NOTES for Exo 37:1-29
What distinguishes these golden ornaments—angels, leaves, faces—from the calf made by the people (see Exodus 32)? It might seem that this passage describes the painstaking production of objects that will become objects of worship in exactly the same way. But this is precisely the point: only God may be worshiped, and a person is called to use everything he has for His sake—to adorn the sanctuary and offer what is most precious and valuable. Every object sanctified by God’s presence must be beautiful in appearance and precious. In itself, that object means nothing. It merely expresses reverence and worship before God.