NOTES for Exo 38:1-31
The gleam of gold, silver, and bronze makes one squint. The brightness and richness of the tabernacle's furnishings, and indeed of those of modern churches, bewilder an outsider. So many material treasures were used up for no apparent reason instead of being put to some real, useful purpose. This gleam of precious things seems excessive, yet this is how people choose to make visible their attitude toward the Invisible One who dwells beside them. Wandering through the desert and having no houses, the Jews give their finest things to God. The gleam of the tabernacle's gold places the emphasis where it is needed. Yes, there are many poor and sick people, many in need, but in order to restore balance and put this right, there must be as much of God's presence in the world as possible. Without Him, without the source of love, everything will be meaningless. Much later, when speaking of the lavish use of the ointment, Jesus said, “You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me” (Matt 26:11).