Cloths of Service or Cloths of Show?

Exodus 39:1, “And of the blue, and purple, and scarlet, they made cloths of service, to do service in the holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron; as the LORD commanded Moses.”

As I was reading this passage of Scripture today this verse kind of jumped out at me a little bit.  It brought to my mind all of the things that might have been used in the tabernacle.  There was furniture and larger pieces.  You cannot forget the Ark of the Covenant which was a hugely important piece.  What about the fleshooks?  There were snuffers to put out candles.  There were so many different tools and other things that were vital to the ministry in the tabernacle.

I wonder how many different varieties of “tools” and the like were there.  Have you ever thought about all the different “tools” it takes to make the Church operate each and every day.  I had not until now.

The phrase that caught my attention today was, “they made cloths of service”.  Just by the phrasing here you would gather that there would be cloths that were made for other things than service. These were meant to get dirty.  They would be stained and maybe they had to be retired because of their use.  I don’t know.  I am not familiar enough with tabernacle operations.  I wish I were more familiar with it.

Maybe there were some that were just decorative and pretty.  You know who you are.  These just hang around and look pretty.  These could be called cloths of show.  Oh my, I think I might be stepping on some toes here.  Cloths for show really don’t get dirty.  Oh, they get dusty from just hanging in the same place all of the time.  They never get out and do something.  This is sad.  I hope I am never a cloth of show.  I always want to be one of the “cloths of service”.  How about you?

Are you “cloths of service” or cloths for show?

Today’s reading:  Exodus 38, 39, 40; Psalm 30, 60, 90, 120, 150; Proverbs 30

Today’s prayer:  “Lord Jesus Christ I ask you to forgive me for being a cloth of show.  Make me one of Your ‘cloths of service’.  Help me to yield myself to You for service as You see fit.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.”