Work עֲבֹדָה

We are in chapter thirty-nine of Exodus with our word for today. עֲבֹדָה work, enforced labor, service which is rendered, service of worship. It is used 145 times in the Old Testament, three times in our chapter. Our word is used in the general sense of activity directed toward making or doing something. Psalm 104:23 Man goes out to his work וְֽלַעֲבֹ֖דָת֣וֹ and to his labor until the evening. We also see our word used in the sense of service to God. Numbers 4:4-5 This is the עֲבֹדַ֥ת service of the sons of Kohath in the tent of meeting: the most holy things. When the camp is to set out, Aaron and his sons shall go in and take down the veil of the screen and cover the ark of the testimony with it. Numbers 4:19-20 Aaron and his sons shall go in and appoint them each to his עֲבֹדָת֖וֹ task and to his burden. Our word is used to describe all the effort it took to set up the tabernacle worship. This is how our word is used three times in our chapter for today. Exodus 39:32-33, 40, 42-43 Thus all the עֲבֹדַ֕ת work of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting was finished, and the people of Israel did according to all that the Lord had commanded Moses; so they did. Then they brought the tabernacle to Moses … the hangings of the court, its pillars, and its bases, and the screen for the gate of the court, its cords, and its pegs; and all the utensils for the עֲבֹדַ֥ת service of the tabernacle, for the tent of meeting … According to all that the Lord had commanded Moses, so the people of Israel had done all הָעֲבֹדָֽה the work. And Moses saw all הַמְּלָאכָ֗ה the work [this is a different word for work], and behold, עָשׂוּ֙ [this is the word do or make] they had done it; as the Lord had commanded, so had עָשׂ֑וּ they done it. Then Moses blessed them. It is interesting all the emphasis on the work using our word three times a different word for work and the word for do twice. This reminds us that God doesn’t just do things for us he rather wants us to be involved in his work. Work is not a bad thing. Throughout the Bible we see God setting up work for people to do so that we can work with God. Here is a good example. Psalm 104:13-15 From your lofty abode you water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work. You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man לַעֲבֹדַ֣ת to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man's heart. Not only is work something that gives us purpose that God invites us into. It is also the only appropriate response to God’s salvation that is he doing what we cannot do. We can’t save ourselves from the consequences of our sin which is separation from Him. Only God can do that through his Son Jesus death in our place. But our response to God’s grace and salvation is to serve him which involves work. Not to earn our relationship with him but rather to be a part of his great work of helping others accept the relationship that God offers to everyone. Here in our chapter we have the people doing the work that God had instructed them to do. This work set up the tabernacle worship so that people could connect to God in worship. Now through Christ we don’t set up the tabernacle for people to come to but rather we are the temple. God can connect people to himself through our work. This is what the Holy Spirit is referring to when he calls us ambassadors and ministers of reconciliation. I’ll close with these great passages. 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.