Christ in all the scriptures Standing Up in the presence of God

 Christ in all the scriptures

Standing up in the presence of God

Readings: Exodus 26v15-30; 36v20-34

"And thou shalt make boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood standing up"  26v15; 36v20

It is obvious that the boards are symbolic of believers in Christ.  Many features point to this as we shall see; these all give a delightful view of those of faith in Christ.

The boards are of shittim (acacia) wood; we have already seen that this represents incorruptible humanity.  Whilst we can readily see this applies to Christ, in what way can it be applied to the Christian believer?  The New Testament provides the answer-Ephesians 4v24 "The new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness"; Colossians 3v10 "The new man which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him"; Ezekiel 11v19 "And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you..."; 1st Corinthians 15v49 "As we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly"; 2nd Corinthians 5v17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creation: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new".  What is that but incorruptible humanity!?  There is a process going on now but the ultimate is not in doubt as God sees the finished product. Grasp the certainty of the "we shall be".

The boards are overlaid with gold, not pure gold which symbolises Deity, but gold which is Divine righteousness.  We are covered with His righteousness.  God's salvation is termed God's righteousness as, stated throughout scripture.  It is not earned but given as an exchange, our sin for Christ's righteousness!  He took our sin, and we receive His righteousness, this is the gold covering.  It seems incredible but it is true, and it is God's gift to us through faith.  Refer Romans 1v17; 3v21-22; 3v26; 5v1; 10v4; 1st Corinthians 1v30 "But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption"; also 2nd Corinthians 5v21.  

The boards are standing up around the Ark which is the throne of God.  It is well known that humanity has fallen, that we were born into a fallen race-Psalm 130v3- If thou Lord shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand"?; see also Psalm 143v2; Romans 3v21v23.  When the judgment of God falls on the rebellious world in a future day, the cry goes up "The great day of His wrath has come, and who shall be able to stand"-Revelation 6v17.  The Psalmist utters the same, "Who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill"-Psalm 15v1; "Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in His holy place"?-Psalm 24v3. Yet we read this concerning those of faith in Christ:

Romans 5v2 "Through whom we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand."

1st Corinthians 15v1 "...the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand".

2nd Corinthians 1v24 "...by faith ye stand".

1st Peter 5v1 "...this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand".

Revelation 14v1 "And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the Mount Zion and with Him an hundred and forty four thousand, having His Father's name written on their foreheads".

Fallen men and women, standing before God, by His grace and through faith.

Each board is ten cubits high, symbolising responsibility-ten fingers for our work and ten toes for our walk.  Ten times, in Genesis 1, it is recorded "God said"; ten commandments He gave as His standard of righteousness.  Association with the tabernacle involves responsibility, as much as our position is by grace.  Not one board is higher or lower than another before God.

Each board is one and a half cubits broad, the same measurement as the height of the grating on the Brazen Altar; the same as the height of the Table; and the same as the height and breadth of the Ark.  Our standing in Christ is of the same dimension as the sacrifice, God's acceptance of it, and His shared fellowship with the priestly family.

Each board stands on a foundation of silver, being attached firmly to the silver sockets.  Silver is the type of redemption.  Redemption money was paid in the case of loss incurred and silver was the currency-Exodus 21v30-32.  Mentioned hundreds of times in the bible, silver was a very valuable commodity, and was regarded as compensation for loss.  The value of the silver sockets as the foundation of the tabernacle was counted exactly as 1775 shekels-Exodus 38v27-a very considerable sum.   The price of the half shekel of the sanctuary was demanded from every grown man, yearly,  for the contribution of the entire congregation to support the sanctuary service-Exodus 30v13-16.  We are reminded of the cost of redemption in 1st Peter 1v18-19 "Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold...but with the precious blood of Christ..."  Our standing is on redemption ground, where the cost was fully paid.  One interesting translation of Isaiah 53v7, considered to be nearer to the Hebrew; "He was oppressed and he was afflicted" is rendered "It (the price ) was exacted and He becometh answerable".  Everywhere the thought of redemption arises, the emphasis is on the enormous cost that was fully paid.  There are two aspects of it in the bible-the redemption of the soul which is available now-Ephesians 1v7; and the redemption of the body which is yet future, but is certain-Ephesians 1v14 and Romans 8v23.  

Each board had two connecting hands (tenons), speaking of fellowship with the neighbouring boards.  These tenons were projections imbedded in the boards which firmly joined one to another.  This same stabilising feature of joints applied to every board,  This fellowship is clearly taught in the New Testament-Galatians 2v9; Ephesians 3v9; Philippians 1v5, 2v1; 1st John 1v3v7.  Corporate fellowship is envisaged.  Feet firmly attached to the silver foundation, and hands firmly grasping one another.

There were 46 boards, not counting the corner boards.  This is an indication of corporate humanity.  Modern science has revealed that there are 46 chromosomes in each and every human cell-23 from the father and 23 from the mother, each representing different human traits.

There were two corner boards providing stability to the whole.  In the temple, which succeeded the tabernacle, the boards were replaced by stones.  This is a reminder of Christ as the cornerstone of the great temple which is the Church of God-Psalm 118v22; Isaiah 28v16, quoted in Acts 4v10-12 and 1st Peter 2v7.  He is the binding strength that holds all together.  Imagine the storms that can come in the desert, the structure had to be perfect.

The boards were also held together by 15 bars, 5 in the south, 5 in the west and 5 in the north.  On each side four bars were visible and one invisible, running through the centre.  Suggest the four bars are the major gifts given to the church by the risen Christ-Ephesians 4v11, apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor-teachers.  The unseen bar is the Holy Spirit who inspires all the gifts for the work of the sanctuary.

May we grasp the wonder of what we are in Him.