Posted on by Abe Austin

Scriptural Analysis- Exodus 25:37-40

37 And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it.

38 And the tongs thereof, and the snuffdishes thereof, shall be of pure gold.

39 Of a talent of pure gold shall he make it, with all these vessels.

40 And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.

The lamps mentioned in verse 37 were the top cup on each staff of the menorah. Once the design of the tabernacle and later temple were revealed, the necessity of this light would become apparent, as the holy place would be closed off, without any windows or direct sunlight.

Then there were the tongs and snuffdishes, which are assumed to be related to the care and maintenance of the lamps, perhaps to trim and collect the burned portions of the wick.

None of today’s items are described in detail, though verse 40 suggests that Moses was shown an appearance of them, which would allow him to relate their design afterwards. We are told, however, that they were all to be made from a talent of pure gold, which was the largest unit of measurement among the ancient Israelites. Thus, these instruments were to be made of a full measure, signifying a completeness and wholeness in their design.

Posted on by Abe Austin

The Doing Muscle- 1 Corinthians 6:19, Matthew 21:13

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

COMMENTARY

Know ye not that your body is the temple, which ye have of God?
My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
When I have sought to improve my well-being the thought has often occurred to me that I ought to consider the temples in my life, and whether they are places of sanctity. Is my house a shrine to God, or a place where His spirit would be offended to dwell? Is my room a place of focus, or a place of distraction? Is my body well cared for and nourished, or is it deprived of its basic needs?
Sometimes having the strength for self-improvement requires looking inward and outward. Maybe we’re making things harder on ourselves by not cultivating an environment where the spirit can thrive. The Holy Ghost is meant to bring to us the mind and will of God, meaning that when it is present our thoughts and desires are more easily aligned to the virtues we are trying to emulate. In other words, having a sacred space invites the companionship of the Holy Ghost, and having the companionship of the Holy Ghost just makes doing the good things easier.