FAMILY BIBLE SERIES:
Each of us is a living tabernacle,
God's habitation
___
Exodus 40:1-33; Leviticus 26:1-46
___By Susan Pigott
___Logsdon School of Theology, Abilene
___ God's tabernacle (Exodus 40:1-33). "Why do we have to read about all those furnishings and dimensions in that old tabernacle thing?" my students often complain. "It's soooooo boring. Who cares how big the thing was or where everything was supposed to go? We don't worship in a tabernacle anymore, so what's the point?"
___The point, I remind them, is that the tabernacle was a visible symbol of God's presence with Israel. In essence, it was a piece of heaven on earth, and its very structure reminded Israel that God was to be approached with reverence and awe. As such, the tabernacle had 
to be constructed of the best materials and put together precisely according to specifications. The details which seem so unnecessary and monotonous to some readers indicate the biblical concern for creating the perfect habitation for a living God.
___ Blessings (and curses) (Leviticus 26). Many times in the biblical law codes after the covenant stipulations are set forth, God indicates the blessings which can come out of obedience and the curses which will result from disobedience. For Israel, obedience to God's commands (here specifically mentioned as keeping Yahweh's sabbaths and reverencing the sanctuary) will bring about security in the land of Canaan. Disobedience ultimately will result in the loss of the land and exile. Obviously, this should not be read as a "name it, claim it" philosophy. Obedience does not automatically bring prosperity in the real world, nor does disobedience always result in disaster. Nevertheless, these blessings and curses provided Israel a general means for assessing her relationship with God.
___Jesus told his disciples that obedience was a barometer of their love for God ("If you love me, you will obey what I command" John 14:15). Love for God should result in a desire to do God's bidding, whether it is keeping sabbaths and reverencing the sanctuary or ministering to an AIDS victim.
___ A people with God in their midst (Leviticus 26). The chapter concludes with an incredible statement of assurance: "I will put my tabernacle among you, and I will not abhor you. I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people" (Leviticus 26:11-12). Terence Fretheim, a Lutheran scholar and pastor, stated the tabernacle was God's first step toward the Incarnation. In other words, while God was not incarnated in flesh in the Old Testament, nevertheless, God walked among the Israelites and dwelled in their midst. Israel encountered God intimately and experienced God's presence daily in the tabernacle.
___While Christians no longer worship in a tabernacle or temple, they are a people who live with God in their midst. The Holy Spirit indwells each believer and lives in his/her "temple" (body) (1 Corinthians 3:16). Each of us is a living tabernacle with God in our midst, and like the tabernacle of old, we are symbols of God's presence in our world. How much more should we be concerned about creating a perfect habitation for a living God?
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