Blog

93_The boards and the curtains

Ex 26:15 “You shall make upright frames for the tabernacle of acacia wood. 16 Ten cubits shall be the length of a frame, and a cubit and a half the breadth of each frame. 17 There shall be two tenons in each frame, for fitting together. So shall you do for all the frames of the tabernacle. 18 You shall make the frames for the tabernacle: twenty frames for the south side; 19 and forty bases of silver you shall make under the twenty frames, two bases under one frame for its two tenons, and two bases under the next frame for its two tenons; 20 and for the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side twenty frames, 21 and their forty bases of silver, two bases under one frame, and two bases under the next frame. 22 And for the rear of the tabernacle westward you shall make six frames. 23 And you shall make two frames for corners of the tabernacle in the rear; 24 they shall be separate beneath, but joined at the top, at the first ring. Thus shall it be with both of them; they shall form the two corners. 25 And there shall be eight frames, with their bases of silver, sixteen bases; two bases under one frame, and two bases under another frame.

31 “And you shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. It shall be made with cherubim skillfully worked into it. 32 And you shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold, with hooks of gold, on four bases of silver. 33 And you shall hang the veil from the clasps, and bring the ark of the testimony in there within the veil. And the veil shall separate for you the Holy Place from the Most Holy. 34 You shall put the mercy seat on the ark of the testimony in the Most Holy Place. 35 And you shall set the table outside the veil, and the lampstand on the south side of the tabernacle opposite the table, and you shall put the table on the north side.

36 “You shall make a screen for the entrance of the tent, of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, embroidered with needlework. 37 And you shall make for the screen five pillars of acacia, and overlay them with gold. Their hooks shall be of gold, and you shall cast five bases of bronze for them.

Great doors turn on small hinges. These doors are much like our lives as believers. Unless our works are grounded securely on the foundation of Christ’s redemption, we are merely showpieces, unable to fulfill our true purpose.

The Tabernacle, the dwelling place of God among the Israelites, was built exactly according to God’s instructions. The boards that formed its structure were made of acacia wood, standing upright and resting on silver sockets. Silver, in Scripture, is a picture of redemption. These were made from the half-shekel redemption tax paid by the Israelites in the wilderness, as they redeemed their souls during the census. In the same way, we stand upright not in our own strength or works, but in our identity with the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 6:20, “For you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” We no longer belong to ourselves; we have been purchased by the blood of Christ.

The silver sockets provided a stable foundation. They also separated the boards from the earth beneath them. Just as the boards were lifted away off the dust and dirt of the ground, believers are called out of sin and set apart for God. Our lives should reflect the reality of our redemption. Our thoughts and actions should flow from that awareness. “You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men” (1 Corinthians 7:23). Let us not be swayed by the opinions and pressures of the world.

The boards rested on the silver sockets, and were held together by five bars passing through golden rings. This kept the Tabernacle strong and unified, through the harsh desert storms. Christ’s disciples need to bank on the support and encouragement of the Spirit, manifested through each other. Hebrews 10:24-25 urges us, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” The storms of life will come, but the people of Christ, joined together in his word, can withstand them and remain strong in faith.

Within the Tabernacle was a veil separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. This veil, woven of blue, purple, and scarlet threads with fine linen, symbolized Christ Himself. Blue represents His heavenly nature, purple His royalty, scarlet His suffering, and the fine linen His perfect righteousness. Embroidered into the fabric were cherubim, harking back to the devastating moment when man was cast out of Eden, with cherubim and a flaming sword barring his way back.

No one could enter the Most Holy Place except the high priest. He could do so only once a year, with the blood of a sacrifice. But when Christ was crucified, the veil in the temple was torn from top to bottom. God declared that the way to God was open to all who believe. “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith.” (Hebrews 10:19-22).

The tabernacle walls were studded with cherubim worked into the beautiful curtains, reminding the Israelites that they were in the presence of the God who dwelt amidst innumerable hosts of angels. Through Christ’s sacrifice, we are called to enter His presence with confidence. Our fear has been cast out by his perfect love. In Christ, we are welcomed as children into the presence of our Father. The barrier has been removed, and we can experience true fellowship with Him.

Just outside the veil was the furniture of the tabernacle, except the ark. The priests represented the people as they entered daily to serve, after cleansing their hands and feet in the pure water of the laver at the entrance. The curtain at the entrance of the Tabernacle was made of blue, purple, and scarlet threads with fine linen, but it bore no cherubim, unlike the veil. There was to be no temptation to worship angels; God alone is worthy of worship. The entrance faced east, requiring worshipers to turn away from the rising sun. Thus, the worshiper deliberately rejected sun worship, which was common among pagan nations. Our worship must honor and recognize the worth of God alone, without distractions and false allegiances.

The priests neither entered nor left without cleansing themselves at the laver. We who serve God must be constantly clean. Christ’s servants must serve men as the ministers of Christ, without self-righteousness or self-exaltation. Let us cleanse ourselves by the washing of the Word and the renewing of the Holy Spirit, who moulds our thoughts and attitudes into the pattern of Christ. Hebrews 10:22 urges us, “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”

The Tabernacle teaches us that we are redeemed, set apart, and called into fellowship with God and one another. Let us recognize that we were joined together on the foundation of Christ’s redemption. We stand secure and united in him. No veil hides God from us, for Christ is our new and living way into God’s presence, where we enter and stand by faith. Let us turn away from all that competes for devotion and honour, fixing our eyes on God our creator, sustainer, and redeemer, and our hope of glory.

We cannot fulfil our destiny apart from our foundation in Christ. Without Him, we are useless and disconnected from the truth. Only when we rest on the firm foundation of His redemption are we lifted up, joined together, and formed into a dwelling place fit for His glory. Let us rejoice in his salvation, bound to each other in faith and love. With undivided hearts let us recognize his peerless majesty. With cleansed hearts and bodies, let us constantly hold up his name through our lives. God bless.