The boards of the tabernacle were of shittim wood, or acacia, overlaid with gold. Being of the same material as the ark and the table of showbread, they too must refer to Christ. But as the house of God is now composed of all believers, the boards would necessarily typify also all believers of the present time. The length of each board was to be ten cubits. This has its meaning, and believers should seek to learn what there may be for them in this. The number ten is given in Scripture in connection with responsibility toward God, so we have ten commandments. Each individual Christian should therefore remember that he is responsible to God for all that he does, since he forms a part of His house. "Holiness becometh Thine house, O LORD, forever." Psalm 93:55Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O Lord, for ever. (Psalm 93:5).
There were to be two tenons on the bottom of each board. We get the number two used in Scripture in connection with testimony: "That in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established." Matt. 18:1616But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. (Matthew 18:16). The number of boards to be used was forty-eight. This number is a multiple of other numbers which are used symbolically in Scripture, and in order to get its symbolic force, we must separate it into its factors, twelve and four. Twelve in Scripture gives administrative completeness in government, as we see in the twelve tribes, twelve apostles, twelve gates (where the judges sat), etc. Four gives us completeness on earth—the "four corners of the earth," four winds, foursquare, four gospels, etc. The whole number, therefore, will be administrative perfection displayed in all its completeness in Christ; or, if the boards are taken in connection with the divine dwelling place, this perfection displayed through the house of God.
Under each board were two silver sockets, which would make ninety-six sockets under the boards; and there were four sockets under the pillars that supported the veil, making one hundred sockets, or bases, in all. Again we must resort to its factors, ten and ten, to learn the meaning of this number. According to what we have seen, ten times ten would give the highest expression of responsibility toward God. Let us inquire a little into the meaning of the silver sockets. In order to do this we will need to turn to chapter 30:11-16. Here we learn that when the people were numbered, each man must give half a shekel of silver, "a ransom for his soul unto the LORD." The rich were not allowed to give more, and the poor must not give less. 'In this we get a vital principle: When the question is the ransom, or redemption of the soul, the man of highest morality must be redeemed at the same cost as that which will be required for the vilest sinner, and that is the precious blood of Christ.
Passing on to chapter 38:25-27, we get the interesting fact that this ransom money amounted to something over a hundred talents of silver, and that out of the talents a hundred sockets *were cast for the sanctuary, "a talent for a socket." Let us look at one more point and then seek to make the application. Each board with its two tenons stood on two of these silver sockets. Now gathering up the thoughts—silver speaks of redemption; every ransomed sinner is redeemed at a like cost; one hundred speaks of responsibility. We have then the blessed and precious truth that each believer stands before God on the ground of redemption, the purchase price being the blood of Jesus, but he stands in this position as fully responsible to God, and there to bear witness for Christ. His feet have been lifted from the miry clay and placed upon the rock; and now, with glad heart, he can sing,
"On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand."
Feelings that rise and fall even as the waves of the sea have no part in this perfect redemption; nor have the good works of one who has not eternal life any part in it; such works are termed of God, "dead works." All is based on the finished work of Christ the unchanging One.
Looking at the boards as they stand in their silver sockets, we see the house of God formed; but, thus far, the boards are detached, therefore are independent of each other. God could not have His house in this unstable condition. Man's heart would lead him to be independent, and to do as he pleases, but this is not God's thought; He speaks of believers as being builded together for His habitation through the Spirit. The building together, which is according to His heart, is seen in type in the bars which passed through rings of gold at the sides and the ends, and held all securely together. Some see in the five bars a type of the five gifts to the Church, which are given "for the perfecting of the saints," the "work of the ministry," etc. (Eph. 4:11-1311And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: (Ephesians 4:11‑13).)
The sockets being made of silver, we learn that redemption.; is the foundation of the house of God. From the rings being of gold, and the boards and bars being covered with gold, we learn that those who form the house of God are clothed in divine righteousness—gold, as we have seen, being a symbol of divine righteousness—and in this same righteousness they are bound together. We learn from Rom. 3:2222Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: (Romans 3:22) that "the righteousness of God" is upon all them that believe. Thus clad, and thus bound together, believers form a dwelling place for God according to His own heart. He would have His people use diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the uniting bond of peace (Eph. 4:33Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:3); J.N.D. Trans.). There should be on the part of Christians the practical demonstration of what really exists by the Spirit. This maintaining of the unity is entrusted of God to their keeping; but alas! what failure is ever found where man is put in responsibility. Instead of one house, fitly framed together, being represented, God's people are divided into many companies, independent of one another and differing in doctrines and in ways. God has given one center around which He would have His people gathered; that center is Christ. None of the various doctrines, forms of government, and other things which bring so many of God's dear people together, form the ground of gathering according to His Word. "Receive ye one another, as Christ also received us, to the glory of God." Rom. 15:77Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God. (Romans 15:7). Redemption is the ground; Christ is the center; the Spirit of God is the power that gathers. "Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them." Matt. 18:2020For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20).
As we have seen, the silver sockets on which the boards stood, show that believers stand on the ground of redemption; and the binding together of the boards with bars covered with gold, show that God would in divine righteousness hold His people together. The ark, surrounded by the boards and placed in the innermost chamber, might well speak to the hearts of God's people of the One about whom He would have them gathered.
Notice, we are not told, Where two or three meet, or, Where two or three gather; it is "are gathered." The Spirit of God is the power that gathers to that one center—Christ. If the boards were taken down and placed in bundles here and there, what has become of the house? Is it not in ruins? And is not that the state of Christendom today—a mass of confusion rather than the manifestation of saints builded together by the Spirit for a habitation of God? Alas! that it should be so. Men have made for themselves centers, and the result is, not one company but many companies. The work of the Good Shepherd was to gather into one His loved flock. The work of the enemy is to scatter; and how well he has succeeded in this evil work, the state of Christendom today testifies. God grant that those who belong to Christ may get their eyes so fixed on Him, God's center, that they will accept no other name to which to be gathered.
The Veil
The object of the veil (chap. 36:31-37) was to divide between the holy place and the most holy. Its materials were the same as those of the fine twined linen curtains; and since these speak of Christ, so also must the veil speak of Christ. That it does so is clearly shown from Heb. 10:2020By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; (Hebrews 10:20). Thus we find, looking again into the tabernacle, that it is the merits of the Lord that are brought before us. It may be well to notice the difference of the order in which the materials of the veil and those of the curtains overhead are mentioned. In the veil, blue comes first, and the fine twined linen last; in the curtains, the fine twined linen is mentioned first. This, as every other detail, has its significance. The various coverings of the tabernacle, in its wilderness wanderings, present Christ in His pathway here on earth; therefore, the fine twined linen which speaks of the spotless purity of His character, is mentioned first. The veil introduces immediately into God's presence, and therefore the blue, which speaks of that which is heavenly, is first brought to our notice.
Man was shut out from God's presence by the veil. Redemption was accomplished only in type; therefore, entrance into "the holiest" was death. To this there was one exception: once a year the high priest could enter, but not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the errors of the people. The Holy Ghost signified in this way that the "holiest of all" was not yet made manifest (Heb. 9:7, 87But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: 8The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: (Hebrews 9:7‑8)). Death must be the portion of the sinner if he attempts to meet God on the merits of his good works. He must come through Christ; he will be received in virtue of the work that He has done, but in no other way. Full redemption having been accomplished, the believer has "boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He bath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh." Heb. 10:19, 2019Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; (Hebrews 10:19‑20). A remarkable and precious truth is revealed to us in these words; it is no longer death to pass behind the veil, because of God's presence there, but joy and blessing to enter that holy presence through Christ, and this in virtue of the shed blood which is of infinite and eternal value in God's sight.
When the work that Jesus undertook to do was done, He uttered those words so full of import, "It is finished"—then bowed His head and gave up the Ghost, and the veil of the temple was rent in two from top to bottom. It was no human hand that rent that veil, neither was it torn from the bottom to the top; it was a hand from above—the hand that smote the Shepherd (Zech. 13:77Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones. (Zechariah 13:7))—the hand that brought the forsaken One into the dust of death (Psalm 22:1515My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. (Psalm 22:15))—the hand that caused all the waves and billows to pass over His soul (Psalm 42:77Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. (Psalm 42:7)). Yes, the hand that smote, was the hand that rent the veil from top to bottom, making thus a way into His own presence. Could man ever have devised such a plan? In the words of another, "Access to the heaven of heavens was to be laid open; no love and no power could either have devised or accomplished this, but the love and power of God." The rending of the veil "in the midst" made a way of approach "directly to the very center of the mercy seat where, between the cherubim, the God of glory dwelt. It was not a side access, but the shortest and most direct that could be made to the forefront of the ark." Could the love of God be told out in a fuller or more blessed way? And at what a cost! "Who can tell the feelings of His heart when, compelled by His love to us, He spared not His own Son? Or, who can tell the sufferings of that Son when bruised by the hand and pierced by the arrows of the Almighty?" Quoting again from another, "The same hand that rent the beautiful fabric which hitherto had concealed the holiest of all, opened simultaneously the graves; one act of God laid open the way, even from the ruin and death caused by sin, up to the height of His own glory. Henceforth no human priest was needed to stand between the sinner and God.
"No steps of approach were prepared in order that, by slow degrees, the unclean might be gradually fitted to draw nigh. The way from the grave to the glory was but one step; by the blood through the veil, the sinner, however guilty, however unclean, might at once with boldness take his place before the throne overshadowed by the cherubim of glory."
Let us review for a moment: the priests, Aaron's sons, ministered in the holy place; the people had no access there; the high priest alone entered the most holy, and that but once a year. Since the veil has been rent, all believers in Christ have been made priests, and through this "new and living way," have access into the very presence of God by the death of Christ. (Rev. 1:5, 65And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1:5‑6); Heb. 10:1919Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, (Hebrews 10:19).) God's grace in His thoughts for His people, all of which speaks of His measureless love, may be seen in what He unfolds to us through the veil. The fullness of that love may be known only in eternity.
Cherubim were to be embroidered on the veil, which brings again before us the thought of God as a judge. It is not difficult to trace God's purpose here; entrance into the holiest would have been death, so the way is barred: return to Eden, after man had sinned, there to partake of the tree of life, would have been to prolong life in misery; there also the way was barred. God would hinder both these issues until the prolonged misery, and the death that ends not, come to those who "will not" have Jesus to reign over them.