SYMBOLISM OF VESSELS AND MATERIALS
The following tabular statement will serve to show in a general way, the chief truths in His person which may be seen in these several shadows; they are given in the order in which they would meet the eye of a person approaching from the camp.
The gate, Ex. 27:16, shows Christ the way into the display of all that God has revealed on earth concerning Himself, His Son, His work, and the grace and the blessings which the believer is intended to enjoy now. It is the only entrance into the precincts of the presence of God. Only through Christ are the privileges of Christianity declared and made known, John 14:6.
The pillars and curtains enclosing "holy place" or court, Ex. 27:9-18, tell of Christ the faithful and true witness before all the world—the camp,— in unspotted purity (fine linen) of righteousness; and as captain of salvation (silver of atonement money on chapiters, Ex. 38:17-28); stable in divine power (brass sockets, Ex. 38:31); secured against all disturbance (pins and cords, Ex. mow. 18).
The brazen altar, Ex. 27:1-8; Christ, divine and human (brass and wood), able to bear the judgment of God (fire).
The sacrifices, Lev. 1-7; Christ the Lamb of God, John 1:29.
The sin offering, Lev. 4; Christ bearing sins.
The peace offering, Lev. 3; Christ for communion and power of life, John 6:57.
The meat offering, Lev. 2; Christ in the perfectness of His person tested and proved.
The burnt offering, Lev. 1; Christ "made sin," 2 Cor. 5:21, producing an entire sweet savor to God instead of it, Eph. 5:2.
The Levites, Num. 8:5-26; Christ the true servant in the sanctuary, John 2:15.
The priests, Ex. 29; Christ the leader of worship, Heb. 2:12.
The high priest, Lev. 8; Christ, high priest above, Heb. 8:1, 2.
The laver, Ex. 30:17-21; Christ the eternal word, and the water, the written word, Eph. 5:26.
The building, Ex. 26; Christ, in whom God dwelt, John 14:10, "the temple of His body," John 2:21.
The linen curtains, decorated; Christ in His glories before God.
The goat's hair curtains, not decorated; Christ before man with no beauty, but separated from the world.
The ram's skins dyed red; Christ in His devotedness to do His Father's will.
The badger's skins; Christ proof against all assault. The silver sockets; Christ the one foundation.
The door, Ex. 26:36, 37; Christ the entrance into the immediate presence of God for communion and worship.
The table of shewbread; Christ the sustainer of all His people before God, John 10:28, Heb. 9:24.
The shewbread, Lev. 24:5-9; Christ in resurrection, in whom God sees all His redeemed perfected forever, Heb. 10:14.
The candlestick, Ex. 25:31-36; Christ in whom God, according to the truth of the Trinity in heavenly perfectness, was fully displayed on earth; John 14:9.
The lamps, Ex. 25:37; Christ, in the power of the Spirit communicating the truth to the redeemed, Matt. 12:28.
The golden altar, Ex. 30:1-10; Christ the way and power of worship, Heb. 13:15.
The incense, Ex. 30:34-38; Christ in the graces and excellencies of His nature, a joy to God, Matt. 3:17.
The veil, Ex. 26:31-33; Christ, that is to say, His flesh, Heb. 10:20.
The ark, Ex. 25:10-16; Christ, human and divine, glorious to God (wood, gold, and crown), delighting to do the will of God (the law within), though it be death, Psa. 40:6, 7, 8.
The mercy seat, Ex. 25:17-22; Christ now set forth a mercy seat through faith in His blood, Rom. 3
Cherubim; administration, whether of law or of grace.
In connection with these, the list of the materials brought by the people should also be referred to Christ for their primary meaning.
Ex. 25:3-7.
Gold.—Christ the expression of the Divine in beauty, worth, and glory. The cherubim of gold, in verse 18, are in Heb. 9:5, cherubim of glory.
Silver.—Christ the true atonement and ransom. Compare Ex. 30:12-16, with 1 Peter 1:18, 19.
Brass (i.e. copper everywhere).—Christ the expression of the Divine in power. It could stand fire. Fetters in 2 Sam. 3:34, and 2 Chron. 33:11, and 36:6, are "brasses." In Judg. 16:2, "fetters of brass" is the same term. Four items of Goliath's armor were copper.
Blue.—The color of the heavens, suggests the heavenly character of our Lord, His glory as "Son of God.”
Purple.—Found in scripture chiefly with Gentiles, only once or twice inclusive of Israel. See Judg. 8:26, Jer. 10:9, Ezek. 27:7,16, Acts 16:4, Esther 1:6, and 8, 15. In Dan. 5:7, 16, 29, the margin is correct, purple not scarlet, scarlet is nowhere found with the Gentile. In Luke 16:19, its use arises from Roman rule. Its real value seems therefore to express Christ's glory as Son of Man.
Scarlet.—Always connected with Israel. See Gen. 38:28, Josh. 2:18, where the national color being bound in the window of Rahab's house, was sure protection to it when Israel should assault the town. 2 Sam. 1:24, Prov. 31:21, Isa. 1:18. There is no crimson here; the term is expressed in Hebrew by two words "worm dye," and in this passage these are separately used; "Though your sins be as dye, they shall be as white as snow, though they be red like worm color, they shall be as wool." A worm was the source of this dye. In Jer. 4:30, "crimson" should be "scarlet." Lam. 4:5, Heb. 9:19. It is only in the Jewish gospel that a scarlet robe is put upon our Lord. Mark and John say "purple," but Luke "gorgeous," as scarlet and purple would be. In Rev. 17 and 18., the two colors connect the woman with Israel and the Gentile. Scarlet suggests, therefore, Christ's glory as Son of David.
Fine linen.—Christ's person, as in Heb. 10:20, "the veil, that is to say, His flesh." And "righteousnesses" in Rev. 19;8, where it should be plural.
Goat's hair.—Christ the true Nazarite in separation to God. The public sign of a Nazarite's vow was his long hair left uncut the whole period of it. When Israel had forsaken God, then the prophet, as God's man, wore hair as separated from the people to God, 2 Kings 1:8. When in the future, the nation returns to God, it would be deception for prophets to wear "hairy garments," Zech. 13:4, margin. Some have thought the goat's hair should be goat's skins because "hair" is in italics; but the fact that the women "spun goat's," Ex. 35:26, is conclusive that it was hair.
Ram's skins dyed red.—The only link with this seems to be, that the ram was exclusively the consecration offering, indicating devotedness, "dyed" absolute. Christ absolutely devoted to do His Father's will.
Badger's skins.—Mentioned also, and only, in Ezek. 16:10. Obviously a tough skin, suggesting Christ essentially proof against all external assault. There appears to be no good reason for supposing it was some other skin, and not that of the badger.
Shittim wood.—The Septuagint has rendered this "incorruptible wood;" it seems to represent in Christ, His un-defileable humanity.
Oil for the light.—"Oil," the Holy Spirit; "for the light," the power of our Lord in testimony to the truth. Grace and truth came by Him.
Spices for anointing oil.—Graces in Christ displayed, and communicated, in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Spices for sweet incense.—Graces in Christ, both self fragrant as laid up before the ark, and also of special fragrance as brought out by the action of fire.
Precious stones.—Beauties of the Lord Jesus displayed by light.
Fire.—May be testing, or final, judgment.
Water.—The written word.
Oil.—The Holy Spirit.
All, save these three last, are distinctly found in the Person of our Lord.