We are in chapter thirty-five of Exodus with our word for today. מַחֲשָׁבָה thought, intent, plan, invention, design. It is used 56 times in the Old Testament, 3 times in our chapter. We find our word used the first time in the Bible in a negative way. It is in the sense of the content of what a person is thinking about. Genesis 6:5-7 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the מַחְשְׁבֹ֣תthoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” The contrast of this is using what we think about to glorify God. Our word is used in the sense of a decorative or artistic work. 2 Chronicles 2:13-14 Now I have sent a skilled man, who has understanding, Huram-abi, the son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre. He is trained to work in gold, silver, bronze, iron, stone, and wood, and in purple, blue, and crimson fabrics and fine linen, and to do all sorts of engraving and execute any מַחֲשָׁ֑בֶתdesign that may be assigned him, with your craftsmen, the craftsmen of my lord, David your father. This is how our word is used three times in our chapter. Exodus 35:30-35 Then Moses said to the people of Israel, “See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship, to devise מַֽחַשָׁבֹ֑ת artistic designs, to work in gold and silver and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, for work in every מַחֲשָֽׁבֶתskilled craft. And he has inspired him to teach, both him and Oholiab the son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan. He has filled them with skill to do every sort of work done by an engraver or by a designer or by an embroiderer in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, or by a weaver—by any sort of workman or מַחֲשָׁבֹֽת skilled designer. In our chapter our word is used to glorify God with these creative gifts he gives. I’ll close with this great prayer of David for God to direct thoughts towards glorifying himself. And what is interesting is the context of the preparations to build the temple where God would be worshiped. 1 Chronicles 29:17-19 I know, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you. O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep forever such purposes and מַחְשְׁב֖וֹת thoughts in the hearts of your people, and direct their hearts toward you. Grant to Solomon my son a whole heart that he may keep your commandments, your testimonies, and your statutes, performing all, and that he may build the palace for which I have made provision.
