Exodus 26:1-14 Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet… I. LET US LOOK AT THE BEAUTIFUL CURTAINS THAT FORMED THE TABERNACLE. 1. If we view the Tabernacle as an emblem of Christ in His incarnation, the beautiful curtains of cunning work were emblematical of the attributes and perfections of Jehovah, "In Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." Here every perfection meets and shines. 2. These beautifully-wrought curtains were emblems of the perfect graces which adorned the human nature of Jesus. 3. May we not see in this beautiful piece of tapestry the various characters of Christ? Here by faith we behold the Priest and His sacrifice, the King and His golden crown, the Prophet and His teaching, the Mediator and His fulness. Here by faith we behold the Shepherd and His watchful care, the Husband and His everlasting love, the Friend and His faithful counsel. Here in a mystery of grace we may discover the Root and the tree, the Vine and the branches, the Head and the members. 4. The curtains were the same in the holiest as in the holy place. The Church triumphant and the Church militant have the same Christ. 5. These curtains were fastened together by blue loops and taches of gold so as to form one Tabernacle. The loops and taches were exactly over the vail (ver. 33). This may teach us the connection between Christ's work in heaven and His work on earth. 6. These curtains were full of cherubim. May not these cherubim be emblems of believers who are Christ's mystical body? Christ and His members are one. 7. These curtains are emblems of the Churches of Christ adorned with the graces of the Holy Spirit. 8. The loops and golden clasps which united the curtains together show us the place for little deeds of kindness and little deeds of love. Kind words fitly spoken are golden clasps. There is far more power in kind words than some people think. Kind words are very uniting. 9. The Tabernacle was divided into two parts, but it was only one Tabernacle. The saints in heaven and the saints on earth make but one Church. II. WE MAY NOW LOOK AT THE TENT OF GOATS' HAIR, WHICH FORMED A COVERING FOR THE TABERNACLE. The curtains of goats' hair were emblematical of the righteousness of Christ, which is the justification of the Church. These curtains were joined together by clasps of brass. "And he made fifty taches of brass to couple the tent together, that it might be one." Brass is an emblem of strength. "In the Lord shall one say, have I righteousness and strength." "In the Lord Jehovah " — Jehovah Tsidkenu — "is everlasting strength." May we not have an emblem in these two large goats' hair curtains, of righteousness in its twofold aspect? Christ's righteousness imputed is our justification. Christ's righteousness imparted is our sanctification. We cannot have one without the other; they must be in our experience "coupled together." Jesus Christ is our Righteousness and our Sanctification (1 Corinthians 1:30). Christ for us is our perfect righteousness. Christ in us is our perfect sanctification. III. OVER THE TENT WAS A COVERING OF RAMS' SKINS DYED RED. Beautiful emblem of the protecting blood of Christ. IV. ABOVE THE COVERING OF RAMS' SKINS DYED RED WAS A COVERING OF BADGERS' SKINS. These skins were probably dyed blue. Perhaps a part were dyed purple. If so there would be seen on the outside, as well as the inside, "the blue, purple, and scarlet." This outside covering teaches us that the Church is under the protection of heaven. The blue skins were over the red skins. Heaven only protects the blood marked. "Kept by the power of God." (R. E. Sears.) Parallel Verses KJV: Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work shalt thou make them. |
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