The Holy Anointing (Exodus 30:22-33)

“And you shall make from these a holy anointing oil, an ointment compounded according to the art of the perfumer. It shall be a holy anointing oil” (Ex. 30:25).

The oil mixed with precious perfumes and spices, as described in today’s passage, was a type of the Holy Spirit. The metaphor of anointing in reference to the Spirit can be found throughout the Scriptures, such as in John’s statement: “But you have an anointing from the Holy One” (1 John 2:20). When God spoke of anointing kings, He testified to His desire that they submit to the work of His Spirit by living lives of wisdom, prudence, justice and clemency—all necessary for the governing of a nation. And so, by sprinkling the tabernacle and the priesthood with oil, the Israelites learned that all the religious service in the world would mean nothing if done without the secret operation of the Spirit of God. This ritual also showed that the efficacy and grace of the Spirit were active in the shadows and types themselves, that the Spirit reigned in the Old Testament even as He reigns now. Whatever good was to be derived from the symbols and types of the tabernacle and the priesthood would be applied by the gift of the Spirit.

Everything in redemption is made effective by the Spirit. Christ’s sacrifice would not have been efficacious to appease God’s wrath if not for the work of the Spirit. The benefits of Christ’s sacrifice would not be applied to the church if not for the work of the Spirit. Our souls would not be washed with the blood if not for the work of the Spirit. Our prayers would not be consecrated if the Spirit did not sanctify our groanings and carry them to the ear of God. It is the Spirit who enables us to cry, “Abba, Father,” and it is the Spirit who enables us to walk in faith and to bear spiritual fruit.

The elements of the tabernacle were to be anointed with this special oil, and so was the priest for the performance of his duties. Isaiah refers to this when he describes the Messiah as being anointed with the spirit of prophecy (Isa. 61:1). Christ Jesus was consecrated by the Holy Spirit to be the Mediator between God and man. And just as the tabernacle and vessels were sprinkled with the same oil, so are we made partakers of the holiness of Christ by the operation of the Spirit. Without Him, we are unholy, but by the gift of the Spirit, we are sanctified and counted worthy to come into the presence of God.

We no longer need oil, spices and perfumes to sanctify us because we have the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of Christ is in all believers, for “without the Spirit, you cannot belong to Christ.” The power to overcome sin, to walk by faith, and to trust in Christ comes from the Spirit. Today, consider what your source of power is.

The Bronze Laver (Exodus 30:17-21)

“You shall also make a laver of bronze, with its base also of bronze, for washing” (Ex. 30:18a).

God orders Moses to make a wash basin of bronze designed to contain a good quantity of water. This is to be set between the meeting place and the altar. That Aaron and his sons are to wash their hands and feet in this laver before approaching the Lord indicates their need for cleansing before coming into the presence of the most holy God. Being accepted of God is always conditional: we must be cleansed before we can come into His holy presence. The key, however, is not that we wash ourselves, but that we are washed in Christ. He meets the conditions necessary for sinful man to approach the Father. He is our inexhaustible fountain in which we are cleansed. If we do not go to Him, confessing our need of cleansing, it is our own fault that we remain in our pollution, in which state we will never know God.

The priests were commanded to wash their hands and feet every time they ministered. For this purpose, fresh water was put into the laver every day. Though they washed themselves ever so clean at their own homes, they had to wash at the bronze laver because it alone was appointed by God for that purpose. This seems to have been designed to teach them purity in their ministry, and to cause them to revere God’s holiness and to dread the corruption of sin. They needed to understand that they were not only to be washed and made clean when they were first consecrated, but that they had to wash and be kept clean continually: “Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol” (Ps. 24:3–4a).

If we are to attend upon the Lord daily, we must renew our repentance and our faith in Christ for the forgiveness of sin. Often, we sin against God, and often we must go to our Intercessor who cleanses us from all unrighteousness. In Him, we find continual forgiveness for our transgressions and daily cleansing by His Spirit. James 4:8 teaches us, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” We need to examine ourselves often, to confess our sin, and to renew our repentance. We can do this because of Jesus Christ, the eternal fountain in which we are washed.

Today’s lesson deals with our sanctification, not our justification, which is why there are so many exhortations to personal activity such as exercising faith and repentance. Our salvation isn’t lost when we sin, but we need to honor God by confessing our sin and being reconciled in Christ. Go to your Advocate today. Confess your specific sins.

The Ransom Money (Exodus 30:11-16)

“Everyone included among those who are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering to the LORD” (Ex. 30:14).

Moses is here ordered to collect money from the people for the service of the tabernacle. He had to do this when he numbered the people, and he had to collect the same amount from every person twenty years old and above, both from the rich and the poor. Many of the Jewish writers since this time are of the opinion that this tax was to be an annual tribute, which began when Moses first numbered the people. This was the tribute money that Jesus paid to avoid offending His adversaries (Matt. 17:27), even though He showed good reason why He should have been excused.

The tribute to be paid was half a shekel, an amount that was rarely reduced, even in times of difficulty. The order that both the rich and poor alike pay the same tribute reflects the fact that God shows no favoritism, and that the souls of both the rich and the poor need atonement (Acts 10:34, Job 34:19). In other offerings, men were to give according to their ability, but in this, which was the “ransom of the soul,” the payment had to be the same for everyone. The rich have as much need of Jesus Christ as the poor, and the poor are as welcome to Him as the rich. Both contributed to the maintenance of the temple service because both had a common interest in it and both were benefited by it. In Christ and His ordinances, rich and poor meet together: “The rich and the poor have this in common, the Lord is the maker of them all” (Prov. 22:2).

The people paid this tribute as a ransom of the soul, that there might be no plague among them. In this they acknowledged that they received their lives from God, and that they depended on His power and patience to sustain them. And so they paid homage to God and were saved from those plagues that their sins deserved.

The money gathered was used for the service of the tabernacle, for the buying of flour, sacrifices, incense, wine, oil, fuel, the priestly garments and other things. Matthew Henry comments that those who have the benefit of God’s tabernacle among them must be willing to defray the expenses of it. In this way, we honor the Lord with our earnings. Money cannot make atonement for the soul, but it may be used for the honor of Him who has made the Atonement, and for the maintenance of the Good News through which the Atonement comes.

While we do not need to make atonement for ourselves, we do need to give to the Lord by way of financial offering. In the Old Testament the people tithed, giving the best of what they had (the first fruits). Are you happy to give to your church and any other ministries that bring the Good News of Christ? Evaluate your heart.

The Burning of Incense (Exodus 30:1-10)

“You shall make an altar to burn incense on; you shall make it of acacia wood” (Ex. 30:1).

According to Matthew Henry, the incense altar described in today’s passage typified the mediation of Jesus Christ. The brazen altar in the court was a type of Christ dying on earth, and the golden altar in the sanctuary was a type of Christ interceding in heaven, by virtue of His satisfaction. The court, being outside the Holy of Holies aptly represented earth and the time when Jesus walked among men. The sanctuary, of course, aptly represented heaven, for Jesus ascended there after His resurrection to stand before the throne of God as our advocate. This intercession before the Father is a sweet-smelling savor to our God, just as the incense burned upon the altar was sweet. The prayers of the Son are sweet and precious to the Father, for they are offered according to His divine will and are most holy to God.

It is also significant that this altar had a crown fixed to it, for Christ intercedes not as a servant but as our King. He is our majestic, glorious Lord, who stands on our behalf before the Father because we are unworthy to do so. This should remind us to go before Christ humbly and reverently, for He is our risen Savior and the King of glory. Too often, we present Him with a wish-list, as if He were a servant to do our bidding. Instead, we should approach Him with reverence and respect, for He is our King.

The incense also represented the devotions of the saints, whose prayers were set forth before God as incense (Ps. 141:2). When the priest burnt the incense, the people prayed to signify that prayer is the true incense. This incense was offered daily, morning and evening, and so our prayers should rise regularly to our Father. It is also significant that the lamps remained burning at all times, suggesting that our prayers are illumined by the light of the Word. The reading of Scripture is our duty, and naturally can accompany and inform our prayers and praises. When we speak to God, we need to hear what God says to us, making communion complete. Such devotions are well-pleasing to God, but it is the sacrifice and intercession of Christ that makes them acceptable (Rev. 5:8). Without Christ, we cannot go to the Father in prayer, for His blood alone removes our guilt, and His intercession alone brings us into the presence of the Holy of Holies. If we want to be accepted by God, we need Christ, for He is the only way.

Meditate on Psalm 5 today. Why did David need to pray to God? What did David pray for? What did he mean by “morning by morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation”? What does it take to motivate you to pray? Ask God to help you pray with David’s motives and consistency.

The Daily Offerings (Exodus 29:38-46)

“And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by My glory” (Ex. 29:43).

The daily offering of sacrifices that God required of Israel revealed their own insufficiency and looked forward to the glory of Christ who would die once and for all. But the sacrifices also typified something else: the continual intercession of our Lord at the right hand of God. Though He died once and for all, never being required to sacrifice His life again, He now makes continual intercession for His people, for we need this daily grace to sustain us in our battle to subdue the sin nature and to sanctify us unto the Lord.

These daily offerings also remind us of the daily sacrifices of prayer and praise that we are to offer continually to the Lord. We should always seek times to acknowledge privately our dependence upon Him and our obligations to Him, engaging in earnest prayer and sincere praise. Matthew Henry commented that our “daily devotions must be looked upon as the most needful of our daily works and the most pleasant of our daily comforts. Whatever business we have, this must never be omitted, either morning or evening; prayer-time must be kept up as duly as meal-time. The daily sacrifices were as the daily meals in God’s house, and therefore they were always attended with bread and wine. Those starve their own souls that keep not up a constant attendance on the throne of grace.”

If Israel remained faithful in their obligations before God, He would dwell among them, blessing them with His presence. Here, the purpose of the Exodus is reiterated: “I will dwell among the children of Israel and will be their God. And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them up out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them. I am the LORD their God.” When we faithfully attend to the ordinances God has commanded, we are blessed by His presence, and it is only when we approach God humbly that we can know what it means joyfully to appreciate the presence of the Lord. Jesus, who is our perfect sacrifice, has promised that He will be with us always (Matt. 28:20). We have been consecrated unto the Lord by the blood of Jesus Christ, and we need never fear that God will turn His back on us or forsake us, for Christ’s work ensures that we will be welcome into the house of God. And those who dwell in His house enjoy His presence, now and forevermore.

How would you live if you believed you were always in God’s presence? Do you know what it means to live before the face of God? Part of this lifestyle is private devotional time with God. Set aside time to pray, meditate on the Word, and praise God. Don’t avoid intimate times with God.