#22 — Parshat Vayakhel-Pequdei
Exodus 35:1-40:38
Overview
In Parashat Vayakhel and Pequdei things are going well again. Through Moses’ intercession and the grace of G-d the broken covenant is restored.
God’s purpose to dwell among His people was in serious jeopardy because of the sin of the golden calf, but Israel is back on track now.
The people voluntarily give abundantly for the building of the sanctuary. Craftsmen under the leadership of Bezalel and Aholiab make everything needed for the tabernacle and the priests who will have to serve there (Exodus 35-39).
Moses erects the tabernacle at the L-RD’s instruction; then, when Moses starts the sacrificial service the glory of the L-RD fills the tabernacle… (Exodus 40).
The L-RD dwelling among His people
First Step in a Bigger Plan
“I will make My dwelling among you and My soul shall not abhor you. And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be My people” (Leviticus 26:12-13). That is at the core of how G-d wants His covenant with His people to be. He wants to walk among them as He once did in the garden of Eden (Genesis 3:8).
In Parshat Vayakhel-Pequdei we seem to be on track for achieving this goal. The glory of the L-RD is filling the tabernacle. In Parshat Vayekhel and Pequdei we see a partial restoration of the presence of G-d in the garden of Eden.
When we look at the rest of scripture, though, we have to say restoration is partial, a first step on the way to something bigger. The L-RD’s purpose is not only to fill the tabernacle with His glory. G-d’s sure purpose is that “All the earth shall be filled with the glory of the L-RD” (Numbers 14:21).
The Presence of G-d in Jeopardy again
The tabernacle one day would become the temple in Jerusalem built by Solomon. Just as in the desert, the glory of the L-RD fills this temple (1 Kings 8:11).
Unfortunately, G-d’s presence is jeopardized again. Sadly, the sin of the golden calf was not an isolated incident. It was the beginning of a long history of covenant breaking. The Torah already predicted it (Deuteronomy 31:16, 27-29) and the rest of the scriptures document it.
In a vision, the prophet Ezekiel sees what happened because of this: the glory of the L-RD leaves the temple once again (Ezekiel 10:1-18, 11:22). And the house where the L-RD wanted to dwell is destroyed.
The fact that sin jeopardizes the L-RD’s presence raises a serious question. How will G-d’s purpose to dwell among His people and to fill the earth with His glory ever come about?
The Ultimate Temple Builder
The L-RD is gracious and Israel returns from the Babylonian exile. A new temple is built under Zerubbabel. It has the L-RD’s blessing.
But at the same time, while this temple is being built the L-RD makes a disclaimer and gives a promise. The prophet Zechariah prophesies that the ultimate temple still has to be built by someone greater than Zerubabel. The prophet paints an amazing picture of an ultimate temple builder; One who will not only be a ruler but also a priest. He will even sit on the throne together with the L-RD. Together with the L-RD He will plan peace (Zechariah 6:11-14 NKJV, compare also Psalm 110).
See also: the Messiah the ultimate temple builder
The prophet Jeremiah tells us this ultimate Prince of Israel will approach G-d as a priestly mediator. His intercession brings a completely restored relationship with G-d (Jeremiah 30:21-22): A new covenant, based on forgiveness (Jeremiah 31:31-34).
It is clear this ultimate temple builder and mediator who completely fulfills G-d’s purposes is the Messiah.
The Centrality of Sacrifice
If anything was central in the tabernacle it was sacrifice. It makes the impossible possible. The awesome and holy G-d who came down on Mount Sinai comes down even further. After Moses starts the sacrificial service the L-RD comes to dwell among His people. It’s then, after sacrifice, that the glory of the L-RD fills the tent.
The prophet Isaiah makes clear that the Messiah will give the ultimate sacrifice of His own life as an atonement for our sins (Isaiah 53). This ultimate sacrifice makes it possible that the glory of God one day will fill the entire earth and that a redeemed people can live there.
A Living Temple
We believe this Messiah is Yeshua of Nazareth who died for our sins and rose again.
The good news of the Messiah also clarifies what the ultimate temple which the Messiah will build looks like.
In Parashat Vayakhel-Pequdei Israel has a part in the sanctuary by contributing their gifts to it. The good news of Yeshua the Messiah takes this even a step further. We become part of this temple to an even greater extent. Messiah makes us into a living temple. G-d wants to dwell directly among us (2 Corinthians 6:16, Ephesians 2:20-22).
This will all come to a climax in a completely renewed Jerusalem which will be full of the glory of G-d. It’s a Jerusalem in which G-d is directly present among His redeemed people.
A New Jerusalem
Through Yeshua the Messiah, Jerusalem will become the center of a world filled with the glory of G-d. As the prophet Isaiah prophesied about her:
“Arise shine, for you light has come,
And the glory of the L-RD has risen upon you…
The L-RD will be your everlasting light
and your G-d will be your glory” (Isaiah 60:1, 19).
Here is how the scriptures of the new covenant describe this future:
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
“Behold the dwelling place of God is with man.
He will dwell with them, and they will be his people,
and God himself will be with them as their God” (Revelation 20:3).
This is the ultimate temple which the Messiah will build. In that new Jerusalem the presence of God will never be in jeopardy again. Are you part of this sanctuary already?
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