We are in chapter twenty-five of Exodus with our word for today. טַבַּ֫עַת ring, signet ring, seal ring. It is used 50 times in the Old Testament, 8 times in our chapter for today. Our word is used in the sense of a signet ring which is a ring incised to make an impression that is used to secure with wax or to authenticate documents. Genesis 41:39-42 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.” And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” Then Pharaoh took טַבַּעְתּוֹ֙ his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck. Esther 8:2, 8, 10 And the king took off טַבַּעְתּוֹ֙ his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman … But you may write as you please with regard to the Jews, in the name of the king, and seal it with the king's ring, for an edict written in the name of the king and sealed with the king's טַבַּ֫עַת ring cannot be revoked … And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed it with the king's טַבַּ֫עַת signet ring. Our word is also used in the sense of a functional use as a fastener. This is how it is used in our chapter for today. Exodus 25:12, 14-15, 26-27 You shall cast four טַבְּעֹ֣ת rings of gold for it and put them on its four feet, two טַבָּעֹ֗ת rings on the one side of it, and two טַבָּעֹ֔ת rings on the other side of it … And you shall put the poles בַּטַּבָּעֹ֔ת into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry the ark by them. The poles shall remain בְּטַבְּעֹת֙ in the rings of the ark; they shall not be taken from it … And you shall make for it four טַבְּעֹ֣ת rings of gold, and fasten הַטַּבָּעֹ֔ת the rings to the four corners at its four legs. Close to the frame הַטַּבָּעֹ֑ת the rings shall lie, as holders for the poles to carry the table. We find our word used in the construction of both the ark of the covenant and the table of the bread of presence. What is interesting is that both of these important items of worship were to be mobile which is why they had rings so that poles could be made to move them without touching them. So they were very holy and set apart but also able to be moved from place to place as God would direct the people. What I also find interesting is that these highly functioning rings were made of a very precious metal none other than gold. God showing up in a special way that is emphasized with this special precious metal points us to what God was going to do in the New Testament. There is no geographic center for our relationship with God because he has given us his Holy Spirit to live inside of us regardless of where we live on this earth. This also reminds me of this great passage that connects gold with how precious our connection with God is. I’ll close with this great reminder. 1 Peter 1:6-8 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory.
