Day 1 - Lord's Day (Sunday) | Daily Devotions | The KJV Standard bLesson Commentary, 2024-2025 |

 March 9

Lesson 2 (KJV)

A Space for God

Devotional Reading: John 4:13–26

Background Scripture: Exodus 25–27

Exodus 25:1–9

1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.

3 And this is the offering which ye shall take of them; gold, and silver, and brass,

4 And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair,

5 And rams’ skins dyed red, and badgers’ skins, and shittim wood,

6 Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense,

7 Onyx stones are to be set in the ephod and breastplate.

8 Let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.

9 According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the Tabernacle and all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.

Exodus 26:1, 31–37

1 Moreover thou shalt make the Tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, blue, purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work shalt thou make them.

31 And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made:

32 And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver.

33 And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most sacred.

34 And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.

35 And thou shalt set the table without the vail, and the candlestick over against the table on the side of the Tabernacle toward the south: and thou shalt put the table on the north side.

36 And thou shalt make a hanging for the tent door, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework.

37 And thou shalt make for the hanging five pillars of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, and their hooks shall be of gold: and thou shalt cast five sockets of brass for them.

Key Text

Let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.—Exodus 25:8

Costly Sacrifices

Unit 1: Tabernacle, Sacrifices, and Atonement

Lessons 1–5

Lesson Aims

After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:

1. Categorize the types of offerings that God specified.

2. Compare God’s instructions to Moses with New Testament directives.

3. Write a prayer of gratitude for God’s willingness to dwell with him or her today.

Lesson Outline

Introduction

A. Many Spaces for God

B. Lesson Context

I. Gift from the Heart (Exodus 25:1–9)

A. Items for Construction (vv. 1–5)

B. Items for Service (vv. 6–9)

Tools for a Task

II. Tabernacle Directions (Exodus 26:1, 31–37)

A. The Curtains (v. 1)

B. The Veil (vv. 31–35)

Memory Box

C. The Doorway (vv. 36–37)

Conclusion

A. Carrying the Presence

B. Prayer

C. Thought to Remember

How to Say It

acacia	uh-kay-shuh.
cherubim	chair-uh-bim.
ephod	ee-fod.
shittim	shih-teem.
tabernacle	tah-burr-nah-kul.

What Do You Think? What steps do you take to ensure you cheerfully give to God (see 2 Corinthians 9:7)? Digging Deeper What obstacles prevent you from giving to God in this manner? How do you deal with these obstacles?

What Do You Think? In what ways can your class pool your resources and talents to give an offering to God? Digging Deeper What steps will you take to make this offering a reality?

What Do You Think? How would you respond to the claim that buildings such as temples or sanctuaries are necessary for the presence of God? Digging Deeper How do John 1:14, 1 Corinthians 3:16–17, 2 Corinthians 6:16–18, Ephesians 2:21–22, and 1 Peter 2:5 inform your response?

What Do You Think? In what ways can art and architecture be a way for you to honor and worship God? Digging Deeper How will your congregation use art in its worship of God?

Conclusion

A. Carrying the Presence

If we miss the broader context, these instructions for an offering and construction of a tabernacle seem oddly specific. Today, there is greater cultural consciousness around giving the Ten Commandments than building a mobile sanctuary. Still, the irony is that the Tabernacle was at the heart of the covenant as the most critical blessing Israel received: instructions to house the presence of God. As the people whom God had chosen to reflect His holiness, the ancient Israelites needed to live in such a way as to reflect their holy status. Otherwise, they would not be allowed to keep God’s presence with them (Ezekiel 10).

The planning of materials, arrangement, and careful division of duties were necessary for this task. Without instructions, the people of Israel—who were by no means free of sin—could not have endured a holy God in their midst. But with the careful management of access, no one would haphazardly wander into the sacred space and look upon God enthroned above the mercy seat, for this would mean certain death (see a warning even to Aaron in Leviticus 16:2).

Thus, God is the ultimate planner. Not only did He plan the construction of a tabernacle, but He ensured that His people would have the necessary materials before they left the land of Egypt. In the Sinai and the new covenant, God can make a way for His presence to be with His people.

What Do You Think? How has your understanding of worship changed because of this lesson? Digging Deeper What will you do in light of that change of thinking?

B. Prayer

Lord, may we recognize that You are holy and that Your presence is sacred. On our own, we would never manage to dwell with You. Thank You for making way for Your presence to be with Your people, both in the Tabernacle for ancient Israel and in the person of Christ, who sent the Spirit to reside in our midst even now. We are grateful for Your faithfulness to us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

C. Thought to Remember

God wants to dwell with His people.

Involvement Learning

Enhance your lesson with KJV Bible Student (from your curriculum supplier) and the reproducible activity page (at www.standardlesson.com or in the back of the KJV Standard Lesson Commentary Deluxe Edition).

 Chad Summa et al., “A Space for God,” in The KJV Standard Lesson Commentary, 2024–2025, ed. Jason Hitchcock et al., vol. 72, The KJV Standard Lesson Commentary (Colorado Springs, CO: Standard Publishing, 2025), 247–248.