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The DEEP

What's More Important?

Appearances or respect?

Exodus 25:23-30 (ESV)

“You shall make a table of acacia wood. Two cubits shall be its length, a cubit its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. You shall overlay it with pure gold and make a molding of gold around it. And you shall make a rim around it a handbreadth wide, and a molding of gold around the rim. And you shall make for it four rings of gold, and fasten the rings to the four corners at its four legs. Close to the frame the rings shall lie, as holders for the poles to carry the table. You shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold, and the table shall be carried with these. And you shall make its plates and dishes for incense, and its flagons and bowls with which to pour drink offerings; you shall make them of pure gold. And you shall set the bread of the Presence on the table before me regularly.”

There’s a lot of latitude in how the table is made. Many things are specified, but most of the details aren’t. There are four legs but they can be square or round. The rim must be a handbreadth wide but its details aren’t given. Artistic renderings of the table typically depict it as ornately carved.

However, the rings and the poles for carrying the table are specified in detail. The rings are sturdy and located at points of strength. And you shall make for it four rings of gold, and fasten the rings to the four corners at its four legs. Close to the frame the rings shall lie, as holders for the poles to carry the table. These rings must support the whole weight when the table is moved. You shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold, and the table shall be carried with these.

The holiness of the table is more important to God than how it looks. The design of the table is somewhat flexible but it, like the ark, must be transported using the poles, without being touched.

And when Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, as the camp sets out, after that the sons of Kohath shall come to carry these, but they must not touch the holy things, lest they die. – Numbers 4:16a (ESV)

This command will be forgotten, with tragic results.

And Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart, with the ark of God, and Ahio went before the ark. … And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him down there because of his error, and he died there beside the ark of God. – 2 Samuel 6:3b-4, 6-7 (ESV)

Whoa, don’t assume you know what’s important to God! He wrote a book for that.

Uzzah assumed that steadying the ark was more important than not touching it.


We assume too, especially in how we serve and worship Him. We tend to think that worship means attending church. That counts, but worship is bigger than that.

Don’t just read and meditate on these devotionals in your quiet times; worship the LORD privately. Declare His greatness. Praise His wonderful works. Give thanks.


The weekly study guides, which include discussion questions, are available for download here:

https://www.ailbe.org/resources/itemlist/category/91-deep-studies

Mike Slay

As a mathematician, inventor, and ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church in America, Mike Slay brings an analytical, conversational, and even whimsical approach to the daily study of God's Word.

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