"And he made loops of blue in the edge of one curtain from the selvedge in the coupling: likewise he made in the uttermost side of another curtain, in the coupling of the second. "Fifty loops made he in one curtain, and fifty loops made he in the edge of the curtain which was in the coupling of the second: the loops held one curtain to another. "And he made fifty taches of gold, and coupled the curtains one unto another with the taches: so it became one tabernacle."-Exod. 36:11-43
Fifty taches, or clasps of gold, linked together the innermost or beautiful curtains of the tabernacle. Fifty taches of brass coupled the goats' hair curtains. By the former, one tabernacle-by the latter, one tent was made. The vail, which divided the interior into two unequal portions, was hung up under the taches. As long as that vail remained entire, there might be said to be two tabernacles; thus, in Heb. 9:1-7,1Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. 2For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the showbread; which is called the sanctuary. 3And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; 4Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; 5And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly. 6Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. 7But 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: (Hebrews 9:1‑7) where this building is looked at before the rending of the vail, we read of the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; and the second, or holiest of all, into which went the high priest alone, once every year. At the same time, there was an intimation that the whole interior was but one holy place, in the fact of the curtains that covered, being connected by the taches, and forming one tabernacle, and one tent above it.
All priestly service is now conducted in the holiest. Heaven itself is the place where Christ appears in the presence of God for us. There is no intermediate place of acceptance; but a man is either a sinner, short of the glory of God, and as such, outside, and infinitely far off; or, he is made nigh by the blood of Christ, and presented in Christ, faultless in the presence of that glory in the holiest of all.
The fifty taches of gold may be so many distinct presentations of the glories of Christ, expressed in His various names and titles, as seen crowned with glory and honor upon the throne of God.
The taches of brass may exhibit the same names and titles as appertaining to Him when He was on earth, the second man, the Lord from heaven; as it will be found that the brass is used as a type of the Lord on earth in suffering and trial; while the gold has a resurrection aspect of the same glorious One. He has, as risen from the dead, retaken His own glorious titles; having, for the joy set before Him, endured the cross.
The brazen taches seem appropriately to knit together the curtains of goats' hair, which proclaim to us His sorrows and sufferings on the tree; while the golden taches, as appropriately coupled together the beautiful curtains, which manifest Him as received up in glory, because of the perfection of His labor and service in suffering on earth.
The following are fifty names and titles of the Blessed Lord, which were His alike when on earth, as now in the glory above.
1. The Mighty God
2. The Almighty
3. Jehovah
4. The Son
5. The Son of God
6. The Only-begotten of the Father
7. The First-born of every creature; (or) born before all creation
8. The Word
9. The Beginning
10. The Wisdom of God
11. The Power of God
12. The Image of the Invisible God
13. The Brightness of God's glory
14. That Eternal Life
15. The First and the Last
16. Immanuel
17. Jesus
18. Messiah
19. The Lord
20. The Lord of Glory
21. The Prince of Life
22. The Prince of Peace
23. The Everlasting Father
24. The Creator
25. The Sustainer
26. The Holy One of God
27. The Same
28. Wonderful
29. Counselor
30. The Son of Man
31. The Seed of the Woman
32. The Resurrection
33. The Quickening Spirit
34. The Light
35. The Truth
36. Righteousness
37. The Way
38. The Sun of Righteousness
39. The Day-Star
40. The Amen
41. The King of Kings
42. The Heir of all things
43. The Root of David
44. The Offspring of David
45. The Shepherd
46. The Lamb of God
47. The Rock of Ages
48. The True Witness
49. Shiloh (or the Sent One,)
50. The Redeemer
It must not be supposed that the above glorious list of names and titles of Jesus is given as a definite interpretation of the type. But every true-hearted believer will own that each of these names is a golden link, uniting together heaven and earth, connecting God with His people, and enabling Him to spread out a heaven of glory, into which He will receive the royal priesthood, and where already true worship is in spirit carried on. Each tache of gold, or of brass, was carefully numbered and guarded by the Levites; for if but one had been wanting, the curtains of the tabernacle or tent would have been insecurely united.
God has committed to His Church all truth connected with the glory of the work and person of His Son. The Church of the Living God is the pillar and ground of the truth. It is the blessed responsibility of each member of that body carefully to watch and guard every-even the smallest-portion of the truth, which testifies of Christ. Error and weakness will result if anything be lacking, as to what is held respecting the Lord Jesus. If one link in the golden chain be weak or deficient, the strength of the whole is impaired.