LIVING WATERS
For the proclamation of the Gospel and the edification of the Body of Christ
The Tabernacle (The Coverings)
Chapter 26 of Exodus describes in detail the peculiarities of the tabernacle. The tabernacle speaks to us of Christ (let us not forget that when he became flesh, he dwelt -or "tabernacled"- among us, Jn. 1:14), and also of the church, which is called "the tabernacle of God with men" (Rev. 21:3). That is, it speaks to us of the mystery of Christ and the church. And there are here, in this chapter, three things pointed out: the coverings (vv. 1-14), the materials for its actual construction (15-30), and the veils (31-33).
The perimeter of the tabernacle, which included the court, was demarcated by ten curtains. In the light of Song of Solomon 1:5, these curtains are the believers - the Shulamite, "the curtains of Solomon". The number 10 represents all mankind; God has chosen a people of every kindred, tongue, people and nation (Rev. 5:9). At the cross of Christ all differences died (Col. 3:10-11), to create one new man - a universal, heavenly man (Eph. 2:15; 1 Cor. 15:47).
The curtains formed two groups of five curtains; joined with fifty loops (Pentecost number) with golden clasps, to give the form to the one tabernacle. So also, in the beginning of the church, there were two great apostolic teams, one to do the work among the Jews, and the other among the Gentiles. But finally, they were one, by the Spirit, to build the one church of Christ on earth. The golden brackets speak to us of the divine life, which makes possible the union of the children of God.
Today God continues to do this work in those who love God: breaking down the many barriers that have been erected to separate the children of God, because the church is universal, unique, inclusive.
Then there were three coverings that were placed over the tabernacle. One was of goat's hair, also composed of two groups of curtains, one of five and the other of six. Curtain number 11 was placed to the east and folded upward at the place of the door. These curtains were joined by bronze brackets, representing the outward man who is dealt with by the discipline of God, for the breaking of the soul and the government of the spirit.
There was a second covering, of rams' skins, dyed red. The ram speaks to us of Christ; the red, of the blood. This means that God covers us by the blood of Christ even in our dealings, lest we be condemned with the world. Beyond discipline, the blood claims us for God, puts the seal of his protection on us, making separation between us and the world.
Finally there was the covering of badgers' skins - which were mouse-like animals of the desert. So, the outward appearance of the tabernacle was not beautiful, nor was the "man of sorrows", who had "neither appearance nor beauty". The great works of God are not for the world, which is incapable of appreciating the things of the spirit. The Lord Jesus Christ was, for his contemporaries, only a Galilean carpenter; likewise the true church, historically, has been only an insignificant handful of men and women.