Things Of Lasting Value

by H. Darke, Vancouver, B.C. | Category: General | Oct 1956

BEZALEL

The ambition of every child of God should be so to live Christ that when called home, he may have left behind him a fragrant memory of acts of kindness and words of thoughtfulness. If he has been faithful he shall leave behind him something of lasting value.

This is borne out in God's word in the life of Bezalel. Bezalel is one of the little known men of Scripture, yet he was prepared by God for the great task of making the Tabernacle and the furniture to adorn that House of God in the wilderness (Exodus 31). He had been through the bondage of Egypt; he had known the blessing of the Passover night; he had seen the divine power in the deliverance of Israel from Pharaoh at the Red Sea; and through it all God was preparing him for the great work that lay ahead-the making of the Tabernacle. Bezalel's name means "in the shadow of God." There is no better place in which to live and to learn His will ! It is the place of protection and care, the place of nearness, the place where we can get to know the Lord intimately, and where we can learn the secrets of God (Philippians 4.12). As soon as Bezalel was ready as a "workman approved," God called him by name to "devise cunning works to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in cutting of stones' for setting ... "(Exodus 31.1-5).

What a wonderful experience for any man to be called by name by the God of Eternity to work for Him! Such can be the privilege of all who have know redemption and deliverance greater than Bezalel's.

Having known the gentle and the heavy blows of the divine hammer, shaping him for the time when God was going to use him Bezalel was now to take his own hammer into his hands, and, under' divine direction, use it for the making of things to adorn the House of God. Note how careful God is in the preparation of His man! "I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship " (Exodus

31.3). Bezalel was equipped to handle the tools and materials for the building of the House. The Lord's purpose is not different today. God is not looking for worldly wisdom, skill and ability for the carrying out of His work. The apostle to the Gentiles makes this clear in his labours amongst the early churches. He told the Thessalonian saints, "Our gospel came not unto you in word only but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance; even as ye know ... " (1 Thessalonians 1.5). It is vain to preach under any other conditions. Unless we know the power of the Spirit we can never preach a gospel message that will bring conviction and conversion. In addition to a well-prepared address, the preacher must himself be prepared first by God.

When Paul wrote to Timothy to "preach the word; be instant in season, out of season," he was writing to one whom he described as "thou man of God."

Timothy, who had a vast knowledge of the Scriptures, lived a clean, godly life; he lived in the shadow of God; he knew the power of the Spirit; he studied to be an approved workman, handling the word of God with skill. Such a man was equipped to preach the gospel in power, resulting in souls being saved and led on in the truth of God. What was true of Timothy was also true of Paul, his spiritual father. Writing to the Corinthian church he said, "And I, brethren ... came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom ... my speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power" (1 Corinthians 2.1-5). So it must be today amongst God's people, if we are to accomplish anything of a lasting value for Him.

As with Paul and Timothy, so with Bezalel. The material for adorning the House of God and the Court was brought to Bezalel as also the gold for the Lampstand. Out of a solid block of pure gold, weighing about 114 pounds, Bezalel, by gentle tap and heavy blow, shaped the beautiful lampstand that was to give light in God's House. This work was given to a man filled with the Spirit of God, and who possessed wisdom and skill. And God is longing to do the same with those who are a wilderness people, who seek a dwelling place for Him. He is bringing material our way which He needs for beautifying His House. How are we handling it? Constantly he brings people into our lives who need Christ. How do we apply the word of the gospel to such? At other times he presents us with opportunities to speak His word to believers not in the Church of God. Have we the skill, the wisdom, the power of the Spirit to shape such with the." hammer" " Some need the gentle blow, others the heavy, but the Spirit will show us what is needed if we are living in the quietness of" the shadow of God."

In addition to the lampstand, Bezalel also made the altar of burnt offering (Exodus 27.1-8). There was nothing careless or slipshod in the craftsmanship of this man; he made things of lasting value-he was working for God. A striking testimony to this is recorded some hundreds of years after the exodus from Egypt, when Solomon built the Temple, and we are told, "Moreover the brazen altar, that Bezalel had made, was there before the tabernacle of the LORD: and Solomon and the congregation sought unto it" (2 Chronicles 1.5).

What a wonderful tribute to a man's work! Bezalel had been dead these many years, yet he had left behind him something of lasting value in God's House. What of you and of me?

H. Darke, Vancouver, B.C. | Oct 1956
General