The covering of the brazen altar was a purple cloth, the royal color. If we suffer, we shall reign. There is a connection between the cross and the crown, upon the earth and in heaven. Thus it was with Christ, the King of the Jews, according to the superscription written on the cross; and the very throne of God was the answer to His sufferings, inasmuch as He was the burnt offering, offered according to the power of the eternal Spirit acting in man according to the exigency of the divine Majesty. The comparison of Psalm 19; 20; 21, and 22 is, under this point of view, most interesting. Psalm 19 contains testimonies of the creation and the law. Psalm 20 presents Messiah suffering, but externally, so that man can take an interest in Him. Psalm 21, Messiah exalted and, as a consequence, vengeance striking at His enemies who had rejected Him. Psalm 22, His sufferings, as forsaken by God Himself. This is the expression of Christ alone, while in Psalms 20 and 21 The Jewish remnant were speaking of His outward sufferings. There is no vengeance in connection with those sufferings (Psalm 22) consequent on His being forsaken of God, for it was expiation. There is nothing but blessing which the mouth of the Savior announces, and to which He Himself responded by praising in the midst of His saints. This blessing will extend to the ends of the earth during the Millennium.