Jo’s Place

The Book of Leviticus  Throughout the Book of Leviticus, Israel remains encamped at Mount Sinai, while God appears in the Tent of Meeting, detailing to Moses His specifications regarding the ceremonial laws, which His people are to follow.  In Leviticus, God tells the Israelites and their priests, the Levites, how to make offerings in the Tabernacle and how to conduct themselves while camped around the holy tent sanctuary. The key phrase in the Book of Leviticus simplifies the entire complexity of the Law into one simple statement... The Lord says to the Israelites: “Shema!” Hear/Listen, oh Israel! “You shall be holy to Me, for I the LORD am holy and have separated you from the peoples, …that you should be Mine.” [Leviticus 20:26 This is why 2,000 years later, the Apostle Peter calls us (believers) to Holy living… In his first letter to the believers, Peter says: “God’s chosen people,  (those of you)  who are living as foreigners, in the provinces of Pontus, Galatia,...

The Lord’s Glory Fills the Tabernacle For the Christian Bible, the book of Exodus chapter 40: verses 34–38 (in the New Living Translation) is the end of the book of Israel’s exodus from slavery and bondage in Egypt… When Moses had set up the tabernacle just as the Lord instructed… Then the cloud covered the Tabernacle, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle.  Moses could no longer enter the Tabernacle, because the cloud had settled down over it, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle.  Now whenever the cloud lifted from the Tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out on their journey, and following it.  But if the cloud did not rise, they remained where they were until it lifted.  The cloud of the Lord hovered over the Tabernacle during the day, and at night fire glowed inside the cloud, so the whole family of Israel could see it.  This continued throughout all their journeys.  ______________________ The “exodus” lasted 40 years, when i...

​ The Completed Tabernacle is set up Then the Lord said to Moses,  “Set up the Tabernacle on the first day of the new year.  Place the Ark of the Covenant inside, and install the inner curtain to enclose the Ark within the Most Holy Place.  Then bring in the table, and arrange the utensils on it.  And bring in the lampstand, and set up the lamps.  “Place the gold incense altar in front of the Ark of the Covenant.  Then hang the curtain at the entrance of the Tabernacle.  Place the altar of burnt offering in front of the Tabernacle entrance.  Set the washbasin between the Tabernacle and the altar, and fill it with water.  Then set up the courtyard around the outside of the tent, and hang the curtain for the courtyard entrance.  “Take the anointing oil and anoint the Tabernacle and all its furnishings to consecrate them and make them holy.  Anoint the altar of burnt offering and its utensils to consecrate them.  Then the altar wi...

​ Moses Inspects the Work And so at last the Tabernacle was finished.  The Israelites had done everything just as the Lord had commanded Moses.  And they brought the entire Tabernacle to Moses:  the sacred tent with all its furnishings, clasps, frames, crossbars, posts, and bases;  the tent coverings of tanned ram skins and fine goatskin leather;  the inner curtain to shield the Ark;  the Ark of the Covenant and its carrying poles;  the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement;  the table and all its utensils;  the Bread of the Presence;  the pure gold lampstand with its symmetrical lamp cups, all its accessories, and the olive oil for lighting;  the gold altar;  the anointing oil and fragrant incense;  the curtain for the entrance of the sacred tent;  the bronze altar;  the bronze grating and its carrying poles and utensils;  the washbasin with its stand;  the curtains for the walls of the courtyard;  t...

Additional Clothing for the Priests Bezalel continued the work commanded by God, through Moses… Bezalel made the robe,  (for the high priest,)  that is worn with the ephod, from a single piece of blue woven cloth, with an opening for Aaron’s head in the middle of it.  The opening was reinforced with a woven collar so it would not tear.  They made pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and attached them to the hem of the robe.  They also made bells of pure gold and placed them between the pomegranates along the hem of the robe, with bells and pomegranates alternating all around the hem.  This robe was to be worn whenever the priest ministered before the Lord, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.  They made tunics for Aaron and his sons from fine linen cloth.  The turban and the special head coverings were made of fine linen, and the undergarments were also made of finely woven linen.  The sashes were made of finely woven linen and em...

The Lord’s Been Good to Me A song by Marcus Cole  (which I’ve modified to praise my Lord) The Lord’s been good to me. He's been so good. Jesus, nobody but Jesus. When I look back at my life, and see the things I've been through… All that my heart can say is: Lord,  You've  brought me  (through) I don't know why You love me so,  I may never know  (in this life) … But in spite of me, You keep blessing me (I) l ooked at the news today, and  so much was going on… (The world is hurting so much) The only thing my heart could say was: Lord, You've kept me  (safe) .. Through dangers, toils and snares I have already come… … and  in spite of me, You keep blessing me! The Lord’s been good to me. He's been so good. Jesus, nobody but Jesus. Lord, You woke me up this morning, started me on my way… A second chance You’ve given me, so I can live with You eternally…  Oh, You’ve been good to me. You’ve been so good, Jesus. You might not know what I'm talk...

​ Clothing for the Priests The craftsmen made beautiful sacred garments of blue, purple, and scarlet cloth—clothing for Aaron to wear while ministering in the Holy Place, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.  Bezalel made the ephod of finely woven linen and embroidered it with gold and with blue, purple, and scarlet thread.  He made gold thread by hammering out thin sheets of gold and cutting it into fine strands.  With great skill and care, he worked it into the fine linen with the blue, purple, and scarlet thread.  The ephod consisted of two pieces, front and back, joined at the shoulders with two shoulder-pieces.  The decorative sash was made of the same materials: finely woven linen embroidered with gold and with blue, purple, and scarlet thread, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.  They mounted the two onyx stones in settings of gold filigree.  The stones were engraved with the names of the tribes of Israel, just as a seal is engraved.  Be...

​ Building the Courtyard of the Tabernacle   Following God’s instructions for the tabernacle… Bezalel made the courtyard, which was enclosed with curtains made o finely woven linen.  On the south side the curtains were 150 feet long.  They were held up by twenty posts set securely in twenty bronze bases.  He hung the curtains with silver hooks and rings.  He made a similar set of curtains for the north side—150 feet of curtains held up by twenty posts set securely in bronze bases.  He hung the curtains with silver hooks and rings.  The curtains on the west end of the courtyard were 75 feet long, hung with silver hooks and rings and supported by ten posts set into ten bases.  The east end, the front, was also 75 feet long.  The courtyard entrance was on the east end, flanked by two curtains.  The curtain on the right side was 22½ feet long and was supported by three posts set into three bases.  The curtain on the left side was also 2...

​ Building the Lampstand, the Incense Altar, and the Altar of Burnt Offering Bezalel   followed the Lord’s instructions… …he made the lampstand of pure, hammered gold.  He made the entire lampstand and its decorations of one piece—the base, center stem, lamp cups, buds, and petals.  The lampstand had six branches going out from the center stem, three on each side.  Each of the six branches had three lamp cups shaped like almond blossoms, complete with buds and petals.  The center stem of the lampstand was crafted with four lamp cups shaped like almond blossoms, complete with buds and petals.  There was an almond bud beneath each pair of branches where the six branches extended from the center stem, all made of one piece.  The almond buds and branches were all of one piece with the center stem, and they were hammered from pure gold.  He also made seven lamps for the lampstand, lamp snuffers, and trays, all of pure gold.  The entire lampstand, ...