Two important pieces of furniture for the tabernacle itself have not been referred to yet in Exodus: the brazen laver and the altar of incense. They are not mentioned until chapter 30. They are described after the consecration of Aaron and his sons in Exodus 29. Aaron is a type of Christ as our Great High Priest. Since the altar of incense and the brazen laver both teach us of Christ’s priestly work for us in heaven, this is no doubt why God waits until after the consecration to describe them. We move on instead to the linen hangings of the court of the tabernacle.
Hangings of the Court
These lovely white hangings tell us of the perfect walk of the Lord Jesus in His pathway through this world. On one occasion when the officers were sent to arrest Him, they returned with the report, “Never man spake like this man” (John 7:4646The officers answered, Never man spake like this man. (John 7:46)). Even those who did not believe on Him “wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth” (Luke 4:2222And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son? (Luke 4:22)). Truly “He could not be hid,” (Mark 7:2424And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid. (Mark 7:24)) for like the fine twined linen hangings of the tabernacle court, which were seen from all sides, He could not be less than perfect in all that He said and did. Even the very tone of His voice was perfect, and yet the world rejected and hated this wonderful testimony of “God ... manifest in ... flesh” (1 Tim. 3:1616And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. (1 Timothy 3:16)). In the rejection of Christ, therefore, man’s true character came out as an enemy of God.
There were pillars to hold up these wonderful hangings, and each one was filleted with silver and stood in a socket of brass. The hooks for them were also made of silver. Silver speaks of redemption, and brass of judgment, and so all this beautifully typifies to us the purpose for which the Lord Jesus came to earth. Surely God delights to turn our thoughts to the wonderful work of His beloved Son.
“His was the voice that breathed o’er time
The comfort of the sky.
We bless Thee, Lord, who came to earth
For us to die.”
Yes, the Lord Jesus came to earth to accomplish the mighty work of redemption, and in order to redeem us He must bear our judgment. This He did at Calvary during those three hours of darkness.
Showing Christ in Our Life
There is also a practical lesson for us in these hangings. We who are cleansed in the precious blood of Christ are now the children of God. We are in His family, and are to walk as Christ walked here (1 John 2:66He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. (1 John 2:6)), so that others may see Christ in us. Are we trying to do this? The Lord Jesus is soon coming to take us home to heaven, and then our privilege of bearing testimony for Him in this “wilderness world” will be gone forever. We shall be eternally happy up there, but what a loss it will be to have lived in this world for ourselves instead of for Him — the One who loved us and gave Himself for us.
These beautiful white hangings were all around the tabernacle court. On the east side there was the gate of entrance. This gate had four pillars, and it typifies to us the Lord Jesus the true Door who, with outstretched arms, is now offering salvation to “whosoever will” from the “four corners” of the earth. The east side, where the sun rises, would remind us of the Lord Jesus as the “Sun of righteousness” (Eccl. 3:1616And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there. (Ecclesiastes 3:16)) who will soon arise to set things right in this sin-ruined world.
Further Meditation
2. The number four is used repeatedly in Scripture as a symbol of reaching out to the whole earth. Can you show how it is used in this sense in both Genesis and Revelation?
3. Tabernacle Print: The Veils and Hangings is a simple 5” x 7” print that will help you to visualize what this part of the tabernacle looked like.