提要
會幕的所有物件、陳設、及帳幕既都照上帝的指示預備齊全了，現在所差的就是將這些東西組合起來。但在這麼做之前，摩西先等候上帝的諭令，好使每件事都照祂所預定的時間、按祂的方式進行。有時上帝的僕人會急於看見上帝的工作有進展，而匆促行事，沒有先聽上帝的聲音，得到祂「行動」的指示。在踏出每個重要的步伐以前，我們需要效法摩西的榜樣等候上帝。不這麼做可能會使上帝扣留祂的祝福。
從本章我們學習到，蒙福之路是順服和忠心。摩西沒有等待很久就得著上帝的指示，要他在「正月初一日」立起帳幕（40：2），正是逾越節的前兩週，也大約是以色列人離開埃及（參民9：1~5）後一年的時間。然後上帝告訴摩西如何正確的立會幕；當每樣東西都各就各位後，就可以用油膏其中的物品，將它們分別為聖供上帝的服事。要受上帝的恩膏和被祂分別為聖，我們必須先站在上帝要我們站的地方──祂的旨意中。最後，上帝告訴摩西使祭司成聖的方式（40：3~15）。這章聖經再一次強調摩西的順服，「摩西這樣行都是照耶和華所吩咐他的」（40：16）
我們看見立會幕的所有工作都是摩西的功勞，因為他是整個過程的總監。我們從民數記得知實際負責立起會幕的是利未人（民3：21~39），摩西向他們說明上帝要他們怎麼做，在龐大的人力支援下，立會幕的工作大概不到一天就完成了。摩西雖然不像亞倫和他的兒子是祭司，但他向他們示範了在會幕裡服事上帝的正確方式，是上帝特別授命他怎麼做的。一旦他們向摩西學會後，摩西就可以將會幕的所有責任交託給利未人，他自己專心負責審判及領導上帝百姓的聖職。
新建立的會幕不過是座空殼，直到上帝的榮耀在雲彩的遮蓋中降臨會幕並居住其中。上帝榮耀可畏的彰顯是上帝接納他們的工作的明顯表記，也清楚指出祂與以色列人同在。上帝榮耀的光芒一定透過雲彩向外四射，因為那時甚至連摩西也進不了會幕（40：35）。不過我們的主耶穌「並不是進了人手所造的聖所，（這不過是真聖所的影像），乃是進了天堂，如今為我們顯在上帝面前。」（來9：24） 上帝照著祂先前對以色列人的應許（出33：14），現在來實現他們和祂自己的願望──住在以色列人中間。百姓一定感到極大的喜樂！今天上帝仍渴望住在我們裡面並且得著榮耀，因為我們的身體已藉著在主耶穌裡得重生而被改變成上帝的殿（約14：23；林前6：19；啟21：3），信徒得此救贖之恩也一定感到分外喜樂。象徵上帝同在的雲柱、火柱、及會幕不斷提醒以色列人他們尊祟、順服、榮耀、和敬拜上帝的責任。藉著雲柱和火柱，上帝親自引導祂的百姓走過曠野，直至他們等待已久的目的地──迦南。
上帝也應許我們，當我們──上帝的兒女──行走在這世上的曠野，祂必引領我們，並藉著祂的靈和祂的兒子，我們的主耶穌，住在我們中間（太18：20；路1：79）。
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Overview
Now that all the required material for the tabernacle and tent and every piece of furniture was ready and made according to the Lord’s instructions, it only required assembling. But before that could happen Moses was waiting to hear from God, so that everything would be done in His way and in His prescribed timing. Sometimes servants of the Lord tend to be anxious to see things happening in His work, and rush excitedly into action without first hearing from God and getting the “go ahead”. Before any important step be taken, we need to follow Moses’ example and wait on God. If we do not, the Lord’s blessing may be withheld.
In these chapters we have learned that the way of blessing is that of obedience and faithfulness. Moses did not have to wait long before the Lord gave him the appointed day as “the first day of the first month” (40:2), just two weeks before the Passover and almost one year after the Israelites had left Egypt (cf. Numbers 9:1-5). Then the Lord told Moses exactly how the tabernacle was to be ser up; once everything was in its proper place, the items could be anointed with oil and thus sanctified for God’s service. To be sanctified and anointed by the Lord, we must first be found where the Lord wants us to be – in His will. Finally Moses was told the manner in which to consecrate the priests (40:3-15). Again it is stressed that Moses was obedient and “according to all that the Lord had commanded Him, so he did” (40:16).
We read that all the work of setting up the tabernacle is attributed to Moses, since he was the chief overseer. The Levites were responsible to set up the tabernacle (cf. Numbers 3:21-39), so here, for the first time, Moses was showing them how it was to be done and with much man-power it was probably accomplished in less than a day. Moses also, although not a priest like Aaron and his sons, showed them the proper way to serve the Lord in the tabernacle, since he was especially appointed and ordained by God to do so. Once they learned from him, he entrusted all the duties to them so he could attend to his own divine appointment of judging and leading the people of the Lord.
The newly erected tabernacle and tent was but an empty, useless shell until the Lord’s glory, veiled by the pillar of cloud, descended upon it, and came to dwell within. This awesome manifestation was a visible sign of God’s acceptance of their work and a clear indication of His presence among them. Rays of light from even Moses could not enter at that time (40:35). Our Lord Jesus, however, whom God caused to draw near, has “not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us” (Hebrews 9:24).
Just as God promised the Israelites (Exodus 33:14), He now came fulfilling His desire and theirs, to dwell in their midst. What joy the people must have felt! It is still the Lord’s desire today that He dwell within us and be glorified, as our bodies are transformed into His temple by the new birth in Jesus Christ (John 14:23; 1 Cor. 6:19; Rev. 21:3) which gives the believer joy in their salvation. The Israelites were constantly reminded of their duty to honor, obey, glorify and worship God because of the tabernacle and the pillar of cloud by day and fire by night which signified His presence in their midst. By this pillar of His presence the Lord led His people through the wilderness until they came to Canaan, their long awaited destination.
The Lord has promised in His “Word that while we, His children, are in the wilderness of this world, He will guide, direct and be in our midst through His Spirit and Son, our Lord Jesus (Matt. 18:20; Luke 1:79).
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