We are in chapter twenty-five of Exodus with our word for today used for the first time in the Bible. מִקְשָׁה wrought metal, hammered work, turned work, solid, embossed. It is used 9 times in the Old Testament, 3 times in our chapter. Our word is used in the sense of a work made by fashioning with the artistic use of a hammer. Well start with our chapter since it is the first time it is used in the Bible. The gold angels overshadowing the atonement cover or mercy seat were made this way. Exodus 25:17-18 You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold. Two cubits and a half shall be its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth. And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of מִקְשָׁה֙ hammered work shall you make them, on the two ends of the mercy seat. Then we find the lampstands are also made this way. Exodus 25:31-32, 36 You shall make a lampstand of pure gold. The lampstand shall be made of מִקְשָׁ֞ה hammered work: its base, its stem, its cups, its calyxes, and its flowers shall be of one piece with it. And there shall be six branches going out of its sides, three branches of the lampstand out of one side of it and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side of it … Their calyxes and their branches shall be of one piece with it, the whole of it a single piece of מִקְשָׁ֥ה hammered work of pure gold. Then in chapter 37 of Exodus we have the record of these instructions to make all of these actually carried out. Exodus 37:7 Then he made two cherubim out of מִקְשָׁה֙ hammered gold at the ends of the cover. Exodus 37:17, 22 They made the lampstand of pure gold. They מִקְשָׁ֞ה hammered out its base and shaft, and made its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms of one piece with them … The buds and the branches were all of one piece with the lampstand, מִקְשָׁ֥ה hammered out of pure gold. Then we have a reference back to the lampstands being made in the book of Numbers when everything was being set up for the temple worship. Numbers 8:4 This is how the lampstand was made: It was made of מִקְשָׁ֣ה hammered gold—from its base to its blossoms it was מִקְשָׁ֣ה hammered work. The lampstand was made exactly like the pattern the Lord had shown Moses. Our last use is to the making of the silver trumpets to be used to call the people together and when it was time to break camp to follow God. Numbers 10:2 The Lord said to Moses: “Make two trumpets of מִקְשָׁ֖ה hammered silver, and use them for calling the community together and for having the camps set out. It is interesting that God instructs Moses to not only use precious metals like gold and silver in relating to his people but he also wants them made a certain way. This kind of work required specialized skill and care. God shows us that he enjoys creating beautiful things and enjoying beauty. He loves us and wants us to also enjoy the wonder of heart moving artistry. I’ll close with this great reminder for us to let God move our hearts with his creation and anything that would admire his wonder. Philippians 4:4, 8 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! … Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
