Exodus Chapter 26 Verse 30 

:30 “And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according to the fashion thereof which was showed thee in the mount.”   

The scriptures teach us that God is very particular about how he wants things to be done.  He does not leave room for us to add to his pattern of things.  There are two New Testament verses that are quotes from the above verse quoted:

    1. Heb. 8:5 “Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount.”

    2. Acts 7:44 “Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.”

Two examples of those who did not follow God’s pattern should sober any of God’s children who think it is alright to add to or take away from the pattern God has given us for worship:

    1. Lev. 10:1 “And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. 2 And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.”

    2. 2 Sam. 6:3 “And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart. 4 And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark. 5 And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals. 6 And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. 7 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.”  The ark was to be carried by the Levites who were to carry it by the staves through the rings on the side of the ark.  Men’s hands were not to touch the ark.   

The Lord taught us plainly that there was a very particular way in which we are to worship him:

    1. John 4:23 “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”  God did not leave any wiggle room for us to add to or take away from that which is specifically laid out for us in the scripture as the proper way in which we are to worship God. 

    2. Mark 7:7 “Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” 

The Lord also has taught us in the scriptures that they are a thorough furnisher and that we need nothing more than what is taught in the scriptures to worship him: 2 Tim. 3:16 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”   

Since the scriptures are given to us by inspiration of God and are a thorough furnisher unto all good works, then anything that we add to the pattern God has given to us for worship that is not found in the scriptures is a very serious error that God is not pleased with.  We should test everything we do in worship to the biblical pattern for worship.  If we leave anything off or if we add anything to it, then we are saying we believe that we know better how to worship than God does!  

God covered the nakedness of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, he made for them coats of skins.  This first sacrifice to cover the shame of sin pointed us to the Lord Jesus Christ who through his sacrificial atonement covered the shame of our sins.  The rams’ skins dyed red are figurative of the shedding of the blood of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of His elect world.   

The covering above of badgers’ skins is what outsiders saw of the tabernacle.  I cannot think of anything more plain or unappealing to the natural eye as badgers’ skins.  However, the beauty of the tabernacle was not in its outward appeal.  The beauty is inward.  Likewise, the beauty of the Lord’s manifest church on earth is not in its outward beauty, for it is very simple.  The real beauty is its inward beauty.  When the church has joined together in the Spirit to sing praises unto God, to pray for his guidance and blessings and to give thanks for his goodness, and the message is delivered from a God called minister who is led by the Holy Spirit, it is truly a blessing of great beauty to behold by a spirit born, sin convicted, child of God who rejoices that he has been saved from his sins and that he has a God who watches over him, blesses him daily, and guides him through the trials of life.