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God's
Gifts for God's Glory
Part Three - The
Artistic Gift: Biblical References and Lessons
By Paul Myhill, July, 2002
"To
Him who made the heavens with skill, For His lovingkindness is everlasting."
Psalm 136:5 NASB
"For
since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal
power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood
from what has been made, so that men are without excuse."
Romans 1:20 NIV
God
is the Master Artist. And we are made in His image.
The
general revelation is evidence: Have you ever pondered the
soft delicate petals of the rose? The marvelous patterns and intricate
structures of the butterfly's wings? Sunlight refracting through a
prism, scattering a brilliant array of hues across a room? The dance
and rustle of a majestic canopy of trees repelling a stiff wind? Or
the tiny hand of a curious infant grasping a welcoming outstretched
finger?
They
are just a minute sampling of renderings within the greatest artistic
repertoire imaginable. The Master Artist conceived them in love and
wrought them into existence along with an incredible plethora of other
phenomenal artworks. It is a portfolio of such depth and breadth that
our small finite minds cannot even begin to fathom its magnitude.
The Spirit that "hovered over the waters" at its creation,
revealing the grandest exhibition ever, is the same Spirit that now
indwells the faithful and bestows special giftings upon them. An amazing
thought indeed.
The
special revelation is evidence: The Bible is an absolute masterpiece
of unity in diversity. Fascinating poetry, intense historical accounts,
prayers, songs, stories, letters, laws, and a variety of other literary
structures and devices combine to present a truly multi-faceted God
displaying a tremendous capacity for artistic expression and communication.
Even incarnate, He chose to work souls and wood, using the
tools of a craftsman as an additional creative outlet. He then taught
using vivid imagery of powerful depth of illustration. The Spirit
that inspired the creative writers of the Word and empowered the Artisan
Son, is the same Spirit that now inspires and empowers us, who fills
certain servants with the artistic gift:
"I
have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and
knowledge in all kinds of crafts - to make artistic designs for work
in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood,
and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship." Exodus 31:3-5
NIV
"And
I have put wisdom in the hearts of all the gifted artisans,
that they may make all that I have commanded you." Exodus
31:6b NKJV
"And
He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding
and in knowledge and in all craftsmanship." Exodus 35:31
NASB
"So
you shall speak to all who are gifted artisans, whom I have filled
with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments, to
consecrate him, that he may minister to Me as priest." Ex
28:3 NKJV
"He
has filled them with skill to do all manner of work of the engraver
and the designer and the tapestry maker, in blue, purple, and scarlet
thread, and fine linen, and of the weaver - those who do every work
and those who design artistic works." Ex 35:35 NKJV
"And
Bezalel and Aholiab, and every gifted artisan in whom the LORD has
put wisdom and understanding, to know how to do all manner of
work for the service of the sanctuary, shall do according to all that
the LORD has commanded." Ex 36:1 NKJV
"Then
Moses called Bezalel and Aholiab, and every gifted artisan in whose
heart the LORD had put wisdom, everyone whose heart was stirred,
to come and do the work." Ex 36:2 NKJV
"He
was a widow's son from the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a
man of Tyre, a worker in bronze; and he was filled with wisdom
and understanding and skill for doing any work in bronze."
1 Kings 7:14 NASB
Something that is "filled" is totally laden, brimming, fully
occupied, saturated. To fill a person is to fully replace the void
that once existed in them. In filling those with the artistic gift,
God pours out a full measure of gifting. And the resources
and opportunity to apply the gift for His glory are boundless:
"Moreover
there are workmen with you in abundance: woodsmen and stonecutters,
and all types of skillful men for every kind of work. Of gold and
silver and bronze and iron there is no limit. Arise and begin
working, and the LORD be with you." 1 Chronicles 22:15-16
NKJV
Just as God provided gifted individuals and matchless resources to
build His temple, its furnishings and vestments, so God equips and
sets opportunities before those He has chosen to use artistry for
His glory today. In the days of the temple construction, an amazing
opportunity revealed, His directives were very specific in seeing
the artistic gift applied:
"With
cherubim of artistic work shalt thou make them." Ex
26:1b DARBY
"Of
artistic work shall it be made." Ex 26:31b DARBY
"And
shall make the ephod of gold, blue, and purple, scarlet and twined
byssus, of artistic work." Ex 28:6 DARBY
"And
thou shalt make the breastplate of judgment of artistic work"
Ex 28:15a DARBY
"All
who are gifted artisans among you shall come and make all that
the LORD has commanded" Ex 35:10 NKJV
God
desires artistry. He commands that it be applied for ministry, to
display His glory to a world that esteems creativity and beauty. He
equips, supplies, gives directives and subsequently expects application.
The Biblical record is one of obedience to this Divine call and challenge:
"All
the women who were gifted artisans spun yarn with their hands,
and brought what they had spun, of blue, purple, and scarlet, and
fine linen." Ex 35:25 NKJV
"Then
all the gifted artisans among them who worked on the tabernacle
made ten curtains woven of fine linen, and of blue, purple, and scarlet
thread; with artistic designs of cherubim they made them."
Ex 36:8 NKJV
"And
he made a veil of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven
linen; it was worked with an artistic design of cherubim."
Ex. 36:35 NKJV
"And
they beat the gold into thin sheets and cut it into threads, to work
it in with the blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and the fine linen,
into artistic designs." Ex 39:3 NKJV
"And
he made the breastplate of artistic work, like the work of
the ephod, of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and twined byssus."
Ex 39:8 DARBY
So cherished is artistry, so loved is the beauty of the craftsman's
work - the expressions of the Creator through the created - that God
considers it caustic punishment to remove the artists from sinful
society:
"He
carried into exile all Jerusalem: all the officers and fighting men,
and all the craftsmen and artisans - a total of ten thousand.
Only the poorest people of the land were left." 2 Kings 24:14
NIV
"And
voice of harpers, and musicians, and pipers, and trumpeters, may not
be heard at all in thee any more; and any artisan of any art may
not be found at all in thee any more; and noise of a millstone
may not be heard at all in thee any more." Revelation 18:22
YLT
To punctuate: The Creator Spirit is an artist. The same Spirit
now indwells us as believers. The Spirit's special artistic gifting
fills those specially chosen. He has given directions to see it applied
and expects obedience. He provides boundless resources and opportunities.
And He loves this gift so much - because it is representative of His
revealing creativity - that He will remove the gifted ones from those
that don't deserve it, withdrawing the creative sparks that invoke
emotion and ignite passion.
Artists
have a high calling. They are interwoven into the mystery of God's
creation. The Creator brought forth the canvas and supplies from the
void. Now we are responsible for using it to display the Creator within
us, to underscore that men continue to be without excuse.
"Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before
kings; He will not stand before obscure men." Proverbs
22:29 NASB
Part
One - Perspective
Part
Two - Testimony & Application
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