Exodus 36:20-30: a reflection

20He made the boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood, standing up. 21Ten cubits was the length of a board, and a cubit and a half the width of each board. 22Each board had two tenons, joined to one another. He made all the boards of the tabernacle this way. 23He made the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards for the south side southward. 24He made forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards: two sockets under one board for its two tenons, and two sockets under another board for its two tenons. 25For the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, he made twenty boards 26and their forty sockets of silver: two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board. 27For the far part of the tabernacle westward he made six boards. 28He made two boards for the corners of the tabernacle in the far part. 29They were double beneath, and in the same way they were all the way to its top to one ring. He did this to both of them in the two corners. 30There were eight boards and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets—under every board two sockets.

In the building of the tabernacle, the workers made many individual boards of acacia wood, each with its tenons and its silver sockets, and fitted them together to form the walls of God's dwelling. Each board was shaped individually, and each had its place; joined together, the many boards formed one structure, the dwelling place of God. No single board was the tabernacle; but each, fitted into its place with the others, was part of the whole.

Notice how the many individual boards were fitted together into one structure. Each board was made individually, with its own tenons and sockets; but no board stood alone as the tabernacle. Rather, each was fitted into its place alongside the others, and together the many boards formed the one dwelling of God. Each had its own place and part; and each was needed for the whole. The structure was made not of one great board, but of many, each fitted into its place, joined together into one.

That picture of many parts fitted together into one whole speaks to how God's people are joined together. We are not each meant to stand alone, a whole in ourselves; we are, like the boards, each shaped individually, each with our own place and part, and fitted together with others into one whole, a dwelling for God. Each of us has a place and a part, and each is needed; but no one of us is the whole. Do not imagine yourself meant to stand alone, complete in yourself; you are, like one of the boards, shaped for a place alongside others, fitted together with them into something greater than yourself. Take your place among God's people, joined with others into one whole, as the many boards were fitted together into the one dwelling of God; for you are a part, with your own place, of a whole that is built not of one but of many, each fitted into its place alongside the rest.

Lord, in the building of the tabernacle, the workers made many individual boards of acacia wood, each with its tenons and its silver sockets, and fitted them together to form the walls of your dwelling. Each board was shaped individually, and each had its place; joined together, the many boards formed one structure, your dwelling place. No single board was the tabernacle; but each, fitted into its place with the others, was part of the whole. Show me how the many individual boards were fitted together into one structure. Each was made individually; but no board stood alone as the tabernacle. Rather, each was fitted into its place alongside the others, and together they formed the one dwelling. Each had its own place and part; and each was needed for the whole. Let that picture speak to how your people are joined together. I am not meant to stand alone, a whole in myself; I am, like the boards, shaped individually, with my own place and part, and fitted together with others into one whole, a dwelling for you. Each of us has a place and a part, and each is needed; but no one of us is the whole. Keep me from imagining myself meant to stand alone, complete in myself; I am shaped for a place alongside others, fitted together with them into something greater than myself. Help me take my place among your people, Lord, joined with others into one whole, as the many boards were fitted together into your one dwelling.