The Tent of Meeting

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Exodus 37, 38, 39, 40

Exodus 40:34-38 (NIV)

34 Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35 Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 36 In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; 37 but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out – until the day it lifted. 38 So the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel during all their travels.

Isaiah 4:5-6 (NIV)

5 Then the Lord will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over all the glory will be a canopy. 6 It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and the rain.

John 11:40 (NIV)

40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”

Good morning!

I did not make a very good Girl Scout. I was lousy at pitching tents. They kept falling down! I don’t know whether the rope wasn’t tight enough, or if I just didn’t understand the schematics of the structure. It was probably a little bit of both. Thank goodness my troop leader knew how to do it; otherwise, I would have been drenched every time it rained.

The Lord gave Moses a specific and detailed blueprint for the Tent of Meeting. This tent would house His Word and His presence. The interior design had to be perfectly erected according to the Father’s instruction. This is a place where the Father dwelled with His creation. When the Israelites drew near, they saw the Father’s glory in the cloud of smoke in the daylight and in the flame by night. The Great I AM resides with His people.

Have you ever ventured into the tent of meeting? Did you see the cloud of smoke or feel the heat from the flame? Where is your tent? Do you meet the Lord at church, in your car, or maybe in a special room of your home? Where do you experience the presence of God? Does your tent protect you from the storms of life? Are you safe inside the shelter of His canopy of grace?

Within each of our hearts, a tent of meeting exists. It is a holy place, where His Word and holy presence can dwell within us. If our bodies are in fact, the holy temple of God, we must prepare sacred space for Him to reside. Our garments must be guarded. His Word must free flow from our lips. His life, death and resurrection must be the focus of our mind’s eye. We must allow the Lord to cleanse us daily in His righteousness, burning our imperfections and sin away. Our prayers of praise must be raised to the Almighty. When we give ourselves to the Lord completely, He will rehab our hearts, mold and shape us into children He can use. Jesus said that if we believed, we would see God’s glory! Can you see it? Will people see the Lord shine through you today?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: a clean heart and a perfect space for the Lord God Almighty to live, reign and work within you. He calls us to prepare our hearts to become holy space for His presence to dwell. Will you allow the Lord to decorate your life with His love?

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© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding

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