What Only God Can Do

Ray Ortlund:

“Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.” Exodus 40:34

In Exodus 40:16-33, Moses assembles the tabernacle. He does so carefully and obediently. Seven times the text records that his work was “as the Lord commanded.” Then the paragraph concludes, “So Moses finished the work.”

The book doesn’t end there. I might have expected it to. But in fact, the book does not end with what Moses did. There is more. The final paragraph, verses 34-38, tells of what only God can do. God’s glory comes down on the completed tabernacle. After all, that was the whole point to begin with: “Let them make me a sanctuary,that I may dwell in their midst” (Exodus 25:8).

Our aim as pastors is not only that our churches will be well assembled, thoughtfully and carefully and biblically obedient. That is important. But our desires don’t end there. We desire the dwelling of the risen Christ among us. We desire his felt presence. We desire him.

If we are not experiencing his glory coming down upon us, we need to ask if we have been disobedient in any aspect of what we have built or failed to build. Even if we have built well, we need to ask if we have settled for mere constructional obedience. The Lord has more for us than that. He has himself to give.

Lord Jesus, in this new year of grace, 2011, give us eyes to see where our churches need repair, hearts to desire the experience of your glory, and above all else, the sheer grace of your felt presence coming down on your imperfect but yearning churches!