Bible Poetry Reading Plan: Proverbs 23-24
Exodus 40:34, 36-38 (ESV); Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord
filled the tabernacle… Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over
the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out. But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did
not set out till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day,
and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.
God gave Moses explicit instructions for the building of the Tabernacle – the mobile Tent of Meeting
where the Israelites would meet with and worship God. This description at the end of Exodus
describes how magnificent it was to see God Himself make His dwelling in the Tabernacle.
God was the King of the Israelites, leading them through the desert towards the land He had
promised to Abraham. Worship was an essential part of the people’s lifestyle, since their national
identify found its roots in the promise. The Tabernacle was thus a fantastic institution. When
God – manifested in a great cloud – would lift from the Tabernacle, the people set out through the
wilderness. When God would stop, the people would set up camp and God would settle upon the
Tabernacle by cloud or by fire. God was truly the Lord of the nation, and the lifestyle of the people
was centred on worship. “Church” was not a Sunday thing and worship was not determined by the
individual. God guided the people and lived among them.
This was a picture of the mighty work His redemption would accomplish, when He would be able
to live with His people forever, unhindered by sin and death and decay. We look forward to the day
when He will live among us again – when His radiant glory will cover the earth and when we will
see Him face-to-face.
PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Take a moment to think about what worship looks like in your life. Is it something that you
dictate, or do you live in response to God’s Spirit? Is it consigned to Sunday mornings or
Saturday nights, or do you go throughout each day with a heart of thanksgiving and praise?
Ask God to speak to you about worship in your life.
2. Ask God how He wants you to worship today and respond to that.
