January 29, 2025 - Exodus 25-27

The sanctuary, the ark of the covenant, the table for bread, the golden lampstand, and all the furnishings of the tabernacle.  God gave instructions for all this:  “The Lord said to Moses, ‘Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me a contribution. From  every man whose heart moves him you shall receive the contribution for me.  And this is the contribution that you shall receive from them: gold, silver, and bronze, blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, goats’ hair, tanned rams’ skins, goatskins, acacia wood, oil for the lamps, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, onyx stones, and stones for setting, for the ephod and for the breastpiece. And let them make me a y sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst.  Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it’” (25:1-9).  As I read here and elsewhere, I am reminded that, though God gives us so much, he himself also receives from us.  It’s not that he is needy in any way; rather, it’s because of his greatness, his glory, that he receives praise and worship from us.

Worthy of worship, worthy of praise,

Worthy of honour and glory;

Worthy of all the glad songs we sing,

Worthy of all the offerings we bring.

Worthy of rev'rence, worthy of fear,

Worthy of love and devotion;

Worthy of bowing and bending of knees,

Worthy of all this and added to these.

You are worthy, Father, Creator.

You are worthy, Saviour, Sustainer.

You are worthy, worthy and wonderful;

Worthy of worship and praise.   -- Terry W. York (1988)