Christ in all the scriptures Curtains and Coverings part 2

 Christ in all the scriptures

Curtains and coverings part 2

Readings:  Exodus 26v7-14; 36v14-19; Leviticus 26v19; Deuteronomy 28v23; Ezekiel 16v10.

We continue with pictures of Christ in the coverings, which are as meticulous as they are marvellous.  

Heaven on earth

The Tabernacle consists of ten curtains of fine linen, beautifully embroidered, measuring four cubits wide by 28 cubits long.  Five curtains were linked with loops of blue, and two sets of five with taches of gold.  The curtain was thus ONE, joined with heavenly loops, and secured, centrally with gold-the symbol of Deity.  The unity is of God and cannot be broken.  If draped over the boards, the tabernacle curtains would not touch the earth.  The Holy place, the sanctuary, where Divine service was enacted was above the earth.  God dwells not in earthly temples, the sanctuary is in heaven above.  Worship is prefigured to be a spiritual worship, which is the teaching of the New Testament-John 4v21-24 and 1st Peter 2v5-9. Those who are taught in biblical numerology could venture much more,  The perfection, the beauty, the serenity of the sanctuary in heaven is all depicted here.  The word Tabernacle (mishkan) means dwelling place, and here God rests.

No condemnation

The covering of goats hair is made up of 11 curtains of 4 cubits wide and 30 cubits long.  This covering completely covers the tabernacle curtains in all extremities.  6 curtains and 5 are joined with an unnamed material, and the two sections are attached with brazen taches.  Brass in scripture is associated with God's judgment on sin-Leviticus 26v19 and Deuteronomy 28v23.  The picture is that God has completely judged sin in Christ-Romans 8v3, and that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus-Romans 8v1, for all the judgment fell on Christ, therefore it is removed from us.  This covering is called the "tent"-(ohel) and refers to a place of gathering for worshippers.  All sin has been removed and it is an atmosphere of love, where believers can meet without fear of condemnation.  "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? it is God that justifieth...Who is he that condemneth? it is Christ that died, yea rather that is risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh interc4ession for us"-Romans 8v33-34.

Fitness for service

We have considered the ram as a type of substitution from Genesis 22.  It is also a type of consecration (filling of the hands of the priests for sacred service to God)-as detailed in Exodus 29v19-22.   Unnumbered blessings to the believer flow through the blood, as typified in the skins dyed red; some of these can be tabulated as follows:

 Propitiation through faith in His blood  Rom. 3v25

Justification by His blood  Rom. 5v9

 Redemption through His blood  Eph. 1v7

Reconciliation through His blood  Col. 1v20

Cleansed consciences through the blood Heb. 9v14

 Boldness to enter the holiest by the blood Heb. 10v19

Sanctification through the blood Heb. 13v12

 Forgiveness and cleansing for ongoing sins and unrighteousness 1^st John 1v7

Washed clean from all past sins  Rev.1v5

 Power to overcome by the blood  Rev. 12v11

All this fits the priesthood for holy service.  In Exodus 29 the priesthood was consecrated by the blood of the ram of consecration applied to the tip of the ear, the thumb of the hand, and the tip of the great toe, symbolising full body fitness for service.  We should be in no doubt our fitness to serve is in Christ.  Inevitably this brings practical responsibility to live up to this privilege.  There are no dimensions given to the ram skins so the provision is unlimited. 

Protection from the elements

The Tabernacle was placed in the Middle Eastern desert, and was subject to wind and weather and sandstorms and invasion of insects.  The outer skin covering was the thick durable skin of something like the porpoise found in the Mediterranean Sea and the Red sea.  It was outwardly ordinary in appearance, but extraordinary in endurance to ward off the severe elements the Tabernacle would experience in the wilderness.  It provided unlimited protection, and is a picture of the endurance of Christ, and His preserving power.  The spiritual elements of the hosts of hell (Ephesians 6v11-17; and of the hostile forces of a godless world-1st John 2v16 and 4v1-6 and 5v4-5, will test us to the limit but we overcome in the strength of Christ who protects us. Interesting that the same skins were used to shod their feet all through the wilderness journey-Ezekiel 16v10 and Deuteronomy 29v5 "And I have led you 40 years in the wilderness: your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot!"  Their shoes were the same material as the outer covering.

God's salvation is like Himself, perfect!  He works from the inside out, unlike humanity which focuses on the outward.  He began the tabernacle design with the Ark in the Sanctuary, and progresses to the Brazen Altar in the Courtyard.  In the coverings He moves from the linen embroidered tabernacle to the durable, weatherproof external covering.  The process of sanctification is described in the same way, from within to the outward-1st Thessalonians 5v23 "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ".  Before He will glorify our bodies, He saves our souls and renews our spirits.  Before He creates a new heaven and earth, He sanctifies the new humanity which will inhabit it. 

"Kept by the power of God, through faith, unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time"-1st Peter 1v4.