XO 25:23-30{EV 24:5-9{THE table was made of wood, overlaid with gold. The wood was of the Acacia-seyal. Let me mention some instructing things about this tree, that we may see how well-chosen of God for this purpose it was. It can grow in a very dry soil; it is a thorny tree' full of sharp thorns. To the spiritual mind these facts are sweetly suggestive of Him, who, in a dry and thirsty land, where surely there was naught to sustain His spirit, yet was in the constant freshness of communion with God, for other than an earthly stream sustained Him. Though indeed crowned now with glory, a crown of thorns was all this world had for Him. The Acacia is the tree too from which is obtained the gum Arabic so much used in medicinal preparations, which is procured simply by piercing the tree. "But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side, and forthwith came there out blood and water." This is the only balm for the troubled soul and sin-burdened conscience. The wood, then, is a type of Christ in His humanity. Gold always stands for that which is of God-divine. Made of wood, the table was overlaid with gold, and surmounted with a crown of gold. The gold is a type of Christ's divinity. Not as the One who came down from heaven, but as raised from the dead and " declared to be the Son of God with power," and crowned with glory and honor.
Twelve loaves of show-bread were placed on it continually on every Sabbath (Lev. 24). They were in two rows (not two heaps), six in a row. The twelve loaves represented Israel. Applying that to ourselves as the Israel of God, the twelve loaves are a type of us in Christ. Presented (show-bread means exhibition bread) before God by Him who is Son of Man and Son of God, in Him as the glorified Man we are seen by God, just as those twelve loaves in which Israel was represented were borne up by that golden table. We see the beauty then, of six in a row; God's eye saw each one. If there were six in a heap, He would only see the top one. Every believer is seen before God in the Christ perfection of Christ. They were placed there on the Sabbath day; why was that? We are presented before God by Christ in a Sabbath that cannot be broken, in the Sabbath that He Himself has won for us by the cross. No man ever kept the Sabbath day. Christ died for your sins, and if you believe on Him there is a rest. Paul says, " We which have believed do enter into rest." Rest in Christ, and you have rest; have it now.
Another thought here that is very precious: there was not only a crown of gold around the table, but also a border of a handbreadth round about. What was that for? Any who remember that the bread was always to be on the table, even when on the march through the difficult and perilous wilderness, will at once say, " It was to keep the dishes and loaves from falling off." True, but why does it say a border of a handbreadth, when all the other measures are given in cubits or fractions of a cubit? Because it is God's own hand that keeps believers: " They shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand; my Father which gave them me, is greater than all, and no one is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand." We do not keep ourselves, we are "kept." Christ says His sheep "shall never perish." How can they, when He has His hand around them? There was also a crown to the border, so that the loaves could not fall off without a breach being made in the crown of gold. Neither can Christ's sheep perish without a sacrifice of God's glory, for He has pledged Himself to keep them.
The Candlestick.—Exodus. 25:31-39.
XO 25:31-39{To understand the candlestick, we must consider its pattern and material. The pattern of it was the pattern of the almond in all its various stages; each branch had bud, flower and fruit. The almond tree is especially a type of resurrection, the meaning of it in the Hebrew is " to hasten." Thus we have in Jer. 1:1111Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree. (Jeremiah 1:11): " Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree. Then said the Lord unto me: Thou hast well seen, for I will hasten my word to perform it." Now why is it called " to hasten?" It is the first tree in Palestine to bloom; it blossoms in January. Thus also is Christ the "first-fruits of them that slept." Its pattern, then, suggesting resurrection, and its material being entirely of gold, we have a figure of the risen Christ. But the candlestick did not give any light, you know; the light was not in the candlestick, but in the lamps on the tops of the seven branches. In the lamps the oil was put, and the oil gave the light. Now all will understand oil to mean the Holy Spirit throughout the Scriptures. It is a type, then, of Christ and the Holy Ghost. Christ was the true light that came into the world men preferred darkness to light. They crucified Him, and now, risen from the dead, He sheds down light here by the Holy Spirit. Just as the golden candlestick upheld the lamps which gave light in the tabernacle, so the risen Christ up there sheds down light here by the Holy Spirit. Now you can readily understand that with all these coverings on, no light from the outside world ever entered here, all light came from the golden candlestick. If that candlestick had not been there, the man who went inside would not see that table and the twelve loaves there. And the reason believers do not see their place is, because the Holy Spirit does not get His place amongst them. The Holy Spirit is grieved thus, and consequently believers are in darkness. In John 7:3939(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) (John 7:39), we read that "the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified." Thus the giving of the Holy Ghost (distinct from the prior operation of the Spirit) was made dependent upon His glorification. When He was glorified, then the Holy Spirit came down on the day of Pentecost. Redemption must first be accomplished, and Christ have His place in glory, as declared to be the Son of God with power, before believers could have that (the Spirit) which alone could give them the intelligence of Christ's work. This, then (John 7:3939(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) (John 7:39)), is a key to the type of the golden candlestick. The candlestick (or lamp bearer) itself is a type of the risen and glorified Christ; the light of it (given by means of the oil) a type of the light given by the Holy Spirit, shed forth by Him whom the world rejected. Seeing this will make intelligible to us Ex. 25:3737And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it. (Exodus 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 (Hebrew, the face of it)," for John 16:1414He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. (John 16:14) says, "He (the Spirit) shall glorify me; for He shall receive of mine and shall skew it unto you." Thus, just as the glorified Christ is shown to us by the Spirit, so was the golden candlestick made visible by the lamps.
There was no size given to the candlestick. We are told the size of the altar, table, curtains, etc., but there were two things only which we are not told the size of, they are the candlestick and the laver. Why are we not told the size of the candlestick? God giveth not the Spirit by measure " (John 3:3434For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. (John 3:34)). Again, "If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His." It is not a portion of the Spirit that the believer receives, but the Holy Spirit Himself. " Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost?" All that Christ has done would be in vain had we not the Holy Spirit to make it true to our souls; but having this, things which eye had not seen nor ear heard, God has revealed unto us by His Spirit. Some have asked me, " How can I know that I have the Spirit?" I answer, " If Christ is made known to your soul, depend upon it it is by the Holy Ghost He is made known to you."
The Golden Altar and Priesthood.-Exodus 28-30.
We will look into the priesthood first, for if we are to have a worship altar, as the golden altar was, we must needs have priests to worship there. Before God gives the golden altar, He describes the priests'
dress and consecration. So we will now consider our-selves as priests inside the sanctuary. We find our-selves in God's house, in His presence. We are not only to enjoy our position and rejoice in the things of Christ, but also to worship Him and offer up the in-cense there. Let us see then what priesthood is.
We have in this chapter a description of the priests' robes first. Garments were to be made for glory and beauty. Few of us enter into that and rejoice in it. A little while ago we considered the offering of the high priest on the day of atonement, and we found he was clothed in white robes, signifying the spotless humanity of Christ. Now we are to consider the glories of Christ which He has now before God. These garments are described as being " for glory and for beauty," to show forth Christ's glory and His beauties.
Let us get rid of a wrong thought first. It is a common thought that Christ is high priest to intercede for the sins of the people. He is not. He did that on the cross, and having finished it on the cross, He has not to do it any more. It is a finished work. He is the High Priest of God, not to put away our sin now, but to watch over us and intercede for our needs.
Let us then examine a little into these garments for glory and beauty, to the refreshment of our souls. Ex. 28:66And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, and of purple, of scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cunning work. (Exodus 28:6). We have the same colors here in the same order that we had in the curtains, with the addition of the gold; a thread of gold ran through the garments, for Christ's priesthood is a divine one; and the robe of the ephod was made entirely of blue, for His priesthood is heavenly. Now these two facts, the divine and the heavenly character of Christ's priesthood, is what the Holy Spirit dwells especially on in Hebrews for our comfort. He is able to save to the uttermost, that is right to the end, every soul that comes unto God by Him.
We have next the description of the garments (ver. 9). Two onyx stones were to be placed on the high priest's shoulders. On the stones were to be inscribed the names of the twelve tribes. Aaron the high priest was to bear the names on his shoulders, the place of strength. A type, this, of Christ before God bearing up every saved one. We are borne up by His strength and not by our own. " With the work of an engraver." Who is the engraver? Surely it is God Himself. " Like the engraving of a signet," that pledge of remembrance, our names are there engraved. Will God then ever forget? Nay, never! Through Christ we are ever before His mind.
The Breast Plate.
God takes up all the precious stones here as types of His saints. Suppose you take precious stones into a dark room, do you see any beauty there? No; but take them into a light room and you will see their beauty. So the saint is taken into God's presence and He there displays what he is in Christ. " Ever one with his name." I am thankful that my name it borne up on the shoulders of Christ as much as an apostle who ever lived. Not one name is forgotten Then there were rings of gold in each corner of the breast plate, and chains of gold chaining it to the shoulder, and the lower rings were fastened to the robe of the ephod by a lace of blue. It was impossible, without tearing, to loose the breast plate from the ephod. Thus we are inseparable from Christ's priest hood. As long as He is High Priest before God, so long will He have our names on His shoulder and upon His heart. These chains were linked into golden rings. Chains are an emblem of slavery; they are so in God's word. When a king took captives, he led them in chains through the gates of the city. These were golden chains, and gold being a type of the divine, it is a picture, a type, of being made by divine power and workmanship God's property. I like the word slaves, because it implies possession-we are not hired servants. Then they were inserted in golden rings. The ring is an emblem of affection and love. So, in Luke 15, after the father welcomed the prodigal home, He put a ring on his hand; it was a token that the father still loved him. Now it is a very nice token of love because it is also an emblem of eternity, for being round it has neither beginning nor end. It is a golden ring here, and therefore a type of God's eternal love. By God's power we are chained, you see; His affection and His strength bind us there. A lace of blue bound the breast plate to the ephod; believers are inseparably connected with the heavenly priesthood of Christ. " And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in his breast plate of judgment upon his heart when he goeth into the holy place, for a memorial before the Lord continually.' We are borne upon Christ's heart, and as long as He has strength to bear us up and a heart to love us, we shall be forever kept. If that arm that brought salvation with it can ever grow weak, and that heart that bore our judgment can ever cease to love, then can one of God's sons perish, and not before. This, by God's grace, is His work, " He is able to save to the uttermost, all them that come to God by Him." First putting away our sins on the cross, He sits now at God's right hand, ever to make intercession for us, to bear our names on His heart before God continually. In the breast plate of judgment was placed the urim and thummim, Urim and thummim means Light and Perfection. It is the Light and Perfection of God in which believers are displayed and presented in Christ. Now mark another thing. When the high priest went into the holy place, it was the light of the candlestick that shone upon these stones, but when he went into the most holy place, the Light of God's own presence made them brilliant. Thus by the light of the Holy Spirit we understand our perfection in Christ; but up there we are displayed in the very light of God's presence. The hem of the robe was adorned with pomegranates of blue, purple and scarlet, and golden bells. The pomegranate signifies fruit, and the golden bell a divine sound. With all those bells around the robe, Aaron could not take a step in the holy place without making music. Thus also with Christ. It is all Christ for us here. His sound up there is always sweet to God's ear; divine music, and fruit also. However weak we may be, and however feeble our worship, yet Christ up there is the One who presents the incense, and He is clothed in garments for glory and beauty, and His ministry for us is as the sound of music, sweet to the ears of God.
THE Miter, ver. 36-38.-In all our worship there is a measure of weakness comes in, but Christ bears up all our prayers and praises. Now mark four words here, "It shall be always upon his forehead." Every day when he trimmed the lamps and burned the incense it was there. It was always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted. Christ's presence up there ensures our acceptance. If we are accepted it is in Christ, and it shall be always upon His forehead that they may be accepted before the Lord.
Aaron's sons were also clothed in garments for glory and beauty (ver. 40). God having washed the sins of the believer away, He clothes him with glory and beauty in Christ.
" Till we behold Him on His throne,
In Him we boast, in Him alone—
Our beauty this, our glorious dress,
Jesus, the Lord, our righteousness."