lord for the Judge of all the

earthWho will always do right.

****************************************

The Tabernacle
The Tabernacle of God

August 31

Bible Reading: Revelation 21:1-8

be

Key Verse: Verse 3 And I heard a great voice out of

heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with
men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be
his people, and God himself shall be with them, and
their God.
Key Words: the tabernacle of God is with men

The tabernacle of God is with men. The ancient

tabernacle in the wilderness represented God's presence
and glory in the midst of Israel (Leviticus 26:11-12;
Ezekiel 37:17). All of the rich meaning symbolized in the
tabernacle of Israel was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. The
word translated tabernacle is skene, which literally
means the place where God dwells. This means that
God will make His tabernacle with His saints forever and
ever; He will give His presence to them forever and ever.
Behold the tabernacle (skene) of God is with men, and
He will tabernacle (skenosei) with them. At once it
becomes clear why He did not say that the temple of God

is with men. In the eternal state we will not be engaged

with a temple made with mens hands (see Acts 17:24),
but with God Himself. Not even the gorgeous and
elaborate temple which Solomon built could contain
Him (II Chronicles 6:18).~ Lehman Strauss

What to do:
Today, we are to live everyday for Christ. In

eternity we will live everyday with Christ.

I deeply appreciate the

help of
Mary Parsons
Glenda Myrick
And my lovely wife, Linda

Without God using these

people to help, this
devotional would not
have been possible.
Dr. Mike Rouse

is a ministry of

5568 Chalkville Mountain Road

Birmingham, AL. 35235
(205) 854-2741
www.mountainviewbaptist.org