Suitably Prepared for His Tent

I had to leave lots of good material out of A Place for Me in God’s Tent or it would have been even longer than it is. For example, there’s a perplexing pause that caught my attention in Exodus 28:1–3. After spending three chapters describing the plans for his tabernacle, God paused to make sure his priests would feel suitably prepared for his tent.

 It might seem logical to finish talking about one thing before moving on to the next. But that isn’t how God did it. He began in Exodus 25 by describing the ark of the covenant in the Holy of Holies. Then he moved out to the Holy Place to illustrate the table and the lampstand. After outlining the coverings, walls, veil, and screen, he took a step outside the tent to cover the brazen altar, the courtyard in which it rests, and the gate for the tabernacle complex.

For some reason, our friendly neighborhood Architect opted to reserve his instructions for the golden altar and the bronze laver until later. Instead, he paused in Exodus 28 to turn Moses’ attention to what this year’s fashionable priest would be wearing.

Suitable Sidetrack

The deviation jars me. It’s like being thoroughly engaged in an episode of “The Property Brothers” only to have “Project Runway” suddenly pop on the screen.

God’s sidetrack wasn’t quick either. He allocated two full chapters of Exodus to this detour into the priests’ wardrobe. Why did he focus on robing and consecrating the priests before finishing his furniture inventory?

Perhaps, he was concerned we might see the awesome splendor of his place and suddenly feel unfit to be here. There’s nothing like having a bunch of righteous plumb lines swinging in our faces to make us feel off balance.

This change of focus might be God’s way of saying, “Don’t worry. I’m preparing this truly awesome place for you, but I’m also preparing you for this place. When I’m done, my dwelling place will be beautifully perfect and you will be perfectly beautiful.”

Suitable Example

This wasn’t the only place God paused in the middle of a building project to dress a priest. In the first two chapters of Zechariah, God was essentially evaluating his people. “A man with a measuring line in his hand” was going “to measure Jerusalem” before God would reestablish his nation in righteousness (Zechariah 2:1–2).

In chapter three, Joshua, the high priest, stood before God. The Lord had his filthy garments removed so he could dress him in clean clothes (Zechariah 3:1–5). It’s an encouraging word for us because we can find ourselves in Joshua’s dirty shoes. We can see the goodness God has prepared for us and still feel like we don’t belong in his presence.

Suitable for the King

God, therefore, supplies us with a change of clothing—a spiritual wardrobe that makes us fit for the work he’s set us apart to do. These clothes aren’t ones we can put on ourselves. In Zechariah 3:4, God says, “See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes” (emphasis added). As it was for Zechariah, it was for the priests in Exodus 28. They didn’t deck themselves out. Moses, stepping into his foreshadow-of-Messiah role, was assigned as their valet.

What is the upshot? We needn’t worry about making ourselves worthy of the ministry God sets before us. It’s too grand, too holy, too perfect. God will instead not only come up with quality fabric, he will drape it over us himself. He will fit us with apparel suitable for the house of the King.

See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes (Zechariah 3:4 NKJV).

Prayer: Thank you for wanting me so badly that You would even provide a change of clothes for me. I’m in awe of all You do to make me feel at home in Your holy place.