My grandson gets a kick out of completing a Lego kit. At his age, they’re small and simple projects (not yet ready for a 1,500-piece Mustang or a 3,600-piece Star Trek Enterprise), yet they still require him to sort the pieces, follow the instructions, and (at least to a certain degree) maintain focus. I mostly hang around for moral support as he works his way, page by page, through the instruction booklet. I always get a kick out of seeing him snap that last piece in place. That look of joy from his sense of accomplishment is pretty cool. Perhaps a bit reflective of the feeling in the air when the tent of meeting was assembled for the first time in Exodus 39 and 40.

Over 2,000 pounds of gold . . . 7,500+ pounds of silver . . . 5,300 pounds of bronze, along with unmeasured amounts of material for weaving curtains and tailoring garments. Along with thread galore for embroidering in fine detail heavenly images. All the materials needed to fashion all the pieces commanded. And then, it’s assembled per the instructions provided by the God who had determined that this was to be the place where His glory fell — the place where the glory dwelt. What was the sense of joy and accomplishment like when the last pieces were put in place? Pretty cool, I’m guessing.

But as I read of that “pretty cool” instance, I’m struck by some words that I think are pretty significant.

According to all that the LORD had commanded Moses, so the people of Israel had done all the work. And Moses saw all the work, and behold, they had done it; as the LORD had commanded, so had they done it. Then Moses blessed them.

(Exodus 39:42-43 ESV)

Behold, they had done it . . . That’s what I’m chewing on this morning.

As great an accomplishment as it was — and though there would be Solomon’s bigger and better and more permanent and less transient 2.0 version, the temple — the tabernacle in the wilderness was at best temporary, a stop-gap measure. While it would provide for God’s presence in their midst through repeated, short-lived atonement for their sin, it wasn’t the final, eternal solution. Though it provided a place for God to meet with man, it came up short for providing a way for man to abide with God. It was limited because behold, they had done it.

For sure, they had done it just as God had commanded, but still, it was they who had done it.

I read those words, “behold, they had done it“, and there’s a familiar ring to them. A ring reminding me of declarations of another work completed. Another work opening the way for God to be in the midst.

A work prophesied at the conclusion of the Messianic, twenty-second psalm:

Posterity shall serve Him;
       it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation;
they shall come and proclaim His righteousness to a people yet unborn,
       that He has done it.

(Psalm 22:30-31 ESV)

A work completed, and poignantly recorded, at the conclusion of the Messiah’s earthly life:

When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished,” and He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

(John 19:30 ESV)

Jesus, the true and final and eternal temple — that temple that was destroyed and raised again three days later (Jn. 2:19-21). Jesus, through whom the foreshadowed once forever sacrifice of a lamb and the eternal intercession of a holy priest was fulfilled (Jn. 1:29, Heb. 2:17, 4:14-15, 7:25-26). Jesus, in whom the glory dwells and through whom the glory tabernacles among us (Jn. 1:14a). Just as Moses and Co. could look upon the cloud hovering over the tent of meeting and see something of the Father’s glory, in the Son we behold the radiance of the glory of God (Jn. 1:4b, Heb. 1:1-3). All possible because He hae done it and it is finished.

Behold, they had done it! Amazing.

Behold, He has done it! Amazing-er! Jaw dropping. Worship evoking.

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

All by His grace. All for His glory.

Amen?