vv 1-3 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Look, I have specifically chosen Bezalel son of Uri, grandson of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. I have filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts.
When you think about someone being ‘Filled with the Spirit’ what comes to your mind? Maybe you think of a fluent and really helpful preacher, or a wise Church Leader, or a spiritual counsellor with real insight into the needs of others, or a person known to be a serious pray-er, or …. You name it! What you probably don’t think of is a skilled woodworker, or painter, or dressmaker. These were the ‘spiritual gifts’ which God gave to Bezelel in great measure; he was given ‘great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts. ‘ He was able to make beautiful and useful items for the new Hebrew Tabernacle which God had planned. But they were not to be just utilitarian objects – they were things of beauty too.
The construction of Church buildings, and the way they are furnished, should, wherever possible, reflect something of the beauty of God. Skilled architects and builders are filled with the Holy Spirit in precisely the same way as a really helpful preacher, or a powerful and moving singer. (And the work done will last for several generations too!) Whilst we have a more utilitarian view of Church buildings, they have traditionally also been places of calm beauty. Certainly that was the view of those who constructed the Jewish Tabernacle. God gave clear instructions for the design, but the skilled and beautiful craftwork was Spirit-inspired.
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