251 And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me a heave-offering: of every one whose heart prompteth him, ye shall take my heave-offering. 3 And this is the heave-offering that ye shall take of them: gold, and silver, and copper, 4 and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and byssus, and goats' [hair], 5 and rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins; and acacia-wood; 6 oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil, and for the incense of fragrant drugs; 7 onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate. 8 And they shall make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. 9 According to all that I shall shew thee, the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the utensils thereof, even so shall ye make [it].
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Exodus 25:1-9
Commentary on Exodus 25:1-9
(Read Exodus 25:1-9)
God chose the people of Israel to be a peculiar people to himself, above all people, and he himself would be their King. He ordered a royal palace to be set up among them for himself, called a sanctuary, or holy place, or habitation. There he showed his presence among them. And because in the wilderness they dwelt in tents, this royal palace was ordered to be a tabernacle, that it might move with them. The people were to furnish Moses with the materials, by their own free will. The best use we can make of our worldly wealth, is to honour God with it in works of piety and charity. We should ask, not only, What must we do? but, What may we do for God? Whatever they gave, they must give it cheerfully, not grudgingly, for God loves a cheerful giver, 2 Corinthians 9:7. What is laid out in the service of God, we must reckon well bestowed; and whatsoever is done in God's service, must be done by his direction.