In Rashi’s commentary of this verse, he cites the Sages that the Torah repeats the prohibition against working on Shabbat as an introduction to the command to build the Sanctuary. This is to teach us that for G-d Shabbat supersedes the mitzvah of building the holiest of places.
G-d created the world in six days, but His first and primary thought to create the world was Shabbat.
When you make a party to celebrate a birthday of someone you love, your first thought is the person you love. Then you get to work by making a guest list, getting the place for the venue, hiring the cater, florist, etc… Then you send invitations and so on. When everything is done then we come to the first thought; the person you love.
In the same way H”S gave us the Mitzvah to construct a Sanctuary so He can dwell in this lower realm, the ultimate purpose of this Home for G-d is so He can rest, which means that He can manifest His presence in our lives by bringing “Menucha” (peace). So our only intention when we work in the six days is to ultimately come to the seventh day and imbue it with peace.
Shabbat Shalom
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