251 Then the Lord spoke to Moses , saying , 2 " Tell the sons of Israel to raise a contribution for Me; from every man whose heart moves him you shall raise My contribution . 3 "This is the contribution which you are to raise from them: gold , silver and bronze , 4 blue , purple and scarlet material, fine linen , goat hair, 5 rams' skins dyed red , porpoise skins , acacia wood , 6 oil for lighting , spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense , 7 onyx stones and setting stones for the ephod and for the breastpiece . 8 "Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them. 9 " According to all that I am going to show you, as the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furniture , just so you shall construct 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.