Scroll to the bottom for thoughts/discussion questions!
One-sentence summary: The garments of ministry are made for the priesthood, all the work for the tabernacle is completed, and Moses sets up the tabernacle just as God commands him; God's glory fills the temple, and a cloud rests above it by day and a fire by night, and it is that when the cloud lifts, Israel journeys on, but if it stays, they do not travel.
The garments of ministry are made for the priests: the ephod, the breastplate, the robes and tunics, turbans, and a crown having "holiness to the Lord" engraved upon it with a blue chord hanging from it as the Lord had commanded Moses.
So all the work of the tabernacle of meeting is finished.
The people of Israel bring the tabernacle to Moses: the tent and all its furnishings; the ark; the mercy seat; the table and its utensils; the show bread; the lamp stand with its lamps and utensils; the oil for light; the gold altar; the anointing oil; the sweet incense; the screen for the tabernacle door; the bronze altar; the grate of bronze with its poles and utensils; the lever with its base; the hangings of the court and its pillars and sockets; the screen for court gate with its chords and pegs; all the utensils for the service of the tabernacle for the tent of meeting; and the holy garments of ministry for Aaron and his sons to minister in the holy place as priests, according to all God had commanded Moses.
Moses looks over all the work, and it "[is] done just as God had commanded," and Moses blesses the people.
Then the Lord speaks to Moses and says that on the first day of the first month, the tabernacle should be set up. Moses sets up the tent with its coverings and places the ark of the testimony, the veil, and the table (all arranged in order) in it. He brings in the lamp stand, lights it, and sets the altar of gold for incense before ark of the testimony. He puts up the screen for the door of the tabernacle, then sets the altar for burnt offerings before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting. He puts the lever between tabernacle of meeting and the altar and sets up the court around it, hanging up the screen of the court gate. He takes the anointing oil and anoints the tabernacle and all that is in it to hallow it so that "it will be holy." He also anoints the altar of burnt offerings and all its utensils to consecrate it as most holy and anoints the lever and base to consecrate them. Then, he brings Aaron and his sons to the door of the tabernacle of meeting and washes them with water and puts holy garments on and them and anoints and consecrates them so they can minister to the Lord as priests. The Lord says "it is an anointing for an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations."
So Moses does all this, and the tabernacle is raised up, with the tent spread over it with the covering of the tent on top. The testimony is put into the ark with the mercy seat on top, then it is brought in along with the veil, with the table on the north side outside the veil with the bread upon it in order as God commanded, the lamp stand on the south side across from the table with the lamps lit before the Lord. Moses puts the gold altar in front of the veil with sweet incense burning. He hangs up the screen at the door of the tabernacle and puts the altar of burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting and offers burnt and grain offerings on it. He sets the lever before the tabernacle of meeting and the altar and puts water for washing so Aaron and his sons can wash their hands and feet whenever they come near the tabernacle of meeting and the altar. And he raises the court and hangs up the screen of the court gate. (The writer feels this bears repeating.)
So Moses finishes the work, and a cloud covers the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the Lord fills the tabernacle. Moses is not even able to enter it because the cloud rests above it, and God's glory fills it. Whenever the cloud is taken up from above it, Israel travels on, but if it is not taken up, they do not journey. The cloud is above it by day, and fire is above it by night "in the sight of all Israel throughout all their journeys."
Thoughts/Discussion Questions:
Remembrance is important to God. It was very important to him that all the names of the tribes of Israel were engraved on the stones on the breastplate and on the ephod (apron.) We are in Christ; He is our high priest, and He bears our names up continually before the Father. Think about that. There is never a moment when you are not on His mind.
God wants a holy place to dwell, because He is holy. He makes us holy through faith in His Son, which is a divine mystery. Let's continue to let Him purify us be confessing our sins and letting Him wash us with His word and His Spirit.