BE A BEZALEEL OF THE SPIRITUAL TABERNACLEby Hieromonk Justin of Sinai

"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son." (Revelation 21:3-7)

BE A BEZALEEL OF THE SPIRITUAL TABERNACLE

by Hieromonk Justin of Sinai

We read in the Book of Exodus that a thick cloud descended upon Mount Sinai, with thunders and lightnings, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud. Moses went up to the top of the mount and was there forty days and forty nights. There, he received the Tablets of the Law.

There, also, he beheld the tabernacle in sacred vision, and was commanded to make the same upon earth, that the worship offered here below should be “unto the example and shadow of heavenly things” (Hebrews 8:5). “And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it” (Exodus 25:8-9).

God commanded Moses that the construction of the tabernacle should be the work of Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. “And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, to devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship” (Exodus 31:3-5). He was to create the objects for the tabernacle, but in doing so he was to remain faithful to the pattern that had been revealed to Moses upon the mount.

Vincent of Lerins, in the fifth century, saw in this an important spiritual lesson for his times. He writes,

“O Timothy! O Priest! O Expositor! O Doctor! If the divine gift has qualified you by wit, by skill, by learning, be a Bazaleel of the spiritual tabernacle, engrave the precious gems of divine doctrine, fit them in accurately, adorn them skilfully, add splendor, grace, beauty. Let that which formerly was believed, though imperfectly apprehended, as expounded by you be clearly understood. Let posterity welcome, understood through your exposition, what antiquity venerated without understanding. Yet teach still the same truths which you have learned, so that though you speak after a new fashion, what you speak may not be new.”* 

This is no less an important spiritual lesson for our own times.

*Vincent of Lerins, Commonitory, chapter 22, NPNF, vol. 11, p. 147.

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Exploring the Sinai Basilica: A Sixth Century Granite Capital

All of the capitals in the sixth century basilica are carved from solid blocks of granite. The capital of the westernmost column on the north side of the church has four projecting corners where it meets the arches above it. These are adorned with rams’ heads.

Below, four crosses placed at the cardinal points of the compass alternate with palm trees bearing dates. The whole composition is united by an undulating vine bearing bunches of grapes.

Beasts and serpents bow beneath the power of the Cross. Suspended from its horizontal arms are the Greek letters alpha and omega.

"And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. (Revelation 21:3-7)"

From Fr. Justin's Sinai Blog: https://www.fatherjustinsblog.info/archives/2491