THE tabernacle in the wilderness is said, by the Holy Ghost, to have been “the pattern of things in the heavens” (Heb. 8:5; Ex. 25:40; 39:43). And Psalms 29:9 bears witness to the fact that everything in it spoke of glory. The structure itself, the vessels of service, the loops and taches, the pins and cords, each and all proclaimed the same wondrous truth—the glory of God, especially as displayed in the man Christ Jesus. Hence in the New Testament the mercy-seat and veil are presented by the Holy Ghost as prefiguring Him, in the one case as the propitiation for sin, in the other as the believer’s way into God’s presence (Rom. 3:25; Heb. 10:19, 20). Having such examples we may safely conclude that the brazen altar, in its structure, situation and service, is an adumbration of the same glorious person.
Its structure. The altar was made of boards of shittim wood, which were covered with plates of brass.
It was foursquare, and had a brass grate within which held the fire, and at the same time gave strength to the whole structure to which it was joined.
Shittim wood is called by the Septuagint translators “the incorruptible wood.” It seems to typify the great truth that He “partook of flesh and blood,” He was “the seed of the woman,” “the second man,” “the Lord from heaven” (1 Cor. 15:47); the Son of David and the Son of the Highest at the same time (Luke 1:32). Born of the virgin, the man Christ Jesus, “He was made in the likeness of sinful flesh;” “though unlike any other man that ever lived upon the earth, incorrupt and incorruptible; having a body prepared for Him by God in in order that He might die; but without taint of mortality or death in it.” It follows therefore that the manhood of the Lord did not detract from His deity (as some dare to affirm) nor His deity from His manhood. He was perfect God and perfect man in one person.
Its situation. The altar was placed at the “door of the tabernacle,” i.e, the entrance to the court. To it every Israelite had the right of approach, and this was the only vessel to which the same liberty attached. Of course none but priests could officiate, but the worshipper was privileged to bring his offering to the brazen altar. It was therefore in a position that could be reached by all. So we read of the Lord Jesus that He became flesh and dwelt among us. And “among us” He gave Himself to death, in order that we might have life. To obtain it man need not ascend into heaven to bring Christ down, nor descend into the deep to bring Him up from the dead. As it saith, “The word is nigh thee,” etc. (Rom. 10:6-8). He, God’s Son, came down from the glory into the dust of death; and now He is risen again, having brought salvation to man where he is.
Its service. It was not only that the victim was brought to the altar. It was there that its blood was shed. The life is in the blood, and it must be given upon the altar to make atonement for the soul (Lev. 17:11). The fire of the altar must feed upon the victim. It must be subjected to judgement in order that God’s righteous character might be fully vindicated and He go out in mercy to the offerer. There must be in fact the judgement of sin according to man’s responsibility. Such seems to be the import of the plates of brass.
And was it not upon the cross that God judged sin? It was He Who laid upon His Son the iniquities of His people (Isa. 53:6). It was by God’s counsel He was delivered to death (Acts 2:23). God’s hand was bruising Him (Isa. 53). He endured God’s wrath (Psa. 102:10). Under the curse of God’s violated law He bowed His head and died (Deut. 21:23; Gal. 3:10). The sword of the Lord of hosts smote the man that was Jehovah’s fellow (Zech. 13:7). God’s holiness ordered the stroke, and His justice inflicted the blow. Therefore the word of the Lord Jesus is the result of His bearing sin’s judgment. “He that believeth.... shall not come into judgment, but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24).
Again, in the Mosaic ritual the altar and the sacrifice were closely connected. The word used for the former is derived from a root meaning “to slay” and “to offer sacrifice.” And the Lord Jesus is the sacrifice as well as the altar. “He hath given himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God of a sweet-smelling savor” (Eph. 5:2). And we are accepted in Him (Eph. 1:6; Lev. 1:4). God sees us now in Christ. He values us according to the value of that offering. If He is pleased with Christ, so is He pleased with us; for we are in Him, members of His body, and loved as He is loved (John 17:23). Thus we are the objects of God’s love and of Christ’s, Who loved us unto death. And His love to us is to be the measure and standard of our love to one another (John 13:34). W.T.H.