The Church in Types
by Fred Creel
VOL I THE CHURCH IN THE TABERNACLE
Copyright 2002

Introduction: Concerning Types and Shadows

Christ never intended to present ALL the details about the Kingdom in a single parable.
The story of Sarah and Hagar is an allegory of law or grace, yet it doesn’t presume to tell us all about either the law or grace.

Prophecy is filled with symbols. These add to its richness and to our understanding when rightly used, yet we must understand that one symbol, however vivid, cannot exhaust a subject.

Consider the seven headed ten horned beast of Rev 13:1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
Rev 13:2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority

Though exciting and informative, this certainly can't tell us ALL about the end-time world kingdom.
Neither can all the truths about the Lord’s church be learned from the Tabernacle nor can all the past suffering and the present ministry of Christ be learned from the sacrifices and the priesthood. However these Old Testament pictures help immensely to illustrate New Testament truths.

God uses types, parables, similes, symbols and allegories as teaching aids to impart truth and knowledge to man. Certain rules apply to the use of each of these. For the present we shall concern ourselves only with the use of types.

There are two extreme schools of thought concerning types. One sees a type in everything and attempts to build entire systems of theology upon these 'spiritualized realities'. The other denies the use of types altogether and in doing so, is robbed of many helps in understanding New Testament truths. Both these extremes should be avoided.

There IS a scriptural basis for the use of types. But let us not be as the one who tried to spiritualize the donkey on which Christ rode into Jerusalem, or as the one who attempted to find significance in the piece of broiled fish Jesus shared with his disciples following his resurrection!
Rom 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Here is a clear statement that there is a present use for the Old Testament but other scriptures must be examined to find what this use is. Jesus reminded his disciples, "These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me." Lu.24:44.

Romans 5:14 presents Adam as a type [tupos] of Christ. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

The things, which happened to Israel, were types of us.
1 Cor 10:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
1 Cor 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

It has been said that every New Testament truth can be found pictured in some Old Testament type. Whether this be true or not, there can be found in the Law, the Tabernacle, priesthood and sacrifices, pictures which can enrich our studies of Christ and his church. These same principles of types can then be used to illustrate the Lord and his Bride during the millennial reign as shown forth in Solomon's temple.

SOME GENERAL PRINCIPLES CONCERNING TYPES
These principles have been determined according to the four following rules of Biblical interpretation.
1. The Rule of Biblical Statement. When the Bible states a thing to be a type then it is in fact a type.

2. Rule of First Use or Mention. This is a very general rule, but one which can be helpful in various fields of Bible study. Simply stated; ‘the condition or application of a thing in its first mention in the Bible will often govern its subsequent use’.

3. The Rule of Pattern or Repeated Use. When something is mentioned or used repeatedly we search for consistency in the way it is used. A good example is FIRE. It is used often in the Law and long before the law.

If we apply rule #1, to I Cor.3:13-15 we see that fire tries our works at the judgment seat of Christ. "Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
1 Cor 3:14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1 Cor 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire." Again, in Heb 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire.
Still again, 2 Th 1:7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
2 Th 1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 Th 1:9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
2 Th 1:10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

According to Rule #1 then, it is quite easy to see that fire is indicative of, or pictures the judgment of God. It is by or through the medium of fire that he rejects, accepts or punishes. In any case his judgment is in action.

If Rule #2 is applied, we find fire first indicated in Gen 8:20 And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. Noah offered burnt offerings after the world had been destroyed in the flood. In accepting the offerings, God stated that he would not again curse the world because of man's sins. Gen 8:21 And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.

The second mention of fire is in Genesis 19:24. Here, God poured fire and brimstone upon Sodom and Gomorrah because of the wickedness of those cities. "Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;"

According to Rule #2 then, it is clear that Fire indicates or pictures the judgment of God in acceptance, rejection or punishment.

When Rule #3 is tested, the same conclusion must be reached in the dozens of times fire is mentioned in Exodus and in Leviticus. Sometimes it shows the acceptance of a sacrifice; at others it manifests a rejection, as at the destruction of Aaron's sons for their offering strange fire on the altar. "Lev 10:1 And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not.
Lev 10:2 And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD."

When Korah rebelled, God used fire to quell the insurgency. "Num 16:32 And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.
Num 16:33 They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.
Num 16:34 And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also.
Num 16:35 And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.
There seems to be no doubt that by this rule, fire is used to show forth the judgment of God as He accepts, rejects or punishes.

This brings us to Rule Number 4. This rule is of the utmost importance. It is the negative side of the positive in Rule #1. It is also the 'acid test' by which one can verify the conclusions reached in using rules #2 and #3.

The Rule of Scriptural Conformity. ‘ANYTHING USED AS A TYPE MUST CONFORM TO ALL REVEALED TRUTH’. When a decision is reached concerning fire as a type based upon rules 2 and 3, then the Word must be examined to see if that conclusion is in conflict with any clear teaching of any portion of the Scripture. If it is, then something was missed and one must start over.

There will be no attempt, at this point, to apply each of the rules to each of the following items, since to do so would make this work unnecessarily long. The reader is invited and even urged to do so, however.


CHAPTER ONE

A QUICK OVERVIEW:

The MATERIALS USED IN THE TABERNACLE HAD MEANING;

GOLD always signifies that which is divine. That which is pure gold is wholly divine and when used in connection with other materials it shows a union of the divine and that which is not.

SILVER. Its first use in connection with the tabernacle was the redemption money brought by the males from twenty years upward. It pictures some aspect of redemption

BRASS. Shows judgment met and satisfied.

SCARLET. This was a red dye made from either a worm or an insect. The color plainly indicates its meaning. It always presents something about the blood of Christ.

BLUE; This, being the heavenly color is used to present Christ as the Son of God from heaven. 1 Cor 15:47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.

PURPLE; Both Purple and blue were obtained from a shellfish of the area. The color has always been associated with royalty. In the case of types of Christ it shows him as King.

It is not a coincidence that in the color spectrum, purple is a hue made by the combining of red and blue. It took the Heavenly Son and his blood to qualify him as King of Kings as shown in 1 Tim 6:15 Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
Rev 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful

WHITE. This is usually mentioned as white linen and pictures righteousness. Rev 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

WOOD. This being a natural growth is used to show forth that which is human. In the use of wood being overlaid with gold, God is picturing the union of the human and divine.
This will have great importance when we look at such items as the ark, altar of incense and the Boards of the Tabernacle.

BADGER SKINS. Some say these were actually seal skins but whatever they were they provided a protective cover which safeguarded the tabernacle from the sandblasting effect of the "howling wilderness" and they vividly portray the tough, unyielding nature of Christ as he withstood temptation in order that he might minister to us. Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

BIBLE NUMBERS
It has long been acknowledged that the use of Bible numbers has significance. Here are but a few of the numbers which will have a bearing on the study of these types.
THREE - Represents the Trinity.
FOUR - The number of those things created.
FIVE - A number which always depicts some aspect of Grace.
SIX - Things which relate to man or things pertaining to man.
SEVEN - The number of divine perfection or completeness.
EIGHT - The number of regeneration or a new beginning.
TEN - A number used to signify human government.
TWELVE - Specifies divine government,
FORTY - A number associated with testing or judgment.

THE TABERNACLE AND ITS FURNISHINGS
In broad and general terms the types are as follows:

The COURTYARD -
From the outside it pictured salvation available,and from the inside, salvation assured.
The white linen was held upright by pillars of brass which were crowned with silver.
This showed a combination of righteousness, judgment and redemption to be found in Christ. It separated the place of worship and service from the camp of the people, while the wide gates seemed to invite all who will to come on God's terms with the proper sacrifice.

The TABERNACLE- Jacob had named a place in an open field, ‘Bethel’ or 'the House of God’. The first structure ever erected to be known as His house was the Tabernacle. It was built by God's order and to his specifications. Exo 25:8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.
Exo 25:9 According to all that I show thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.
And , Heb 8:5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount.

This Tabernacle prefigured the present day house of God and Paul tells us exactly what this is. 1 Tim 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

The HOLY OF HOLIES - Pictured the present throne of God. As only the High Priest entered into this place, even so, now our high priest alone can enter but we can go through him. Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

The BOARDS OF THE TABERNACLE - A wonderful picture of the members of a New Testament Church! Humans made partakers of the divine nature through the new birth and fitted for service.

The SILVER SOCKETS - The redemption upon which every member securely rests.

The BARS – Represented the fellowship and specific doctrines which hold the church together against the storms of heresy which rage outside.

The ALTAR of BRASS- This was the place of sacrifice and pictured the cross of Christ.

The LAVER - The upper part shows the position of baptism, between the cross and church membership; the lower part or foot typifies a place of daily spiritual cleansing.

The CURTAINS - There can be no doubt that the curtains at the outer gate and at the door of the tent and into the Holy of Holies each picture Christ, the Door.

SOCKETS of BRASS - At the entrance to the Tabernacle.
Here is judgment at the door of the church. John the Baptist was only carrying out that which was pictured here when he demanded that those who would be baptized bear 'fruits meet for repentance'.

The TABLE OF SHEWBREAD - It illustrates the position of the Lord's supper placed on the inside of the Lord's Church and available only to those priests who qualified.

The CANDLESTICK or LAMPSTAND- The Word of God giving light on the INSIDE of the church,

The GOLDEN ALTAR OF INCENSE. - A special place of prayer on the inside of the church and accessible only to those meeting the requirements to serve there.

The CLOUD - The Holy Spirit as He leads the church.
The personal presence of God in Christ with his special people.

THE SACRIFICES AND OFFERINGS
Each of the sacrifices and offerings is a special view of the work of Christ in our behalf.

A BULLOCK- A male of the herd. The strong, dominant, burden bearing one
A RAM - pictures Christ as the leader of his flock.
A DOVE- The gentle, inoffensive Son of God from heaven.
A GOAT- Shows Christ as our substitute.

The HYSSOP - This was a desert shrub that had cleansing or detergent qualities when soaked in water. It has other uses but this is the primary one in types.
Its use to sprinkle the blood, showed forth the cleansing power of the blood of Christ.

The PASSOVER - typifies Christ as the lamb slain for us. 1 Cor 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

The ASHES of the RED HEIFER- Christ as the cleansing agent preparing us for communion with God. Heb 9:13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
Heb 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Eph 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.]

The SIN OFFERING - This was an offering for 'sins done ignorantly'. We often sin without realizing it. Infants and the mentally deficient do wrong but are not aware of it. This law covers the 'adamic' sin, as well as those of us who are often not aware of the wrong we do.

The TRESPASS OFFERING - After salvation, we sometimes sin knowingly in spite of the Spirit within and our best intentions. To provide for this kind of offense we have Christ as he is typified in the Trespass Offering. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The ATONEMENT OFFERING - On this day, two goats were used. Together they illustrated the work of Christ as he took away the sin of the world. One goat died and the other lived. It took them both to show forth the one who died and yet lives to make intercession for us.

THE PRIESTHOOD
Though the Tabernacle was magnificent and the offerings sufficient, neither was of any benefit until a priesthood was appointed to offer the sacrifices and minister in the tabernacle. Aaron was chosen by God to be the High Priest. While he lived, no other could fill the office. His ministry is compared to Christ, our High priest both by similarity and in contrast.
Aaron's sons ministered daily about the tabernacle and were typical of the members of the Lord's churches as they labor in His service.

The white linen worn by both Aaron and his sons showed the perfect righteousness of our priest and that which he imputes to us. The 'robes of Glory and Beauty' [Exo 28:2 And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty..] illustrate that for which Christ prayed; John 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify the me with thine own self with the glory which I had with the before the world was.

On the day they were to enter their life's work as priests, Aaron and his sons had the anointing oil poured over their heads as a part of the ceremony. The 133rd Psalm makes this declaration; Psa 133:1 A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
Psa 133:2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;
Psa 133:3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.
How could we better describe and picture the precious fellowship between our High Priest and those who labor in his service?

The FEASTS AND HOLY DAYS

Rounding out the religious lives of Israel were the various feasts and Holy Days.

The PASSOVER had been initiated in Egypt and was to be observed annually.
Lev 23:4 These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.
Lev 23:5 In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the Lord's passover.

This feast served to remind them of God's provision in providing both protection and delivery from the land of bondage. It also served to foreshadow the Lamb of God that was to take away the sin of the world. John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
I Cor.5:7 For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
They were instructed as to the offerings to be offered after they entered the Promised Land.

The OFFERING OF THE FIRST FRUITS
Lev 23:10 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:
Lev 23:11 And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.
Lev 23:12 And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto the LORD.
Lev 23:13 And the meat offering thereof shall be two tenth deals of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering made by fire unto the LORD for a sweet savour: and the drink offering thereof shall be of wine, the fourth part of an hin.
Lev 23:14 And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears, until the selfsame day that ye have brought an offering unto your God: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

This was called a 'Sheaf Offering' and consisted of a handful of the first grain of the harvest. It was to be waved before the Lord, that he might accept it and through it, bless the entire harvest. Christ is the first fruits of the resurrection [Lev 23:10 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:
Lev 23:11 And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.
Lev 23:12 And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto the LORD.
Lev 23:13 And the meat offering thereof shall be two tenth deals of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering made by fire unto the LORD for a sweet savour: and the drink offering thereof shall be of wine, the fourth part of an hin.
Lev 23:14 And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears, until the selfsame day that ye have brought an offering unto your God: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
1 Cor 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. Christ, as the firstfruits of the resurrection, has appeared before God and now we have the assurance of our own resurrection and acceptance in our glorified bodies, through him.

The Feast of PENTECOST; Lev 23:15 And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete:
Lev 23:16 Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD.
Lev 23:17 Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the LORD.
Lev 23:18 And ye shall offer with the bread seven lambs without blemish of the first year, and one young bullock, and two rams: they shall be for a burnt offering unto the LORD, with their meat offering, and their drink offerings, even an offering made by fire, of sweet savour unto the LORD.
Lev 23:19 Then ye shall sacrifice one kid of the goats for a sin offering, and two lambs of the first year for a sacrifice of peace offerings.
Lev 23:20 And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits for a wave offering before the LORD with the two lambs: they shall be holy to the LORD for the priest.
Lev 23:21 And ye shall proclaim on the selfsame day, that it may be an holy convocation unto you: ye shall do no servile work therein: it shall be a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations.
This feast prefigured the events recorded in the second chapter of Acts.

Following the instructions for the Feast of Pentecost, God gave the instructions for the main harvest. Lev 23:22 And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I am the LORD your God.

Jesus told the church in John 4:35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
He also told them in Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
When he said this, the resurrection [First fruits] was over and Pentecost had not come, but when PENTECOST was past then the harvest was to begin in earnest. We are now laboring in it.

The MEMORIAL OF THE BLOWING OF TRUMPETS;
Lev 23:23 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Lev 23:24 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation.
Lev 23:25 Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

Here is a happy time for those who hear the sound of the trumpet! The harvest is over and we shall hear the trumpet sound. 1 Cor 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1 Cor 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1 Cor 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

DAYS of ATONEMENT AND AFFLICTION; Lev 23:26 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Lev 23:27 Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
Lev 23:28 And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God.
Lev 23:29 For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.
Lev 23:30 And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people.
Lev 23:31 Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
Lev 23:32 It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.

Following the Resurrection, there will come a time for Israel, known as the time of Jacob's trouble. This will be the time to finally make an end of Israel’s punishment for their rejection of the Messiah and disobedience to God. Dan 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy. This is the tribulation, which shall end with Israel finally brought back to their full relationship with God. Rom 11:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
Rom 11:23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.
Rom 11:24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?
Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Rom 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
Rom 11:27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

The FEAST of TABERNACLES; Lev 23:33 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Lev 23:34 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD.

This was the most joyous of all the feasts. After the affliction of the previous feast, this was quite a contrast. Neh.8:9 And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.

What a happy time awaits us as we enter the glorious thousand-year reign of our Christ!
Then we shall rejoice as we sit down, look back and recall all he did for us on the journey and through the long harvest.

All of these feasts and memorials were to be observed at their appointed times annually, and were types of those events which were to take place once and only once in
God's great plan. This was true also of those offerings, which were to be offered annually, such as the

PASSOVER and the DAY OF ATONEMENT.
These showed forth the offering of Christ for sin and we are told in Heb 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Heb 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Other sacrifices were to be offered daily or continually. These pictured his continual work for us and our daily obligations to him.

SALT was to be added to every offering.[Lev 2:13 And every oblation of thy meat offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt.] From our own experience we know that salt enhances the flavor of our food. We know too, of its preserving qualities and the need of our bodies for it in the proper amounts. The most significant thing about this requirement of the Law however, was the significance of salt in the customs of the area and people. When salt was eaten with a meal in company with another, a covenant of friendship was established. It is to this covenant that God refers in
Num 18:19 All the heave offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer unto the LORD, have I given thee, and thy sons and thy daughters with thee, by a statute for ever: it is a covenant of salt for ever before the LORD unto thee and to thy seed with thee.

In such a covenant the parties will never do harm to one another, nor will they go against their promises.
[2 Chr 13:5 Ought ye not to know that the LORD God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to David for ever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt?]

God will keep his side of the bargain, and the seriousness with which he looks upon our keeping it, is illustrated in the account of the broken vows of Ananias and Sapphira in the 5th chapter of the book of Acts.
Num 30:2 If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.
Deu 23:21 When thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the LORD thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee.
Eccl 5:4 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.
Eccl 5:5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.

Perhaps we should all take stock of the promises we've made to God over the years.
Even if we forget them, God doesn't, and sooner or later he WILL demand an accounting!.

CHAPTER TWO

FELLOWSHIP- the SOVEREIGNTY of GOD and the FREEWILL of MAN
After describing the offerings, which the children of Israel should bring, God's instructions were very explicit. Exo 25:8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.
Exo 25:9 According to all that I show thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.

In examining the Tabernacle and its service, there is no better thought with which to begin. The writer of the book of Hebrews referred to the final verse of this same chapter of Exodus. Heb 8:5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount.

In these verses the following thoughts stand out.
1.God has a desire for fellowship with his people.
2.As with any real fellowship it must be mutually desired .
3.Since God is holy and omnipotent there can be no compromise. It must be on his terms.
As we enlarge upon the first thought, we reflect upon God's relationship with man up to this point in history.
Creation itself was a manifestation of God's desire for fellowship. Gen 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. Surely there can be no doubt that he could have created any kind of being he desired. Why, then, did he choose to bring forth a creature with the built-in possibility of sinning? Why not a being who could do nothing but worship and adore his creator?
The answer is simple enough. Such a being might have been a remarkable worshipping machine, but there is no fellowship to be had with a machine, however well and faithfully it might function. For real fellowship, there must always be present at least the possibility of disagreement. For this reason it was essential that man be given a free will.

God will never use his omnipotent power to override man's will in order that fellowship might be either attained, retained or restored when broken. We might hold a gun on a person and demand fellowship, but the best to be hoped for would be a grudging agreement.
When Jesus was berated and threatened by the Jews for calling himself the Son of God, he reminded them of an Old Testament statement; John 10:34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? His reference was to a passage found in the Psalms; Psa 82:1 A Psalm of Asaph. God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods. To think that this might refer to the gods of the heathen would make him break his own first commandment. This is inconceivable. A further look into this Psalm shows that it was the people to whom he referred. Psa 82:6 I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.
Psa 82:7 But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.

In the 22nd chapter of Exodus, God gave instructions as to the method of judging some of the everyday disputes which would arise among the people. He tells those who are to act as judges, how to render just decisions and in verse 28, speaks to the people about their respect for those who judge; Exo 22:28 Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people. The gods who are not to be reviled in this case are those judges who have rendered their decisions.

One of the attributes of God is his ability to make decisions. He decided to create the heaven and the earth. Blind chance could never have made this choice. He chose to make the earth fit for human life. In all the order of the universe there is the evidence of God selecting the best options for the intended purpose.

In creating man, He made a purposeful decision to give to this portion of his creation, a divine attribute, which is shared by no other part of the material creation. He gave to man the ability to make decisions, a free will, if you please, so that while all the creation might declare his glory, only man has the potential to share in it through fellowship with him.

When sin entered through Adam's disobedience it was the result of a wrong choice. The fellowship was broken. Seth became the first of a line of men in which fellowship was restored. When the men of this lineage looked upon the 'daughters of men' [those in the lineage of Cain] and took wives of them, it was in disobedience. The choice was made and fellowship was broken.
Fellowship was finally restored as Noah made the choice to obey God and prepared an ark for the saving of his household. It was broken again when men decided to build a tower that would reach into heaven. God was forced to scatter them abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

Abraham made a conscious decision to obey God
[Rom 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.] Through his obedience, fellowship was restored and a nation was founded.

In each of these instances, man's will had to be exercised in order that fellowship be restored.
During their enslavement in Egypt we are not told much about the relationship of Israel with God. It is clear, however, that while God had made every provision for their delivery, even to having a man [Moses] waiting, prepared for the job, and a plan ready, they were not delivered until they exercised their free will in a way which was compatible with God's desires.
Exo 2:23 And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.
Exo 2:24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
Exo 2:25 And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.

It was only after they exercised the ability to make a choice and cried out, that God notified the man who had been waiting in Midian for forty years, that the time of deliverance had indeed come. Exo 3:7 And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;
Exo 3:8 And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
Exo 3:9 Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.

Even the Passover ,which was to be the means of their final deliverance from bondage, required that each man decide for himself that it be offered.
Since fellowship has in it, the idea of willing association, it is no chance choice of words which is used as God issues the instructions for the gathering of the material for his house. His desire is to dwell in the midst of his people and to have fellowship with them, but they too, must be willing. Thus the instructions are given, Exo 25:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.

God's desire for fellowship is also dependent upon the second thought; It must be willing and desired by both parties.
As we extend these thoughts into our present day relationship with God it is evident that he still has a desire to have fellowship with man and to dwell with him. This relationship is still dependent upon man’s willingness to enter into it on God's terms. He will not force himself and his companionship upon man.

This is true in the plan of salvation. God's desire is; 1 Tim 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. And yet in order that the divine attribute of freewill be protected, it is necessary that man must exercise it. Rev 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. While the Holy Spirit convicts and draws all men [
John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.] only those who WILL believe receive eternal life.

After salvation,it is God's desire that we should serve him in a New Testament Church, but he has never forced this service. It was to express this truth, that Jesus said, "Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house." Mat.5:15. It is certainly the sensible thing to do, but one must decide for himself and perform it. IT MUST BE WILLING SERVICE. 2 Cor 8:11 Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.
2 Cor 8:12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

Willingness is not ALL there is to it, however in service to God. It must also be done exactly as He commands. As the tabernacle was the house of God then, the church is His house now.
1 Tim 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. Peter expressed it, 1 Pet 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. It would be strange indeed, if God were to be so particular about the tabernacle, the priesthood and its sacrifices that he cautioned Moses to build everything according to the divine pattern; that He killed Nadab and Abihu when they deviated from the prescribed service as priests; that He rejected the sacrifices of the entire nation, according to Malachi, because they didn't meet his standards, and THEN, in the Lord’s Church, the REAL HOUSE and the anti-type of the tabernacle, allow men to build anything they desire, offer anything which strikes their fancy and serve any way they choose! [Prov 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.]

God still desires fellowship with His creatures. It must still be on a willing basis. but it must still be on HIS terms. The idea that God leaves man great latitude to decide for himself the terms of his worship and service is a discredit to God. In fact it comes dangerously close to the action of Lucifer as described in the 14th chapter of Isaiah. He wanted to exceed his designated authority and become greater than God. Since God gave us the power of choice, we must be careful lest we too, try to rise above the throne of the most high by saying that the power of choice enables us to make decisions which will be binding on God.

God has determined the plan of salvation by which man can be saved. There can be no other.[Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.]

He has appointed the place of our acceptable service in his church; There is no other satisfactory place.[Eph 3:21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.] He has determined the qualifications of those who should serve him in various positions, and no man has the authority to change or to lower these requirements.

CHAPTER THREE

THE PASSOVER AND THE RED SEA
Exo 25:8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.
Exo 25:9 According to all that I show thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.

From the time the tabernacle was erected until they crossed the Jordan into Canaan, the life of every Israelite was to revolve around it. The journey was to resume when the cloud lifted from it. The nation was to rest when the cloud stopped and the tabernacle pitched. Every family in the congregation was to raise its tent in a certain, appointed place in relation to the tabernacle. All worship of God was to be through the Tabernacle and its ministry. If one sinned, the prescribed offering for that sin must be brought to the tabernacle. What a glorious lesson for us who have access to the present day house of God, the Lord's church!

Our entire life and that of our households should revolve around it. Many wasted lives could have had happy purpose, had they only been planned around the house of God. Many parents, of children who are out of service, weep as they recall how they got away from the Lord and his accepted service during the formative years of their children. Sometimes career, personal ambition or even pleasure takes the place of God's house and his service in the life of the child of God and later he wonders, "Why the emptiness?"

Who are these who have embarked on such a Holy undertaking? They are the descendants of Noah through his son, Shem, thence are among those known as Semites. They are in the lineage of Abraham through Isaac and thus are of the children of promise. They are the children of Jacob whose name was changed to Israel by God
[Gen 32:28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.] Therefore they are known as Israelites. They are the ones whose fathers had promised Joseph they would bring his bones with them when they departed the land of Egypt.
Gen 50:26 So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.] It is to them that the land of Canaan had been promised.[Gen 50:25 And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.
Gen 12:2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
Gen 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
Gen 12:4 So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.
Gen 12:5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came. Gen 12:6 And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.
Gen 12:7 And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.
Gen 13:14 And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:
Gen 13:15 For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.
Gen 13:16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.
Gen 13:17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.
Gen 15:18 In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:
Gen 26:4 And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;
Gen 26:5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.

They are the nation in which God had chosen to place his name. They are the ones who had been delivered from their former state of slavery by the blood of the Passover sacrifice and led out of bondage by the cloud.
These things and everything which follows is of great significance to us. [Rom 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.]

During the personal ministry of Christ, some of their descendants seemingly searched for their roots as they averred, "John 8:33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?" It is indeed strange that those who so religiously observed the Passover with great pomp and ceremony each year would deny the very reason the first Passover was offered!

Yet it is no stranger than those of today who insist upon observing Good Friday the supposed day of the crucifixion, or Easter for the resurrection and at the same time deny their own bondage to sin and the need for their own deliverance. It was to those who so answered Jesus that the answer came, John 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin." His answer is valid today for those who refuse to admit their own sinfulness and thus their bondage to sin.

When the bondage for Israel became unbearable, they cried out to God and he heard their cries. He had the leader waiting, and the time was ripe. One of the truly great events in the history of man was about to unfold. God had said to Abram many years before, Gen 15:13"And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;
Gen 15:14 And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance."
As types of us, this reminds us that we too were sold into the bondage of sin, yet a deliverer was promised who would bruise the head of that old serpent, the devil. Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

This redeemer was promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. When all was ready, Christ,who stood as a lamb, slain from the foundation of the world Rev 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world came forth. Gal 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Gal 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Though all the plagues upon Egypt are worthy of study, we will now concentrate our efforts upon that last and worst of all, the death of the firstborn.

The death angel was to pass over the land. All who are not protected by Gods own provision will feel the tragic results. The first-born of every family and every animal will die. In the previous plagues, it was Moses and Aaron who, by the power of God, limited their extent, so that the Land of Goshen, where Israel dwelt, did not feel the results.

Now comes the most awful pestilence of all and there is no geographical protection. The death angel is to pass over ALL the land and the escape from its effects is left to the head of each family. A decision must be made; apply the blood or allow the firstborn to die!.

Since we are told in I Cor.5:7,"For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us" there can be no doubt as to the lesson God would have us to learn from this event. Here are some of the ways in which the Passover typified Christ:

1.It was to be a male of the first year. Exo 12:5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats.
Isaiah declared he was to be the Son of God; Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
He then informs us that he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter; Isa. 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
John the Baptist declared, concerning him, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." John 1:29.

2. As the lamb was to die in its first year or before it reached its full maturity, even so was Christ to die without living out the normal life span. Isa 53:8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

3.It was to be without blemish. "Exo 12:5 Your lamb shall be without blemish,"
Even so, Jesus was without sin. Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

From the temptation in the wilderness and all through his life, he was faced with one situation after another. Any of these might well have caused most of us to throw up our hands and quit or use any power at our disposal to give vent to the natural inclinations of the human nature. But Jesus so conducted himself, that no fault could be found in him, even by his enemies. He was truly as Peter described him; 1 Pet 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

4.The lamb was specified as one to be taken out of the flock. Ex,12:5
It was essential that Christ should take upon himself the likeness of sinful flesh in order that he might condemn sin in the flesh.[Rom.8:3 God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:]

Man had sinned against God. He had been condemned because of that sin; [Ezek 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.] It is impossible that the blood of animals could take away sin; [Heb 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.] It would have been impossible for a spirit or angelic being to do the job since it required a blood offering.[Heb 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

Man could not pay for his own sin and yet live, since death was the only acceptable penalty nor could any man redeem his brother;[Psa 49:7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:
Psa 49:8 (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)
Psa 49:9 That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.]

There was only one answer to the dilemma; The Son of God must come in the flesh, do nothing worthy of death, and yet die for man. He must become one of the flock. That he did precisely, as is recorded in Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Heb 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Heb 2:16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
Heb 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Heb 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

5.The Passover lamb was not to be chosen on the spur of the moment, but was selected beforehand and set aside for the purpose. Exo 12:3 Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:
Exo 12:4 And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.
Exo 12:5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:
Exo 12:6 And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.

Even so, our Passover lamb, Jesus Christ, was not an afterthought with the Father but was planned ahead.
1 Pet 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
1 Pet 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
1 Pet 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

6.The lamb was to be separated from the flock, shut up and examined. Exo 12:6 And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.
After Jesus had been taken from his flock in the Garden of Gethsemene, scourged, mocked and thoroughly examined, Pilate was forced to admit, "And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all." John 18:38.

Indeed, the perfection of Christ in his earthly life is all the more apparent because his lack of blemish is attested to, not by his friends, but by those who would dearly have loved to have found some fault in him

During his teaching ministry, they questioned him, thinking to find fault through his answers; "Shall we pay tribute to Caesar?" His answer was, "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesars, and unto God the things that are God's". To have answered, "yes" would have left him open to a charge of breaking the Law of Moses and a "no" would have allowed them to accuse him before the Roman authorities of inciting insurrection against Caesar. They went away disappointed that their efforts at entrapment had failed.

The same thing happened when they brought to him the woman they claimed to have caught in the act of adultery. To have ordered her stoned would have again placed him in the position of circumventing the laws of Rome, and to say "turn her free' would have placed him in opposition to the Law of Moses. His answer thwarted their devious desires; [John 8:6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
John 8:7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
John 8:8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
John 8:9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.] All they succeeded in doing was to be convicted of their own faults. There is no doubt that our Passover Lamb was found to be without blemish after the most thorough examination.

7.The Blood of the lamb was to be shed and applied.[Exo 12:7 And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.] Note:: only a few of the New Testament references to the blood of Christ and its power when applied should serve to silence forever those who would claim that salvation is by works instead of by the shed blood of Christ.
"Mat 26:27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
Mat 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." Thus spoke Christ as he prepared his church for the next day’s events. We are still reminded of that precious blood, every time we follow his instructions in observing this ordinance in a scriptural manner.

Concerning the blood of the passover in Egypt, we read,Exo 12:13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.

It is no coincidence that John, as he prepares to pen down the visions of the plagues to come upon the earth in the last days, praises our passover with the words,"Rev 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood."
Nor is it by chance that he is praised in the heavens as the Lamb.
Rev 5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
Rev 5:7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
Rev 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
Rev 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
Rev 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
Rev 5:11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
Rev 5:12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
Rev 5:13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
Rev 5:14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

8. One of the more amazing details concerning the type and its fulfillment in Christ is this.
Exo 12:46 In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof.

Consider this carefully. While there may have been some spiritual significance in the bones not being broken, let us look for now, only to the fact itself.

David made a prophecy of the same thing; Psa 34:20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.
The same admonition to break no bone of the offering was repeated as the people prepared to observe the event as a memorial in the wilderness. Num 9:12 They shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor break any bone of it: according to all the ordinances of the passover they shall keep it.

Now turn to Calvary! Christ, our Passover hangs on the cross. His blood has been shed for our sins. The method of death is ancient. The Egyptians, the Persians and the Assyrians as well as others had practiced it. Had the crucifixion of Christ taken place under the reign of one of these, there might have been nothing remarkable about his bones not being broken. The usual method of death was long, and torturous. The victim was allowed to die a death, which might well take two or three days, and afterward, the body be allowed to hang on the cross for the vultures to consume.

The Romans, however, in order to pacify the Jews, made concessions to their religious laws. Because of the prohibition found in, Deu 21:22 " And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree:
Deu 21:23 His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance." It is clear that the body must be removed and buried the same day. Therefore, the Romans had revised the method to hasten death by breaking the legs of the crucified so that he couldn't raise himself on the nails in his feet and gasp for breath and so keep living until perhaps gangrene or some other trauma brought death. Because of this acquiescence on the part of the Romans, our Passover was in jeopardy!

If he is allowed to remain on the cross, the Law of Moses will be broken. If his legs are broken he cannot qualify as our Passover!. It is at this point that we read with joy Johns' account of the event.
John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
John 19:31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
John 19:32 Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.
John 19:33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:
John 19:34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.
John 19:35 And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.
John 19:36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.

9. The Passover was to be roasted with fire. Exo 12:8 And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.
Exo 12:9 Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof.

We established earlier that fire is a type of the judgment of God in either acceptance or after trial, rejection or punishment. Each of these applies to our Passover in some measure.

In punishment, he was sure punished for our sins.
Psa 22:14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
Psa 22:15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
Psa 22:16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
Psa 22:17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
1 Pet 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Is not rejection also to be found as he dies with our sins upon him? Surely no more poignant words ever fell from human lips than those our Lord spoke from the cross. Of these, the most heart wrenching of all, were those he spoke at about the ninth hour, "Mat 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

As the bearer of our sins, the fire of God's rejection fell on his son and the father turned away from him.
Yet acceptance too is found. Isa 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

10.A sense of urgency is imparted in the instructions as to the eating of the Passover in Egypt. Exo 12:11 And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD'S passover.

This same sense of urgency is communicated to us in the New Testament concerning Christ. As to the urgency of Salvation; 2 Cor 6:2 For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

As to the same need to be busy in service, Jesus instructed his disciples, "John 4:35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then comet harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest." Just as they were to partake of their Passover with their staffs in their hands and their shoes on their feet, even so must we be ready to move out with our feet shod with the 'preparation of the Gospel of peace'.

The hearts of Pharoah and his people were broken. Never before in the history of man, had slaves been freed in this manner. There were six hundred thousand men of Israel, besides the women and children. They took with them their cattle and flocks. God had placed it in the heart of the Egyptian people to give them wages for their years of labor and they left with a great deal of the wealth of Egypt. As they set out on their journey, not even a dog barked in protest to their leaving! God was keeping his promise to bring them forth with great substance. Gen 15:14 And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.

THE JOURNEY BEGINS

As they come forth from their dwellings in the land of Goshen on the morning after the death angel has passed over the land, a new phenomenon greets their eyes. It is the cloud, which will guide them for the next forty years. Exo 13:21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:
Exo 13:22 He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.

What a wonderful depiction of the work of the Holy Spirit in our behalf! He still leads those who are protected by the blood of the Lamb; Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

When Jesus prepared to leave his church he promised to send them the comforter, and one of his jobs would be to lead them into all truth. John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.

After one has had the blood applied, he must have some direction in his life. How is he to determine it? Some say he receives no instruction or leadership until after baptism. If this were true, then how is he led TO baptism? Those leaving Egypt could only follow the cloud if they followed it each step of the way.

If they had refused to follow and had returned into Egypt or had taken another path than that chosen by the Lord, they would have forfeited the leadership he had provided. After men are saved today, they will be led to the waters of scriptural baptism and into service to the Lord if they are willing to follow. If not, they too must forfeit his leadership. At the very outset of the journey they came to the Red Sea. 1 Cor 10:2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea.

The Holy Spirit still follows the divine plan. First the passover blood was applied and then came the experience of the Red Sea or baptism. The type clearly points out the New Testament truth that one must be saved before baptism. The cloud pictured the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Since the Holy Spirit does not lead lost people to perform righteous deeds, he cannot lead lost men to be baptized any more than he could have led those to the Red Sea who had not applied the blood of the passover lamb.

It doesn't take a great deal of imagination to picture the events in Egypt on that first morning after the Passover. If the cloud had not been present, the freed slaves would have not known which way to go. It could easily have been complete confusion until the army of Pharaoh had time to recover from the shock of the deaths of all the firstborn and round up the milling slaves before they had a chance to leave. Surely they would have put them back to work at increasingly grievous tasks. But the cloud was there, even as the Holy Spirit stands ready today to lead all those who have been delivered from the bondage of sin by the blood of the Lamb.

The cloud did not lead them on the most direct route toward the Promised Land! Sometimes he seems to be leading us contrary to the way we think we should go but we must remember that he knows what we don't.

The journey out of Egypt is described in Exodus chapter 13. It shows that after a short trip in the right direction, they turn sharply to the south and away from the Promised Land!

Though God knew His ability to give victory to the people, he also knew their weaknesses and so took them into the wilderness that they might have time to prepare for the battles ahead. Exo 13:17 And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:
Exo 13:18 But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red Sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.

At the beginning of our Christian lives we may have a lot of zeal, but we might not have the stamina or the fortitude to overcome the obstacles necessary to do our greatest work for the Lord. We too must wander in the wilderness until the proper lessons have been learned, and only then are we prepared to face our real life work with complete confidence in him who called us.

We have already stated that the Red Sea experience for Israel was a type of baptism for God's people today. It is also a fact that salvation must precede baptism. What then, of the words of Moses "Exo 14:13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will show to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever."

There is one thing of which we must be absolutely sure if the study of types are to benefit us at all; OLD TESTAMENT TYPES MUST ALWAYS BE CONSISTENT WITH NEW TESTAMENT TRUTHS. It follows then, that the salvation of which Moses speaks, must be something other that the eternal salvation of the soul. And so it does, and the account given in the 14th chapter of Exodus clearly says so. Keep in mind that the blood of the Passover lamb had provided their escape from the death angel, which was the judgment of God. However, until they crossed over the Nile River or the Red sea they were still in Pharaoh’s territory.

This is as the position of those who have accepted the divine offer of salvation in Christ, but have not committed their lives to him. They are children of promise still living in the land of carnal desire.

As the Red Sea was the point of their final departure from Egypt, so the waters of baptism are to be the putting behind of OUR old life and the beginning of a new walk.
Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Rom 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Rom 6:8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
Rom 6:9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
Rom 6:10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
Rom 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Rom 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Rom 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
Rom 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

This fits precisely with the statement made in Exo 14:30 Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.

Satan desires to keep every saved person out of the service of God and in subjection to him, if at all possible, that he might destroy their lives and influence.
Jesus said as much to Peter, "And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:" Luke 22:31.
While Baptism doesn't guarantee a Christian a life without temptation, it does mark the beginning of a new walk and should be the commencement of a journey of victory and commitment.

It was at this point that Israel sang their first victory song;
Exo 15:1 Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
Exo 15:2 The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.
Exo 15:3 The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.
Exo 15:4 Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea.
Exo 15:5 The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone.
Exo 15:6 Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.
Exo 15:7 And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble.
Exo 15:8 And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.
Exo 15:9 The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.
Exo 15:10 Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters.
Exo 15:11 Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?
Exo 15:12 Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them.
Exo 15:13 Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation.
Exo 15:14 The people shall hear, and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina.
Exo 15:15 Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away.
Exo 15:16 Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased.
Exo 15:17 Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established.
Exo 15:18 The LORD shall reign for ever and ever.
Exo 15:19 For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought again the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea.
Exo 15:20 And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.
Exo 15:21 And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.

No, baptism does not bring about freedom from the sentence of death, only the blood of Christ can do that, but it can and should be the beginning of a life of great victory and separation. The Red Sea placed that final barrier between Israel and Egypt.

The only defeats suffered from this point onward until the final crossing of the Jordan into the Promised Land came about when they refused to follow Moses and the leadership of the cloud.

CHAPTER FOUR

THROUGH THE WILDERNESS, FOLLOWING THE CLOUD

Some great lessons on the leadership of the Holy Spirit for us today can be had from the experiences of Israel as they followed the cloud.

Moses was the man appointed to guide them, but he never led them apart or away from the cloud. The Ark of the Covenant was to be, when it was built, the most holy, thus, important article in their possession, but until the forty years were finished and they stood on the eastern bank of Jordan, across from Jericho, it moved in the middle of the line of march. It was always the cloud, which led the way.

Jesus said, Mat 18:20 " For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." and, "lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." Mat.28:20. Yet he also assured us of the leadership of the Holy Spirit. John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.
John 16:14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.
John 16:15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you.
John 16:16 A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.

Baptists, like other religious groups, have men in their pasts of whom they are justly proud. However, we must not forget that the Lord's churches have not endured through the centuries by virtue of the strength of character of men, but we are still around because of this provision made by our Lord. Through the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, he has not only maintained his presence with each local church, but has also provided a constant and unerring source of guidance and instruction. By this, His Church is still moving through the wilderness, heading for the Promised Land!

How readily the people forgot their blessings, their rejoicing and their victories! After the Red Sea, only three days passed and they began to murmur. Things were not the bed of roses they had envisioned.
Exo 15:22 So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.
Exo 15:23 And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.
Exo 15:24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?
Exo 15:25 And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD showed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,

How like so many that are young in the faith! Salvation is the greatest thing they have ever experienced . They entered service at the time of their baptism with zeal and determination which they were sure could never be diminished, but somehow things were not what they expected. The ones to whom they witness aren't eager to hear; The old temptations and desires suddenly try to come back to life. Something is wrong, but what is it?
The bitter waters of Marah pictured the first lesson the Holy Spirit would have us to learn. It is sad to think of the many who never find victory in their Christian lives because they can't seem to leave their figurative 'Marahs'.

After the event of the past few days it must have seemed devastating to the Israelites that anything could go wrong, but they suddenly find there are still obstacles to surmount. They still need God’s help!

Children of God still have a tendency to think, sometimes, that one or two victories make them invincible. Then, when something goes sour, it's so easy to think that something is wrong with the leadership He has provided.

What is the answer when the waters of life become bitter? The same as it was for them at Marah. God showed to Moses a tree. When the tree was cut down and cast into the water, the water became sweet.

Whatever the cause of the bitterness, there is a tree which can make them sweet again. It is that tree upon which our Lord suffered and died, the cross. It was not by accident that Paul spoke of the power of the cross in his own life, Gal 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. Though he accomplished many things in his life and ministry and had suffered more than most others are ever called upon to do, yet he learned that it was not only made bearable but joyful through the cross of Christ.
Phil 2:17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
Phil 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Phil 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

The time of our passing from death into life and the occasion of following the Lord in Baptism and uniting with one of the Lord's churches and any other victories are all precious memories, but we must beware lest they cause us to become overconfident or filled with pride.
When we think that we have become all that God wants us to be, it is time to add the cross to our thinking. If we fail to do so, we are destined to sample the bitter waters again and again until the lesson is learned.

It seemed difficult for them to learn the complete dependence upon God for their needs. How easy it was to forget the great supply of the past, when faced with the needs of the present and immediate future!

When all seemed lost in Egypt God had provided the Passover;
When destruction seemed imminent at the Red Sea, God opened the waters;
When there was nothing to be had but the bitter water, He sweetened them.
Then just as they found themselves in the pleasant situation of water, shade and dates at the oasis of Elim, the cloud began to move!
Exo 15:27 And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.
Exo 16:1 And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt.

Instead of the pleasant situation of Elam they find themselves in the desolate wilderness of Sin.
How soon they forgot the power God had manifested toward them in the past. Forgotten is the agony of their former slavery in Egypt! Instead they remember the food they had eaten as slaves. It seems inconceivable to us that they might desire to return to that life, but that is exactly what they desired to do, so great was their despair.
Exo 16:3 And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.

Before we hastily condemn them for what we are sure we would never do, perhaps we should examine our own thoughts and actions. Have we not all experienced wild swings of spiritual mood?

Peter was, perhaps, the prime biblical example of this human trait being enacted in a child of God. From the determination of, [ "Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples."] Mat.26:35, to the swing of the sword, which took off the ear of the servant of the high priest, to the denial with an oath, ["Mat 26:70 But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.
Mat 26:71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.
Mat 26:72 And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.
Mat 26:73 And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.
Mat 26:74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew."] was but a few hours.

From the rejoicing over the empty tomb to the "I go a fishing." of John 21:3 was but a few days. Surely after all these experiences and then the great victorious day of Pentecost ,Peter would remain steadfast for the rest of his life! WRONG! This powerhouse of a preacher had his power short-circuited again by his own shortcomings as he denied the power of grace in his life and that of others by agreeing with the judaizers of Antioch!

Gal 2:11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
Gal 2:12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. Gal 2:13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
Gal 2:14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
Gal 2:15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,
Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Gal 2:17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
Gal 2:18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
Gal 2:19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Gal 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Have we not all had experiences of spiritual highs followed by the depths of despair?
How short was the trip from the Sunday service when God seemed so near and your heart seemed to sing with the music of heaven itself, to the trials of the work day world when everything went wrong and God seemed so far removed from it all!

At times it is but a step from the morning prayers and the feeding on the Word as God seems to speak directly to your soul, to the opening of the daily mail and the despair of finding bills which you know of no way of paying. How suddenly we can leave the place of prayer and praise and find ourselves in a dispute with a loved one. Or, perhaps the elation of speaking to a responsive person about the Lord is followed by the ridicule of a Christ rejector.

It is at times such as these that we must remember that these things about Israel were written for us. 1 Cor 10:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
And, Rom 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

Were it not for the fact that we suffer the same kinds of fleshly shortcomings as they, this would not have been necessary.
They murmured because they could not see how God could possibly have had any good in mind for them in such dire situations.

How well I remember a situation from my own life many years ago. The time spent in Bible School was, in many ways, like Israel’s wanderings. When all seemed hopeless and there was no way in sight to buy food, a preaching appointment would come, a friend would write and enclose a few dollars or the opportunity to work a few hours would present itself. Like Israel, we swung back and forth from complete confidence to total despair. Finally, there was no place to turn. No preaching appointments, no part-time jobs, no food in sight and no way to get any! We had no car and no money for fuel if there had been one.

Over and over, well-meaning relatives reminded us of the promise, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."Mat.6:33. The implication being, of course, that perhaps we weren't supposed to be doing what we were doing and had maybe better give it up and get into another line of work. The fleshpots of the old life were beginning to look more and more inviting!

A brother preacher was about to travel to another state and there were reported to be jobs available there.
Leaving wife and children behind , I went along. The idea was to find a job and return as soon as possible for the family. However, the jobs were seasonal and not yet open. The brother furnishing the ride suggested I ride along and attend the meeting of the State Association of Churches and afterward apply for the job.

As Israel, I felt abandoned in the wilderness. After all, I reasoned, hadn't I left a good permanent job in order to prepare for the ministry? Hadn't I [Note the prominence of 'I'] sacrificed in order to prepare myself? Now, all seemed lost and all the effort wasted.

What was the final outcome of the situation?
There were churches represented at the meeting that needed pastors. Within a few weeks my family and I were established in a fully furnished, three-bedroom parsonage with food such as we hadn't seen in ages! Around us was a small congregation of people who knew how to love and strengthen a young preacher in his first pastorate!

It would be great if I could report that never again did I fall into the same trap of despondency, but after 50 years it is a lesson which needs to be repeated almost weekly!.

But now back to Israel. What happened to them in this situation? First of all, Moses explained to them that God was, indeed, going to supply their needs. Exo 16:6 And Moses and Aaron said unto all the children of Israel, At even, then ye shall know that the LORD hath brought you out from the land of Egypt:
Exo 16:7 And in the morning, then ye shall see the glory of the LORD; for that he heareth your murmurings against the LORD: and what are we, that ye murmur against us?
Exo 16:8 And Moses said, This shall be, when the LORD shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the LORD heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD.

We too, have a promise of the supply of our need; Phil 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

For them, in the evening, the camp was covered with quail and the people ate their fill. In the morning, a strange sight greeted them. The ground was covered with small, round, white granules, which looked like frost. "What is it?" the people asked one another. From this question came the name by which it is still called, manna. In their tongue it was, 'what is it?'

Skeptics are still trying to discount or belittle this provision of God for his people by attributing it to some sort of natural occurrence in the desert.

Those who claim to be ‘scholars’ have stated with full assurance that the manna was;
1.Deposited by an insect.
2.The sap of a desert tree or bush exuded when the plant was pierced by an insect.
3.The result of some strange atmospheric phenomena.
Prophessing themselves to be wise they became fools!Rom.1:22

None of these theories put forth by man can explain several of the mysterious things said of the manna.
First, if this were a natural occurrence, happening often in the desert, then why the surprise? This is in the same region that their leader, Moses had wandered for the past forty years as he tended the flocks of his father-in -law, Jethro. In fact, it isn't far from the Desert of Sin to the mountain where he saw the burning bush and upon which God was soon to give them a Law. Yet there is no indication that Moses knew any more about the food which God describes as "the Glory of the Lord' than any other Israelite and God had to give the instructions for its gathering and use.

Second, If it were a natural occurrence, it had a strange, built-in cycle of falling. It fell regularly for six days and on the seventh there was none. Ex 16:26 Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall be none.

Third, For a product of nature it had unheard-of keeping qualities. It would not keep overnight without becoming filled with worms until the sixth day of the week. On that day, they could gather enough for the Sabbath and it would remain fresh. Exo 16:29 See, for that the LORD hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.

Fourth, The golden pot, which was filled with manna and placed inside the ark, never spoiled during all their wanderings! Heb 9:4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;

Fifth, Though there are some natural substances which men claim is the manna, they occur only for a month or two in the late spring or early summer. This was their staple food for the entire forty years.

Sixth, It stopped when it was no longer needed just as miraculously as it had started.
Josh 5:12 And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.

These were strange things indeed to be connected to natural events. But they are not surprising at all when viewed in the light of the divine supply of their needs by a loving God.

They were not in this desert wilderness by accident. Through the cloud, God had led them there. It was essential that they learn to depend upon him. Had he led them immediately into a land of plenty there would have been no need to look to him for their supply.
They were here also, because they must learn to be the peculiar people he desires them to be. This could not be done while they lived in the midst of those who worshipped idols.

We follow the same pattern today. Those who have been delivered from the power of death by the blood of the Passover cannot long remain in 'Egypt', and the wilderness of this world has nothing to offer us that is good. So we are led apart into areas where we must depend upon God.

The manna was a type of that spiritual food that now sustains the one who has been born of the Spirit of God. The world cannot supply it. Though many try to find nourishment for their souls in literature, art, poetry, philosophy, social programs, religious ceremonies and rituals, these all leave man's soul hungering for something which can feed the Spirit.

This 'something' can only be supplied by our God and only as we are willing to follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit into the places where he wants us to be.
Matthew records how Jesus went into the mountain and the disciples came to him there. Those who came were hungry for something they were not receiving from the religious leaders of their day. As Jesus addressed their needs, hear him as he presents this promise,
Mat 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Peter then admonishes us to, 1 Pet 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

What, then is this manna which feeds our souls today? It is something the world cannot supply. It is something we must have if our spirits are to thrive and we are to have the strength needed to face the wilderness of this world. Jesus explains it in detail to those who had eaten of the loaves and the fishes after they had found him the following day," John 6:26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
John 6:27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
John 6:28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
John 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
John 6:30 They said therefore unto him, What sign showest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?
John 6:31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
John 6:32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
John 6:33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
John 6:34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.'

Jesus is, indeed that bread of heaven and there is no other source of supply. In order to be fed from God's bountiful supply we must be willing to follow where the Holy Sprit will lead and he will lead us to a place of separation.

As we study the Word of God and meditate upon it, and as we commune with him in prayer, Jesus becomes ever dearer to us. There can be no denying that it would have been a great blessing to have been present as he fed the multitude or as he invited the disciples, 'Come and dine' on that morning by the seashore. It would have been a great experience to have peen present on that night as they broke bread and to have heard the words, "take, eat this is my body". Can we really envy them, however, when we have the real manna from heaven, which is his daily strength and companionship, as we commune with him in spiritual things!

Each day, they had to gather their supply for that day. There was no such thing as laying aside a supply for another day. Some tried it and found it full of worms on the next day.

Several years ago, a man told me, in his ignorance, that he had an experience that was so frightening that he prayed so hard that he didn’t have to pray again for three years!

There are still a lot of folks who try to get enough of the Lord on Sunday morning so that they won't have to bother with religion for the rest of the week, but it just doesn't work that way.

When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, one of the things they were to ask was, "give us this day our daily bread." When he spoke of following him he emphasized, Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Yesterday’s blessings are not sufficient for today; Today's service and communion with the Lord will not sustain your spirit through tomorrow’s trials.

Then, there was the Golden Pot of manna, which was placed in the Ark of the Covenant. There is no record of anyone ever having even a tiny taste of it. In fact they were not even allowed to open the Ark to view those things inside. We have no idea when it was taken out or what happened to it. We do know that when the Ark was carried into the Temple, the Golden Pot of Manna was not there; 1 Ki 8:9 There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt. Yet Jesus makes mention of the Hidden Manna in His letter to the Church at Pergamos; Rev 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

We have enjoyed some precious moments with our Lord! He has met our needs and sustained us through many dry and dreary lands and yet there are depths to him of which we are not yet aware. Perhaps no other man was as close to him or as dedicated to his service as was the Apostle Paul. Surely no one depended on him more. If a daily feeding on the bread of heaven ever strengthened anyone, it was he. Yet Paul expressed as the deepest desire of his heart, "Phil 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;"

Who will ever really be this close to Christ? Who will ever have such fellowship that they will experience him? Who will eat of the hidden manna? The promise is to the one who overcomes. This is the one who lives the truly victorious life and never gives in to the forces around him.

What must we overcome? It is obvious that we do not face the trials of the martyrs of the dark ages nor the problems facing the early church in Jerusalem. But we do have our own battles to wage.

There is the pressure from those who would draw us away from the truth. There is the constant attempt to cause us to forsake or compromise Bible principles. Forces try to push us into unchristian thoughts and actions. We each have our own special weakness known only to ourselves, the Lord and, yes, the devil! All these things we must overcome, then we will be in a position to claim that wonderful promise, "to him will I give to eat of the hidden manna".

Is it something for which the battle is worth fighting? Consider how precious and essential the daily manna now is for your spiritual well being. Think of how you will then be in a glorified body, with nothing of the world to distract. Then the thought of that special blessing becomes not only worth living for but even worth dying for! This gave untold thousands the strength to suffer for him in the past and when necessary, can still do so.

Just as the manna never failed as long as they needed it, even so the Lord has promised he will never fail us. How often have we felt the pressures of life and its disappointments and felt our strength begin to ebb away until we went to the Word of God and feasted. Or we approached the throne of grace in prayer and felt his presence give us strength.

WHEN I STOP TO PRAY
I have the precious privilege
Of talking to the Lord.
He's promised he would listen
and hear my every word.
I can tell him all my troubles,
I can tell him all my needs.
I can tell him how I love him,
and my hungry soul he feeds.
In trials and temptations
He's my strong and mighty tower.
He's there whene'er I need him,
no matter what the hour.
And though I often fail him
as I move along life's way,
His gentle voice still answers
when I stop and pray.
fcc

After Israel has experienced the Passover, the Red Sea, the bitter waters made sweet and the falling of the manna, there were a couple of notable events to come before they were to encamp before the mountain called Sinai.

One was the water from the Rock at Rephidim. They had forgotten already the provision of the past and began to murmur instead of trusting and praying! While their faith was weak God still had the answer. {Exo 17:6 Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.]

What does this mean to us? 1 Cor 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. He is our daily food and he is also our refreshing water!

They also had their first battle. It was with some of Esau’s descendants, the Amalakites. Did they have anything to gain by opposing Israel? No, but they thought so. This is even as the devil’s crowd today, who really have nothing to gain from opposing God's people , but it is just what they do, because opposition to God is the devil's business.

First, read the account and then we will make an application.
Exo 17:8 Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.
Exo 17:9 And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.
Exo 17:10 So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
Exo 17:11 And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
Exo 17:12 But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.
Exo 17:13 And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

In this account of their first battle lies a lesson sorely needed by the Lord's churches of every age, but especially today. As they fought the battle it soon became clear that God was well able to provide victory. There were conditions, however. When Moses held aloft the rod, which had been used so powerfully in Egypt during the plagues, at the parting of the Red Sea and bringing forth water from the rock, the battle belonged to Israel. When he tired and his hands became weak, the rod was lowered and the tide of battle turned against them.

Consider;
1. Moses was their divinely appointed leader. He had not chosen the position, God had chosen him. Of whom does this remind us? Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

If the Church and the pastor have both followed the will of the Holy Spirit, he is in the office because God wanted him there.

2.He became weary because of the limitations of the flesh. This was not because of Moses' state of mind but simply because he couldn't continue unassisted. Jesus recognized the importance of more than one person laboring in a field. He sent the disciples out two by two. He called both Paul and Barnabas to the same work. The examples could be multiplied but this is sufficient.

It is sad when, as so often happens, a Church will call a pastor and then allow him to carry the load without even noticing that after awhile he begins to sag beneath it! I have even known this to happen: As the pastor begins to weaken physically, and emotionally to the point of breaking down, and yes even spiritually, the remedy was, "He's not doing his job. It's time to get a new pastor." Or it is ignored until he has ulcers or a heart attack and then many wonder why, after all he has an 'easy' job.

If this had been the God-given solution, I am sure the cloud could have chosen someone to take the place of Moses. There seemed to be a plethora of people who seemed to envy him his position!

3.Instead of providing new leadership, God had men standing by to help carry the load! Aaron and Hur not only helped with a seat on a rock but also then stood by and supported the hands of Moses until the battle was won.
If only churches could learn this lesson! There wouldn't be the constant search for new leadership that has hindered so many churches through the years. It doesn't take a great deal of research to learn that the churches which have been most successful over a long period of time are those who have kept their pastors the longest. Neither would there be so many pastors in early graves or so physically weakened by the strain, that they crack under it.

It can be such an easy thing, this holding up the hands of a leader. From experience it has been sometimes the prayers of God's people; at others it has been an act of thoughtfulness such as, "Pastor, I think you need to get away for awhile." At others it has been the offer of some brother or sister in the church, "What can I do to lighten your load." Even such a simple thing as doing a personal chore he hasn't had time to do can help to give him a new lease on pastoral determination.
If every member or even a few would make the conscious effort to hold up his hand, not only would he fare better, but the entire church would experience the victory!.

CHAPTER FIVE

BUILD ME A TABERNACLE

It had been only one and a half months since Israel had left Egypt when the cloud led them to encamp on the plain before Mt. Sinai. Another watershed is about to occur. Up until this time, the will of God had been made known only through those men chosen to deliver it. Now, however, they are about to receive evidence of the holy demands of their God.
What He is about to give is the constitution for His Nation. It is noteworthy that He not only wrote it in stone, but that also, He made no provision for amending it. If it is ever to be altered, in any way, only He has the power to do so.

Since this nation is to be a theocracy there must also be a unity of worship. This is a necessity if they are to have cohesion as His Nation. Together with the Law , the Tabernacle and the priesthood leave no room for those who would divide the people. This is evident by the events later in their history, when the first rebel king’s first act was to set up false Gods.

1 Ki 12:26 And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David:
1 Ki 12:27 If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah.
1 Ki 12:28 Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
1 Ki 12:29 And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan.
1 Ki 12:30 And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan.
1 Ki 12:31 And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi.
1 Ki 12:32 And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made.
1 Ki 12:33 So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel the fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense.

As God spoke to Moses from the thick cloud on Mt. Sinai, his instructions were very specific. He does NOT set forth options, but absolutes. Following are the beginning of his instructions; Exo 25:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Exo 25:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.
Exo 25:3 And this is the offering which ye shall take of them; gold, and silver, and brass,
Exo 25:4 And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair,
Exo 25:5 And rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins, and shittim wood,
Exo 25:6 Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense,
Exo 25:7 Onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate.
Exo 25:8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.
Exo 25:9 According to all that I show thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.

This cautionary warning in verse 9 is so important that the writer of the Book of Hebrews reminded us of it in the New Testament; Heb 8:5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount.

This is a truly momentous occasion. God had often visited with his people. He had walked in the garden with Adam and on occasion had talked with the patriarchs. Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had all enjoyed this distinction. They knew that he had certainly been with them so far in this grand adventure. But the question was, "will he stay?"

After waiting forty days for Moses to return from the mountain, they seemed sure that both he and God had forsaken them. Exo 32:1 And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.

Never again will they need wonder as to the presence of their God. When the Tabernacle is finished, he will dwell in their midst! Neither are we to be concerned as to his presence. His promise to his people, his New Testament Churches, is Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Since we have already covered the meaning of the materials used in the structure let us proceed to the building and to what it and its furniture symbolizes to us.

THE ARK AND THE MERCY SEAT

The proper place to begin is the place where God started as he gave the instructions to Moses. It is noteworthy that he began, not with those things seen first by those who later would approach , but rather with those things nearest to Him and then worked outward. Even in this, there is a lesson to be learned.

Man does NOT work his way in to God but rather it is God who must reach out to man and thus open up the way. Thus, the beginning of the itemized instructions is concerning the most sacred, The Ark of the Testimony.
Exo 25:10 And they shall make an ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.

Exo 25:11 And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about.
Exo 25:12 And thou shalt cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in the four corners thereof; and two rings shall be in the one side of it, and two rings in the other side of it.
Exo 25:13 And thou shalt make staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold.
Exo 25:14 And thou shalt put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, that the ark may be borne with them.
Exo 25:15 The staves shall be in the rings of the ark: they shall not be taken from it.

This Ark is a type of the personal presence of Christ with his people.
1.It was made of wood. Since wood is a type of that which is human, the first thing we must understand is the absolutely essential fact that our savior, in order to be effectual, must take upon himself the likeness of sinful flesh. This he did; Rom 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Heb 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Heb 2:16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
Heb 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Phil 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Though He is the eternal Son, yet he came forth into the world as a man, that he might represent us to God and God to us. Gal 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Gal 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

The wood used in this article was not to be some exotic wood, different from the wood used in the boards but was to be exactly the same. Look again at Heb. 2:17 above. It is for this reason that he is able to understand our needs, our weaknesses and us. Heb 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

The gold signifies that which is divine; 1 Cor 15:47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.

These words were written to contrast the first Adam with Christ, the second Adam.
Col 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

This is the most basic of Truths: without it one cannot approach God , and his people are warned not to have anything to do with those who will not accept it! 2 John 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
2 John 1:8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
2 John 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
2 John 1:10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
2 John 1:11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

There were three things, which were placed in the Ark. 1.Exo 25:16 And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee.
[Note the emphasis on the word into. The reason is that there are some who, in their attempts to deny the Divinity of Christ try to prove it was placed in a pocket of some sort, on the outside of the ark.] Either Christ kept the law in our behalf or we are still condemned by it. Re-read Gal 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Gal 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

It was absolutely essential that the Perfect Law be kept perfectly by our redeemer. We must remember that this Law was given because of sin. [Gal 3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.]

It is also necessary to recall that it was not a law by which life should come but rather, condemnation and death. Rom 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
Rom 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Christ's keeping of the Law did two vital things; first it made him worthy of offering himself as our substitute. Since He had no sins of his own for which he must die, he was able to offer himself in our stead. No other human being would have sufficed. Psa 49:7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:

Of all men who ever lived, He is the only one of whom it could be said; "He never sinned!" Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

The second thing that his keeping the Law does for us, is connected with the fact that the Mercy Seat covered it and hid it from view.

This Mercy Seat had no wood or any other substance. It was made of pure gold. Here is a picture of something that is totally divine. God had no legal or moral obligation to redeem man. He had no motive other than Love. For this reason he extends mercy to us. It would be as easy to define God as it would be to fully explain that wonderful attribute with three facets, Grace, Mercy and Love.

To help us understand what God is telling us in the Mercy Seat, we must look at how the word is used in the New Testament. Rom 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

It is noteworthy that this word, translated here, as propitiation is the same as the word used in the book of Hebrews for, mercyseat. Heb 9:5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.

I am convinced that it is the cherubims about which the writer of Hebrews says, "We cannot now speak particularly." While we do know that there is a ministry, which is performed by the angels, both before God and in our behalf, we do not know the particulars of that service. Paul was permitted to see and hear some of it but was not permitted to give us the details.2 Cor 12:2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
2 Cor 12:3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
2 Cor 12:4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. [.Not allowable]

It seems there are some things God does not want us to know yet. This is understandable, considering man’s propensity to worship angels, saints, spirits and anything else he doesn't fully understand.
Paul even warned us to not be drawn into such things; Col 2:18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
Col 2:19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

It is enough for us to know that God has ministering spirits watching over and aiding us. Heb 1:13 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?
Heb 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

How important was the Mercy Seat?
Consider the account of the capture and return of the Ark by the Philistines as recorded in I Samuel.
The Philistines had captured the Ark in a battle, which had NOT been ordered by the Lord, but when they took it home they soon learned that it was a liability to them.

Remember, the Ark is a type of the personal presence of Christ among HIS people. When the world tries to appropriate Christ they soon find that he is NOT a blessing but a condemning influence to the lost. They determined the safest course of action was to send it home!.

When the cart carrying it arrived at Bethshemesh there was rejoicing. But then the men of that place did a foolish thing; they removed the Mercy Seat and looked inside the Ark. They LOOKED UPON THE PERFECT DEMANDS OF A HOLY GOD! However noble their reasoning may have been, they did that which was forbidden in removing the Mercy seat and a large number of them died because of it.
1 Sam 6:19 And he smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the LORD had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter.
1 Sam 6:20 And the men of Bethshemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? and to whom shall he go up from us?

Christ, the propitiation for our sins, shields us from this Law. Yet there are those who would remove the protection and presume to look upon the Law with the intent to keep it. Those who do so must remember these basic truths;
1.Gal 5:3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
Gal 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
2. James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
3. 2 Cor 3:7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
4. Gal 3:21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
Gal 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

Like the men of Bethshemesh, those who would look upon the Law and not upon the Mercy Seat, bring about their own condemnation. The sad thing is, it took only a few to remove the Mercy Seat that day and a multitude died. So it is today. Those who are the leaders in the movements which teach that one must keep the Law in order to be saved, are also condemning all those who follow them!.

The Apostle Paul was specific about this thing; Gal 2:21 I do not frustrate [set aside] the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

With the Mercy Seat in place, there was no danger to the priest as he approached the Ark . Because Christ is our Mercy Seat [propitiation] we too can come before God without fear. Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

THE TABLE OF SHEWBREAD
Exo 25:23 Thou shalt also make a table of shittim wood: two cubits shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.
Exo 25:24 And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, and make thereto a crown of gold round about.
Exo 25:25 And thou shalt make unto it a border of an hand breadth round about, and thou shalt make a golden crown to the border thereof round about.
Exo 25:26 And thou shalt make for it four rings of gold, and put the rings in the four corners that are on the four feet thereof.
Exo 25:27 Over against the border shall the rings be for places of the staves to bear the table.
Exo 25:28 And thou shalt make the staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be borne with them.
Exo 25:29 And thou shalt make the dishes thereof, and spoons thereof, and covers thereof, and bowls thereof, to cover withal: of pure gold shalt thou make them.
Exo 25:30 And thou shalt set upon the table showbread before me alway.

The Table of Shewbread is the second item for which God gives instructions . While the Ark was the place where He communicated with the people through the High Priest, this is where He COMMUNES with the priesthood.

The Table of Shewbread must be considered together with the bread, which was placed upon it. Together, they teach TWO things; first, the position of the Lord's Supper IN the New Testament Church. Second, Spiritual sustenance for the priesthood.

Before the lesson can be fully appreciated one must learn the great Bible Truth, that the New Testament Church is NOT a universal entity, but is a Local, Visible Body; autonomous from all other bodies and subject only to her head, Jesus Christ.

Then he must understand that the present day priesthood is the obedient membership of that local body. 1 Pet 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
1 Pet 2:10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

As we cover the priesthood in a later chapter, it will be seen that the priest who ministered in the Tabernacle had many requirements, which must be met before he was privileged to serve and so to partake of the bread from the Lord's Table.

There were occasions when all the camp ate of unleavened bread, but this was reserved for those priests who qualified to partake. Lev 24:8 Every sabbath he shall set it in order before the LORD continually, being taken from the children of Israel by an everlasting covenant.
Lev 24:9 And it shall be Aaron's and his sons'; and they shall eat it in the holy place: for it is most holy unto him of the offerings of the LORD made by fire by a perpetual statute.

This is similar to the feasting of the multitude on the loaves and fishes, compared to the select few present when the risen Christ invited the disciples, "Come and dine!" John 21:12 Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
John 21:13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.

It was this select few who were present on the night when Jesus took bread, broke it, and said, "Take, eat. This is my body--" It seems reasonable that if he had intended the multitude to partake of the Lord's Supper, He would have given it to them! If he had intended for the entire camp to eat of the Shewbread, He would not have specified that it be eaten in the Holy Place.

We next turn our attention to the staves by which the Table was to be borne. As with the other furniture of the Tabernacle, this was a burden to be borne by the sons of Kohath. Though the boards, sockets, etc. were carried on carts, pulled by oxen, these things were to be carried by the selected men of the priesthood.

As a type of the Lord's Supper, committed to the keeping of the Lord's Church, it has been her responsibility alone, to see that it has been delivered safely through the ages. The Apostle Paul set the tone for this when he declared to the church at Corinth;
1 Cor 11:23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:

The false churches and false religions of the world have often tried to usurp this commission and take up the task, but all have failed miserably. Multitudes of faithful saints have given their lives to keep this and the other doctrines pure. While we might admire them and certainly appreciate their readiness to even die for these great truths, they have only done that which was their duty to do!

The wood of which the staves were made, indicates that it is to us, as human beings, this enormous responsibility is given. Yet we must admit the truth of that which was spoken to the disciples by the Lord; John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

These staves of wood were covered with Gold. Since this is a type of that which is divine, the purpose is clearly seen: We have a responsibility that is humanly impossible to meet. Yet God has not given us an impossible task!

Many years ago, when agonizing over a decision I had to face in my ministry, I spoke with a brother in whom I had great confidence. I told him of my reservations and apprehension. We were standing in the parking lot following Sunday Morning services. Without a word, Brother Bill Havens took my bible from my hand, wrote in the flyleaf and returned it to me. Though he has gone to be with the Lord , I still treasure those words of wisdom. He wrote," The Spirit of God will never lead you where the Grace of God cannot sustain you" This was not some great new truth which I had never known; I had been preaching it to others for years. I saw it the in a new context. IT WAS MY ASSURANCE!

When Jesus sent his church into the world, he preceded her commission with the words, Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

He also made her this promise, "and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Matt.16:18

There have been thousands of great heroes of the faith through the centuries. Many have given their lives and, as Paul, have suffered extreme hardship for the faith. Yet it is NOT by the strength of men that the Lord's Church and her great truths have endured. It has been by the divine power and authority of Our Lord!. Thank God, we are not alone in our tasks. Men talk about support groups for this endeavor and that. We have the greatest support available in the entire universe. It is the power of our omnipotent God!.

The Gold, covering the wood of the staves tells us; Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

THE BREAD
Lev 24:5 And thou shalt take fine flour, and bake twelve cakes thereof: two tenth deals shall be in one cake.
Lev 24:6 And thou shalt set them in two rows, six on a row, upon the pure table before the LORD.
Lev 24:7 And thou shalt put pure frankincense upon each row, that it may be on the bread for a memorial, even an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
Lev 24:8 Every sabbath he shall set it in order before the LORD continually, being taken from the children of Israel by an everlasting covenant.
Lev 24:9 And it shall be Aaron's and his sons'; and they shall eat it in the holy place: for it is most holy unto him of the offerings of the LORD made by fire by a perpetual statute.

There are no further instructions as to the recipe to be used for the bread placed on the Table of Shewbread. However there ARE instructions concerning the Meal Offering. Since there is a similarity between the two, it seems safe to assume that those instructions hold true for this bread also. Had it been otherwise, we are sure God would have so instructed them.

He specifies that FINE FLOUR should be used. One thing of which we can be absolutely sure, is that there was no coarseness in Christ. Though born to an obscure family, raised in an area despised, [John 1:46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.], chose to minister to the lowly, and scorned by most, there was never a lapse of dignity nor a loss of temper beyond righteous indignation concerning the Temple. In all things he remained the epitome of grace and humility.

Of all the men of the Bible who have been used as types of Christ, there are none about which we find no point of failure. From Abraham’s taking of Hagar to father a child and David’s lust for Bathsheba to the confessions of Paul; "Rom 7:20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me."

Even the best of men seem to have some coarseness. Not so with Christ; even those who would have loved to find fault were forced to admit, John 19:4 Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him.

There were to be twelve loaves always on the table. Since Twelve is the number that represents divine government, these are illustrating the fact that God controls this, and not man. Man has no right to alter that which belongs to God. When he tries to do so, it is no longer the divine plan being followed, and it becomes polluted. This is so concerning the Lord's Supper. Men have tried to change the people who should partake, the authority which controls it, and the elements. They have changed the purpose of it to everything from a party, to a sacrament. Since these are not that which He authorized, it becomes something other than the Lord's Supper. It becomes man's burlesque of the real thing and so becomes an abomination to God.

There was one loaf on the table to represent each of the twelve tribes of Israel. The entire chosen nation was represented at the Lord's table. Likewise, the twelve Apostles were present at the instituting of the Lord's Supper and so all the Lord's Church was represented there.

There was to be oil used in the meal offering and we may assume in this bread also. Lev 23:13 And the meat offering thereof shall be two tenth deals of fine flour mingled with oil,

The oil speaks to us of the Holy Spirit. Heb 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

The Holy Spirit was present in every part of the ministry of Christ. He never did anything apart from the will of the Father and the Holy Spirit was his constant companion. Today we still have the presence of Christ with us through the Holy Spirit.

Without Him [the Holy Spirit] the Lord's Supper would be only a meaningless ritual. With Him it becomes that ordinance by which the Bride of Christ remembers the love which purchased her and the suffering connected with that transaction. Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

This and every offering was to be made with SALT. Lev 2:13 And every oblation of thy meat offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt.

One of the most important things concerning the salt was the meaning of eating salt together. Num 18:19 All the heave offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer unto the LORD, have I given thee, and thy sons and thy daughters with thee, by a statute for ever: it is a covenant of salt for ever before the LORD unto thee and to thy seed with thee.
2 Chr 13:5 Ought ye not to know that the LORD God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to David for ever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt?

It has long been recognized that the eating of salt together was a pledge of friendship by many of the people of the Middle East. History is filled with the accounts of travelers in the area, securing their safety, especially among the Bedouins, by eating salt together.

These people and those of the surrounding nations looked upon this as a sacred obligation. When Judas betrayed the Lord, the act was made even more heinous by the fact that he actually left the table where he had shared the salt of the unleavened bread with the Lord, and broke that covenant of salt by selling him out! Psa 41:9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.
John 13:18 I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.

In Christ, there is a covenant between God and the Lord's Church. God will most assuredly keep his part of the bargain. The question is, Will we? Because of the salt we are saying to God, when we partake of the Lord's Supper, "we will make Christ our purpose in life and we will be faithful in our obligations."

This is a serious commitment and when we deliberately let down on our part of the engagement, God takes it seriously. 1 Cor 11:28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
1 Cor 11:29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
1 Cor 11:30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

Lest we get the idea, however, that such a serious thing might be best avoided, we remember that there are two parties to this covenant. God being the other party, it is easy to see that the benefits far outweigh any dangers we might encounter. Actually there are no dangers if we do as Paul instructs; 1 Cor 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. There are great benefits that accrue since God is the other subscriber to the covenant.
The Church benefits from the scriptural observance of this ordinance. As each member examines him or herself, and prepares spiritually to partake, the entire church benefits from a dedicated, sanctified membership. Each member, who participates, also becomes more spiritual, committed and separated as he fulfills all the requirements and proceeds to 'break bread with God'!

One other item is found in connection with the shewbread. Lev 24:7 And thou shalt put pure frankincense upon each row, that it may be on the bread for a memorial, even an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

This pure [white] incense was obtained by making an incision in the bark of a tree, which grows in the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula and a very few other places in the world. The pure [white] frankincense came from the first cut made in each tree. Later cuts produced greater quantities, but each successive cut became more discolored.

The frankincense was an ingredient in both the ointment for the anointing of the priests and in the incense, which was offered on the Altar of Incense.

In the ointment, it represented , together with the other ingredients, the sweetness of fellowship in the Lord.
Psa 133:1 A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
Psa 133:2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;
Psa 133:3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.

There can be no greater sweetness than the fellowship of a church as her members gather around the Lord's table and partake of those symbols of the broken body and shed blood of our savior and remember that wonderful love which prompted him to suffer so greatly for us.
In the incense, this ingredient, with the others, signified that sweet communion of prayer, which belongs to the Lord's Church and to none other!. Rev 8:3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
Rev 8:4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.

The priests were privileged to partake of the bread with its frankincense sweetness on the Sabbath as they changed the loaves, but each time they entered the Holy Place during the rest of the week they were met by the scent of the ever-burning frankincense on the altar. We too are reminded of the sweetness of fellowship and the ineffable wonder of the mediation of the Lord's praying in our behalf. This brings to my mind the words of an old hymn based on; Psa 45:8 All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.

In the course of our worship and service to Him, there is no more pleasant experience than this. Neither is there any more holy part of the service of our priesthood.
This is true because it speaks of the Person of Jesus Christ in the most intimate relationship possible with us until we receive our glorified bodies, which shall be fashioned like unto his glorious body!

This was to be a permanent, perpetual part of their service.
Exo 25:30 And thou shalt set upon the table showbread before me alway.
Num 4:7 And upon the table of showbread they shall spread a cloth of blue, and put thereon the dishes, and the spoons, and the bowls, and covers to cover withal: and the continual bread shall be thereon:

When they replaced the bread each Sabbath they were to eat the removed bread IN THE HOLY PLACE. Lev 24:9 And it shall be Aaron's and his sons'; and they shall eat it in the holy place: for it is most holy unto him of the offerings of the LORD made by fire by a perpetual statute.

This was not something they were to use for their own purposes nor were they to share it with others in the ritual eating of it. Only the sons of Aaron were to partake and they, only in the Holy Place. So with the Church and the Lord's Supper. Only those who are specified as participants are allowed to participate and they, only according to the Scriptures, IN THE CHURCH.
There was one occasion when the bread was consumed OUTSIDE the Holy place by others than the sons of Aaron.
1 Sam 21:6 So the priest gave him hallowed bread: for there was no bread there but the showbread, that was taken from before the LORD, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.

As David and his men fled from the hand of King Saul they certainly needed food. On this occasion they obtained it from the priest who was charged with the changing of the bread. Jesus referred to the event in;
Mat 12:3 But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;
Mat 12:4 How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the showbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?

How could the priests allow this legally under the Law? This was NOT the ceremonial eating of the bread. They were NOT joining in the ritual consuming of the bread, which took place each Sabbath. God overlooked it for several reasons then; this was God's chosen King of Israel fleeing for his life and God was obligated to watch over him. Second, since this was NOT the ceremonial eating of the bread, it became simply BREAD.

We must learn the difference between that which is sacred and that which is not. For instance, when Israel sinned and they were being bitten by the serpents, the serpent of brass was lifted up and; Num 21:9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

Here, the brazen serpent brought life, but look at it later: it had long ago ceased to serve such a purpose and the people began to worship it as a sacred relic! Hezekiah was king and as he began to root out idolatry; 2 Ki 18:4 He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan. [a piece of brass]

It is the other side of the coin, which Paul examines , as he speaks of eating things offered to idols. 1 Cor 10:25 Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:
1 Cor 10:26 For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.
1 Cor 10:27 If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.
1 Cor 10:28 But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that showed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof:

The food may have been originally brought to the temple of an idol as a sacrifice but it is just food and our conscience should not bother us in the eating of it. But if one asks us to join him in eating a sacrifice to any false god, DON"T DO IT!

The idea that the bread, after being blessed, becomes something other than bread is foreign to the scripture. It is sacred only in its symbolism. Beyond the ordinance of the Lord's Supper, there is nothing special about it or the cup. To make it otherwise is superstition and as such has no place in the Lord's service.

The GOLDEN LAMPSTAND

Next, in the order of things, came the Golden Lampstand or Candlestick.
Exo 25:31 And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same.
Exo 25:32 And six branches shall come out of the sides of it; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side:
Exo 25:33 Three bowls made like unto almonds, with a knop and a flower in one branch; and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, with a knop and a flower: so in the six branches that come out of the candlestick.
Exo 25:34 And in the candlestick shall be four bowls made like unto almonds, with their knops and their flowers.
Exo 25:35 And there shall be a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, according to the six branches that proceed out of the candlestick.
Exo 25:36 Their knops and their branches shall be of the same: all it shall be one beaten work of pure gold.
Exo 25:37 And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it.
Exo 25:38 And the tongs thereof, and the snuffdishes thereof, shall be of pure gold.
Exo 25:39 Of a talent of pure gold shall he make it, with all these vessels.
Exo 25:40 And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was showed thee in the mount.

Before we examine it in more detail, let us determine the type. The 119th Psalm is a tribute to the Word of God. In it the writer praises the Word in many different ways. Particularly intriguing, in connection with our present subject is, Psalm 119:105. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

As the priest ministered in the Holy Place, there was no other light available. Everything he did, must be done in the light from the Golden Lamps. This is only as it should be in the churches of the Lord Jesus Christ. The world cannot enlighten us for it lies in darkness. Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
1 John 2:7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.
1 John 2:8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.

By the same reasoning, neither did those on the
OUTSIDE walk in the light . While we need no instructions from the world, its governments, its institutions of learning, or society as to the operation of the New Testament Church, neither can we insist that they walk by the rules, which govern us. In fact if we should even try, it would be a terrible failure. 1 Cor 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

This does NOT mean that, as citizens, we should ignore the moral issues that face our nation and communities. As members of the Lord's Church we must remember that we are to walk in the light. 1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Whether in the assembly of His body or in the voting booth, our responsibility is the same. While we cannot insist that everyone be legally required to be as righteous as the church requires of her membership, we can do our best to see that the laws of our land are just and right. We can also refuse to vote into office, those who are morally unfit to be leaders of the public.

Though it, like the other items, and even the tabernacle itself were fashioned by inspired human hands, this Candlestick and the Mercy Seat were made of PURE gold. Though men may have penned the words, it IS the inspired word of God. It is not man's ideas ABOUT God, but rather it is that which God has revealed to man. The human writers served no other function in the writing of the Bible, than as the pen in the hand of the scribe. GOD IS THE AUTHOR! Psa 45:1 To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, for the sons of Korah, Maschil, A Song of loves. My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

An excellent example of the divinity of the Word, penned by men, is found in this incident in the Book of Daniel; Dan 5:3 Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them.
Dan 5:4 They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.
Dan 5:5 In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.

The Candlestick was among the vessels of Gold brought out of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar. Now, Belshazzer is appropriating it, along with the other sanctified items, for his own lustful purposes. As it gleams in the heathen palace, it shines upon a scene of debauchery. The Lamp of God exposes sin and the verdict is swift. Dan 5:5 In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.

It was also unequivocal; Dan 5:25 And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.
Dan 5:26 This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.
Dan 5:27 TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.
Dan 5:28 PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.

The Word of God is clear on the subject of sin. The thing, however to note in this event as it pertains to the subject at hand is that though the message came directly from God, it was miraculously written by the fingers of a
man's hand. Thus, it is, with the entire Bible. The message is God's will revealed to man and it is exclusively his. The writing instruments were the inspired men who penned it down.
2 Pet 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. [borne along]
2 Tim 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

The question may well be asked," How is it that one can distinguish the different human writers if the real author is God?" It is as if one person should pick up various writing instruments and write his signature.

Whether the tool used is a crayon, pencil, fountain pen or felt tip marker, the signature is of the writer but the tool is readily apparent. Whether the instrument was Moses, Amos, David, Peter or Paul, the signature of the God of Heaven is on the entire Word of God. The amazing unity of the Scripture is thus readily explained.

With about forty different human writers, from all walks of life, and spread over a period of about one thousand, five hundred years, one would expect a great disparity of ideas. This is not found in the Bible and would be a great miracle were it not for the fact that God, alone is the Author. Time is irrelevant to him and Truth is an absolute. Therefore the Bible, like the Lampstand, is ONE COMPLETE UNIT.

As it was given, it is perfect, for it is Divine. Man may have erred sometimes in copying and translating but even then, God has continued to watch over it and even when man deliberately tried to alter it to suit his own theology, the truth has come through. Like Belshazzer, man will misuse the Scripture to his own destruction. 2 Pet 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

Whatever took place in the Tabernacle, it could only be done in the light of the Candlestick. Since there was no other source of illumination, it was necessary to keep the lamps burning brightly. Otherwise the priest might err as he ministered at the Table of Showbread or at the Altar of Incense. It is a type of the Word of God in the New Testament Church. How else can we know what is right in our service to Him? This is the reason for Paul’s instruction;2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. This is also the reason the Bereans were lauded; Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

It is incumbent upon us also, to continually study so that we will be able to carry out the whole will of God.
It is easy to imagine the chaos which might have developed in the Holy Place if two or more priests tried to minister there without the light of the Lampstand!

Having no other light or point of reference, each would have been left to his own devices and there would have been sure disorder! Since God is NOT the author of confusion [1 Cor 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.], he has made sure that WE too have a light by which we can minister.[1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.]

Before we leave the Golden Lamps for a while, perhaps it would be well to mention the number 'seven' as connected with them. As was noted briefly, in the opening chapter, Seven is the number, which denotes divine completeness.

By using this number, God is telling us that his instructions to us are complete. Nothing can be added to them and nothing can be taken away. The seven lamps made one whole, entire lampstand. If one lamp were removed, the illumination would be incomplete. An excellent illustration of the results of man trying to edit the Bible to suit his own ideas is found in the Book of Jeremiah. In chapter twenty two is an account of God's determination of the fate of King Jehoiakim; Jer 22:18 Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah; They shall not lament for him, saying, Ah my brother! or, Ah sister! they shall not lament for him, saying, Ah lord! or, Ah his glory!
Jer 22:19 He shall be buried with the burial of an ass, drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem.
Shortly thereafter, the king is made aware of the writing and determines to hear it read. Jeremiah Chapter 36 gives us the account of this. Jer 36:21 So the king sent Jehudi to fetch the roll: and he took it out of Elishama the scribe's chamber. And Jehudi read it in the ears of the king, and in the ears of all the princes which stood beside the king.
Jer 36:22 Now the king sat in the winterhouse in the ninth month: and there was a fire on the hearth burning before him.
Jer 36:23 And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth.

This did not end the matter however, for God will not allow man to nullify His Words! He instructed Jeremiah to write again! Jer 36:27 Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, after that the king had burned the roll, and the words which Baruch wrote at the mouth of Jeremiah, saying,
Jer 36:28 Take thee again another roll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah hath burned.

We can have complete confidence in the fact that we have the entire Word of God. Let no one ever shake your confidence in the Bible with statements such as, 'part of it has been lost'. 'It has lost too much in translations' etc. Jesus made the Definitive statement concerning this; Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

Paul indicated that it is complete as he penned;2 Tim 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2 Tim 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Just like the wicked Jehoiakim, many have tried to destroy God's word but all have failed miserably. The only thing accomplished as man tries to add to or diminish the Bible, is that he condemns himself. 2 Pet 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

To WREST means to wrench, to twist or pull . I find a good illustration of this from a past experience. In the late 1940's, I found myself working as an aircraft instrument mechanic apprentice. Many of the instruments of that day were vacuum operated and required copper tubes to be connected to them. Often the tube was not shaped correctly and the temptation was strong to simply force it into place in order to get the job done. After all, this was faster and easier than making another tube which would fit!. There was a serious flaw in this reasoning however. If a copper line was wrested and installed in the wrong manner, the constant vibration would soon cause it to harden and break under the strain. This could conceivably result in the loss of a plane and its crew. So it is with the Word of God. One might find it tempting to wrest the Scripture to make it fit a 'pet theory' but it will not stand up under the strain of teaching a falsehood! How much better to simply accept what the Scripture says, rather than trying to make IT fit our ideas. Rev 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
Rev 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Our Lamp is complete and it will stay that way. Not because of the fidelity of man but because of the truthfulness and the power of God, whose Word it is.
Though many have purported to have visions, revelations and surprising discoveries, they have all been convicted by their own testimony as they have claimed inspired status for their writings.

A complete expose of them would require volumes, and many have already been written. I will mention therefore just an instance or two.

Ellen G. White is thought, by her followers, to be a prophetess and her writings inspired. This, I was assured of by a teacher of her works a few years ago in the City of Bakersfield, California. However, when confronted by a statement in one of her writings that Christ had older brothers and asked if he still believed in the virgin birth he had no answer.

The movement, of which he was an adherent, had its beginnings in a false premise and still changes and adapts whenever needed. When the set time, [set by their prophet, not by God] came and went without the return of the Lord, they merely set another day. When that day passed without their prophecy being fulfilled,
Mrs. White conveniently had another 'inspiration'!. God had deliberately fooled them the first two times to test their faith! This was called the 'holy lie'.! This in spite of the fact that the scripture plainly says this is impossible. Heb 6:18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
The real truth, she said, was that on the set day, Christ finally got around to clean up the sanctuary in heaven! Wonder of wonders; Christ lost no time cleansing the temple on earth but sat around almost two thousand years in a filthy sanctuary in heaven! Oh well, at least, she thought, no one could check this out and prove her wrong. WRONG! The very act of needing to change the so-called prophecy proved her to be a lying prophetess. Deu 18:20 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.
Deu 18:21 And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken?
Deu 18:22 When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.

Joseph Smith was another who felt the need to add to the Word in order to further his own agenda. In his case it was an angel who supposedly led him to the discovery of some 'lost manuscripts'. There are a couple of problems with this, however. First if God allowed ANY of His Word to become lost to ANY generation, He lied. Psa 100:5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. Please note that the promise is to ALL generations, not occasional ones.

The second thing wrong with the discovery of so-called 'new truths' at the hand of angels is that we are warned specifically against it! Gal 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
Gal 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Gal 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

As the Lampstand was ONE article of furniture, yet SEVEN distinct lamps, so is the Word of God, one complete whole. Though men have tried and continue to try to add to or take away from it, it is settled in heaven and man can only condemn himself when he tries. Psa 119:89 LAMED. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. And John 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

It is my firm conviction that the inspiration of the Word was far too important to God, for him to waste words on things of no consequence. When he says something there is a definite purpose in it. With this in mind, I call your attention to the details of this lampstand.
Exo 25:32 And six branches shall come out of the sides of it; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side:

God could easily have said, simply, "Build a menorah with seven lamps" but you notice that He described HOW it should be built. Remember also, that he cautioned Moses, Heb 8:5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount.

Note that the specifications are NOT for simply SIX branches, but that there are to be TWO groups of Three branches. A stylized tree, [almond tree] is being described. We are reminded of the tree in the Garden, which opened the eyes of Adam and Eve, when they partook of its fruit, Gen 2:9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Paul made the statement that it was from the Word that he learned his condition before God; Rom 7:7 What shall we say then? is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

The Word still serves the purpose of the tree of knowledge of good and evil in conviction; Rom 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

The two groups of three branches remind us that there are TWO parts to the Bible, the Old and the New Testaments.

Concerning the Old Testament, we have divine authority that it has THREE branches; Luke 24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

While we have no such direct statement concerning the New Testament, it is clearly composed of three parts: The four Gospels and the book of Acts are historical. The Epistles are concerned mostly with Doctrine and the Book of the Revelation is Prophecy. There is another thing about the instructions concerning the Lampstand, which tends toward the same thought. When God said that THREE branches were to come out of one side of the stem and THREE out of the other side, there is no doubt of the number he had in mind because he also told us that the total number was to be SIX branches. Yet the words used for 'THREE' are not the same words!. The first word clearly means THREE, while the second is a word used most often as a name for several Israelites, and means agreement, or peace.

He is telling us that the second set agrees with the first set. This is not only in number, but also in all its characteristics. There is no discord between the Old and the New Testaments. They agree in all respects and are equal parts of the whole. The number of lamps to be placed on these six branches and the stem is SEVEN and this signifies completeness. Thus there is ONE lampstand, TWO parts, THREE branches to each part.

There is yet one item of furniture in the holy place. It is the Golden Altar. However, in the giving of the instruction for the Tabernacle, God does not give its details yet. Since we are following God's order of progress, we too shall wait for the proper time to examine it. There was a reason for skipping it and we shall see what it is when the time comes.

THE FOUR COVERINGS
It might seem odd to examine the coverings for the tabernacle before the structure itself. However this is God's order and there is a reason for it.
The boards represent the members of the local church and the coverings picture Christ's protection over her. Since God is giving the instructions from His viewpoint instead of man's, He first mentions that which is preeminent with him.
Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
It should also be reiterated that the instructions for the Altar of Incense, or, the Golden Altar which is to play a vital part in the Tabernacle worship and picture something precious and essential to the Lords Church are not yet given. The reason for this will make it even dearer to us when it is made clear..

FINE TWINED LINEN
Exo 26:1 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.
Exo 26:2 The length of one curtain shall be eight and twenty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and every one of the curtains shall have one measure.
Exo 26:3 The five curtains shall be coupled together one to another; and other five curtains shall be coupled one to another.
Exo 26:4 And thou shalt make loops of blue upon the edge of the one curtain from the selvedge in the coupling; and likewise shalt thou make in the uttermost edge of another curtain, in the coupling of the second.
Exo 26:5 Fifty loops shalt thou make in the one curtain, and fifty loops shalt thou make in the edge of the curtain that is in the coupling of the second; that the loops may take hold one of another.
Exo 26:6 And thou shalt make fifty taches of gold, and couple the curtains together with the taches: and it shall be one tabernacle.

Let us first examine the four coverings as a unit. Before the boards, which are types of individual church members, are placed on their silver sockets [redemption] God manifests his care for the institution for which his Son is to die. Eph.5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

It is not uncommon for a young man of today to take on the responsibility of a wife without ever giving a thought to how he will provide for her and the family he is about to found. Some times things work out but often they do not and the marriage winds up on the rocks. On the other hand, a thoughtful man will make sure he is able to provide and will make every provision possible. The love of our Lord for his Church is manifested in a wondrous way as we see the provisions he has made for her security! Here is the joyous thought expressed by the Bride in the Song of Solomon; 2: 4 He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.

This same thought of providing for a people who are special is expressed concerning Israel, who are types of us. Deut.32. 9 For the LORD'S portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.
10 He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye.
As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:

It was this concern for the safety and security of His Church which prompted Jesus to make her that wonderful promise; Mat.16: 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Many a young man has promised, in all sincerity, "don’t worry. Honey, I will always take care of you", only to find later that his resources are rather limited. Not so with Christ: What he has promised, he has the power to deliver! This is the comforting message of the coverings for the tabernacle. Together they give us a complete picture of Christ’s provision for the protection for His bride, even before she comes into being.

Each of the coverings corresponds to one facet of the Ministry of Christ as he provides for the needs of His Church as she finds herself in a hostile world and the gates of hell let loose the assaults of Satan and all his legions against her.

We shall examine them in the order in which God gave them. As the priest enters the Tabernacle he views something that others cannot see. The ceiling over his head is white linen, embroidered with blue, purple and scarlet figures of Cherubims. As we attend to the worship of the Lord in the Church, we must not be distracted by the view of the sky, nature, or any created object. We must have our minds captivated by that which is hidden from the view of others.

There were cherubims over the mercy seat made of pure gold. The word used here, however is a different word. There, it simply meant an angelic figure. Here, it is a word, which was used for a tree. While it still signifies a spiritual being, it conveys the idea of a spiritual presence of great strength. Truly, as we face the world we need such power over us! II Cor.10: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

We are to be ever mindful that he has not left us helpless as orphans, but is even now keeping the promise to be with us , even to the end of the age. The fact that this presence is in the person of the Holy Spirit does not diminish its power, but makes it even more comforting because of His omni-presence.

The White Linen which is the type of the righteousness of Christ is used to point out the fact that the Lord's church is protected, not with the ideals of man nor by mans good intentions, but by the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ. Outsiders often point out, that there are hypocrites in the church. This is the excuse Satan plants in the minds of those who are her enemies. To this charge we can only agree. There are now and always have been such people found in the Lord’s Church. In the first church, it was a man called Judas Iscariot, In Paul’s day there were men like Hymenius and Alexander. Peter had to deal with Ananias and Sapphira.

It is no different now. In every age the Lord’s Churches have been plagued with unrighteousness. All we need to do is look above and see that she has never depended upon men, with their shortcomings ,but on the perfect Son of God. Judas did not die for the Church. Neither did the Corinthian man who took his father’s wife, nor did even Peter who denied the Lord, and later compromised with the Judaizers nor Demas who left Paul for the love of the world. The protection over the Church is not stained and filthy rags. It is of pure white Linen, with embroidered angelic figures. It is the Holy One, Jesus Christ!

The Blue reminds us that He is the Heavenly one. There was no one of Adam’s race who could qualify as the one to build this divine institution.

This is similar to the situation of David as he determined to build a house for the Lord. The privilege of doing so was denied him because he was a man of war. He had to leave the job for his Son who never fought a battle; Solomon, the king of Peace. Many men have taken it upon themselves to build, preserve, or reform the Lord’s Church. The Blue of the covering is a reminder of the truth found in Psa.127:1 A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

Who is the Lord, who must build the house? I Cor.15: 45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.

There have been many great men in the history of the Lord’s churches. The Apostles, including Paul, did great service. During the dark ages many died rather than give up precious truths. In later years we have looked up to men whose names are remembered among us; Pendleton, Graves, Bogard and those who have been influential in our own individual lives. None of these, in spite of their deeds, are qualified for the job. We cannot look above and say, we are a scriptural, New Testament Church because of this great man who made such a great contribution to the work. But we can say, we are True Churches because the heavenly one died for us! His reputation is the only one that gives us relevance, and it remains untarnished. His power is the power of heaven and cannot be overcome. While others have fallen in the battle, he ever lives to make intercession for us.

After World War One, a Captain, John McCrae penned the lines, which begin, ‘In Flanders fields, poppies blow, Between the crosses, row on row.’ Every School child learns the Gettysburg address. Most of us know why the stripes on our flag are red. To those who have lost friends or loved ones in battle, the thought of their shed blood seems to make our freedom dearer. After all, why shouldn't we remember blood, which was shed, on our behalf?

In the white linen of the ceiling of the Tabernacle, there are the threads of scarlet. God doesn’t see fit to tell us just what part they play in the overall design of the covering. The important thing for us to remember is the PRESENCE of the blood, which was shed for the salvation of our souls and for the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The world is filled with spiritually bankrupt folks who would have us believe that the crucifixion of Christ was the result of a failed attempt to change society. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Christ died because it was God’s plan for the redemption of fallen man, and that plan was made before there was a man! Heb.9: 26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

THE SCARLET THREAD

On the wall of time hangs a tapestry,
Each thread, a human life.
It seems, at first, a senseless tangle,
Full of darkness, sin and strife
Then, through the whole, a scarlet thread
Brings order to the scene.
It brightens up the darkness,
Gives beauty to the mean.
It touches one thread; an ark is built.
Then another, a nation is built.
Still others and defeats become victories,
And promises are seen through tears.

Through ages, dark with persecution
O’er land, across seas does it twine,
Circling thread after thread, bringing beauty,
>Till it touches the thread that is MINE!
Then I see in the center, as bright as the sun,
A cross, and like rays that are shed,
From eternity to eternity, giving hope and light
From THERE comes the scarlet thread!
Fcc

It behooves any nation to value the sacrifices made that she might have liberty and be safe within her borders. When a people forget this they are in danger of being overcome because they do not value that which was purchased at so great a price.

How much more is this true concerning the Lord’s Church. We have our existence, not because of government edict or society’s consent, but because Christ shed his blood to purchase his bride and that blood is over us as a reminder and a protection. A church, which leaves her refuge under the blood of her Savior, will soon find that she is no match for the onslaughts of Satan.

The other color in the design of the Linen Cover was to be Purple. This color was very dear and was usually reserved for royalty. Its use in the types always pictures Christ as King. From the very beginning of the Lord’s Church’s mission, she has been attacked by the powers that be. The Sanhedrin Court of the Jews tried to order her to cease and desist. The provincial kings over the provinces of the Roman Empire tried through edict and persecution to stop her. Through the dark ages, every weapon at Satan’s disposal was brought to bear. Entire regions of the Lord’s Churches were wiped out, as happened in the Valleys of the Piedmont in the French Alps. In Germany, England, Switzerland, Africa, and Asia. Even in American Colonies Baptists were persecuted and legislated against. Their answer to their persecutors has always been the same; Acts 5: 29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

Through the purple of the Linen Cover God reminds us that the authority of our head, is as King of Kings. As such his authority trumps the highest power or authority the world can muster.. Romans 8: 31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

This Covering was to be made up of TEN pieces, each piece being four cubits wide and twenty-eight cubits long. These ten parts were to be sewn together in two groups of five each. They were then to be fastened together with solid gold taches, or pins , to make one curtain large enough to cover the tabernacle and hang to within one cubit of the ground on either side.

Ten is a number that designates Human Government. Why here? This is a picture of a human government under Divine supervision. This is to be found no where else in the world today. Israel was to be such an entity, and was until she demanded a king like other nations.

The Lord’s Churches of today are the only divine institution with a human Government under God.
I Cor.6: 2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

The Lord knew the propensity of men to form hierarchies and warned against them. Matt.20: 25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;

He also let it be known how he felt about those who would usurp His authority as head of his church. Rev.2:6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate. &Rev.2: 15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.

The word means rulers over the people. There is no pope, prelate, bishop, vicar, synod, council or convention, which has authority to rule over the Lord's Church. She is to govern herself under Christ as her head.

The two groups of five curtains each reminds us that as his Bride, those who are qualified to minister in this place have received a double portion of grace. Grace has saved us; Eph 2: 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: We have also been enabled to serve him by grace. I Cor.15: 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

THE DEBT WE OWE THE DEBT WE OWE

If I should labor long and hard
For fifty years or more,
And work to serve my savior,
till my hands were stiff and sore,
Could I repay one tear he shed?
Or stop one cry of pain?
Or restore one precious drop of blood
That flowed from open vein?
If I should fall in service,
For Him, my life lay down,
Could I remove one lash mark,
Or one thorn from his crown?
If my lips should always praise him
Would his lips be less parched?
If my feet should run to serve him,
Would it shorten where He marched?
If I should give him all I own
And answer every call,
Could I restore ONE thing to him
Who gave for me, His all?
Though I give my all in service
When I see Him face to face,
If my savior then rewards me,
It will only be by grace!
Fcc

These two groups of five curtains were fastened together with solid gold pins or TACHES. Nothing human is involved in the protection provided by our Lord, savior and King!
When the ten curtains are fastened together, they form one covering, forty cubits long. 40 is the number of judgment or testing. Our Lord’s provision for his church has met and passed all tests.

`THE CURTAIN OF WOVEN GOATS HAIR
Exodus 26:7 And thou shalt make curtains of goats' hair to be a covering upon the tabernacle: eleven curtains shalt thou make.
8 The length of one curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and the eleven curtains shall be all of one measure.
9 And thou shalt couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and shalt double the sixth curtain in the forefront of the tabernacle.
10 And thou shalt make fifty loops on the edge of the one curtain that is outmost in the coupling, and fifty loops in the edge of the curtain which coupleth the second.
11 And thou shalt make fifty taches of brass, and put the taches into the loops, and couple the tent together, that it may be one.
12 And the remnant that remaineth of the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that remaineth, shall hang over the backside of the tabernacle.
13 And a cubit on the one side, and a cubit on the other side of that which remaineth in the length of the curtains of the tent, it shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle on this side and on that side, to cover it.

This curtain is placed immediately over the covering of Linen. It is out of sight but serves a practical as well as a typical purpose. It was practical in as much as it served to protect the linen curtain below it by absorbing any moisture, which might get through from above as well as providing a measure of insulation for the tabernacle

The goat has become so synonymous with substitution that even in our vernacular, a ‘scapegoat’ is immediately recognized as one who carries the blame for another. In a later chapter, we shall see the full meaning as we study the Day of Atonement. For the present we shall rejoice in this added measure of protection for His Church.
I Cor.15: 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
I Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
I Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

These are but a few of the Scriptures we might reference to show Christ as the one who substituted himself for us in facing the judgment of God for sin.

It was essential that man have a substitute, if he is to ever escape the judgment of God. There was no way that he could pay for his own sins and be saved, for he would become eternally dead in the paying. Only by an acceptable substitute could the demands of a Holy God and the needs of poor lost man be satisfied.

Animal sacrifice was not the answer; Heb.10: 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
Not one of Adam’s seed could suffice, for they are all under the same condemnation; Rom.5: 12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

For this cause, God had decreed the obvious; Psa.49: 7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:
8 (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)

The angels, being spirit beings, without flesh and blood, could not possibly do the job for; Heb.9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

There was only one possible way out of the dilemma. There must be found a perfect man who would be willing to die for all. Since death had already passed upon all men, the only answer was for Christ to take the form of man. Praise God for his wonderful love, which accomplished this.
Phil.2: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross..

As his Church faces the slings and arrows of Satan and an angry world, we can rejoice in the fact that we have something even more effective than the best bulletproof vest .We have Christ who stands forever between us and our enemies. He took our sins upon himself; in our behalf underwent the judgment for those sins on the cross and now absorbs those blows aimed at us. I John 4: 4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

Whereas the Linen curtains were only 28 cubits by 40 cubits when fastened together, not allowing them to reach the ground on either side of the Tabernacle, this curtain is 30 by 44 cubits allowing it to reach to the ground and also hang down four cubits at the front of the structure. This, if we are correct in allowing 1 1/2 feet to a cubit, would allow about six feet of this Goat’s hair curtain to be seen from the inside of the Tabernacle. The veil or curtain at the entrance would hide it from view on the outside however.

Compare this with the rest of the Glory of the view, which met the eyes of the priest as he entered the place of his ministry. Before him he sees the beautiful veil; before it sits the golden altar of incense; on his right is the gleaming table with its 12 loaves of showbread and on his left, the Lampstand of pure beaten Gold with its seven lamps revealing the gold covered boards of the wall. When he turns around ,he sees the beauty of the curtain through which he has just entered but there, from about nine feet above the ground to the top, where it disappears behind the cover of embroidered linen, he sees the black of the curtain of goat’s hair. What an awful, but wondrous contrast!

As we enter our sanctuary, the Lord’s Church, he wants us to be conscious of the beauty and glory of our savior and his provisions for us, for his Word and for the fact that by him we have become sons of God. Yet in all of this, we are ever reminded of the great fact that he became partaker of our weakness in the flesh and became our substitute.
Heb.2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

There is yet one other lesson for us in this cover. It was made up of eleven pieces, each four cubits wide by thirty cubits long. Five of these were to be sewn together into one piece and the remaining six were to be sewn into another part. These two parts were then to be joined together by pins or taches of brass to form one cover over the entire tabernacle. What could all this mean?
Six is the number of man and five is the number for grace.
Here, in a nutshell, is the lesson of our scapegoat. Our Lord became a man; lived as a man; was tested [The brass pins] as a man; and as a man he died for us. Yet by the grace of god, this Man ever lives to make intercession for us.
I Tim. 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

The brass pins are also reminding us that every part of judgment, which was rightfully man’s, was met in Christ.
Adam brought the judgment of death upon all men. This was met in Christ, in our behalf.
Gen.2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Heb.2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

Through sin, the judgment of sweat and labor came upon the human race. Christ took even this upon himself as he faced the ultimate labor.
Gen.3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Luke 22:44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Even the curse of the agony of childbirth was his!
Gen.3:16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children;
Heb.12: 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
2:13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.

He faced even the daily temptation we face in ways we cannot even fathom.
Heb.4: 14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

And yet, there is more to the protective coverings that he has placed over his church.

The Rams Skins Dyed Red The Rams Skins Dyed Red
14 And thou shalt make a covering for the tent of rams' skins dyed red, and a covering above of badgers' skins.
The first thing we note in these instructions is the wording used for the articles. In giving the instructions for the first two layers, the word used designated a hanging, as a tremulous curtain. In this verse the instructions for the two outer or topmost layers signifies something entirely different. The word used means, a weatherboarding.

These people were then living in tents and were surely familiar with the technique of using the skins of animals as we use shingles. There would be a lower course with the edges overlapping and then another course with the bottoms overlapping the first. So on to the top of the structure. In this manner water would be shed as from a shingled roof.
God does not give any dimensions for these two coverings, but since their purpose was to protect the structure from wind and rain, we can be sure they completely covered it.
Though we might be tempted to slip into conjecture about these things, we can be sure that God has told us everything needful for us to know.
The rams skins, dyed red, told a simple but powerful story of the love of Christ and his protection for his Church.

The ram signifies the one who is the leader of the flock. We shall see this in other aspects as we study the offerings but this is a special case. This is the ram and his connection, not with the multitudes of believers but with the House of God. This is the figure of that which was spoken of by Paul. Eph.5: 22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

There was nothing connected with the tabernacle or its worship, which was not protected by the ram skins dyed red. Neither is there any portion of the Lord’s Bride, his Church, for which he did not die to purchase and to protect

Of all the Apostles, Paul seemed to have a deeper understanding and greater vision of the Lord's Church. Could it have been that his knowledge of the Law made him to realize even more than the others the great value of her to her Lord?

The Ram also signified strength. The strength of a man is manifested by his deeds. The weight lifter measures his strength against others by the amount of weight lifted. Let us then measure the strength of the one who protects us. In this we can find peace as the storms of the world surround.

He is the creator of the worlds and our redeemer; Heb 1:1 God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

It was his great power that enabled him to make the needed sacrifice for us; II Cor.8: 9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

The ram skins were dyed red to indicate how the blood of the strong Son of God protects his church. This covering could be seen neither from the inside nor the outside of the tabernacle, yet it was there doing the job it was meant to do.

Like the roofing covers the insulation and protects it from damage, this covering and the one above it does its job. If the insulating Goat's hair becomes damaged then the beautiful linen curtains also become marred. A good illustration of this is found in those churches who first cast doubt on the deity of Christ, then questioned the efficacy of his death, denied his resurrection and became no more that another worldly society. Their churches and everything in them were soon unrecognizable as the House of God. Everything in them became soiled and polluted.

THE COVERING OF BADGER'S SKINS


This is the final or outer covering. It is the only one readily seen. It pictures that aspect of our Lord which is the most easily understood by human beings. It shows forth the human side of our savior and illustrates the protection for His Church provided by it.
Heb.4: 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
5:1 For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:
5:2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.

This outer covering takes the brunt of all the weather. While there has been much discussion as to the exact Animal meant by the word translated badger, we can be sure that it was a skin, which made rather tough leather. The word used was [phonetically] dugong. Some have said it might have been the seal, found in the Mediterranean area, others that it could have been the skin of some species of antelope. It is generally conceded that there were no such animals in the area as that which we know as a badger. Whatever it was, the word is used in one other place and there indicated its durability. Ezek.16: 10 I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers' skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk.

Neither the devil nor man is anxious to challenge God head-on. The devil and his angels tried it and lost their estate because of it. Man, in his right mind realizes the utter futility of the creature trying to overcome the creator and only a fool would say in his heart, ‘There is no God’. For some reason, however, Christ, as a man, seems to be fair game. To find fault with or to attack him seems to be acceptable in the eyes of lost men and fallen angels. Satan tempted Christ’s human side. Heb.4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

It was the man against whom all the accusations were made falsely. It was the man whose beard was plucked and whose head wore a crown of thorns: it was not as God that they mocked him. The Jews would have been horrified that anyone would mock Jehovah. But the man Jesus was fair game. They crucified him as a man even though they could find no fault with him. They forbade the Church to preach the gospel of that man.

Of course we know that this man was the creator, that he was God manifested in the flesh and that He IS the eternal Jehovah. But those who refuse to accept him as such, still now as they did then, try to find fault with the man. They could not then nor can man now, find fault with the Man Christ Jesus.

As the perfect Man he still protects his church as he did in the Garden of Gethsemane. John 18: 8 Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:
That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.

The man, Christ Jesus, has been attacked by the world in every thing he did or was. Stories have been told which have attempted to rob him of his divinity by making him the illegitimate son of one of the soldiers in the Roman Legions. Herod, who no doubt would have trembled at the thought of defying God, tried to have the man, headed off by ordering the slaying of the infants of Bethlehem. His perfect life has been declared a bunch of myths, made up by his followers to try to endow him with divinity.
A few years ago, someone even tried to pass off, in a book, the preposterous lie, that he didn't really die. His disciples simply drugged him so that he appeared dead so that they could then bring him back to life! From the very morning of the resurrection, men have told fantastic tales about him in order to try to rob him of his victory over death.Matt.28: 12 And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,
13 Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.
14 And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.
So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

As a man, He is not all that desirable to the world.
Isa.53: 2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

Men love to adore him as the infant Jesus. After all, an infant is not threatening, especially if it is not our own child. We can cuddle it and coo a little then hand it back to its mother and go our way.
So the Christ Child is adored now as he was then. He was even followed as long as he fed them and performed miracles at which they could marvel. When he came to the revealing of the deep truths that they must be willing to accept to be his true followers, it became another matter entirely. John 6: 58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.
59 These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.
Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?
& 66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

Neither does the world desire to hear that this man will judge them and rule over them. Even the priests of his day tolerated Christ as long as he didn't interfere too much with their religious domain. As soon, however as He exercised his divine prerogative and cleansed the temple, they began to take counsel to slay him. All their efforts to find just cause to accomplish their dastardly purpose was to no avail, and they finally had to resort to hired perjurers! Matt.26: 59 Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;
60 But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,
And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.

Try as they may, man has never yet found any fault with Christ. He has overcome all temptation. He has stood fast against all charges and still protects us from all harm.

To briefly sum up all the benefits of the four covers; He is the Holy one; The heavenly one; the one who died for us; is our substitute; is coming as King of Kings; and has overcome every temptation. All this he has placed over His Church as a protective covering. No harm can enter to destroy or pollute her. The only way any evil can enter is through the front entrance in the person of a priest [church member]. This has happened from the very beginning and still goes on. Lev.10:1 And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not.
And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.

Even in this we find a similarity to the Lord's Church. There were Judas, and then Ananias and his wife Sapphira. Neither of these examples were able to do any lasting harm however because God’s way was followed to root out the harmful ones.

THE GOLD COVERED BOARDS

Exodus 26: 15 And thou shalt make boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood standing up.
16 Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and a cubit and a half shall be the breadth of one board.
17 Two tenons shall there be in one board, set in order one against another: thus shalt thou make for all the boards of the tabernacle.
18 And thou shalt make the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards on the south side southward.
And thou shalt make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for his two tenons, and two sockets under another board for his two tenons.

The timing of these instructions is particularly revealing. The Ark of the Covenant, with its Mercy Seat is ready. Provisions have been made for the Table of ShowBread. The Candlestick [Lampstand] is prepared and the Coverings are waiting. Only now, with all the preparations in place can the boards be prepared and safely serve their purpose.

As we compare these boards with New Testament Truths, it becomes clear that they are types of the individual church member and collectively, they picture the Church. That is, they picture the place of men in that divine structure.

The boards were all made of the same type of material. The shittim tree was what we know as acacia. It was known for its thorns and its gnarly growth. How wonderfully symbolic of the human nature!

While it is normal for men to consider themselves better than the average, God’s word declares all to be equally lost and in need of a savior.Rom.3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

There is no one in the Lord's church who can lord it over others because of his station in life, education, breeding, or size of his bank account. Nor can any say that they are more deserving of the position as a church member because they were lesser sinners. The apostle Paul said it about himself, but it is applicable to each and every one of us, I Cor. 15: 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Here was a man who, in his pre-Christian life had been a paragon of virtue and the epitome of a religious figure. Phil.3: 6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. Yet he declared himself to be the very worst kind of sinner. I Tim 1: 15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

From the beggar in the gutter to the tycoon in the penthouse, from the most insignificant citizen to the leader of nations, and from the most debauched sinner to the clean living paragon of virtue, there is but one kind of man in God’s eyes, SINNERS.
Psalm 14:2 The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Out of this unlikely material, the boards were to be made. Each one was to be of exactly the same size. There were to be no big boards and smaller ones. Neither is there to be any difference in the members of the Lord’s Churches. Matt.20: 25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:

Men love hierarchies and when left to their own devices will always develop them. The love for preeminence causes some to strive for supremacy and so bring themselves into a wrong relationship with the Lord and his Church, III John 9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. This is the thing which Jesus declared that he hated; Rev.2: 15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.
Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
The word, Nicolaitanes, means rulers over the people. It led to the division which resulted in the bishop of Rome being declared the head of the universal [catholic] church. In almost every division and squabble which has plagued the Lord’s churches down to this time, this desire for preeminence can be found at the root of the problem.

Why, we might ask, is this thing so reprehensible and hated by the Lord? The reason is simple. Christ is the Head of the Church and any man who seeks that position must unseat Christ and assume that which is rightfully His. Col.1: 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. Is not this an exact copy of the sin of which Lucifer was guilty?
Isa.14: 12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
The boards are not ready to become a part of the tabernacle until they are covered with Gold. Gold being the type of that which is divine. One of the most important and basic tenets to which the Lord’s church has held down through the centuries is a regenerated Church membership.

John the Baptist, being sent to prepare the material from which the Lord would build his church, set the standard. When the unsaved appeared before him seeking baptism, his decision concerning them comes through loud, clear and without equivocation; Matt.3: 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

As the priest entered the tabernacle in his daily ministrations, his view of the boards was not of the gnarly acacia, but the equally sized, and gold covered boards. So, we who minister in the Lord's Church should look upon every member as a son of God. Whatever that person's previous lot or station in life might have been, as a member of the New Testament Church there is this basic qualification; To have been saved and belong to God. Jude expresses it as a COMMON SALVATION. Jude3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
This does not mean common in the sense of being of little value, but rather, that, which is held in common by all that partake. What does this mean? Simply that each one of us was saved exactly the same way. God has only one plan of salvation and in fact has never had but one. The Old Testament saints were saved in exactly the same way as you and I. Acts 10: 43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

To share in this common salvation is only the first of the requirements however, which we shall see vividly as we continue to look at the tabernacle, the priesthood and the service they render. The universal church adherents would love for us to stop at this point, but we shall forge ahead!

These boards rested upon the foundation of the silver sockets. This silver came from the redemption offerings of five shekels apiece for the first born of all the males of every tribe except Levi. God had claimed the firstborn for himself since he had passed over them in Egypt, while slaying the firstborn of the rest of the land. They are now to be released from this by the paying of the redemption money and God claims the tribe of Levi as his priestly tribe, instead.

Thus, the very foundation of the Tabernacle was redemption and the Church is made up of sons of God, each resting upon the redemption which is ours in Christ Jesus.

For those who are fearful of their standing before God and are afraid they might slip, there is one other part the picture. Each board was to have two tenons or pins on the bottom, which fit snugly into corresponding holes in the silver sockets. This was provided for every board in the tabernacle and each was secure. Heb.6: 18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

There is yet another item to be noticed in connection with the boards. To have been firmly fastened at the foundation was not enough if they were to be a sturdy and lasting structure. They must be fastened together so as to make a solid single wall. For this purpose there were five bars which were made of the same wood as the boards. They were to each pass through rings in the boards except for the middle bar, which was to pass through the midst of the boards, from end to end. Exodus 26: 26 And thou shalt make bars of shittim wood; five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,
27 And five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the side of the tabernacle, for the two sides westward.
28 And the middle bar in the midst of the boards shall reach from end to end.
And thou shalt overlay the boards with gold, and make their rings of gold for places for the bars: and thou shalt overlay the bars with gold.

On each side of the tabernacle there are FIVE bars which hold the entire structure together. Since five is the number, which symbolizes GRACE, we can readily understand that these signify something that is supplied to us by the Grace of our God.

Paul tells us of those things which, by the grace of God, sustain us.Eph.4: 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
5 One Lord [1], one faith [2], one baptism [3],
6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all [4].
But unto every one of us is given grace [5] according to the measure of the gift of Christ. With these five things in place, the Lord's Church has withstood every onslaught of the devil and will continue to remain in business for Him until he comes again.

THE BEAUTIFUL DOORS

At the entrance to the Holy of Holies
Exodus 26: 31 And thou shalt make a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made:
32 And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver.
And thou shalt hang up the veil under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the veil the ark of the testimony: and the veil shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.

At the entrance to the Tabernacle
Exodus 26: 36 And thou shalt make an hanging for the door of the tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework.
37 And thou shalt make for the hanging five pillars of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, and their hooks shall be of gold: and thou shalt cast five sockets of brass for them.
At the entrance to the Outer Court
Exodus 27: 16 And for the gate of the court shall be an hanging of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework: and their pillars shall be four, and their sockets four.

There can be no doubt as to what is pictured here for the New Testament tells us; Heb.10: 19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
John 10: 7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

Since each of these items pictures the same thing, i.e., the person of Christ, I have chosen to present them together. There are similarities and there are differences. First let us look at the similarities, then we shall note the differences.
Each of these provides both a partition and an access. Each is the SOLE entrance into that which lies beyond it. Each is a picture of Jesus Christ for there is no other Door.

Since the material and the colors are the same as those of the first of the coverings for the tent, there is no use repeating those details. Each is a full picture of the Son of God, yet each pictures him from a different viewpoint.
As the covering one we see him as the beauty and protection of His Church. In the Hanging Curtains and the Veil He is the entrance.

As one approached the site of the Tabernacle he is faced with a wall of solid white, five cubits, [7 1/2 feet] High. There is only one entrance. It is found on the East Side and with its width of twenty cubits [30 feet] seems to be inviting all to enter. Rev.22: 17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
John 12: 32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
While the entrance is sufficient for all who will come, it is also exclusive. The Courtyard is a type of salvation and preparation for service and there is no other way to enter.
Acts 4: 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

In every religion devised by man, the supplicant must either earn, or somehow appeal to the object of his worship, to be found worthy. Only then can he expect future reward. Some have even come up with different levels, which can be achieved according to one’s diligence. All these appeal to the vanity of the natural man. There is even a sort of perverseness to be found in this.

Since humility is to be expected in the presence of an object of worship, some have found a strange satisfaction, and even pride, in the degree of humiliation they have achieved. From the board of nails and the strange antics of the dervishes of India to the penance, demanded by the Church of Rome this is so. Sack cloth and ashes are preferred over repentance toward God and faith in Christ, because it allows men to say I earned it! The only problem with all this is, IT DOESN’T WORK! Salvation is not according to that which pleases man, but that which is demanded by God. He has proclaimed Christ to be the only door.

Though it may be politically incorrect to say it, the truth is, All men must come according to God's demands to Jesus Christ in humble repentance or forever be lost. This is so for the king on his throne, the beggar in the street, the college professor or the savage. Buddha can't save nor can Islam. Forgiveness is not enough if pronounced by priest or pope.
The admiration of the world for ones shining life of service to mankind is insufficient. We might admire the self-control of some pacifists, but God will recognize only the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ.
10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

Crossing the courtyard, one comes to the door of the Tabernacle, there, a curtain hangs made of the same material. It too, pictures Christ. Here, however, he is the door, not of salvation, but into the place of service and true worship. Yes, Christ is the door of the Church. He stated in John 10: 9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. As the door he provides access to acceptable worship and a way for us to go into the world, from the church, to serve.

A great difference in this door from the others, is the pillars, or posts from which it is suspended. It is at this point that we find bases of brass instead of silver as is found in the rest of the building. Since brass always pictures judgment in some way, we must ask ourselves.

"Why? Why is judgment pictured in such a place? Actually it shows forth in a type, a principle for which true Baptists have stood since the days of John the Baptist.
Matt.3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

With these words, John set the standard, which has since been applied by all New Testament Churches. When one comes for membership to the body of Christ, that person must satisfy the church that he has indeed been saved and is ready to serve Him. Thus, judgment is faced. Since no man is worthy in himself for such an honor and there is no way for us to become worthy in our own right, we must depend on the Grace of God making us worthy through Jesus Christ and His imputed righteous.

The Bible number that depicts Grace is FIVE. There are five pillars resting on their brass bases at the door of the Tabernacle. The Apostle Paul expressed a truth about his own service to Christ which is applicable to us all; I Cor.15: 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Judgment is not confined to the original entering in. As long as one is a member of one of the Lord's churches he remains subject to her judgment. I Peter 4: 17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And I Cor.5: 12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
6:1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?
2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.

It is the third veil to which Hebrews 10: 20 directly refers. By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh: It stands between the Holy Place and the Holiest of all.

We must remember the time element to these types. These about which we are now concerned picture the Lord's Church and things related to her, today. This is a picture of the Church in the present age. The Holy place pictures the present day church while the Holiest of all shows forth the place where Christ now sits at the right hand of the throne of God.

Into this place, no one entered except the High Priest, once each year with the blood of the Atonement offering. Heb.9: 3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;
4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.
6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.
7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:
Into the Holiest of all Christ has entered and is set down at the right hand of the father.
Heb.9: 11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

In order that we have access to communion with God, it is imperative that we have a way, or a door open for us to come before him. This is accomplished in the person of Jesus Christ. As he died on the cross, the veil in the Temple, which corresponded to this veil in the Tabernacle, was split. This signifies that there IS now a way for us to come before God to submit our petitions. Our High priest is there and it is through Him that we can now freely enter into that most sacred of places. Heb.4: 14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Because Christ came in the flesh and was made in the likeness of sinful man, he understands our needs. Because He is the Holy one he can communicate those needs to the Father. Through the veil, that is, his flesh, then, we have access to the throne of Grace.

THE ALTAR OF BRASS
Exodus 27:1 And thou shalt make an altar of shittim wood, five cubits long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be foursquare: and the height thereof shall be three cubits.
2 And thou shalt make the horns of it upon the four corners thereof: his horns shall be of the same: and thou shalt overlay it with brass.
3 And thou shalt make his pans to receive his ashes, and his shovels, and his basins, and his fleshhooks, and his firepans: all the vessels thereof thou shalt make of brass.
4 And thou shalt make for it a grate of network of brass; and upon the net shalt thou make four brazen rings in the four corners thereof.
5 And thou shalt put it under the compass of the altar beneath, that the net may be even to the midst of the altar.
6 And thou shalt make staves for the altar, staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with brass.
7 And the staves shall be put into the rings, and the staves shall be upon the two sides of the altar, to bear it. Hollow with boards shalt thou make it: as it was showed thee in the mount, so shall they make it.

The instructions for the entire Tabernacle and all its furnishings, except for the Altar of Incense have been given. Instructions for it and for the Laver will come in their divinely appointed order. Now come the instructions for the place of sacrifice.

Animal sacrifice is nothing new to the people of God. Beginning in the Garden of Eden, after the fall of Adam, animals have died in man's relationship with God. God himself offered the first animal when he took the skin to cover the nakedness of Adam and Eve. Cain and Abel knew of the practice and Cain, offering the wrong sacrifice, brought upon him, the wrath of God.

Noah knew about the need for sacrifice and offered such after the flood. Abraham, too, learned that there was a need for sacrifice, when God demanded the offering of his son, Isaac. These are only a few of the examples which could be given but they are sufficient to illustrate that animal sacrifices under the Law of Moses was NOT, as some have charged, the mimicking of heathen nations by the people of Israel. The practice predates every false religion and every idol.

However ancient the practice and whatever the sacrifices of the heathen might have been, there was one vast difference between them and those offered to Jehovah. The practice of the false worshippers was considered to be an actual propitiation for their sins while those of the true worshippers were only illustrative of the real thing. Thus, when John the Baptist made the proclamation, Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world [John 1:29] there was no consternation among those who heard.

While they were reluctant, later, to accept him in that capacity, preferring a dominating King, they nevertheless understood what John meant. They had seen animals die, year after year. Each offering was but a picture of the ultimate sacrifice. It was to be one offered by God to man! Leviticus 17: 11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

The Altar of Brass is a picture of the cross, the place of sacrifice. Consider the material used in its construction.
It was to be made of wood. This is the same wood as was used in the rest of the tabernacle and here, as there, shows forth the human element of the crucifixion of Christ.

First, Christ suffered as a MAN. Psalm 22, which is the Song of His suffering, proclaims not the anguish of a divine being, but of a human. The nerve endings in his hands and feet were at least as sensitive as yours or mine. The pain of the plucked beard and the lashings of the whip were not diminished by divine power. Nor was the thirst of his parched throat and lips lessened by his relationship to the Father. Acts 17: 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
I Tim.2: 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

Second, his tormentors and murderers were men. This is abundantly clear as we read the account of his suffering and hear the statement of Peter on the Day of Pentecost. Acts 2: 23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

This wood was to be covered completely with plates of brass. As everywhere else it is used, brass is a type of judgment.

Though Christ lived a perfect and sinless life as a man while on earth, yet he was judged for OUR sins!
I Peter 2: 24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
II Cor.5: 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might bemade the righteousness of God in him.
Isaiah 53: 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
Isaiah 53: 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

What a glorious message there is here for poor sin-cursed men! The terrible judgment of the Holy One which was rightfully ours, has spent itself upon the cross of Christ. It is like a safe harbor, in which the seafarer finds shelter from the storm. The waves break in all their fury upon the sea wall at the harbor entrance and there their force does its worst. Those on the inside of the harbor are safe and secure.

So the judgment, which was rightfully ours, has struck the Lord with all its fury, and those who are in him are safe.

THE SMITTEN ROCK

Upon the shifting sands, I stood,
Sinking, sinking down.
The tide was coming in so fast
It seemed that I must drown.
I'll lift myself, and flee, said I,
Up to a higher land,
Before I perish, all alone
Upon this shifting sand.
With struggles growing weaker,
till strength was almost gone,
I sank, without a ray of hope B
But then ---I saw the Stone!
This rock was standing solid,
But in the shifting sand
I could only look and pray,
Lord, now, I'm in Thy hand!
All my struggles to save myself
Have been to no avail,
Now, without Thy strength and help,
I know I’ll surely fail.
Then, when hope was gone, it seemed,
I felt a gentle hand
It placed me there, upon the rock,
Above the awful sand!
The winds of doubt and fear arose,
As on the rock I stood,
A voice said, Peace be with you,
I've bought you with my blood.
The storm kept raging higher,
It almost seemed to mock!
But the voice said, I will shield you
In a cleft of the smitten rock.
Now, I stand, steadfast and sure,
My soul is ever locked,
Above the shifting, swirling sand
In a cleft of the smitten rock!
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The dimensions of this Altar are revealing also. At five by five by three cubits, the capacity was sufficient to have placed every Item of furniture in the Tabernacle inside it. Not that this was ever done or even needed to be done, but I see a lesson here nevertheless.
Paul made the declaration, Gal.6: 14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. Again he stated, I Cor.2: 2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
Whatever the teaching, however great the subject matter, if it doesn't fit the Cross of Christ, DON'T PREACH IT!
This altar was five cubits by five Cubits Square. Five being the number which designates Grace, it is clear that God is pointing out that there is no way to approach the Cross of Christ without seeing a display of the Grace of God! Heb.2: 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

One cannot approach the cross in self-righteousness, rituals, or any works which man may devise. Eph.2: 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

It was three cubits high. This is the number of the Godhead. Though Christ bore our sins alone at Calvary and suffered even to being forsaken in that awful moment by the Father, yet Father, Son and Holy Spirit were active in this sacrifice for our sins.

As the Eternal Son, Christ offered himself as the sacrifice for our sins. I Tim 2: 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
Heb:10:5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God

The Holy Spirit was intimately involved in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. To fully understand this we must see Christ, not as a martyr to a cause, but a free-will offering to God in behalf of man.

Consider the many reasons for which men have willingly died. Some have died in desperation, as criminals have often done in order to escape capture. Others have been caught up in the fervor of a cause until they have been willing to die for that cause. Some of these have been admirable causes and others have been duped into dying for foolishness. Those who perish in such causes as the followers of Jones, in South America, and those who died, in the vain hope of catching a ride in a space ship in the tail of a comet died as fools.

There have been men who died willingly as heroes. Among these are those on the battlefields who perform such acts as falling on a hand grenade to protect their comrades. Martyrs have suffered death rather than give up or compromise on a cause.
JESUS DID NOT DIE AS ANY OF THESE! He stood as a lamb, slain from the foundation of the earth and the motivation for his dying was neither desperation, fear nor false hope. His moving impulse came from the Holy Spirit. Heb.9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

God the Father, too, was intimately involved in this transaction. It was He who offered his own Son and He accepted the sacrifice.
Isa.53: 10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
John 3: 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Lev.17: 11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

A protuberance resembling a horn was placed at each of the four corners of the altar. These horns were not mere decorations, but served a very practical purpose. The bullock or lamb, which waited his turn to be sacrificed, was tied to one of the horns. Psa.118: 27 God is the LORD, which hath showed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.

Long before there was a need, the provision for the salvation of man had been made. Like the patient lamb, he stood and waited for the time of his offering. I Peter 3: 18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
What wonderful love and awesome patience. Down through the centuries, he was reminded daily of the fate which awaited him. Yet he never drew back nor faltered. Truly, he was bound with strong cords to the place of his sacrifice.

What were these cords? There was the strong cable of the honesty and integrity of God. He had promised a redeemer and his promise MUST stand. Then there was the strand of divine love. Such a love cannot be denied. It will find a way to accomplish its goal. Then there was the expectation of future glory. This transcends every obstacle, which lies in its path. Heb.12: 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Solomon expressed the thought in Ecc.4:12 that a threefold cord is not quickly broken. This threefold cord of Divine purpose firmly fixed Christ to the cross. From the time he was first promised as the one who would wound the head of the serpent until the last step was taken in his march toward Calvary, his death was sure.

Because of this assurance that when the time came for his sacrifice, the Lamb would be waiting, those of the Old Testament could receive him by faith even as we. They with faith in the promise, we with faith in the accomplishment. Acts 10: 43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

I KNOW

I don't know how it was put together,
Whether bolted, nailed or tied,
But I know they hung him on a cross,
Where he suffered, bled and died.
I don't know if they made it of cedar,
Or oak or some other wood.
But I know they nailed his hands and feet
And stained that old cross with his blood.
Whether they stored it away to use again,
Or burned it, or let it stand,
I don't know, but I know he suffered there
And died for poor, fallen man.
All his pain and grief and loneliness,
I guess I shall never know,
But salvation is mine and heaven's ahead
He died to make it so!
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THE OUTER COURT
Exodus 27: 18 The length of the court shall be an hundred cubits, and the breadth fifty every where, and the height five cubits of fine twined linen, and their sockets of brass.
All the vessels of the tabernacle in all the service thereof, and all the pins thereof, and all the pins of the court, shall be of brass.

After describing the Brazen Altar, which pictured the Cross of Christ, the next instructions were for the curtains, which surround the outer court. The Tabernacle itself pictured the New Testament Church and only those qualified as priests could enter there, while the outer court is a place where all may come with the proper sacrifice. Titus 2: 11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,[Lit. trans. The grace of God which brings salvation to all men has appeared.]

The outer court shows forth God's provision for salvation to all men.

Here is a picture of New Testament Evangelism under the law. The promise of what the Holy Spirit would do when He came was simple; John 16: 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

The lost world needs no other message than this. They must be convicted of their sins. They must come to know that righteousness is to be found only in Christ and they must know that all will stand before Christ in the judgment. This is precisely what is pictured in the curtains of the outer court.

The pillars from which the curtains were suspended were to be of brass and were to be placed five cubits apart. Judgment and Grace are forever mingled in God's plan of salvation. Judgment must be met and it can be met only by grace. Heb.2: 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. A portion of the Glory and Honor with which he is crowned is the fact that through the offering of himself, he provided an escape from judgment for lost mankind.
Heb.6: 18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: 19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Consider the man in the camp of Israel who finds himself under condemnation and who looks for a way out of his dilemma. He can see, from any point in the camp, the pillar of cloud by day and fire by night over the holy of holies. He knows that it is from there that the judgment comes which will bring his condemnation.

He approaches the dreaded place and as he nears he can see the white linen curtains suspended from their poles of brass. Eagerly, he takes a lamb from his flock and is determined to find a way inside. As he nears, the way is clear. There on the East Side of the courtyard is a gate. This gate is open wide and invites him in. He offers his offering for his sin and the load of guilt is lifted from him.

Why? Because there is a direct connection between the Altar in the courtyard and the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies. The one who dwells there has accepted his sacrifice.

Each of the pillars of brass rests upon a socket or base of brass; The very foundation of our salvation is judgment met in Jesus Christ. This judgment was for sin and since he had no sin, he was able to take our judgment upon himself. Isa.53: 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
I Peter 2: 24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

The message cannot be overstated: There is a judgment and there is a Judge. Acts 17: 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

Why does judgment rest upon all men? The indictment is found in Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:
16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:
17 And the way of peace have they not known:
There is no fear of God before their eyes.

The message is wondrously clear; the debt of sin is paid. God now demands, not penance but REPENTANCE. A look at the rest of the curtain confirms this. At the top of each pillar of brass, there is a cap of silver. A hook is incorporated into the inner and outer sides of the cap and a socket to receive a rod of silver which will reach from pillar to pillar and from which the linen curtains are hung. There are pins of brass driven into the ground and cords running from each pin to the silver hooks keep the pillars upright.

We must never forget that our imputed righteousness is to be found only in Christ and that there is a connection between the judgment he bore while here upon the earth and our redemption, which is his glory. Heb.2: 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

From the rods of silver, which reach from pillar to pillar, hangs the white linen curtains which are our condemnation while on the outside, [lost] but our safety and security from the inside. [saved].
Rom.8: 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
II Cor.5: 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
II Cor.5: 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
We can never earn this blessing, Isa. 64: 6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. It can only be had by faith. Romans 4: 22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Provision for the Oil
Exodus 27:20 And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always.
21 In the tabernacle of the congregation, without the veil, which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before the LORD: it shall be a statute for ever unto their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel.
I Cor.2: 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

The two final verses of this 27th chapter of Exodus seem, at first, to be an afterthought, casually dropped into the narrative. Realizing, however, that God does nothing casually or as an afterthought, there must be a reason for them to be inserted at this place in the instructions for the building of the Tabernacle. The instructions are simple but emphatic. The oil must be of the proper kind and the PEOPLE must bring it. Also it must be brought constantly.

The wording of the text makes it clear that not just any oil will do. The oil from the final crushing of the olives might suffice for the everyday use of the people, but not for the Light in God’s House! When the oil is designated as ‘pure’ and ‘beaten’, only the oil from the very first pressing of the fruit will suffice. In our present day vernacular it might be labeled as ‘extra virgin’, the finest oil available.

This specification is necessary for the oil in use in the Tabernacle that it might picture the work of the Holy Spirit. While the Lamps picture the Word of God, they cannot illuminate without the oil.
I Cor.2: 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
John 16: 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.
14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.
All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you.
John 14: 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
I Cor.12: 3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

As a young man I learned that there were many exciting stories in the Bible. Sampson, David, David’s three mighty men, and others became my heroes. I understood nothing about the spiritual strengths or weaknesses of these men. Without the Holy Spirit, these were simply exciting stories.
There are many lost persons who can quote the Bible and some can put many Christians to shame when it comes to historical facts. Yet they know nothing of the sweet promises of the Lord or the blessings available to members of his Church.

But let us remember that this Oil is used to light the INSIDE of the Tabernacle! Is there an understanding to be had, of spiritual truths, by Church members, which is not available to those on the outside? The answer is an emphatic, "Yes". Only there, can one learn the truths of the major doctrines of the Word of God.

For example, note how misunderstood the fact of the security of the believer is. Consider how many times we hear such things as, "Oh, you Baptists think you are the only ones who will go to heaven", when we assert the wonderful truth of the Bride of Christ.

It doesn't seem to make any difference how many times we explain the difference between the Family of God and the Bride of Christ, the confusion persists. This should not surprise us for they are not walking in the Light of the Lamps. Without the Holy Spirit’s guidance, they cannot see the Truth.

Several years ago, a friend, who was a long time pastor of another denomination, asked me the following question. "Why do you practice close communion?" "Well," I answered, "In order to understand that, you must first see the Church as a local, visible body of believers and not as a universal entity composed of all believers." He immediately told me that I need not proceed because if that were true, the practice of Close Communion was the only way it could be. He could not even SEE the New Testament Church and therefore he was never privileged to walk in the light of the Lampstand.

The wonderful thing about the Holy Spirit shedding light on Bible Truth is that we can never plumb the total depths of God’s Word. After over 50 years in the ministry I am learning more each time I study the word. Others have testified to the same thing. In fact the only ones I have ever heard say they have it all down pat are either 2nd year seminary students, backsliders who don’t want to attend Church, or heretics. For the member of a New Testament Church who wants to learn, there are Truths enough to keep him excited for his whole lifetime!

As we learn more of the Truth we are obligated to DO more. James 1: 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

This brings us to the main thought of the Lesson. The Oil was to be provided by the PEOPLE. A growing, soul-winning, learning, and spiritually minded church is not made that way by a dedicated pastor, consecrated deacons, accomplished choir, nor active youth group. It is made such and kept that way as the Holy Spirit works through committed and dedicated members.

God makes the Holy Spirit available to us but it up to us to procure and provide spirituality to the church through our personal relationship with Him.

The Bereans were great examples of this. Acts 17: 11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

It is important that we realize that the Work of the Holy Spirit is connected with the Word. Many mistake emotions for spirituality and are easily led into error because of it. If you are one of those who think that emotionalism is equated with Truth and the work of the Spirit, simply listen to a few political speeches! There is emotionalism galore but truth is often hard to locate.

The Lamp stand was of pure gold, indicating the totally divine composition of the anti-type, i.e. the Word of God, the Bible. However, since it can only be understood by the aid of the Holy Spirit, those who refuse to bring the oil, must forego the light. Sadly, many who should be teachers, are still babes in knowledge. Heb.5: 12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Why is this so? Simply because too many of God’s people are carnal and not spiritual. I Cor: 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

With the aid of the Holy Spirit, we CAN understand some great Bible truths. These are the truths that transcend the reach of human knowledge. I Cor.2: 9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

The Holy demand that the PEOPLE provide the oil for the Lamps is ignored when professed Christians begin searching for a ‘church home’, which meets all their personal desires.

These are the ones who constantly change their membership because; ‘The singing is all wrong; the Youth group doesn’t provide the activities my kids want; the preacher is too loud, or too soft, etc., etc.’. It is incumbent upon us, not to seek that which pleases us but to seek that which pleases God. Then for us to come with the Holy Spirit working in our lives as we learn and follow the instructions of the Word.

What, is a ‘spiritual church? It is one in which the members are spiritually minded and find fulfillment in the study and practice of the Word.

This same oil was also used in the ointment of anointing. From the statement of the 133rd Psalm it is obvious that this ointment typifies fellowship. 1 A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;

It was also used in the Shewbread and in every Meat Offering.
There is no real fellowship nor is there real worship or communion with God or one another except through the Spirit. God has done all He can as He has so bountifully made His Spirit available. It is up to US however, to make full use of the opportunities provided. We must provide the Oil. The responsibility is on our shoulders. Eph.4: 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

THE ROBES OF BEAUTY AND GLORY
Exodus 28:1 And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons.
Heb. 3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

The Tabernacle was to be God’s dwelling place among His people. God could not walk among them openly. This had been made abundantly clear from their reaction to His glory on Mount Sinai. Neither could they come into his Holy Presence. We remember that even Moses, who had been specifically invited to come, had to be hidden in the cleft of a rock and covered with God’s hand as His glory passed by. He could only converse with God on the Mount, as God was shielded from view in the thick cloud. Yet, with all the precautions, Moses still had to wear a veil over his face when he descended to walk among the people, because of the reflected glory of the Lord, which shone from it.

The Holiness and Glory of God contrasted with the sinful weakness of the people made it essential that one be appointed to act as a mediator between God and man. This was the job of the High Priest.

This appointment is one that only God can make. One of the short-comings of a democracy, is that when the people choose a leader they often look for the wrong qualities or choose for vanity’s sake. Note the first king of Israel. The man chosen pleased the people because he was tall, virile and handsome. Saul was a terrible mistake as a king. The question might be asked, however, Why is it God’s prerogative and not man’s, when the priest is to minister between God and man.

The reason is simply that God is the one who is to be pleased and not man. Man is the sinner and God is the one to be worshipped. Therefore He is the one to be pleased. Heb.5: 4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.
So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.

The passage in Hebrews 3:1 mentioned Christ as both Apostle and High priest of our profession. A priest is one who goes IN TO God in behalf of the people on the outside, while an Apostle is one who is SENT FROM God to the people.

As we consider the High Priest of our profession, we can examine the heavenly designed vestments and through them become more familiar with Him, His duties to us and the Father and OUR advantages in having such a great High Priest.

These garments were designed for one person only to wear. Other men imitated them and wore similar things from time to time but the divinely appointed one and no other could appear before God wearing these. Exodus 28: 2 And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty.
3 And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.

Men have imitated the mitre, the robes and the breastplate, and tried to copy the high priest, but none have ever come close to the real Glory and Majesty of our Lord! Job 40: 9 Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?
10 Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty.
11 Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one that is proud, and abase him.
12 Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place.
13 Hide them in the dust together; and bind their faces in secret.
14 Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee.
This was God’s challenge to Job and his friends. Try as he might, man cannot duplicate the glory and beauty, which belongs to God’s High Priest. The attire described in the instructions of Exodus 28 is only a type of the REAL glory. Yet it is from these vestments that we get a picture of His greatness and are better able to understand the pensive cry of John 17 as Jesus prays that magnificent, High Priestly prayer in behalf of His Church ; And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. [V-5]
This glory had been laid aside as he entered the world in the form of a servant and He looked forward to being robed with Glory once again. Phil.2: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

The following verses assure us that his prayer was answered. Phil.2: 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
John’s view of him on the Isle of Patmos was as the High priest, dressed in garments of great glory, walking in the midst of his churches. Rev.1: 12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

Such is our High priest as he walks among his churches today. Contemplate Him, his robes and his wonderful work in our behalf as we study the type; the Robes of Beauty and Glory, prepared for Aaron.
As we begin to read the account in Exodus 28, a contrast immediately comes to mind; Ex.28: 3 And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. This informs us that man made Aaron’s garments while the Glory of Christ proceeds from the Father. Heb.5: 5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.
As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
John 17: 4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. Please note that while the Glory of our Lord is described to us in terms of His robes and His appearance, His actual Glory IS GOD!

A list of the Priestly garments is made in Ex,28: 4 And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. One more item is mentioned in verse 42. And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach:
43 And they shall be upon Aaron, and upon his sons, when they come in unto the tabernacle of the congregation, or when they come near unto the altar to minister in the holy place; that they bear not iniquity, and die: it shall be a statute for ever unto him and his seed after him.

If for no other reason, these articles of underwear provided a sense of decency to the service of God.
There is one article of clothing, which is made conspicuous by its absence. There are no shoes or sandals in the list. Is there a reason? Yes there is. When Moses had his first encounter with God at the burning Bush, God made the demand that Moses remove his shoes. Ex.3: 5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.
The custom in the East at that time was, as it still is in many places, that a person remove his shoes and leave them outside when entering a home. The Tabernacle is the House of God and where He dwells is sacred ground.
There is a symbolic lesson to be learned also. We should have nothing to insulate us from the presence of God.

YOU’RE TREADING HOLY GROUND

The way was steep and rocky,
With pitfalls all around.
The Lord said, "Take your shoes off,
You’re treading Holy Ground!"
"But Lord, you can’t be serious,
I need them for protection,
Satan’s snares are all around,
Defying all detection".
"Stones and thorns and clever traps,
Surround me everywhere.
I’m sure I’d be defeated soon,
If my feet were bare".
"Just trust me, child, take off your shoes,
The path is clearly marked.
Your savior blazed this trail for you
Long ere you embarked."
Then I laid aside my heavy shoes
And the path, beneath my feet,
Instead of feeling rocky,
Felt soft and warm, and somehow, rather sweet!
Looking down, I saw the answer,
For, right there, where I stood,
I saw my savior’s footprints,
Each outlined with his blood!
If your path is hard to travel,
Filled with pitfalls, thorns and snares,
And your burdens seem more heavy,
With toilsome pains and cares,
Then loose your shoes and place your feet
Where His footprints are found.
You’ll find that walking where He walked,
You’re treading Holy Ground.
Fcc

The material used in the priestly garments were the same as those utilized in the construction of the Tabernacle, except no silver, wood or brass were employed. Ex.28:5 And they shall take gold, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen.
Wood, of course is not a substance, which lends itself to such use. More importantly, as a type of that which is human, it has no place in the Robes of Beauty and Glory of our High priest as he ministers in the presence of the Father for us. It is enough that He, personally experienced humanity and can thus sympathize with us. Heb.4: 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

There is no silver there because when Christ donned the robes of glory, the redemption price had been paid.

There is no need for Brass, for the storm of Divine judgment has spent itself and vented its fury upon Christ the Lamb of God.

Gold is to be used both in solid form such as the mitre and the settings for the jewels and as fine threads, woven into the cloth. As elsewhere in the Tabernacle, it represents that which is Divine.

Blue symbolizes the heavenly. This speaks of both the Priest and the place of His ministry.

Purple signifies Royalty. His is a Royal priesthood. It is of the order of Melchisedech who was King of Salem. Christ, our Priest is also King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. Heb.7: 21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:).

Because His, is a royal priesthood, so is the service of those who are obedient to his will today; that is, members of a New Testament Church. I Peter 2: 9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

The Scarlet in the robes, as elsewhere in the fabric of the Veils and Curtains speaks of the blood of the Cross.
As in all the rest of the Tabernacle; ( furnishings, covers, etc.,) the white linen illustrates the righteousness of the person, and the work of our Lord.

These materials and their uses are set forth in the Garments in ways, which help to impart to us, a sense of what it means that we have such a great high priest. Heb.7: 26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

The EPHOD
.Exodus 28: 6 And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, and of purple, of scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cunning work.
7 It shall have the two shoulder pieces thereof joined at the two edges thereof; and so it shall be joined together.

This part of the clothing was actually TWO pieces of beautifully woven and embroidered material, which were made one by the use of the two onyx stones at the shoulders and the girdle at the waist. It reached to about the middle of the thighs. It is a principal part of the uniform and it seemed to be the badge of authority, which was recognized by men, while the Breastplate was that which was more recognized by God.

The foundation for the Ephod was to be of 'fine twined linen'. This was made of small linen fibers which were twined or twisted together for strength. The white denotes the righteousness of our High priest,
Heb.7: 26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

Into the basic White were woven intricate designs of SCARLET, BLUE, PURPLE and GOLD.

The Scarlet was made from an insect from which it’s name, [shawny – or shawnee] was derived. This color shows forth the blood of Christ. The insect from which it is made must die in order that its purpose might be fulfilled. This reminds us of the statement made in the prophetic 22nd Psalm; "v- 6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people". It is surely no coincidence that the ‘WORM’ mentioned here is the maggot or the grub of that same insect.

The office of our High priest is forever connected to the sacrifice he made in our behalf. Heb.9: 25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; 26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

Gold, being the symbol of the Divine, reminds us that our High Priest is not just a man who has reached the pinnacle of a religious hierarchy. He is, in truth, God, manifested in the flesh. The deity of Christ is most important. Without this fact, Christ is just another man, and thus not sufficient to be our savior.

It is also important to the Father that we recognize Christ as God. After all, he is a jealous God, and when man refuses to recognize Him in the proper manner His wrath is aroused. Over and over, the truth of the Divine nature of Jesus Christ is presented in the Word of God. Consider just a few of the places where this is either stated outright or alluded to.

Perhaps the best known of these is the statement of John. John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

In a desperate attempt to rob Christ of his divinity, one religious group deliberately mistranslated verse one to read, 'the word was A god.’ It is true that the definite article is not found in the original language, but it is not necessary. Neither Greek grammar, common usage nor comparison with other biblical texts justifies such blatant blasphemy.

If you were to be shown a family photograph an be told, "This is Mom and this is Dad." Would you be justified in saying "He means, 'this is A mom and A dad' on the basis of the absence of the definite article? I think not. In fact to make the statement about the picture, "this is THE mom and THE dad would cause one to wonder just what was meant. God inspired John to make a plain, forthright statement. The Word [Jesus] was God. Only someone who is mentally challenged or deliberately biased could mistake the meaning.
Isaiah 40: 3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD,[Jehovah] make straight in the desert a highway for our God.[Elohim}

When Matthew uses this very Scripture to explain the relationship between John the Baptist and Jesus, can there be any question as to who Christ really is? Mat.3: 3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
Genesis Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Can there be any doubt that we have here a reference to the omnipotent, eternal God? Dare anyone ascribe the act of creation to one less that God Himself? We are told in Col.1: 13, Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
And he is before all things and by him all things consist [are held together].
According to this passage he not only created all things but he SUSTAINS all things by his power! We might well ask, "Who is in control of this universe, God or a man?"

Because he was a man who was tempted in all points like as we are, and yet without sin, he can understand out temptations and needs. Heb.4: 14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Because he is God, he has the ability to communicate these needs to the Father and the power to forgive us our sins.

Around the waist of the Ephod was added the ‘Curious Girdle’. Exo 28:8 And the curious girdle of the ephod, which is upon it, shall be of the same, according to the work thereof; even of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen. It is made of the same material as the Ephod but instead of being woven into cloth this is made of strong threads which are woven or intricately braided into a belt. It held the bottom of the Ephod firmly to the waist and made a secure place for the gold rings to be attach to the Ephod, just above it.
This was an item of clothing worn by everyone in the mid-east at that time. It became a status symbol and the wealthy often tried to out-do each other in material and design. It was more than decoration since the loose fitting clothing made it almost impossible to be active in walking, running or even performing simple chores. The expression often found in the scripture of ‘girding up one’s loins’ meant to prepare to go to work.

Whether the High Priest was dressed in his Robes of Beauty and Glory, or in the white linen of Atonement Day, he was on duty and prepared to work. As our High priest, Christ is ever busy and never rests.


THE OUCHES OF GOLD
Exodus 28: 9 And thou shalt take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the children of Israel:
10 Six of their names on one stone, and the other six names of the rest on the other stone, according to their birth.
11 With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, shalt thou engrave the two stones with the names of the children of Israel: thou shalt make them to be set in ouches of gold.
And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod for stones of memorial unto the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD upon his two shoulders for a memorial

The word translated ‘ouches’ means "A reticulated setting for a gem". This describes a flexible network of gold in which the two large onyx stones could be set and which at the same time served to unite the front and back pieces of the ephod.

It is to the stones that our attention is drawn. The onyx stone has been used for centuries for the making of cameos. It has layers of contrasting colors which, when carved makes the carving stand out in relief. Into each of the stones were carved the names of six of the tribes of Israel.

As the High priest ministered before the Lord the people he represented were borne upon his shoulders. The shoulder represents strength. It is comforting to know that we are borne in such a fashion.

Not one Israelite was left out in the representation, just as not one of his children today are neglected in his ministry before the Father.

To Israel, God made a promise; "Isa.46: 3 Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb:
And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you."

In His protection for us, Jesus chose the same picture to show His care. Luke 15: 4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

This type assures us that the entire strength of the omnipotent Christ is behind our security as he ministers before the Father in our behalf.
I John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

THE BREASTPLATE
Exodus 28:15 And thou shalt make the breastplate of judgment with cunning work; after the work of the ephod thou shalt make it; of gold, of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine twined linen, shalt thou make it.
16 Foursquare it shall be being doubled; a span shall be the length thereof, and a span shall be the breadth thereof.
17 And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this shall be the first row.
18 And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond.
19 And the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst.
20 And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be set in gold in their enclosings.
21 And the stones shall be with the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet; every one with his name shall they be according to the twelve tribes.
22 And thou shalt make upon the breastplate chains at the ends of wreathen work of pure gold.
23 And thou shalt make upon the breastplate two rings of gold, and shalt put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate.
24 And thou shalt put the two wreathen chains of gold in the two rings which are on the ends of the breastplate.
25 And the other two ends of the two wreathen chains thou shalt fasten in the two ouches, and put them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod before it.
26 And thou shalt make two rings of gold, and thou shalt put them upon the two ends of the breastplate in the border thereof, which is in the side of the ephod inward.
27 And two other rings of gold thou shalt make, and shalt put them on the two sides of the ephod underneath, toward the forepart thereof, over against the other coupling thereof, above the curious girdle of the ephod.
And they shall bind the breastplate by the rings thereof unto the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it may be above the curious girdle of the ephod, and that the breastplate be not loosed from the ephod.

Here is the crowning touch to the ‘Robes of Beauty and Glory’! It is not of a large size but it’s importance cannot be overstated. It was to be, when doubled, one span square. The span was based upon the spread of a man’s fingers and was approximately nine inches. The material was the same as was used in the ephod.

The doubling of the breastplate formed a pocket into which the Urim and Thummim were to be placed. There has been much speculation as to what these were, as well as to the exact method of consulting them. All we know for sure is that through them, God made his will known.

Some have suggested that by lighting up they conveyed God’s will to the high priest. Others have said that they might have been used as a crystal radio to deliver God’s audible desires. The most reasonable conjecture seems to be that somehow they were used to cast lots. This method was used to determine God’s will in some matters. Joshua used it to divide the land among the tribes:
Josh.18:8 And the men arose, and went away: and Joshua charged them that went to describe the land, saying, Go and walk through the land, and describe it, and come again to me, that I may here cast lots for you before the LORD in Shiloh.
9 And the men went and passed through the land, and described it by cities into seven parts in a book, and came again to Joshua to the host at Shiloh.
And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the LORD: and there Joshua divided the land unto the children of Israel according to their divisions.

It was the method of choosing between the two goats on the Day of Atonement and King Saul used the method to find who had violated his command in battle. [I Sam.14]
However they were used, it seems clear that the High priest had the responsibility of carrying them and using them. Through his office, God communicated with the people. It is through the office of OUR High Priest that God deals with us today. Heb 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Twelve precious stones were fastened to the outside of the breastplate with settings of Gold. In each of the stones was engraved the name of one of the tribes of Israel. Rings of Gold on each corner of the breastplate were used to fasten it securely to the Ephod. Chains of Gold were used above to bind it to the Ouches of gold on the shoulders and Blue Ribbons were used to fasten the bottom to the Girdle of the Ephod.

What a glorious picture this makes! [Rom.15: 4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.] Not only are his people borne upon his shoulders but also they are bound securely to his breast. There he carries them safely, next to his heart. Not one single person in the congregation of Israel could say he was left out and not represented. Neither can a single child of God make the charge today that he is left out at the throne of God. He bears us upon his shoulders and in his heart.

THE ROBE OF BLUE
Exo 28:31 And thou shalt make the robe of the ephod all of blue.
Exo 28:32 And there shall be an hole in the top of it, in the midst thereof: it shall have a binding of woven work round about the hole of it, as it were the hole of an habergeon, that it be not rent.
Exo 28:33 And beneath upon the hem of it thou shalt make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, round about the hem thereof; and bells of gold between them round about:
Exo 28:34 A golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe round about.
Exo 28:35 And it shall be upon Aaron to minister: and his sound shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy place before the LORD, and when he cometh out, that he die not
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The articles of clothing discussed up till now, deal with the office and function of that office. This is the dress, which identifies the person and the place of his origin. A quick look at the article on ‘clothing’ in an encyclopedia illustrates the fact that for archeologists and historians, clothing tells of the country, the society, and the era in which a person lived. This use of clothing for identification is found in the Bible as well as in profane history. It began in the Garden when the coats of skin identified Adam and Eve as sinners whose sins were covered.

The ‘coat of many colors’ identified Joseph as his father’s favorite son and was used by his brothers to prove his ‘death’. At the time Israel came out of Egypt, every nation was known for distinctive clothing. The Assyrians wore robes with tasseled fringes. The Egyptians dressed in short, brief robes. The Greeks and Romans could be identified as to their nation and status by their togas. When Israel invaded the Promised Land Aachan stole and hid in his tent what was identifiable as a ‘babylonish’ garment. To identify Israel from the nations around them, God ordered them to wear distinctive robes. Num 15:38 Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue:
Num 15:39 And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring:

When one sees the old films of the immigrants landing at Ellis Island, he can identify most of the people by their dress. In our own time, we have become familiar with the distinctive dress of India, Arabian nations, African tribal dress, the Chinese. Their fur hats and ill fitting rumpled suits have distinguished even the Russians. We are all familiar with the proverbial ‘black suits’ of government agents. It should come as no surprise that our High Priest should be recognized by his distinctive dress.

The robe, being entirely of BLUE,tells u s that this is a person from Heaven. 1 Cor 15:47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. Several things show the fact of his heavenly origin. His commission as an agent of heaven came from God the Father. 1 John 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Even the prophecy of Isaiah speaks of this heavenly origin of Jesus. Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
The opening words of John’s Gospel are emphatic and, for an honest reader, remove all doubt. John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.

While the men of Israel wore robes with blue ribbands woven into the fringes by which they could be identified as belonging to heaven, Christ, of whom this Priest was a type, wore a robe entirely of blue, thus manifesting his heavenly source.

What a great blessing this is for us! The one who ministers in our behalf at the throne of Grace is no stranger to the courts of Heaven. It is his Home and He is more familiar with it than with the earth in which he lived his earthly life. This robe, being solid blue, depicts one who is entirely of heaven. Though he took the form of sinful flesh, he is nevertheless God , and is wholly divine.

The Romans made the hems of their togas in colors that told of their social status. The Assyrians made their robes with tassels at the edge of the hem. This hem of one’s robe became symbolic of one’s position and power in society.

The people who lived in the time of the earthly ministry of Jesus expressed their recognition of the hem of the garment as a symbol of strength and power. Mat 14:35 And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased;
Mat 14:36 And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.

Even more familiar is the woman with the issue of blood; Mat 9:20 And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:

THE HEM OF HIS GARMENT

A hand, grimy and wrinkled,
Timid, yet urged on by hope,
Stretches forth and the tips of the fingers
Touch the hem of the seamless robe.
Just a touch to the hem of his garment
And her greatest desire is found.
Not in the hem of his garment
But in his words as he turns around.
"Daughter, be of good comfort,
thy faith has made thee whole."
She came seeking health for her body;
She left with peace in her soul.
Just a touch to the hem of his garment
Or the gentle feel of his hand,
Or to hear him say, ever so softly,
"My child, I understand".
But why should I yearningly long for a touch
When He bids me come and abide
In him. And he promises never
To leave me, what e’er betide?
More than a touch, is his presence.
More than a touch is His love.
More than a soft, gentle word is his promise
Of my joining Him, someday, above.
I need not covet the touch of His garment,
But instead, let him live in my heart
So that he might reach out and touch others;
Of his work, he’ll make me a part.
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Around the hem of the High Priest’s robe were placed a row of pomegranates and small bells of pure gold.
Exo 28:33 And beneath upon the hem of it thou shalt make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, round about the hem thereof; and bells of gold between them round about:
Exo 28:34 A golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe round about.

This fruit is ideal for the dry, warm desert-like climate around the Middle East. The fruit will produce under conditions, which would make it impossible for most other fruits. With its hard, glossy skin it lasted without spoiling for long periods. It is used as a symbol of the beauty and fruitfulness of the present work of our High Priest, as he ministers among his churches.
In the dry and barren land of our present spiritual labors, His presence among us, provides the refreshment we so desperately need. While the world provides only the paltry things of the flesh, His ministry gives us the beauty for which our spirits so earnestly long.

The natural fruit is bright red in color. God specified that this should be made of yarn of scarlet, blue and purple. The fruitfulness of the work of our High Priest among the churches stems from three great truths concerning Him.

The BLUE shows his origin, from heaven. We often like to know certain things about the people who labor among us. One of the most frequently asked questions is, "Where is he coming from". We can understand a person’s ideas and motives better if we know his background.

I have known preachers who would have been considered rather crude except for their backgrounds, which were from logging camps or cattle ranches. Others might have seemed pretentious except for their backgrounds, which were only in academics. As our High priest ministers, where is he ‘coming from’? He speaks and acts out of his heavenly background; because of this he must demand heaven-like action from his churches, but he also makes heavenly promises and gives divine assurances.

The purple reminds us of his royalty and hence his authority. His words to us and his demands upon us as he walks in our midst, are not the expressions of human desires, but are the edicts of the King of Kings. As he speaks to his churches, it is not the giving forth of suggestions or options, but rather the mandates of the absolute ruler, the Head of the church.

The scarlet keeps before us the basic truth of the blood of the Lamb of God, which was the sacrifice our High Priest made in our behalf. As he walks among his churches and ministers to them, they are reminded and are reassured by the fact that they have been bought and paid for by the blood of the Lamb.

This makes us to realize that we are precious in his sight and he will never take lightly our needs as we endeavor to serve him.

Alternating with the pomegranates were small golden bells. These were not embroidered into the hem of the garment, but were actual bells fastened there so that they would make a pleasant sound as the priest did his daily ministering.

Let us be reminded at this point that this garment is NOT the one worn by the High priest as he entered into the Most Holy Place where the Ark rested. These bells were NOT to keep the people apprised of his position as he went in with the blood of the atonement. On that occasion he laid aside these ‘Robes of Beauty and Glory’ and wore only the white linen garments. Lev 16:2 And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the veil before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.
Lev 16:3 Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering.
Lev 16:4 He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on.

This signified that as our sin offering, he had nothing to commend him to the Father except his righteousness. Man had sinned and man must make the atonement. He could not do it as the heavenly one nor as the coming King. Only as a righteous man could an acceptable atonement be made. Laying aside his glory for a little while, Christ came in the flesh to accomplish this in our behalf. After the atonement was made, the High priest left his linen garments in the Holy place and again put on his priestly vestments. Lev 16:23 And Aaron shall come into the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall put off the linen garments, which he put on when he went into the holy place, and shall leave them there:
Lev 16:24 And he shall wash his flesh with water in the holy place, and put on his garments, and come forth, and offer his burnt offering, and the burnt offering of the people, and make an atonement for himself, and for the people.

As our High priest, about to make the atonement, Christ prayed for the return to his former glory. John 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

In his visions on the Island of Patmos, John saw Christ walking among his churches as this Great High Priest. While John says nothing of golden bells, we find great satisfaction in the type as displayed in the High Priest of Israel. Our spirits are made to rejoice and to sing, as we are reassured of our High Priest walking in our midst. What is there to fear when He is there?
Exo 28:35 And it shall be upon Aaron to minister: and his sound shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy place before the LORD, and when he cometh out, that he die not.

These bells do not typify something in the future. They tell us of the present daily ministering of Our Lord among his churches. How sweet it is!



THE BROIDERED COAT

This broidered, or, as we would say, embroidered coat, is actually the white linen tunic, which was worn under the robe of blue. There are no other colors specified and since it is always referred to as white, I surmise that the embroidery work was white on white. Another translation gives the impression that it was the weave of the cloth that made it appear to have a checkered pattern. The important thing for us to remember is that underlying all that Christ is and does in our behalf, is his righteousness.

This is the single article of clothing, without which, the High Priest never appeared. In whatever capacity Christ is seen, his complete righteousness is always present. 1 Cor 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption::

In his robe of flesh and walking among men he was the Righteous one. Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

As the High Priest, offering himself as the atonement for our sins, He was the righteous one. Luke 23:4 Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.

As our sacrifice, he had no sin. 1 Pet 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
1 Pet 2:22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 1 Pet 2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

In His present position, both at the throne of Grace and walking among his Churches, HE HAS NO SIN. 1 John 3:5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

THE MITRE
Exo 28:39 And thou shalt embroider the coat of fine linen, and thou shalt make the mitre of fine linen, and thou shalt make the girdle of needlework.

Upon the head of the High Priest was the mitre. While the form or shape of it is not specifically given, there is sufficient information for us to come to a conclusion. The word from which our word ‘mitre’ was translated means a tiara or turban. The root word, from which this word was taken, means to ‘roll’. The custom of the day was the wearing of turbans made of material according what the person could afford. The pattern and color often indicated the ethnicity, the status or the official position of the wearer. This is still true among some of the racial and religious groups of the Middle East.

While all the priests wore mitres of white linen, that of the High Priest had something which made it quite distinct. Exo 28:36 And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD.
Exo 28:37 And thou shalt put it on a blue lace, that it may be upon the mitre; upon the forefront of the mitre it shall be.
Exo 28:38 And it shall be upon Aaron's forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD.

This plate of Gold with its inscription distinguished the High Priest from all others. The crown of white linen with its plate of gold and the blue lace with which the plate was bound to the mitre, speaks volumes as to the person and work of our Lord.

His righteousness is not only perfect before men but also before the Father. Were this not so, he could not have been an acceptable substitute for us. Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
Heb 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

The inscription reminds us that our savior had no other purpose in coming to this earth except to do the will of the Father. John 4:34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
John 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

An extension of this thought is found in the purpose of His Church. Eph 3:21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Since He had no other purpose than to glorify the Father, it stands to reason he would not establish an institution with any other aims.

The statement, ‘that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD.’ places a terrific responsibility upon the High priest. It is his ministry, which gives meaning to everything in and about the Tabernacle.
Without our High priest and his total dedication to the ‘Holiness unto the Lord’, a church becomes a meaningless social society. With Him in his rightful office, it becomes the Body of Christ and the House of God, the pillar and ground of the Truth.

They placed a crown of thorns upon the Lord’s head in mockery. When he returns, he will wear many crowns. Rev 19:12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
At present, He is the High Priest who ministers before the Father in our behalf , and also gives purpose to our own feeble efforts to serve. Heb 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need

REVIEW OF THE PRIESTLY GARMENTS
The White Linen Breeches reminds us of the innermost, personal man, Christ, who had no secret failings or faults. How different this is from even the best of the rest of us! No matter how good we might be, there is always SOMETHING in our secret life we want to keep hidden. This is not so with our High Priest.

The Tunic of White Linen speaks of the Public Personal Man. Even the most scrupulous examination by his enemies could uncover no fault with him for there was none. What a difference between Him and us! Even when our friends brag on us, there always seems to be lurking near the surface of their compliments a huge ‘but’.

From where did He come? Such a man is not of the earth for his entire being bears the mark of another place. His Robe of Blue, with its bells and pomegranates identifies him as Heaven’s representative among us.

The Office he holds is made clear by the official coat, the Ephod. While others imitated it, His was the only genuine vestment and all others are usurpers like ‘wannabe’ officers with ‘tin badges’.

The President of the United States always has within his reach, the box containing the phone which enables him to reach any other world leader or to be reached by others in cases of a crisis. Police officers have their two-way radios. Many people carry pagers or cell phones to keep in touch. The High Priest wore upon his breast the Breastplate by which he could communicate with God.

The insignia upon his shoulders can tell the rank of an officer. One glance to the shoulders of our High Priest shows the entire burden of His office is pictured there. The names of each of the twelve tribes being engraved on the stones of the shoulder pieces, illustrate his willingness and ability to bear His people. Isa 46:4 And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.

Christ is a ‘man of many hats’. His duties are manifold. The mitre of the High Priest informs us of the single mindedness of his purpose. Holiness Unto The Lord overrides any other purpose in any of his duties.