The Tabernacle

Lecture 4

The Coverings

 

Introduction

From the boards we move onto the board coverings. The Tabernacle hade no solid roof but coverings were drawn or pulled over the top of the boards and fastened to the surrounding area. It would therefore be logical that the coverings like the boards that represent the body, will represent Christ’s covering over the body, and the furniture within represents the ministries of the body.

The Coverings

Exod 26:1-14 1 “Make the tabernacle with ten curtains of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, with cherubim worked into them by a skilled craftsman. 2 All the curtains are to be the same size– twenty-eight cubits long and four cubits wide. 3 Join five of the curtains together, and do the same with the other five. 4 Make loops of blue material along the edge of the end curtain in one set, and do the same with the end curtain in the other set. 5 Make fifty loops on one curtain and fifty loops on the end curtain of the other set, with the loops opposite each other. 6 Then make fifty gold clasps and use them to fasten the curtains together so that the tabernacle is a unit. 7 “Make curtains of goat hair for the tent over the tabernacle– eleven altogether. 8 All eleven curtains are to be the same size– thirty cubits long and four cubits wide. 9 Join five of the curtains together into one set and the other six into another set. Fold the sixth curtain double at the front of the tent. 10 Make fifty loops along the edge of the end curtain in one set and also along the edge of the end curtain in the other set.      11 Then make fifty bronze clasps and put them in the loops to fasten the tent together as a unit. 12 As for the additional length of the tent curtains, the half curtain that is left over is to hang down at the rear of the tabernacle. 13 The tent curtains will be a cubit longer on both sides; what is left will hang over the sides of the tabernacle so as to cover it. 14 Make for the tent a covering of ram skins dyed red, and over that a covering of hides of sea cows. (NIV)

The outer coverings were made from Badger skins. (also Ezekiel 16:10) This was a tough protective layer – modern scholars suggest dolphins from the Red Sea.

Not attractive but it’s what the outsider sees- eg. Isaiah 53:2

Ram skins dyed red

The Ram is the animal of substitution (Gen22:13) Christ died for us “the Just of the Unjust, that He might bring us to God………(1Pet 3:18)

The Curtain of goats hair (Ex26:7-12)

The goat was the animal of atonement  (Lev 16:5-28)

Through Christ we have atonement (Rom 5:11)

The beautiful inner Curtain (Ex26: 1-6)

This is what is seen from the inside. White represents Christ’s purity and righteousness (Rev19:8) The background had beautiful patterns of blue, red and their combinations on white, making purple. Blue represented the sky or Heavens His Deity. The red for His humanity, Adam means red earth. The purple a combination of the two represents God/man the gateway to God. We can see a progression of order to the Layers as a type of Christ’s redemptive work.

Christ’s redemptive work

The Outer leather: His unexpected humility and Humanity brining about His rejection.

The Rams skins dyed red: His substitutionary death.

The Red goats Hair: His entry into the heart of the True tabernacle in heaven to make atonement as the High priest.

The Fine Linen: His exalted position in God’s heaven.

The Furniture:

There were three items of furniture which we will now consider.

• The Golden Candlestick (Ex25 31-40) This more accurately should be called the Golden lampstand. As far as possible we should allow the scripture to interpret itself in studying the meanings of these symbols. Searching the scriptures we find at least three references to the meaning of the candlestick

1/ Rev1:12-20

2/ Zechariah 4:2-5

3/ Rev11:3-4

What does the Candlestick represent?

Rev1:12-20 Shows us that the Candlestick represents the Lord’s church. We can  see that the seven branches of the candlestick represent different phases of the Church as they have been revealed in history . The seven branched candlesticks represent the Church as God sees it one body.  Rev11:3-4: refers to two particular ‘branches‘ of the candlestick as God’s witnesses. This then represents particularly the church in it’s ministry of witnessing ie. giving light. Mat 5:14-16 Eph5:11-13

The Material and it’s construction.

The candlestick was made of one talent of pure gold. The gold, melted down, would cost over $200 000 at today’s prices. Beaten into shape, with its ornate flowers almonds beaten onto it. This was a priceless treasure. Pure Gold. To purify the gold it would first be till it was white, this would bring all the impurities

To the surface and the refiners would scoop off the dross or impurities. This process was continued until the refiner could see his face reflected in the gold.

This process is a wonderful symbol of the way in which the Lord works with His church to purify it. Malachi3:1-3 This is a purpose of our tribulations. The Lord beats the Gold until it is one (v36) and the Gold is purified until it is pure with no blemishes. (Eph4:13)

The Source of Oil.

The oil is a type that signifies the Holy Spirit who empowers the Christians to be light ie. Witnesses (Acts1:8)  The lamps did not burn on their own accord but by using oil placed in them! The oil comes from two olive trees (Zech 4:2-3).

The angel told Zechariah that these are the two anointed ones “sons of oil”. Some believe that they represent the Old and New Testaments (2Tim 3:16).

Others believe they represent the word of God and prayer. The attendant must keep the lights trimmed and going (Ex 25:37-38) but who is the attendant? In Rev1:3 He is revealed as the Great High Priest, Jesus Christ. Who walks in the midst of the candlesticks ensuring that the Lamps burn as they should.

Note Heb 4:12-14.

The Table of Shewbread Ex 25:23-30

The translation of Shewbread also means “:presence bread”. This reminds us of the Lords Table in our churches 1Cor 11:23-26. Both the “Presence Bread” in the tabernacle and the broken bread of the Lord’s table remind us of  the living bread come down from heaven to bring us eternal life. John 6:51-54. Just as the Shewbread spoke of the Lord’s Presence so the broken bread speaks of God’s word and our fellowship with God through it by the Holy Spirit Matt 4:2-4. Thus both the living word of God and the written word of God must play their part in our service for God in the Body of Christ.

The Alter of Incense. Ex 30:1-10

Once again we turn to the New Testament to gain insight to the meaning of the type. Rev 8:3-4. Here we have the Angel before the incense altar in heaven offering incense mixed with the prayer of the saints and the praise of the saints that rise as incense to the throne of God (Heb 13:15). Ex 30:10.The incense altar was sanctified once a year with the blood of the atonement on the day of atonement. This reminds us that our prayers area acceptable because of Christ’s once and for all atonement at Calvary.

These articles of furniture in the Holy place stand for three important aspects of the ministry of the Body of Christ.

• The Candelstick – Witness
• The Shewbread – The breaking of bread and the word of God.
• The Incense Altar – Prayer and praise