THE HORNS were the means by which the sacrifice was tied to the altar — there was no escape. Like the ram caught in the thicket by its horns (Gen. 23:1313And he spake unto Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, But if thou wilt give it, I pray thee, hear me: I will give thee money for the field; take it of me, and I will bury my dead there. (Genesis 23:13)), so the Lord Jesus was held on the cross not by the nails but by the strength of His love for His Father’s glory and for us.
Lord, e’en to death Thy love could go.
The staves in the side were used to carry the altar from place to place in the wilderness, and so may we ever carry with us the sense of what the Lord has done for us at Calvary.
When we think of the perfection of the work of the cross, how full and free is the grace told out in the gospel to sinners in every land under heaven. The “grate of network of brass” under which the fire was always burning (Lev. 6:12,1312And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings. 13The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out. (Leviticus 6:12‑13)) would preserve every particle of the sacrifice from falling through or being lost; and on this were the four bran rings, by which the altar was borne along with the people in all their journeyings throughout the wilderness. Christ, in this character, is ever with His people, to the end.
Only those sacrifices which were of “a sweet savor” were burned on this altar, and so we are given to see the immense importance of the altar itself and the blessedness of it. Without the sacrifices, the altar, though glorifying God, would be in vain for us. “For without shedding of blood, is no remission.”
The height of the altar which was three cubits, would also bring before us the thought of complete testimony. The cross of Christ stands between heaven and earth as the perfect witness to the fact that Christ has died and that God is satisfied with the work of Jesus. He has raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His own right hand in glory.
The altar was four-square, as though God delighted to remind us that the work of redemption is for “whosoever will” out of any nation under heaven. And this reminds us of the heavenly city which is also four-square. There the redeemed since time began, from every kindred and tongue and people and nation, will join in the praises of Him who died and shed His precious blood to bring them there (Rev. 5:99And 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; (Revelation 5:9)). Dear reader, will you be there?
The Court of the Tabernacle
The sacred dwelling place of Gol was surrounded by the tents of the priests and Levites. It was further fenced off from the rest of the camp by being enclosed within an open space of ground, bounded on every side by fine white linen curtains or hangings, five cubits high and called “The Court of the Tabernacle.”
The fine linen in one way speaks of the spotless purity of Christ, and those snow white curtains which surrounded the house of God tell of the holiness which becomes the habitation of the Most High. They show that while upon the mercy seat within grace reigned, yet its throne is established in righteousness. God must everywhere manifest His holiness, even while He displays His mercy.
These fine twined linen hangings around the court measured 280 cubits. The curtains of the tabernacle (chapter 26:1, 2) were also 280 cubits ten curtains, each 28 cubits long. These measurements then were equal. The curtains of the tabernacle, presenting Christ in His personal glories now and also His future glories, could only be seen and enjoyed by God Himself and the priests who ministered in the tabernacle. They could only be seen from within, not from without. The fine-twined linen hangings of the court present Christ also, but more for those who were without.
ML-08/16/1970