Exodus Types: 6b. The Tabernacle In the Wilderness, A Manifold Type of Christ and His Church

There was no compulsion from without to get the Israelites to give. Their own hearts stirred them up to give. Their own spirits made them willing to give. They brought much more than was needed for the task. It is this kind of giving that is very much needed in all phases of the work of the Lord in these days. Spirit-filled workmen built the Tabernacle; and Spirit- filled Christians should carry on every phase of activity in the church. "And Moses said unto the children of Israel, See, the Lord hath called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; and he hath filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship; and to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in the cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of wood, to make any manner of cunning work. And he hath put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work, of the engraver, and of the cunning workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of them that do any work, and of those that devise cunning work" (Exodus 35:30-35). God gave to these men who made the Tabernacle and its furnishings wisdom and skill by His Holy Spirit. And in the early church Spirit-filled men were sought out to perform all the tasks of the Lord. "Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business" (Acts 6:2, 3). The height of the fence that enclosed the Tabernacle courtyard was five cubits (seven and onehalf feet); and was thus like that of a sheepfold where only a robber would attempt to climb over. "And the height in the breadth was five cubits, answerable to the hangings of the court" (Exodus 38:18). This fence was seven and a half feet high, and sufficient to keep out intruders. It reminds us of the sheepfold Christ spoke about: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep" (John 10:1, 2). Only by the God-appointed way through the courtyard gate, bringing an offering, could anyone enter into where God’s presence was, in the days of the Tabernacle. The white linen hangings of the courtyard fence pictured the holiness of God, which bars the sinner except he come in through Christ the door. "There shall be hangings for the court of fine twined linen" (Exodus 27:9). God is a holy God and cannot countenance sin in His presence. "Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity" (Habakkuk 1:13). The sinner must be barred from God’s presence except he come in through Christ the Door of his salvation. "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture" (John 10:9). The brass sockets that held the pillars of the courtyard fence were a symbol of judgment on sin, and the silver chapiters, fillets, and hooks, were a type of redemption. "And the sockets for the pillars were of brass; and the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver; and the overlaying of their chapiters of silver; and all the pillars of the court were filleted with silver" (Exodus 38:17). The pillars were the posts, the chapiter was the top of the post. The fillet was the rod upon which the curtain was hung, and the hooks were used to hang the curtains. The sockets were the foundation of the posts and were of brass. Brass was a symbol of judgment: "And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters" (Revelation 1:15). This pictures Christ coming in judgment at His return to earth. Silver is a type of redemption: "If there be yet many years behind, according unto them he shall give again the price of his redemption out of the money that he was bought for" (Leviticus 25:51). This speaks of the silver redemption money. In I Peter 1:18, 19 we are told that we are "not redeemed with . . . silver and gold . . . but with the precious blood of Christ." An Israelite, after looking at the brass sockets (type of judgment upon sin), could follow the silver fillets (type of redemption) around the corner of the courtyard and thus be led to the gateway where an entrance could be made if an offering for sin was brought. The gateway into the courtyard was wide and beautiful, and those entering had to bring a sacrifice; and all this is typical of Christ as our Door. "And for the gate of the court shall be an hanging of twenty cubits" (Exodus 27:16). The gate was twenty cubits, or thirty feet, wide by seven and one-half feet high. It was wide enough to accommodate all who wished to enter. Today salvation is for "whosoever believeth" (John 3:16). The beautiful hangings of the gate way are described in verse 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 needle work." The blue pictures the deity of Christ; the purple, His royalty; the scarlet, His humanity and His sacrifice; and the white linen, His holiness. [Old Testament Types - FHW]