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The
Boards of The Tabernacle
Exodus 26:15-25,29
"Pillars in the Ecclesia" (Gal. 2:9).
 UPON
drawing aside the entrance curtain, and entering the Tabernacle
one would see that the curtain, the Mishkan and Ohel coverings,
were all supported by the gold-covered Shittim wood boards,
described earlier, that formed the North, South and West walls
of the Tabernacle.
The
Tabernacle as such pointed forward, as a figure for the time
then present" (Heb. 9:9) to the "greater and more perfect
tabernacle, not made with hands" (v.11).
Isaiah
(ch. 53:2) declared of the Lord Jesus Christ that he "grew
up - - as a tender plant and as a root out of a dry ground"
- a description of the spiritual condition of Israel when
the "tender plant" grew up in its midst. He declared of himself
when 12 years of age, that he "must be in his Father's house"
(Luke 2:49 R.V).
Isaiah
proceeds to describe the Lord's preparation as Yahweh's dwelling
place in Israel. He describes how he was cut down, having
been specially selected and prepared human nature (Isa. 53:3-8).
His willing submission to the Divine Hand that guided his
testing trials (e.g. Matt. 4:1-10; Luke 4:1-13) saw the removal
of all outward display of, or tendency towards, fleshly-mindedness.
Instead there was manifested the faith that had been subjected
to the heat of affliction and, being tried, was a display
of the character of Yahweh dwelling in the Son (John 1:14).
The testing of the Lord was the equivalent of the Tabernacle
"pillars" being measured - a Scriptural term for the measuring
out of Divine punishment or correction, whichever should be
appropriate (cp. Rev. 11:1,2).
Such
has been the lot of Yahweh's chosen children in all ages,
as He has shaped them to the Divine pattern, seen so gloriously
in His own submissive and responsive son.
A
Figure Foreshadowing Sons
But
Yahweh's habitation on earth has not been restricted to His
son. In that son He has called many sons to Himself, choosing
such as respond to His call (Acts 15:14). In each generation
He has separated to Himself human beings, men and women of
Adam's race, who are willing to submit themselves to the correction
of His Word so that they may be shaped after the pattern of
His son (Phil. 3:10; Rom. 6:3-8). To accomplish this, the
Word understood, believed and practiced removes from each
part those natural inclinations towards the fleshly mindedness
that is inherent in human nature. In their place there is
developed a covering of faith that has been tried (Jas. 1:2-4).
Thus we are developed into a position of closer dedication
(Heb. 12:14) of which the Holy Place is a symbol.
The
Apostle Paul referred to Peter, James and John in Gal. 2:9,
as "pillars" in the Ecclesia. The members of the Ecclesia
since that time, have faithfully followed the apostolic pattern
and are today also "pillars" in Yahweh's dwelling place. Each
one is to be seen in the position into which they have been
called or placed. There are not to be any absent when the
Ecclesial "sanctuary" is assembled (ct. Heb. 10:25). It is
at those times and occasions that the fullest possible reflection
of Divine Glory becomes manifest, as will be better demonstrated
a little later in this book.
Not
only are we assembled together at such times as many parts
of the one body (1 Cor. 12:12-14), but we are associated together
for a common purpose in mutual co-operation. There ought to
be no need for legislation to effect these necessary features
of the Ecclesia; indeed the observance of the pattern given
to Moses in the mount, is quite adequate for the purpose before
us all - that of becoming Yahweh's habitation.
John,
in Rev. 3:12 records the promise that certain would become
"pillars" in the Kingdom. Notice how the Spirit words the
matter:
Those
who "overcome" - The "wood" of this fleshly nature is overcome,
or cut off, by a circumcision of the Spirit-Word. It is then
to be covered by the gold of a faith that has been well tried;
of Divine Character displayed; of Divine Nature to be shared.
"Will
be made pillars" - i.e. A pillar in the Ecclesia is one who
supports or holds up and displays the Truth in doctrine and
practice, manifesting Divine characteristics thereby.
"In
the temple of my God" - The temple of living stones will be
revealed in its glory in the Kingdom. Hence in this anti-typical
manner the activities of the saints in the Age to come are
foretold.
The
Silver Sockets
But
a very essential basis for this development must not be overlooked.
It is described in Exod. 26:19,21,25, where details are given
of the 2 silver sockets that were provided for each board,
which had two tenons or hands which fitted into apertures
in the silver bases. Exod. 38:27 informs us that each base
weighed one talent, so that the hundred bases weighed a total
of an hundred talents. 96 bases were utilized in the North,
South and Western Walls and 4 bases for the pillars supporting
the Veil. Exod. 30; 12-15 advises that the silver was the
redemption price for every male in Israel who was aged twenty
years and older. Because of this provision, silver has become
recognized as the symbol for atonement or redemption.
The
foundation in Christ upon which Yahweh developed the manifestation
of His righteous character, was that of His son's sacrificial
life and death. His death was for the manifestation of Yahweh's
salvation both for himself and his people (Heb. 9:12; Phil.
2:9; Heb. 13:20).
The
same foundation is the basis of our membership of the Ecclesial
Sanctuary and of our manifestation of Divine righteousness.
The silver stands for our Heavenly Father's purchase of the
many parts of His Ecclesia (Acts 20:28) because we are His
"purchased possession" (Eph. 1:14). His atonement forms the
common basis of our association together in the Ecclesia;
of our sharing together of Divine manifestation. As the tenons
took hold of the sockets, we are to take hold of the principles
of the Atonement.
The
two sockets for each Pillar could represent the two aspects
of the Gospel (Acts 8:12): the things "Concerning the Kingdom
of God" and the things "concerning the Name of Jesus Christ".
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