Let’s make something clear: When I say “built the priesthood” in the title, I’m talking about physically made the garments and the Tabernacle the priests would use. God “built” the priesthood. It was His design and His creation.
But someone had to physically make the elements that the priests, right? I personally don’t think the people that did get nearly enough credit.
For instance, have you ever heard of Bezalel the son of Uri, or Oholiab the son of Ahisamach? Chances are it’s doubtful unless you’ve done a deep dive on the history of the priesthood (like I’m doing for the first time).
These two men were charged with leading the construction of the Tabernacle (Exodus 31:1-11). They didn’t do it alone; the Text says that God put skill “in the hearts of all who are skillful.” The priestly garments and the Tabernacle demanded the highest form of craftsmanship, so it makes sense that God hand-picked the ones who would create them.
In reading this passage, it’s hard not to see an Old Testament form of what we see in the New Testament as deacons. Originally, these men were charged with the food distribution in the early church (Acts 6). Later, they were simply classified as servants of the church in whatever physical capacity that entailed.
But deacons aren’t just everyday guys. The qualifications in 1 Timothy 3 state they must be “men of dignity,” must be “tested,” and then will only serve as deacons if they are “beyond reproach.”
Why does God require such stringent qualifications for people who change light bulbs and deliver food to the needy? That’s because it’s not the bulk of the work that requires our attention—most people can do that. It’s that extra 5-10% that people of character put in—what we call “going the extra mile”—that makes all the difference.
That’s who God chose to create the religious items necessary for His worship. Exodus 28:3 calls these “skillful persons,” but other translations call them “wise hearted.” In other words, these men aren’t just people that are good with their hands, their heart is strong, too. They’ll pay that extra careful attention to detail that a lot might overlook. Moreover, they’ll do their work with sincerity and devotion to God’s holiness.
That’s who we want serving our churches, too. The people who take care of things behind the scenes may not get noticed much, but I guarantee you, if they were to stop working, you would be able to tell in a heartbeat. These men who serve with honor are worthy of our respect—not just for working hard, but for working with zeal.
