Did you notice the key phrase, “as the Lord had commanded Moses”? That gives us an indication why we are regaled with a second account of the Tabernacle. The record preserved for us could have saved us a few chapters of dull reading by simply stating that they did everything just as the Lord had commanded Moses. That it didn’t abbreviate the account tells me two things:
- He wanted to show us as well as tell us that they got it perfectly right. Where God specified details for their worship they accomplished every detail, and His pleasure with the result was pleasure with nothing less than their very best and perfect obedience to His revealed will. When God reveals His desire for our work, He expects us to get it done in perfect obedience. He didn’t cheapen words by simply telling us that they got everything right. When the details were important, He specified the details.
- Worship is important enough to pay attention to every detail. It is not something we offer on our own terms, but on God’s.
This leaves me wondering if my worship practices are too casual or too me-centered. If I insist on satisfying my own self-preference for the songs we sing in our worship service or for traditional practices or lack thereof, or if I decide I’m unable to accept God’s message because I don’t like the messenger, is that worship worthy of God? Is it worship of God at all, or worship of self?